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Price Watch: Most Popular sub $3.5k 720p Projectors

post #1 of 57
8/30/06 at 8:08am
Thread Starter 
I don't know that I'll be able to constantly respond by updating this first post, but let's see how it works. I'm in the market for a 720p projector on the cheap.

Panasonic AE900U (or AE900E): $1700-$400 rebate + BlockBuster card
B&H Photo has it $50 cheaper, Forum sponsors seem to be competitive. $400 rebate and 1 year extra warranty, BlockBuster card are the bonuses.
Prices have just dropped $100 - we don't know if the rebate is going to continue another month as it's been doing - since the new models have been announced.
*REFURB for $1099 http://www.saveonprojectors.com/prod...px?proj_id=234

**BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL**Sanyo Z4: $1180 + Free Lamp and Free 92" screen I'm leaning towards this deal myself, even though I don't need the screen...


Optoma HD72 $1899 -$300 rebate + free bulb + extended warranty (some sites running out - deal ends August 31 anyway) Costco.com calls this the 6800 and has a free big screen but no rebate (?) - most people have to pay sales tax from Costco - but then there's the warranty...

[b]*****Mitsubishi HC1000 is now unbelievably cheap. Look no further than this deal if you can manage the installation. $928 AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE FREE LAMP REBATE WILL WORK. Too good to be true, I know. Please keep this off of fatwallet for a few days until we can get our $30 worth by paying to be members. They look to be official Mits dealers and they advertise the rebate. I'm going to call them when they open in an hour or so.


InFocus IN76 for $1879.99 at bestpricecameras (thanks Yogru)
or $1694.25 (+$70 shipping) from thenerds.net (thanks ascdga)

New Addition: Optoma HD70 (native 720p DLP) available from Visual Apex/Projector People for $999! Circuit City has had a rebate for $100 and many have applied 10% off coupons, also. Bestbuy.com has it on sale for $899. Best review I've seen (most informative and most postitive) is from audioholics.com **and another very positive review from projectorreviews.com - Looks like Robert from **************** is going to start carrying this shortly, albiet it $999 (Optoma's not giving any margins it seems).

*New* Panasonic AX100U is the 900 replacement, way brighter, dynamic iris, $2k from forum sponsors w/ Blockbuster '$300' card. Might be a solution for people with mixed lighting, as it can dial brightness way up for football and get blacks way dark for night time movies.

One more to watch, Epson PowerLite Home 400
pagecomputers.com has it for $1324 (4.84 rating at resellerratings.com). It's another 720p LCD.

Let's make the deals forum even more useful, and even evangelize non-paid members over here to support the site.
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post #2 of 57
8/30/06 at 11:46am
Quote:
InFocus IN76 seems to be full-retail at $2,999, but I know ppl have commented on it being under $2k so please advise on that.

AVS has this going for $1999. Might be able to find a some other cheaper dealers (maybe 50-100 bucks) on nextag, but then again, I've never done business with any of the cheaper dealers on that list, so who's to say.

I like the idea of what you're doing here though, hope to see you keep this updated as I really think it will be of some good us to those of us out here looking for a good 720p on the cheap.

:sigh: I really wish we could post whatever link we wanted to on these forums seeing as how were paying for it...
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post #3 of 57
8/30/06 at 11:59am
Agreed. -That area is the main reason I come here.

Good idea for a thread!
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post #4 of 57
8/30/06 at 5:34pm
In reply to the IN76. I see an $1879.99 at bestpricecameras

Don't really know anything about them though. I'm a tad upset the best AVS can do for us is 2k though. Really want to get one of these but just can't find a good deal like the other 720s have going on them. It's a combination of Infocus stressing everyone show the msrp and the retailers trying to steal every last penny from us on these things.

Oh well, the search continues. Please post a reply here if anyone finds a decent deal on one of these.
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post #5 of 57
8/30/06 at 8:05pm
Thread Starter 
Guys thanks for your replies, I'm confused what you mean when you're talking about AVS selling stuff, the best price they can do etc... am I missing a part of the site that has prices and sells these items? I'll update that info on the IN76 on OP.
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post #6 of 57
8/30/06 at 9:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightfly13 View Post

Guys thanks for your replies, I'm confused what you mean when you're talking about AVS selling stuff, the best price they can do etc... am I missing a part of the site that has prices and sells these items? I'll update that info on the IN76 on OP.

Yep, believe it or not, it's not just a bunch of guys running this forum, but an actual business that does so.

:sigh again: I was going to post a link to a page about AVS and what they sell and all, but seeing as how I've forked over money to view this forum, but don't have 5 posts yet, I can't actually do that.
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post #7 of 57
8/31/06 at 4:46am
http://www.avscience.com/products.htm
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post #8 of 57
8/31/06 at 8:25am
Thread Starter 
So do you have to call them to get prices? All links lead to manufacturer sites.. am I stupid?
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post #9 of 57
8/31/06 at 9:59am
Call them or send them private messages. Jason mostly hangs out in the > $3500 forum as well as Daniel. My research is a yr old since it's when I bought my projector... they compete better with the pricier projectors than the ones in the sub $3500 forum.
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post #10 of 57
8/31/06 at 11:12pm
$1694.25 for the IN76 from thenerds.net
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post #11 of 57
9/1/06 at 6:01am
Always worth giving AV Science a call first...they have amazingly competitive prices, give terrific advice and have unparalleled customer service.
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post #12 of 57
9/5/06 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 
I've just added the HD70 available for pre-order from Visual Apex for $999 to the top thread.

