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Vote for the best 720p PJ

5332 Views 47 Replies 28 Participants Last post by  tradewinds, 
S
I've been yo-yoing between 720p and 1080p. 1080p has glowing reviews but then again good 720p can be had for $1000-2000 compared to $3000 for the 1080p ones.


I've never had a projector and many have said practically any pj will wow me.

Should I go for a good 720p and a very good screen for now and wait for the 1080p to drop to $1000 in 3 years' time?


Please vote for the best 720p (Cost NOT being a factor, PQ and reliability IS a factor) between


1. Panny AX100u

2. Mitsubishi HD1000u

3. Sanyo Z5

4. Optoma models
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reconlabtech
You really are having a hard time with this aren't you?



Just go get the HD1000u or the HD70 and quit worrying about it. You will be happy and you can save for when the 1080Ps are down another 1K or more!
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2

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanjeevnuts /forum/post/0


I've been yo-yoing between 720p and 1080p. 1080p has glowing reviews but then again good 720p can be had for $1000-2000 compared to $3000 for the 1080p ones.


I've never had a projector and many have said practically any pj will wow me.

Should I go for a good 720p and a very good screen for now and wait for the 1080p to drop to $1000 in 3 years' time?


Please vote for the best 720p (Cost NOT being a factor, PQ and reliability IS a factor) between


1. Panny AX100u

2. Mitsubishi HD1000u

3. Sanyo Z5

4. Optoma models
Click to expand...

IMO I would speculate that the AX100 is selling more units worldwide then the Sanyo Z5.


That said I can guarantee you from all the threads I have read in the past 6 months on various forums that their definitely has been more customer complaints & problems encountered with the Panasonic AX100 vs. the Z5.


Also as stated from previous ealier model Z1-Z4 Sanyo owners the warranty service is lagging in customer support.


It is also quite apparent that the problems associated with the AX100 are showing up within the first few months or sooner of usage by the customers due to an obvious lack of Quality Control of the product before it was released and now [Hopefully Not] it looks like Panasonic may begin resorting to the warranty tactics that Sanyo practices.


The ONLY way you could really compare these two popular projectors would be to issue 1000 units of each to individual consumers and track the first 6 months or 500 hrs. of lamp usage of customer complaints, warranty repair requests, exchanges, or total returns on these exact units.


Me personally I would rather have a problem show up in my purchase of the FP a few years down the road and if still under warranty haggle with it then. Heck in a few years I would probably be ready to upgrade anyway.


When consumers purchase a product such as the highly touted AX100 we expect it to perform as advertised but unfortunately due to lack of quality control on the manufacturing end thats not always the case. Thus we sometimes hear of recalls on various products.


I personally went with the Z5 and am extremely satisfied with the PQ mated to the XA2 and I simply made my decision based on the forum threads of early usage problems encountered within the AX100.


I`m sure their are lots of happy AX100 owners and next week my Z5 may bite the dust and I will be singing a different tune but nowadays it seems like its a crapshoot when making a decision with all the variables you have to consider.


Good Luck with Your Decison!



Regards,
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DaGamePimp
2
Well not in your current list but probably the best 720p deal going , read on ...




If you dig around you will probably see that of all the current 720p PJ's the one that seems to get the most positive comments and least amount of reported problems is the Mitsubishi HC3000 (and I am not saying this just because I own one , no buyer justification here) . I got lucky when I picked the HC3000 vs. waiting for the IN76 to ship as I had some good information on it but it was not really a big seller at the time that I bought it . I did have to go through 3 units before getting one that satisfied me but the dealer was excellent in dealing with the issue and Mitsubishi's service was simply awesome (they even called me back about a month later to be sure that I was still satisfied with the unit) . Image quality on the HC3000 is tough to beat (or even match) under $2K (best competition would have to be the InFocus IN76) .


Best of Luck , it's tough to choose when you cannot see them all in person for comparison
.


