[catullus]

I have just about reached the point where living without a projector is bad for my health. The Sanyo XP21 has always been my favorite. Several months ago I asked owners of this PJ how long their lamps were lasting. Those who had had the projector for a while seemed to be unable to get past 1000 hours before replacing the lamp.


Has anyone made it substantially past 1000 without any problems?


The 40 to 50 cents an hour bulb cost remains a stumbling block for me--in a month, at least $60, plus the $90 note on the projector itself. If the lamps are reaching 2000 hours, that changes the picture for me.


Mike

 

[JHouse]

I blew past 1000 hours about two months ago. My son is home from school now, so it's on about 10 hours a day. I got tired of the 1000 hour warning, so I reset it. I am thinking of buying the next bulb so I have it ready, because I really can't live without it. BTW what is up with the apparent discrepancy as to the bulb life? I thought I saw somewhere that it was spec'd to last 1000 hours, but now I see everything says 2000. Did I imagine that or were they wrong about the spec or what?

 

[catullus]

Thanks, Joe. I'm encouraged.


I guess the bigger issue is whether a moderately satisfying image at 10 cents an hour can make up for a stupendous, thrilling one at 40 cents. For all the expense I have gone to trying to make up my mind--without having a projector to show for it--I could have bought five XP21 bulbs.


Tomorrow, I believe I'll bite. I already got a new HPTC configured this weekend, just in case.


Better close, since I'm starting to drool on my keyboard with the sheer anticipation of it all.


Mike

 

[Walter]

Does anyone really know the bulb life of the XP21, bought it over the PLV60 since I thought it had 2000 hour lamp life.

 

[catullus]

Walter:


A Sanyo tech told me that the company sets the lamp warning to appear at 1000 hours. But he quickly added that actual bulb life varies depending on many factors, and for that reason that Sanyo does not specify expected lamp hours. What I deduced from all this is that the 1000-hour warning is intended to remind business customers, who drag their projectors around in Range Rovers, bounce them on airport conveyors, and use them to warm bagels, to have an extra lamp handy. One Sanyo dealer (can't name them due to forum policy) lists lamp life as 4000 hours on their specfications page, and for a long time--SE can corrrect me if I'm wrong--Studio Experience claimed 2,000 for the MP38t (a clone of the XP21).


In any case. the fact that nothing else I have seen delivers the home theater experience as thrillingly as the XP21 makes me more and more willing to gamble on lamp longevity.


Mike