Thread: Best Projector for the money?

Originally Posted by Jake

I was thinking about going from my sharp lcd screen to a projector to get a bigger picture. I was afraid of sacrificing quality for the big picture. Also my local store is selling a sony vpl-vw60. I have been doing some research online, and I came across the JVC SXRD DLA550, which I read had some really deep blacks plus it has the 120 hz capabilities. I have also read that the 120 hz is not that great. I have also read some reviews saying bad things about both of these projectors coloring. Does anybody have a suggestion on the best projectors for image quality?

Hi Jake,

Our resident projector experts (and I do mean experts) are Robert Zohn and joerod; they both know this stuff very, very well. Hopefully, we can get either or both of them to chime in and help you find your best choice. (*hastily PMs both of them the link to this thread*)

Yours,

David

Jake, One of the projectors you referenced in your op is JVC's HD550 and I can tell you by far that's the best front projector on your list.

Panasonic's AE4000 is an excellent projector as is Epson's HC 8100, but they are far away from the quality of JVC's HD550, not even close. JVC's HD550 can cost almost twice as much as Panasonic's AE4000 or Epson's HC 8100, but if you can go for the HD550 you will love every minute of viewing the high-end cinema experience this projector delivers.

I also like Epson's flagship projector, model 9500UB , but not as much as the HD550.

-Robert

Originally Posted by davidjschenk

Hi Jake,

Our resident projector experts (and I do mean experts) are Robert Zohn and joerod; they both know this stuff very, very well. Hopefully, we can get either or both of them to chime in and help you find your best choice. (*hastily PMs both of them the link to this thread*)

Yours,

David

David,
I actually did send a private message to joerod, but since I am kind of new to this site I am not a hundred percent I sent it correctly or that it went through. I also started looking into the sony vpl-hw15 because it is like half the price of the sony vpl-vw60, and I read a review that said it was nearly as good. I am confused about the price difference though because i think the vpl-hw15 is actually newer than the vpl-vw60.

Originally Posted by DigitalDoctor

I second that. I had a Panasonic PT-AE3000 and it was spectacular but opted for the newer, much less expensive model and man does it look great. Nothing else comes close. See here for a review - http://www.projectorcentral.com/pana...tor_review.htm

I have been checking these projectors out on that site, but I did have a question about the specifications it gives. Next to display on lets say a sony projector it will say (SXRD 3) or (.6' SXRD 3). So from my understanding SXRD is the sony version of the lcos technology, and the 3 most likely stands for a 3 chip projector. Does anybody know what the .6' stands for?

Originally Posted by Jake

I was actually more interested in the lcos technology instead of an lcd projector. I have read that it is superior, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Also was wanting a 3 chip instead of a one chip. The JVC HD550 is my number one choice at this point, but unfortunatly I have been unable to find it in any of my local stores. If you guys know an online store with a good price and good financing please let me know. I also just posted that I was looking into the sony vpl-hw15 because of its low price, and because I heard it could compete with the sony vpl-vw60. Do you guys know anything about the vpl-hw15, and do you think it could compete with the JVC HD550?

Hi Jake,

Robert runs his own store, which sells plenty of JVCs. You can check out his online storefront at ValueElectronics.com and then give him a call if you're interested. Also, Chris Majoros runs ClevelandPlasma.com, which has a convenient online shopping cart. Both are top-notch stores. 'Course, you also can click our Amazon banner above to see how much it costs there; Amazon is awesome for price-matching.

Yours,

David

Originally Posted by davidjschenk

Hi Jake,

Robert runs his own store, which sells plenty of JVCs. You can check out his online storefront at ValueElectronics.com and then give him a call if you're interested. Also, Chris Majoros runs ClevelandPlasma.com, which has a convenient online shopping cart. Both are top-notch stores. 'Course, you also can click our Amazon banner above to see how much it costs there; Amazon is awesome for price-matching.

Yours,

David

Well Value electronics will only sell that particular projector in the store and not online, and clevelandPlasma does not offer any financing. Thanks for the info though.

Originally Posted by Jake

Well Value electronics will only sell that particular projector in the store and not online, and clevelandPlasma does not offer any financing. Thanks for the info though.