http://www.visualapex.com/LCDproject...D70&MFR=Optoma
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post #13 of 57
9/14/06 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 
HD70 gets an astoundingly strong review from projectorcentral.com (astoundingly strong inlgiht of the $1k price tag anyway). Basically marginally inferior to the HD72, but way way cheaper. This'll completely shake up the low-end projection market imho.
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post #14 of 57
9/23/06 at 11:09am
Thread Starter 
Updated the info on the AE900u in the first post. I can't keep this thread current alone, help me out if we want to make this thread useful - thanks!
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post #15 of 57
9/23/06 at 12:03pm
Just curious, where exactly are you seeing this new $100 price drop on the AE900? I've looked around a bit, but can't quite find where you're talking about.
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post #16 of 57
9/23/06 at 12:11pm
Thread Starter 
Erm, my mistake! It's B&H Photo that has it for $1,700 (will fix first post) so it's a $50 drop from what I had before. The deal site I saw that one (dealnews.com) said it was a $100 price drop - but I guess they didn't have the prices as low as we already had it - my bad
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post #17 of 57
9/27/06 at 9:48pm
I vote to add the Panasonic PT-AX100U to the list!
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post #18 of 57
9/27/06 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 
"I vote to add the Panasonic PT-AX100U to the list!"

Sure! Got any details on it yet? Street pricing, location? What would you like me to add?
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post #19 of 57
10/2/06 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightfly13 View Post

"I vote to add the Panasonic PT-AX100U to the list!"

Sure! Got any details on it yet? Street pricing, location? What would you like me to add?

Street Price is currently $1995 at several forum sponsors, Projector People has it in stock. Free shipping at Visual Apex and Projector People. Rebate is the same Blockbuster "$300 rebate" for movie/game rentals.

That's the most current info I know of...
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post #20 of 57
10/8/06 at 8:10am
The HD70 is now $899 at CC (after rebate).
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post #21 of 57
10/8/06 at 9:32am
Thread Starter 
Sorry I was out of reach of the Internet for just over a week (Nepal). I'll make those changes, although I challenge whether the $100 rebate offsets the sales tax most will have to deal with.
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post #22 of 57
10/19/06 at 7:51pm
It looks like the CC rebate on HD70 is over, but Best Buy's website shows a sale price of $899, with an availability date on the projector of Oct 24th - Oct 28th. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be wiser to buy from Projector People along with the $99 lamp warrantee ... wouldn't that be cheaper in the long run?
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post #23 of 57
10/19/06 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 
Good question. Best buy offers free shipping? Still, at least in my state, the sales tax very nearly off sets the savings. But $899+tax, if it's free shipping, is the best, lowest hassle way to buy I've heard so far.
As for $99 lamp warranty, really depends on how much you'll use it, how long you think you'l keep it (is the HD70 just a tide-you-over until $999 1080p in 2ish years?) and I guess just how paranoid you are. Personally I was very worried about bulb life the first year or so I had a projector, only to find I did 400 hours in my first 9 months, then sold it. I won't spend extra money for bulb warranty, personally.

Thanks, btw, for posting, I'll edit the top post.
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post #24 of 57
10/20/06 at 9:34am
Hi,

Another 720p projector to monitor... Epson PowerLite Home 400, a 1500 lumen LCD projector.

MSRP is $1599, cheapest I have seen is at pagecomputers.com for $1324 (4.84 rating at resellerratings.com). Also at thenerds.net for $1440

- J
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post #25 of 57
10/21/06 at 8:40pm
Thanks for the thoughts, Nightfly. I have had a PJ for 5 years (Sony vpl-vw10ht), the family puts ~1500 hours/year on it. But you're right, I do intend to replace this one sooner, so maybe the lamp warrantee isn't a big deal. I was just tired of paying $400-500 for the Sony lamps, although they did last that 2000 hours each time.

BTW, I stopped by a local BB today, they did have 1 HD70 in stock, but quoted me $999. I guess I'll buy it online for the $899 price and choose local store pickup.

thanks for the great thread!
---Michael
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post #26 of 57
10/22/06 at 10:11am
Looks like the BestBuy.com $899 sale on HD70 is over. It's back to $999 on the site.
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post #27 of 57
10/23/06 at 7:15pm
OK, last bump, I promise. The BestBuy.com price on Optoma HD70 is back down to $899 today. I ordered one and opted for store pickup; all the stores in my area had them in stock. Pennsylvania sales tax is 6%, so my total was $954. Since a couple folks (a rare minority) have been unhappy with the HD70, I chose a local store to simplify return options.

BTW, I know there are other great deals out there, I'm going with the HD70 so I can give 2.35:1 a try. It seems like Optoma is the only low-end brand to recognize that some hobbyists are using 'Scope format.

---Mike
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post #28 of 57
10/23/06 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
I'm guessing many of the budget-minded browsers of this thread will be interested to hear your impressions, Mike. HD70 certainly dominates the low-end market. Keep us posted
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post #29 of 57
10/27/06 at 8:49am
anyone found another good place to buy the mitsu hc3000 other than projectorusa? I don't really care for their return policies and would rather avoid them. May not be able to come close to that price, though. Hard to believe they are authorized.
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post #30 of 57
10/27/06 at 11:16am
The Projector Place quoted me $1495 delivered for the HC3000U, and their return policy is slightly more forgiving, i.e. if you put less than 4 hours on the lamp, and repack it perfectly, they say they'll give a full refund, otherwise, 20% restocking fee, just like ProjectorUSA.

Advanced Projector & Home Theater Concepts ((800)704-8660) in New Hampshire quoted me $1489 delivered, but I don't know what their return policy is. They're not an Internet Dealer, but they will ship nationwide, and they told me they are an authorized Mitsubhishi dealer.

Dave
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