--- Jason
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P
if you are considering a 720p I would highly recommend you trying to find a Sharp 12000 MKII. This is supposedly going for around $2000 now and was previously a $10-12,000 pj. The thing is a beast and has excellant build quality, and more importantly, a much finer lens that you are going to see on any of the pjs so far listed. Its important to drive home the fact that unlike the Mits HC3000 or the Optoma H7x or Panasonics, the Sharp was not originally built to hit an under $4K price point- all of those others were. That doesn't neccessarily make them bad pjs, but they just won't compare with the Sharp. There usually is not that much difference in the internal electronics between these things. Where the price differential really shows up is in the build quality and specifically in the quality of the optics-primarily the lens(es).

It is a DLP, so you will have to see if RBE (rainbows) will be a problem for you. They shouldn't with most of the advances in wheel speed , etc made prior to this model- but that may be something to look out for. OTOH, I don't think you would have any problem selling the Sharp for just about what you paid for it should you feel a need to go to a different technology.


If I hadn't already upgraded to a Pearl, I would be running around in a state of hysteria trying to find one of these.
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C
It's down to your usage and what you're willing to give up to get it.


I gave up my HD72 for an AX100 to get the ansi needed during the day time.
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DaGamePimp

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulidan /forum/post/0


if you are considering a 720p I would highly recommend you trying to find a Sharp 12000 MKII. This is supposedly going for around $2000 now and was previously a $10-12,000 pj. The thing is a beast and has excellant build quality, and more importantly, a much finer lens that you are going to see on any of the pjs so far listed. Its important to drive home the fact that unlike the Mits HC3000 or the Optoma H7x or Panasonics, the Sharp was not originally built to hit an under $4K price point- all of those others were. That doesn't neccessarily make them bad pjs, but they just won't compare with the Sharp.


If I hadn't already upgraded to a Pearl, I would be running around in a state of hysteria trying to find one of these.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah no doubt there , that Sharp would be a steal for under $2K (if you can find one) .


-- Jason
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M
Probably the Sharp 12000MKII.
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E
hell.....I am suprised no one mentioned the hitachi pjtx100.......it has one hell of a sweet lense....however, U do need to tweak the gamma settings a bit to achieve comparable contrast ratios to the others mentioned.......couple it with a dalite high power(if your set up alllows) and you will be floored, especially since you have never owner a projector......plus, its cheaper than the others you mention, even if that isn't in your consideration for purchase.


IMHO, I would go dirt cheap 720p right now and wait for true affordable nirvana in about 2-3 years...you will be more than satisfied.


Plus, you never mentioned if you are sensitive to rainbows or if you want lense shift....I sadly, and sensitive to rainbows and even though I have tried dlps, I have had to return them for lcds because I get a severe headache within 15-20 minutes....my stigmatism doesn't help either.
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K
I saw a lot and bought a HC3000. At its current prices its a steal.


Amazing combination with the 720p output of the Toshiba HD XA2 HD DVD player when you set that HD DVD palyers output to 720p and set the HDMI input on the User setting on the HC3000 to 100% overscan (ie 1:1 pixel match). Bit of user justification here you can now get one for half the price I paid for it.


The HC3000 was the first DLP that had noone complain of rainbows on it in its thread here on AVS. Its blacks looks deep black and the colors when calibrated are exceptional. YMMV
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C
Willing to broaden your horizons?


For your consideration:


HC3000

HD73

Z-3000

DT-500
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M

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericc1 /forum/post/0


hell.....I am suprised no one mentioned the hitachi pjtx100.
Click to expand...

I'm not. It's not in the same league as the best 720p units. That's why it hasn't been mentioned.
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S

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silverfox1 /forum/post/0


IMO I would speculate that the AX100 is selling more units worldwide then the Sanyo Z5.


That said I can guarantee you from all the threads I have read in the past 6 months on various forums that their definitely has been more customer complaints & problems encountered with the Panasonic AX100 vs. the Z5.


Also as stated from previous ealier model Z1-Z4 Sanyo owners the warranty service is lagging in customer support.


It is also quite apparent that the problems associated with the AX100 are showing up within the first few months or sooner of usage by the customers due to an obvious lack of Quality Control of the product before it was released and now [Hopefully Not] it looks like Panasonic may begin resorting to the warranty tactics that Sanyo practices.


The ONLY way you could really compare these two popular projectors would be to issue 1000 units of each to individual consumers and track the first 6 months or 500 hrs. of lamp usage of customer complaints, warranty repair requests, exchanges, or total returns on these exact units.