Hi Jake,

Ooo--that's too bad. Well, maybe try Amazon, then. I just got a reply from joerod for you, too:

Originally Posted by joerod

Hi, I really like the Epson 9500 (Robert sells them 800 789 5050) and the panny 4000 is not to shabby to. The 9500 does edge it out though.

You might try peaking at those two, too. Good luck, and let us know what you eventually decide!

Yours,

David

So at the top end of my price range I am considering the Sony vpl-vw60 and the JVC DLA-HD550, both at about $5000. Based on what I've heard so far the JVC beats the Sony. On the lower end of the price range is the Panasonic 4000, the epson 9500, and Sony vpl-hw15, all falling between about $2000 and $4000. Also based on what I've heard the epson 9500 beats the panasonic 4000, but is also about $2000 more expensive. the only thing that turns me away from those two projectors is the fact that they are lcd and not lcos. I am not sure if I am giving the lcos to much credit over the lcd, but I have heard the lcos is better than the lcd. Meanwhile the sony vpl-hw15 is the cheapest of these projectors that uses the lcos technology. also another major point to consider is if the sony vpl-hw15 is just as good as the sony vpl-vw60, it is also about $2000 dollars cheaper. Basically if I went with the lcos technology I have narrowed it to either the JVC DLA-HD550 at about $5000 or the Sony vpl-hw15 at about $3000. The main question is am I correctly assuming that lcos over lcd actually makes a difference, and is JVC DLA-HD550 worth an extra $2000 over the Sony vpl-hw15.

Originally Posted by davidjschenk

Hi Jake,

Ooo--that's too bad. Well, maybe try Amazon, then. I just got a reply from joerod for you, too:



You might try peaking at those two, too. Good luck, and let us know what you eventually decide!

Yours,

David

David,
Thank you for getting a hold of joerod for me. While I do value his opinion, I am hesitant about those projectors due to the fact that they are lcd and not lcos projectors. I am kind of hung up on the 3 chip lcos projectors. Of course I may be giving them way to much credit. Also I think I read that the panasonic 4000 are more noisy than other projectors; however, if they are not noisy, and I can look past the fact that it is not a lcos, it could jump right to my number one pick just because it is considerably cheaper than all of the other projectors I am considering at this point. Do you think you could find out from joerod if he considers the lcos vs lcd question, and if he noticed that the pansonic 4000 was noisy? I was also curious if he was familiar with the sony vpl-vw60, sony vpl-hw15, or the JVC DLA-HD550.

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Jake, One of the projectors you referenced in your op is JVC's HD550 and I can tell you by far that's the best front projector on your list.

Panasonic's AE4000 is an excellent projector as is Epson's HC 8100, but they are far away from the quality of JVC's HD550, not even close. JVC's HD550 can cost almost twice as much as Panasonic's AE4000 or Epson's HC 8100, but if you can go for the HD550 you will love every minute of viewing the high-end cinema experience this projector delivers.

I also like Epson's flagship projector, model 9500UB , but not as much as the HD550.

-Robert

Robert,
Both you and Clevelandplasma suggested the JVC DLA-HD550, which is my number one pick. I was wondering if you were familiar with the Sony vpl-hw15. It is considerably cheaper, but I am not one to sacrifice good quality for a lower price tag. You said that the JVC blew the sony vpl-vw60 out of the water, but it is about the same price. If the sony vpl-hw15 is as good as the sony vpl-vw60, which I heard it is, would you still say that the JVC is worth an extra $2000 dollars over the sony vpl-hw15? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am also finding different info on the epson 8100 and 9500. One site is telling me it does have the 24 fps and another site is telling me it does not have the 24 fps. I have also been using this website for some of my research

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/home...rame-rate.html

I was wondering if anybody had been there before. Does anybody know how accurate it is?

I need your help here guys. My name is Gary and I just registered last night. I would like to get your opinion on these two projectors. I can purchase a new Epson 8500 UB and a JVC RS10 (used with a little over 200 hrs.) for about the same price. What should I get?? I have a dedicated HT with an 85" Stewart Screen. Rm size is only 12.5' x 18.5'. I'm currently using a Sim2 CRT SVD800 HD, DVDO iScan VP50 HD Scaler, Oppo BDP 83, Theta Casablanca III processor, and a 5 channel Sunfire Cinema Grand-Bob Carver Amp. I have a dedicated audio system and not really into video and would like to get some help to make the best educated decision.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Gary