Best projector under $2000 tax included? Advice/Comments please

[D-Sisive]

Best projector under $2000 tax included? Advice/Comments please

Gonna pick one up from either staples, bestbuy, or futureshop..or recommend me a place to buy a nicer dedicated home theatre based one in the GTA

cross posted in hardware/request/entertainment

thanks

[Mike71]

For home theatre use I would say the Infocus Screenplay 4805. Its native 16:9 so its perfect for movies, and the picture quality is excellent. There are a few threads about it, or check the manufacturers site or search at avsforum.com, unfortunately I'm not sure if any of those retailers carry it. Check out duocom.ca though, that where my friend ordered his from.

[Chookman]

Gotta know what you are using it for. As a general all-purpose projector, it's hard to beat the benq pb6100 at a cost of $800 after rebate.

[D-Sisive]

For home theatre use I would say the Infocus Screenplay 4805. Its native 16:9 so its perfect for movies, and the picture quality is excellent. There are a few threads about it, or check the manufacturers site or search at avsforum.com, unfortunately I'm not sure if any of those retailers carry it. Check out duocom.ca though, that where my friend ordered his from.


yes i read about the screenplay 4805 being the better of the x1, x1a, and 4800

i was just reviewing some stuff over at projectcentral

the benq 6100, i got for our church but i dont think its that good for home theatre

its on sale at staples now for 100IR and 200MIR but i can spend up to 2000

is there a store in the gta that specializes in selling projectors?

[chdude3]

the benq 6100, i got for our church but i dont think its that good for home theatreBelieve me, it is.

[D-Sisive]

Believe me, it is.


but i only have 12-13 feet of throwing distance to the wall

the pb6100 only shows 93" based on the calculator at projectcentral

i want at least 100" + because theres already a 60" sony hdtv in the way

i have a sat with hdtv, pvr, hd xbox, progressive dvd

i need this by xmas for a gift so i gotta choose it within 2 days and get it setup

im lookin at the 4805 and likin it but i gotta be able to pick it up from a local store in GTA

[frogger]

100 inches from 12 or 13 feet isn't going to look that great.

[D-Sisive]

100 inches from 12 or 13 feet isn't going to look that great.


i used a x1 before and 100" looked fine to me, it had a good throw distance

like i said i also tried the benq 6100 but i put it with a throw of 9" only since i didnt have space to put it above the couch

now theres gonna be shelf for it above the couch to put there so distance is ~13

[Mike71]

Staples.ca still has some X1's available for about 1300+ tax. Between the 4805 and the X1 there really isn't a whole lot of difference besides the native 16:9 on the 4805. I have an X1 and my friend has the 4805 and the picture is very comparable. X1 also has the Faroudja deinterlacing chip which the X1a and X2 do not have. Anyways, X1 is a good alternative if 4805 is too much.

[DavidY]

Under $2000, I would go with either the Infocus Screenplay 4805 or Benq PE5120. Both are DLP and therefore, can be very distracting or bothersome to a minority of viewers who are rainbow sensitive. I use to see lotsa rainbows when I first bought my X1. Just the occasional rainbow during a 2 hour movie....guess my eyes got use to my projector.

Here's a review on the 5120 with comparisons to the 4805:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/benq_pe5120.htm

Not sure about the screen size as the calculator at Projector Central is unavailable for the PE5120.

X1's fan noise is the biggest pet peeve of mine. Great picture otherwise. Fan noise will be a big factor for me when I upgrade my X1.....waiting for the successor to the Infocus Screenplay 4805 or Benq PE5120. The Infocus Screenplay 7205 is too pricey.

Dave

[Mike71]

Good info David, one other thing for someone thinking about the 4805 to consider is that it has a low power mode where the fan is very quiet and extends the bulb rating life to 4000 hours. The fan noise on the X1 doesn't bother me at all probably because I am used to it and I watch with a pretty loud soundsystem most of the time.

[harold_callahan]

does anyone know of a good place to get a sp4805?

The only place I can find is Kennedy HiFi... and they want $1599.

-Callahan-

[D-Sisive]

does anyone know of a good place to get a sp4805?

The only place I can find is Kennedy HiFi... and they want $1599.

-Callahan-


are you serious? 1599 for that is cheap

[DavidY]

FWIW, Cendirect has the BENQ PE5120 for only $1613 plus GST (no PST outside Quebec and the Maritimes).

http://www.cendirect.com/main_en/tech_specs.asp?rPart_no=JO22272D

Dave

[harold_callahan]

I made a mistake it is $1595, not $1599..

700 lumiens wont do it for me though.

-Callahan-

[StarStrike]

The Optoma EzPro739 looks pretty darn good. It's 2300 Lumens and has a Lamp Life of 5000 Hours (Most likely going to be the average which is 2000 hours on normal mode and 3000 on eco mode; 5000 seems too high). It's also "Whisper Quiet" as they say. Check it out here..... http://www.optomausa.com/public/ezpro_739.asp Futureshop is currently selling it for $1699.99 plus a $100 dollar rebate which you'll probably never get back so it's $1699.99 :cheesygri

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=13&sku_id=0665000FS10052926&catid=&newdeptid=1#

[harold_callahan]

I feel the same way SS...

