Toshiba TDPMT700 - Page 2

Let's make this the "Official MT-700 Thread"

From my Toshiba distributor's listing:

Toshiba HD2+ DLP 1280 x 720 mirrors, 1000 ANSI Lumens, 2000:1 Contrast Ratio, 6 segment 5x Color Wheel, Faroudja DCDi Video Processing, HDMI with HDCP Input, 2-Component Video Inputs, RS-232 Control, D-Sub 15 Input

Supposed to be arriving tomorrow, but I've heard that before from these guys.

The throw on both works out to be 1.35 with a 1.3 zoom for the Toshiba and 1.37 for the BenQ. I'm curious about what the offset would be on either (that's one of the most poorly published, yet critical, stats for a PJ, IMHO).

Later,
Bill

Mike SRC, will you be giving us a review or comparison with the Optoma's when you receive your MT-700?

It's already up on the Toshiba Germany site.

"Ultra-rapid 6-segment colour wheel". Hmmm...

I have been following the Sharp XV-Z2000 and the Toshiba TDP-MT700 on these forums while taking some notes.

I read here, but I didn't keep the link to it, that the Sharp had a 6 seg. 4x color wheel. This info on the Sharp seems to be not openly available (it is not published on Sharp's website), so one may just wonder why...

OTOH, my notes on the Toshiba from info posted here after CES, indicated a contrast of 2000:1. Now a brochure from Toshiba Canada shows 2400:1, while another one from Toshiba Germany shows 2500:1

GCG,

See http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0&pagenumber=8

According to Jason, the Sharp has a 5x..but I honestly am not sure where he got the 5x # from.

I too am also confused by the various CRs of the Toshiba.

Yes, and it's looking like I'll have the MT-700 before the H31, since the 700's due in on Monday.

Regarding the CR and wheel speed, I believe it's likely to be the 2500:1 CR and the 5X speed reported on the German website. I'll be checking the CR with OpticOne and Avia Pro.

Mike SRC- thanks for the great news regarding the Mt700 coming in on monday. Just wondering if you've seen the Hs51 and will be able to make any comments reagrding the 2. These are the 2 pj's I am considering and and anxious to buy since I just sold my Z2 (hopefully before 5 Million ways gets his!!!) OK just kidding- I've been influenced by the SOWK comments on the HS51 thread)

Can anyone comment on the fact that the HS51 MEASURES better (6000:1, 1200 lumens) than pjs like the low cost 720P DLPs, but may not (or may) look as good.

Apart from that, it's supposed to demo at the Cebit fair in Hannover. Any German forum members going there? I guess at least Ekkehart from cine4home

For simplification I'll talk in quoted contrast. Real world contrast (especially if you have light colored walls) will be much lower.

The HS51 has 6000:1 in on/off contrast. This is measured with a totally black screen (dynamic iris closed completely) vs. a totally white screen (dynamic iris open completely). However for a particular frame of video the dynamic iris is in a single position. This means that for each frame you just have the contrast of the panels, which I believe is 1200:1 on the HS51, to work with.

Therefore single frame performance, often measured via ANSI contrast (a white/black checkboard), will generally be much better with a 2500:1 on/off pj with no dynamic iris vs. a HS51 6000:1 with a dynamic iris.

In the real world this means that on a space scene, black background with bright white stars/spaceship or Gandalf with a torch in Moria, there will be more difference in brightness between the white and black on a 2500:1 DLP vs the 1200:1 panel contrast HS51. Of course during a movie overall dark scenes will look darker and overall bright scenes will look brighter with the HS51, since the iris can close or open appropriately.

For me I want the hardest scenes (dark background with bright foreground) to look as good as possible. When the background on these scenes looks dark grey instead of black it pulls me right out of the movie. YMMV on what bugs you the most. Being a previously LCD owner I'm also turned off by the other problems with LCD technology: unsealed optical path (dust blobs), VB, motion blur due to panel response time, and the worst: Peek-a-boo scanlines. I haven't seen an HS51 so I don't know how much, if any, it suffers from any of these.

Coming back from the theoretical, I don't think we'll know whether the MT700 or HS51 produces better PQ until we start getting reviews coming in. Each has their strengths, so I imagine that certain users will prefer one or the other.

EDIT: fixed typo.

Mods

I thought the dividing line was MSRP - isn't this in the wrong forum? Or am I not up on the latest MSRP?

MSRP is $3499.99 .

I think we squeak in by $1.

I can't find an official US MSRP - . There was an official announcement from Toshiba (or was it TI?) that this pj will sell for "$3499", whatever that means. However I think mfgs typically talk only in MSRP. If you do a search for "TDPMT700" on www.froogle.com the prices are consistent with an MSRP of $3499 or lower.

While no means official this link states an MSRP of $3499.

Press release: http://www.projectorcentral.com/news_story_754.htm

I just went ahead and pulled the trigger on a pre-order from a reputable dealer. I've previously ordered an MX-800 remote control from them, so I think they're a great option. I think I got a great price so I'm pretty stoked.

Due to forum rules I can't post the dealer's name. Their web site just made this available this morning so hopefully it will show up on froogle/pricegrabber etc. in a day or so.

It's expected in on Monday or Wednesday of next week. I'm also getting a calibration done so it may be an extra couple days before it ships. Expect some comparison against my 4805 when it arrives.

My main concern now is that this thing does 1:1 mapping from an HTPC. I don't care if it has a little clipping like the AE700, but I've been spoiled by the pixel perfection of ffdshow on my 4805.

MikeSRC - any chance of confirming 1:1 HTPC pixel mapping with your review?

