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Stuck mirror repair policies

2404 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by dennisg, Jan 27, 2004

TimB

Discussion Starter · Jan 26, 2004

After reading the 'Dead Pixel Blues' thread, I was wondering what the 'stuck mirror' policy for various DLP manufacturers are? I am considering products from BenQ, NEC, InFocus, and Optoma. Anyone know?

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dennisg

· #2 · Jan 27, 2004

I called Marantz about this very topic and was advised ...................

1.) The DMD engines are supplied by T.I (which we all know)

2.) There is a spec for allowable stuck mirrors, but the marketing guy said he did not know what it was off the top of his head.

3.) He claims that every DLP projector supplier suffers from the problem, which makes sense, since they use the same supplier

4.) He said the problem was rarely noticeable and if present, most likely to be seen when calibrating test patterns.

5.) He also said that Marantz does it's best to screen this problem from end-users - I suppose by returning the worst DMD's.

6.) Finally. he said that if a customer had a stuck mirror in the center of field of view that was visible and objectionable, they "would make it right" - replace it??

I know this is not very comforting, at least for me, but I have to assume that it is not a major problem, or it would be getting a lot more press on these forums.

Dennis

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The HT Rookie

· #3 · Jan 27, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by dennisg
I called Marantz about this very topic and was advised ...................

1.) The DMD engines are supplied by T.I (which we all know)

2.) There is a spec for allowable stuck mirrors, but the marketing guy said he did not know what it was off the top of his head.

3.) He claims that every DLP projector supplier suffers from the problem, which makes sense, since they use the same supplier

4.) He said the problem was rarely noticeable and if present, most likely to be seen when calibrating test patterns.

5.) He also said that Marantz does it's best to screen this problem from end-users - I suppose by returning the worst DMD's.

6.) Finally. he said that if a customer had a stuck mirror in the center of field of view that was visible and objectionable, they "would make it right" - replace it??

I know this is not very comforting, at least for me, but I have to assume that it is not a major problem, or it would be getting a lot more press on these forums.

Dennis

You will probably get the same response from just about any manufacturer. From my experience and from what I have seen here with many manufacturers , if you make a little noise about it, they will fix it. None of them want to publicly commit to a policy and the few that have have quietly backed down on it. It's really a non issue, if you have a stuck mirror politely ask the manufacturer to accomodate you with a repair. You may have to talk to a few different reps, just be polite but firm and you'll get it fixed.

htr

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ontheinside

· #4 · Jan 27, 2004

Stuck mirrors, dead pixels, or stuck panels. You will run into a associated problem with almost any chip based device. DLP, LCD, LCOS etc.......

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Kysersose

· #5 · Jan 27, 2004

LCD dead pixels are much more common than stuck mirrors. IMHO

I've still yet to see a stuck mirror. Just look at the stuck mirror to dead pixel post ratio on the forums.

I've owned two DLP's and not one stuck mirror. I've owned (1) and used 2 LCD's. They all had more than 3 dead pixels each.

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cmjohnson

· #6 · Jan 27, 2004

My personal standard for stuck/dead pixels or mirrrors is this simple: A total of ZERO is acceptable. Anything else, and I'll be looking for a replacement, at no cost to me. If that doesn't happen, bad publicitiy for that company is sure to be spread all over the internet.

I would no more accept a dead or stuck pixel or mirror than I would accept a computer with a persistent error in the RAM memory. And in a manner of speaking, that's a good comparison as you can think of a pixel based display device as a highly specialized memory chip.

But I'm a CRT enthusiast, so it's an issue I don't really have to worry about.

I have yet to meet the glorified flashlight that has made me wish to purchase one.

CJ

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elmhollow

· #7 · Jan 27, 2004

According to Jason at AVS, BenQ's policy (on the PE8700): ZERO. A dead/stuck pixel will result in a warranty swap. I just did a hot-swap with BenQ (because of a different issue) and it went very quickly... during the 'paperwork' phase there were a couple of times they had to call me... and they did!!! Amazing.

Anyway, enough rah-rah about customer service during swap. BenQ's Pixel Policy is Perfect (sorry, couldn't Prevent myself)

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Kysersose

· #8 · Jan 27, 2004

NEC's no hassle instacare warranty is also top notch.

Something you can't get with old CRT's.

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cmjohnson

· #9 · Jan 27, 2004

I'll trade you that for bulletproof reliability, which I have. And if by some chance I should need some parts, the factory that makes my Marquee projectors is 20 miles away from my home, and I know the guys at the factory well enough that anything I need, I can get in an HOUR. Granted, the warranty period is long gone, so anything I might need I'd expect to pay for, but if used parts will serve my needs, and they probably would, then they're a LOT cheaper and still guaranteed to work.

Also, I've never changed a lamp in my CRT projectors. Never will, either. That means a lot to me.

CJ

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Kysersose

· #10 · Jan 27, 2004

CJ, I'm a fellow CRT owner myself. (Marquee 8000)

I like the no hassle, no worry approach that I now have. I've got 3 years of "worry free" movie watching ahead of me. By the end of that (or before) I'm sure I'll be looking at my next PJ. The picture I'm now getting is in some ways better than what the M8000 was giving me.

BTW, my M8000 died about 5 months after I sold it. (Unfortunately)

One more note, bulbs are now pennies a movie.

P.S. This is the Digital forum.

Let's get back on topic.

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TimB

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 27, 2004

Quote:

Stuck mirrors, dead pixels, or stuck panels. You will run into a associated problem with almost any chip based device. DLP, LCD, LCOS etc.......

I'm well aware of that, hence my question on what other DLP owners have found vis-a-vis the mfrs various warranty positions. I've seen a number of dead pixel posts, but not stuck mirrors. i know it happens, as I have seen some on our presentation projectors at work. I know they got fixed, but my involvement ended after I uttered 'get this fixed before my next presentation'. I believe they were fixed under warranty, but I'll confirm before I post whose they are.
Quote:

Let's get back on topic.

Thank you

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Grubert

· #12 · Jan 27, 2004

BenQ has an official "1-year white-dot-free guarantee", as seen here: http://www.acercm.com.tw/news/03/0225.htm

Didn't find anything on dead (ie always black) pixels.

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J.Mike Ferrara

· #13 · Jan 27, 2004

Quote:

My personal standard for stuck/dead pixels or mirrrors is this simple: A total of ZERO is acceptable.

Even though I think you are 'trolling' I have to agree with this statement. We have to set the standard high now, early in the life cycle of digital projectors.

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cmjohnson

· #14 · Jan 27, 2004

No, I'm not trolling. Though I'm not a digital projector user at this time, I can foresee the day when I will be. When digital projection surpasses the image quality of the finest CRT projectors, in every way, then I'll be making plans to get into one. I see it as inevitable and something well worth looking forward to.

At that time, my only remaining gripe will be related to replacing lamps, but even that will probably be a non-issue as I fully expect LED based projection lamps to be the norm by that time, and yes, they will be available in very high luminosities suitable for projection usage, and they will be color correct as well. I believe it.

CJ

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dennisg

· #15 · Jan 27, 2004

Personally, I agree with CJ that "zero defects" is the only acceptable policy, especially for a product costing $10K or thereabouts, and I applaud all manufacturers who protect their customers this way. These are the people I will give my business to.

Dennis

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