The bulbs are cheap. It is 1024x768. 2,300 lumens and whisper quiet.

But the colour wheel is only 2x not 4x like the SP4805.

This projector is bright and mainly meant for business presentations. I keep reading the the 2x color wheel is prone to the "rainbow effect". I am trying to find out how many segments are on the color wheel.

This projector is selling for $1699 USD...

I wanted to see this projector in action, but no one has it setup.

-Callahan-

[OntarioAcoustics]

I have an Infocus SP4800, a Sanyo Z2, and a Sanyo Z3 on display in my showroom if anyone is interested? We are a family run business and we are located in Brooklin just north of Whitby. I am an authorized reseller of Infocus, Sanyo, NEC, Optoma, and several others. Email me if you are interested

Thanks
Jeff
jeff@OntarioAcoustics.com

[hightech]

I too am looking for options in one of rooms of my home. I wanted to know what a decent projector and screen combo run for? Is $1500 enough for a decent screen ad projector to watch DVD's?

Thanks

[OntarioAcoustics]

Hi Hightech,

I could put together a package for you? Send me an email at jeff@ontarioacoustics.com if you are interested.

I could sell you a 92 inch 16:9 Draper pulldown screen and an Infocus SP4800 projector for $1300?

Thanks
Jeff Stapley
jeff@OntarioAcoustics.com

[josipm]

Can u give me prices for the Optoma H series?

And prices for the bulbs.

[deep]

You still haven't actually told us what is going to be connected to your projector. I went for the PB6200 because it's ONLY connected to my PC....everything comes through there. TV via DScaler, DVDs, DivX, games.

It has a significantly shorter throw than the 6100 and the additional resolution is handy both for PC use as well as allowing you to see a better picture from a close distance. I have 12.5 feet of throw and view from 12', and it looks fantastic at 108". I have also played with an X1 and while obviously impressive considering the price, it does not compare well with the PB6200 unless you're connecting an s-vid or RCA video source. If all you do it watch DVDs, I would go with the 4805 for the 16:9 aspect ratio.

[Mike71]

I made a mistake it is $1595, not $1599..

700 lumiens wont do it for me though.

-Callahan-

Don't let the low number of lumens fool you into thinking this is not a good projector. These are video optimized lumens, and this projector is optomized for home theatre. From what I understand on the higher lumen projectors you only make full use of the lumens in presentation mode. Trust me, this 4805 projector is plenty bright with its 700 lumens as long as you can control your daytime lighting, as that tends to wash out the color(as with any projector) The $1595 price is excellent as my friend paid $1899 just a few months back.

**edit: Just copied this off the Kennedy Hifi site**

InFocus SP4805
Amazing New DLP
Free M1 Plug!
$ 2345

I thought $1595 was way low for this projo, unless you know the owner and he is selling to you below cost! :cheesygri

[DavidY]

Cendirect.com has the Benq PE5120 for $1613. Same class as the Infocus Screenplay 4805. PE5120 review and comparison with SP4805 here: http://www.projectorcentral.com/benq_pe5120.htm

Dave

[OntarioAcoustics]

josipm, the Optoma H30 is $1499 plus taxes but I will have to check with my distributor about lamp prices. I'll get back to you.

Mike71, the reason the 4805 is cheaper now is because Infocus just dropped the MSRP from $1499 USD to $1299 USD. $1595 CDN is definitely a decent price. I know what the cost is on these projectors and I would expect them to retail for between $1600 and $1700.

deep, the X1 is also capable of displaying 16:9 although you would loose some resolution. An X1 or a SP4800 at 16:9 would be 800 x 450 whereas the 4805 is 854 x 480. Both projectors have the Faroudja chip which is a bonus but the 4805 has a definite advantage with the 4x colour wheel. You're right though, the 4805 is a very nice projector.

[OntarioAcoustics]

Hi Josipm,

The Optoma H30 projector is $1499 and the replacement lamps are $450.

Send me an email or a PM if you are interested.

Thanks
Jeff

[shneebs]

OntarioAcoustics,

How much more for the newer H31 Optoma? Same bulb as the H30?

Thanks,

Shneebs.

p.s. Nobody seems to have mentioned this, but the BenQ PE5120 is currently on sale at <a href=../autolink/redirectpage.php?linkid=28 target=_blank>NCIX</a> for $1599.00... (EDIT: $1599 price ends today - Jan 4th, 2005)

link:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13251&vpn=PE5120&manufacture=BENQ&promoid=1022&affiliateid=472595

[OntarioAcoustics]

Hi shneebs,

Unfortunately my distributor doesn't carry the H31.

Thanks
Jeff

[woozy]

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