Sure do hope this thing hits the streets soon. I'm waiting for the caparisons between the MT700 and the Sharp 2K before pulling the trigger. I've had my Home Theater set up and ready to go...the only thing stopping me is the PJ.

Lemme see.....
The Sharp 2K was originally end of Nov., so I wait until December then am told to wait for the CES to be over. So, I wait for the CES to be over and am told to wait on the Toshiba MT700 and the BenQ PE7700 in March. Then I hear the BenQ is pushed to late April. So, come on Toshiba! Also, thanks to all of you who can put these PJ's through their paces. I can't find them to demo here in Baltimore (yet), so I am relying on what you all discover.

Interesting Toshiba market stategy on product lineup - they priced their DC2 480P version well over the SP4805 list, yet their 720P is well under the SP7205. Nearly 4x differential for Infocus to jump from 480P->720P. But only 2x for Toshiba jump. I had heard it was going to be higher MSRP than that - but carry on!

I think this and the equally equipped/priced BenQ 7700 due out next month is going to cause some shuffling on prices of other HD2+ projectors. Not to mention, everyone else is going to have to have a similarly priced offering.


Sorry, I don't use an HTPC (although Jason's past screenshots have tempted me).

The best I can do is check it out with a Bravo D2.

It really is worth a couple hours to set up an HTPC. ffdshow plus the Nvidia filters are quite good, and DVI doesn't hurt. I was amazed at the improvement over a Panny RP-56 (decent DVD player) on my 4805. I imagine the improvement will be even more dramatic at a higher resolution, though a pretty beefy machine is needed for 1280x720 scaling.

Of course only think about this *after* you give us the review of the MT700.

It's not the setup time that's stopped me so far, it's the cost, at least the way I'd want to do it.


Of course.

I've read that it has zero offset, ie, the bottom of the picture will be at the same height as the projector lens.

I just ordered the projector online and will have it in a day or two. I may have a chance to compare it with my Z2 before it gets shipped to its new owner- but I'm not sure how useful a comparison it wouldbe. I may bring it to A friends who owns an HS51. That would be an interesting comparison.

Some dealers who use the same central distributer were showing 5 units available since Friday. I'm really surprised no one has snapped these 5 up over the weekend (there's only 4 now). I probably should have waited till Mike SRC posted his review, but with so low quantites, I didnt want to get shut out waiting for another shipment to come in. (I remember when the Z2 was the hot projector and I scored 1 of only 5 B&H got in thier first shipment- it was quite a while before they got more) Plus I figured the 7700 would be at least $500 more, even if it turns out to be better will it be worth over 25% more of the upgrade cost to selling my Z2 and getting another projector. (already costing me $1500 to upgrade)

Plus I don't feel like waiting a month or so for the 7700 and a shootout with the MT700 since my Z2 will be gone this week. I'm glad I didnt go for the HS-51- It does look really nice, and if it weren't for this forum and the advice of waiting for Sony to ship updated units, I would have owned that already, and would be mighty bummed I didnt get the Toshiba.

ALso the low low price of the Toshiba means I'm just that much closer to getting a 1080P unit if they're reasonable in 1.5-2 years. Sick, isn't it, I haven;t even gotten the MT700 and I'm already thinking about the right time to sell it.

I'll report back what it looks like on my grey goo screen with masking and partialy dark walled viewing room.

One more question.. SInce Grubert pointed out the zero offset issue, doesnt that mean that if the projector is mounted upside down on a wall mount it would be even with the top of the screen?

ANy suggestions for a good but reasonably priced wall mount for the Mt700?

Well, if we rely on MSRP, the 7700 will cost less than the MT700 not more.




Mind you, the information I gave is totally unofficial and unconfirmed. But anyway, yes, if you use it like you said, it would be flush with the top of the screen.


Here's my personal BenQ wall mount. You can't go much cheaper than this!

Can't wait for MikeSRC's review...

I'm surprised at the price right out of the gate for this projector... is that because Toshiba has bigger distribution than, say, Optoma or Benq?

I use a TV mount for a wall mount. You can either place the projector upside down on it, or invert the mount and hang the projector from it.

The MT700s are on the truck for delivery, so I'll have some details later today.

Mike great idea- I never thought about just putting the projector on a shelf but upside down. I guess I could always make some feet out of rubber or styrofoam or something on the corners supporting the projector in case the top is not totally flat, or just to give it some breathing room for heat dissipation.

Those 4 projectors are still listed as being in stock- I cant believe no ones jumping on these things!

I may just have to bribe Mike into posting a gushing review just so I don't have buyers remorse and wish I got the HS51 or waited for the 7700.

Mike, you take paypal? How much to get you to say the Mt700 looks better than the Qualia?

edit- OK I think I've decided if no one buys these 4 available units by the end of today I'm going to buy them myself and hoard as many units as I can get my hands on. Maybe I'll have one running in each room, or double stack them for 2000 lumens, or just give them out as gifts to my projector challenged friends, or maybe sell "soap with a prize" and include a free projector......

I just pulled the trigger and ordered 1. I was going to wait for the Benq 7700 but I decided to just go ahead and try the Toshiba 700. Now I hope the Web Site I ordered it from is not pulling a bait and switch on me. I should have the shipping conf # tomorrow.

On a side note, what ceiling mount do you think will fit this unit? I checked the Toshiba web site and the 700 is not even listed yet (scary). Also, this is my first projector so I need a little advice on a screen for this unit. I have a dedicated Theater Room with dark walls and ceiling and total light control, any thoughts? I was originally thinking the Dalite Cinema Contour 52"x92" Cinema Vision w/ProTrim but at over $1K I was hoping there was a cheeper alternative with out sacraficing quality.

Thanks

PS did anyone receive this unit yet?