Reviews of Marantz VP4001? - Page 90

Hey all,

I did a search and found a similar issue in this thread, but no real resolution was offered.

My question is I'm getting a flashing green lamp light, it flashes for about 10-15 seconds, goes solid, then tries again. Like it's trying to start up, but tripping on something.

The manual doesn't really give a clear reason for this.

I pulled the cover, checked the bulb, there was some dust on a screen on the bulb, cleaned that off and re installed... same thing.

Any other ideas? Do I need a new bulb?

Thanks

The only thought I have is to use a flashlight and watch the fans (3 of them) through the grill on the side when it's trying to start up. If any of the fans don't turn, perhaps that's what's keeping the lamp from striking.

Ok, same issue as above mentioned, except I ordered a new bulb and installed it. It worked great for 2 days and now wont turn on again. The light flashes green, then comes solid, then does it all over again.

All fans are running, this sucks.

-Nick

Is it still under warranty? If it is, I'd try calling Marantz.....customer support is pretty decent. If you bought it brand new, it comes with a 3 yr Marantz warranty.

Mine has over 2500 hours (2 yrs) on it now and running like a champ to this day.

Was the lamp an OEM model or a Chinese knock off? I had a similar problem with an "OEM Equivalent" bulb. Once I popped in the original AN100LP lamp everything worked fine. The crappy "OEM Equivalent" bulb blew out with under 5 hours of use.

How does this projector compare with newer 720p...I have aoptoma hd65, and it's perfectly fine but wondering if it's worth considering this projector or just moving to low cost 1080p. One problem I have withthe optoma is fan noise, has anyone compared these 2 in this respect.

This projector can be a bit loud but it's not overbearing in Eco mode provided your room is properly cooled. I keep my temperature right at 77 degrees and the fans never speed up. The image the VP4001 shoots is excellent but with the new deals coming along for 1080p projectors I wouldn't be in a rush to grab another 720p.

Thanks, have you compared this projector to some of the lower end 1080p projectors?

No, but I'm looking at possibly getting a 1080p model sometime after Cedia as the deals might be pretty good by then. If I do pick one up I'll post a comparison.

Did you reset your hour indicator when you swapped bulbs? I'm assuming that 2400 hours is total, not just on the 2nd bulb?

I have compared (NOT directly though) to a Panny AE2000 and a Mitsubishi HC5500. The Panny was at a friends house and the HC5500 was at my local CircuitCity (before they went bottoms-up).

Aside from the resolution, the VP4001 beats both when it comes to black levels, color production and sharpness. Of course when it comes to brightness, the VP4001 is fairly average but then these older DLP's perform BEST in light controlled environments.

I was very close to pulling the trigger on a 1080p PJ before that but realized that apart from resolution, there's wasn't much the newer cheaper 1080 PJ's offered me so fast forward to 2500 hours now and I still own the VP4001.

I'm running this thing to ground before I think about upgrading.

Not to mention, the short throw on this is really amazing. 120" from 10 feet away is simply awesome.

Brian: Correct.....2400 hours (then) is the total life usage....I never reset the bulb count (well tried but it didn't work so I didn't bother).....my original bulb went out at approx 1000 hours.

Thanks for the response, which of these produced the best overall picture?

Mits HC5500 (nice sharp picture)...very comparable to my VP4001....

Again, this comparison was not direct but I calibrated the PJ's to my best of ability before making a judgement. Personally, if you are used to the 3D-ish look on a older high end DLP PJ, going to entry level LCD's is almost like a taking a step back.

I'd think the newer inorganic 1080 PJ's like Epson 6500, Panny 3000 would fair much better than entry level 1080p PJ's (organic based).

So one odd thing I'm not sure what to do about:

I had my bulb replaced by Mack, they sent a AN-100LP bulb. It works, but the construction of the bulb seems to be somewhat different than the Marantz bulb in a few little ways. Namely, there isn't a metal shield at the back of the bulb. The net effect seems to be 1) the bulb is about 20% dimmer than I remember even my old Marantz bulb being - this seems borne out by the contrast and brightness settings that were there being totally wrong - that is, it needs the brightness kicked up quite a lot 2) a huge amount of light leakage out the side - I am certain that wasn't there before - there is now a light show going on the side of the room the whole time.

I think I basically have 3 options: 1) complain to Mack about the bulb and try to get either a different one or the proper Marantz one, 2) modify the bulb somehow by making a little light shield (I don't want to block the airflow though) or 3) live with it.

