[scotttnz]

I'm in the market for my first prolector. My budget is pretty tight. I have looked at the Epson S1, Infocus X1, and Sanyo Z1. I have ruled out the X1 because my wife and I both found rainbows quite distracting. The Sanyo would really be stretching my budget by the time I buy a screen, mounting, cables etc. (plus I can get the S1 or X1 at wholesale through work but not the Z1).

I have read a bit about the Epson Home 10 (Sold downunder as the EMP TW10) but can't find many reviews, and haven't been able to view it myself. So my question is has anybody out there seen one in action? and how does it compare to the X1, Z1, and S1 for widescreen DVD viewing. I won't be using it much for anything other than DVD movies. Of course most of my DVD's are PAL, but comments on NTSC viewing would be appreciated also.


Thanks

 

[monsta11]

If you havent already bought another projector, this Epson is absolutely fantastic regardless of its cheap price($3299NZ) It leaves the other projectors for dead in overall picture quality and comfort(NO RAINBOWS!!! LCD RULES!!!!) If you think of a TW100 with less resolution and as good blacks, or maybe slightly better, you would come up with this projector. Dont be to greedy with picture size (84"-92" 16/9) and sit at the correct distance back, you will be very happy. Your local Eastern Hifi store in Napier should have one this week.

I set up one with a 77" 16/9 screen and a 50% neutrel density filter to keep the ft lamberts under control and it looked awesome!!!!!!


Cheers

Aaron

Eastern Hifi

Custom Install Division

 

[Spoonfed]

Im looking at an X1, but this has now intriged me (similar price). I wonder however how bad the screendoor (being only WVGA 848 x 480) will be on it, and i'd say with 700:1 contrast blacks and shadow detail will be well down on the X1, colour may be OK but (being Epson). As far as resolution goes, the extra 30 lines in 16:9 over the X1 i doubt would be noticeable at all.

 

[Spoonfed]

Im looking at an X1, but this has now intriged me (similar price). I wonder however how bad the screendoor (being only WVGA 848 x 480) will be on it, and i'd say with 700:1 contrast blacks and shadow detail will be well down on the X1, colour may be OK but (being Epson). As far as resolution goes, the extra 30 lines in 16:9 over the X1 i doubt would be noticeable at all.

 

[scotttnz]

I was all set to buy the X1, but thought I should demo it to my wife just incase she was effected by rainbows. She was, big time, and the more I watched it the more it bugged me too. The Sanyo Z1 is really out of my price range, so I had pretty much settled on epson S1, but am not entirely happy with not having an optical zoom. I worked out that my throw distance will be ideal for the S1 anyway, my room is just the right size to mount the pj on the back wall, and put a pull down screen in front of the curtains without using the digital zoom. I was happy with the picture quality I saw demod (for the price!). But then I heard about the TW10, and now I am having doubts about the S1. The TW10 has slightly better resolution than the S1 in widescreen mode, an optical zoom, and better contrast ratio (you are right though the X1 is better in that respect). I think I will shop around and see what price I can get the TW10 for, and if the price difference is not to big I might go for it.....if I can convince the one who holds the cheque book. I am guessing the difference will be around NZ$1000 because I can by the S1 which is classified as a computer product through work, but not the home theatre TW10

 

[Robert Clark]

Does anyone know if this model has the MLA (as does the S1)?

 

[scotttnz]

Excuse my ignorance......what is MLA?

 

[Kriilin]

Quote:

Originally posted by scotttnz Excuse my ignorance......what is MLA?

MIcro Lens Array - Helps to reduce screen door.

 

[Hessian]

Quote:

Originally posted by scotttnz I was all set to buy the X1, but thought I should demo it to my wife just incase she was effected by rainbows.

Who let you demo in Napier ? I am in Christchurch and finding it impossible to demo any projector.


I also find prices are just too expensive in NZ. I want a PJ for DVDs, Xbox and PC connection. I'm leaning towards the X1 for under NZ$2k, imported from the US.


Many of these budget projectors only support component input via the VGA DB15 connector. Anybody know where in NZ you can get an adaptor cable and how much ?

 

[Spoonfed]

Hessian,


You can get the X1 for $2099 ADVERTISED (so maybe cheaper) here in Oz, (not sure what that is in NZ $'s) but maybe warranty is valid between OZ/NZ?

 

[scotttnz]

The local Eastern Hifi had the screenplay version of the X1 and the S1 so I was able to see them one after the other.

 

[Hessian]

Thanks for the info. I have found out that it InFocus support a 2yr international warranty. So to break it down as to where to purchase from...


US = NZ$1950

OZ = NZ$2400

NZ = NZ$2700


So, not much incentive to buy in NZ

 

[Spoonfed]

Where in the US have you sorced the X1?


IM guessing then I should be able to get it delivered to my door for $1500 AUD or so? Is this correct?


Are your international prices including Customs fees? Does NZ have GST like UD?


What are the base fees from the states less your GST and Customs fees (but include the shops freight/insurance) then i can just add our GST and Customs.


It's good that Infocus warrenty is international, pitty the other large companies cant manage the same

 

[Hessian]

I am getting a friend I have in the US to source it and send it. Retail is US$999 + allowing US$100 for shipping to NZ. No customs or GST to pay as my friend will mark it as a 'gift' (otherwise would be another 12.5%)

 

[WTS]

Hi; The tw10 has about the same specs as the Pany L200 at 1/3 the cost, at least here in Canada. The Epsom Canada site lists it for $1299.00 cdn (thats about US$900.00) and the S1 for $999.00cdn. It wasn't listed on the US site,strange. Does anyone what type of processing it has in it, I doubt it's the same as the tw100, but you could always hope. Maybe some of the connected guys on this site could find out whats inside it.

 

[Spoonfed]

If it had half decent colours and shadows detail for a cheaper LSD (like the AE300) and screen door was better than average for an LSD it sounds like a good buy. I'd like to hear of some comparisons to the X1, the fact that it is 16:9 native is a big plus but if its picture is not better than the X1 then the extra 30lines of res can be negated i think?


I asked a Sanyo Dealer here, but they informed me that Sanyo will only let AV Hometheater places sell it and not Data Projector specialists, which we all know means we pay more money.

 

[WTS]

Hi Spoonfed; I think you mean "LCD"not LSD, LSD was the drug of the 60's and the 70's. THe tw10 should available in Canada this month according to Epson Can. web site.

 

[Spoonfed]

hahahahaha LSD, maybe i had dropped some before my post

 

[scotttnz]

After digging around today, I have found that epson in NZ only sell the TW10 through retail channels, so I can't get one through work. So I probably won't be able to justify the difference in price between buying the S1 wholesale verses the TW10 retail. I will probably get the S1 and invest a little extra in a better screen. Might be worth looking into buying from overseas though....

Hessian, I would recommend you can view an X1 or similar projector before you order one from overseas....My wife and I were both distracted by rainbows, and would have been very annoyed if we had bought one, but you may not be effected by them. It would just be safer to know before you buy from overseas....

 

[monsta11]

Hi there ScottNZ,

You said earlier that the TW10 has only slight ly more resolution than the S1. Have you actually seen the TW10 going? There is a MASSIVE difference in quality between the two, far more than the difference between the price you can pay at wholesale verses paying retail for the TW10. Like I said earlier, the Napier store now has TW10s in stock, so go and see one in the flesh and you wont mind the increase in price.

Cheers


Aaron Bleakley

Eastern hifi

Custom Install