Me personally I would rather have a problem show up in my purchase of the FP a few years down the road and if still under warranty haggle with it then. Heck in a few years I would probably be ready to upgrade anyway.


When consumers purchase a product such as the highly touted AX100 we expect it to perform as advertised but unfortunately due to lack of quality control on the manufacturing end thats not always the case. Thus we sometimes hear of recalls on various products.


I personally went with the Z5 and am extremely satisfied with the PQ mated to the XA2 and I simply made my decision based on the forum threads of early usage problems encountered within the AX100.


I`m sure their are lots of happy AX100 owners and next week my Z5 may bite the dust and I will be singing a different tune but nowadays it seems like its a crapshoot when making a decision with all the variables you have to consider.


Good Luck with Your Decison!



Regards,
Click to expand...

Z5 does look promising but a question here. Does the low lumen rating (compared to say the panny) mean the image gets washed out in even a little ambient light?
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S

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanjeevnuts /forum/post/0


1. Panny AX100u
Click to expand...

(sarcasm)
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S

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanjeevnuts /forum/post/0


Z5 does look promising but a question here. Does the low lumen rating (compared to say the panny) mean the image gets washed out in even a little ambient light?
Click to expand...

ANY FP will wash out with to an extent with ambient light. Some more then others with screen material color & throw distance playing a BIG part in the equation.


The AX100 would be better then the Z5 and countless other projectors if you plan on using your FP for all around use and not just evening & nightime viewing.


Your room variables will not be the same as other folks that experience satisfied results with some ambient light. [Wall, ceiling color & height, furniture color, carpet] All of these variables come into play.



If ALL the variables I listed were the same with NO ambient light and you had both the AX100 & Z5 set to the same viewing content & lamp mode the output in lumens would be about the same. 300 to 500 lumens.


With that being said DO NOT let the potential lumen output of the AX100 dictate your purchase decision entirely. There are projectors on the market selling for over $10,000 that have no more lumens then the Z5. The Z5 is rated on the low end at 1100 Lumens and several independent reviews have tested its output closer to 1400. You will never need the full lumen output potential of these projectors for normal viewing. The Lumen output & contrast ratios are merely selling tactics used by the manufacturers targeting the budget-minded middle class consumer group.


My throw distance is 19` ft. displayed on a 120" Diag. DW 354-60 Laminate screen and I cannot view the image if played in the Dynamic & Vivid mode because it is too bright.


Bottom line is YOUR above mentioned environment variables.


After you have accounted for, read & absorbed all the variables associated in regards to displaying nice PQ and performed all these tasks in your potential viewing area you will be very satisfied with your final FP decision providing the projector doesn`t FAIL out of the box or within a few months.


When that happens WE ALL as human nature dictates feel like we made the wrong decision. In reality we did NOT make the wrong decision but the manufacturers Quality Control system has failed the consumer.


Regards & Good Luck in the final decision we ALL had to make !!!
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G
The best 720p projector is the 3 chip Sin2 C3x. Of course is costs $12,000.


The best around $1200 is probably the Mitsubishi HC3000.
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F
No one recommending the Epson? The TW700 / 810 seems like the best of both worlds when comparing the AX100 and the Z5. Bright clean sharp image and so far with out any major quality issues.


I haven't seen one yet in person, but that is what I am going with based on the reviews I have read. I just have to get my new theater room presentable enough to install equipment. At the rate I'm going I'll probably be able to get a TW1000 (1080p) for the same price. Good thing I still have my Panny 300U kicking...
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E
yeah, I was thinking of the epson too.....I just saved money and went dirt cheap with the hitachi.......but he should seriously consider the epson......overall, I tend to lean towards epson because of reliablity/quality and they have incredible customer support and a great bulb replacement service.......for newbies especially since the OTB picture is usually fantastic on epson projectors.
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E
not necessary those particular epsons; how bout the pro or home cinema 800s?
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S
"OTOH, I don't think you would have any problem selling the Sharp for just about what you paid for it should you feel a need to go to a different technology."


No need. The Sharp is sold with a 90 day return policy......


Shawn
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