It sounds like you got a Chinese knock off lamp. I had a similar problem myself not too long ago though not through Mack. I would complain to Mack and demand an OEM AN100LP bulb. The particular knock off lamp I had burned out within 3 hours of use.

I see, but realistically, aren't all the bulbs made in china? Even the Marantz bulbs have chinese characters on the side. I googled an image of the AN100LP and it does look very much like the one I got. But it looks different from a LU4001vp bulb - the construction is quite different at the rear of the bulb and I think that accounts for what I'm seeing - a lot of the light is going out the side of the projector instead of the lens.

Any suggestions are welcome, thanks for the reply, too.

Not all Chinese bulbs are created equal. If I recall I think the Sharp lamps are actually manufactured in Japan. You'll know you have a cheap knock off if there is no filter material on the lamp housing and the bulb looks different from your original.

^ I, too, have the Mack warranty (which gave birth to the Official bulb warranty thread)....

So now have they changed their claim policy in the sense that they send u the bulb directly instead of having u buy the bulb and then fax them the receipt and then they reinemburse u?

Thanks

PS: Messed around with the CMS settings last nite (painful process as I went one field at a time) but came up with a nice vivid picture. Will post some shots when I get a chance.

This is not good. I have a Mack warranty as well and my bulb is past the 2000 hors mark. I rather buy the bulb from Sharp and submit the receipt for reimbursement. Need to post this at the Mack thread. Maybe Mack will clarify this for us.

Please, do post your CMS setting/values if you could. Thanks.

First off, I want to say that Mack already has contacted me multiple times and is going to take care of this one way or another. They have been great. Keep in mind that the reason that I posted this in the forum was I wanted to know if what I was experiencing with the new bulb was normal - I am looking for feedback. Mack said they didn't think it was normal.

So, I walked across the street and got the Marantz Bulb from my neighbor, who bought the same projector at the same time. I took a few pictures. Here is a comparison between the new Sharp Bulb and the original Marantz Bulb.

Marantz is on the left:







Marantz:


Sharp:


Leakage: this is a shot into the side of the projector - it's still the middle of day here so I can't really get the lightshow on the wall as the room is not totally light controlled.


I think what is causing the leakage are a few things: note the lack of the metal shield at the back of the Sharp lamp, that the glass is made of a different material (notice the purpleish glass of the Marantz) and, although I don't think it is affecting it much, the lack of the copper shield over the end of the bulb.

I post these just to illuminate (so to speak) what I am seeing and to facilitate the discussion.

Also, I just noticed this; convexion is quite right, you can't see it in these shots, but there is no filter material on the other side of the bulb, so this bulb may indeed be some sort of less expensive version.

I have a Sharp Z3000 that I bought new 2 years ago and do not have any light leakage nor any a drop in brightness. Did you receive an original Sharp OEM bulb?

I really don't know -there were no markings, but the box had the an100lp part number on it.

The bulbs are drop in replacements for each other, but I'm guessing the Sharp has an internal design difference that helps with the light leakage that the Marantz bulb does not.

My guess is his Marantz bulb is an OEM Sharp, since Sharp built those projectors for Marantz and the replacement he got was an after market, Chinese made lamp. As far as I know, the Sharp lamps are built in Japan.

I would think there would be clear marking if it was an OEM lamp.

*EDIT*
According to this image from Amazon your Marantz bulb looks like a genuine Sharp OEM lamp. http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-SHARP-AN...2626947&sr=8-1

Insist Mack replace it with an OEM.

The Marantz bulb, (which actually is my neighbors, but it's the original bulb with his projector, just like mine was before it went) is actually labeled LU4001VP - the marantz designation.

Thanks for that image from amazon though - it looks like I got a chinese knockoff and it really should look like that.

My VP4001 has at least that amount of light leakage with its original bulb.

I think I put up a picture that isn't really very indicative - it's really night and day. I popped in the marantz bulb (my neighbor's, with 1400 hours on it) and it was easily a third brighter than the brand new one that I got from mack with 0 hours on it. The lightshow on the wall from the leakage was dazzling, with the marantz bulb there was none.

both of my DT500 lamps (AN-100LP) look like the Marantz.

That is exactly the point I was trying to make over at the Mack bulb thread. After market bulb is just not acceptable to me. You will take a huge hit in picture quality, not to mention long term reliability with these lamps. That is why I am not going to buy any more bulb warranty. We spent so much time and effort to get the best out of our gear and throw it all because of cheap Chinese knockoff? No, thank you. Mack should give customer the choice to buy the bulb and submit for reimbursement or stop sending out cheap Chinese lamps altogether. only OEM.