What the best technology? Rank them please

[lDlisturb3d]

Im new to projectors and im trying to figure which piece of techonlogy will give me the best results as far a pic quality goes. Im very familiar with flat panels and i know the Plasma gives the best pic quality so i need to know which PJ technology gives off the same type of clarity.

[jibucha]

Hello

Generally, it would be Reflective LCD, which is not the same as Transmissive LCD.

Flat Panels are Transmissive LCD, and Front Projection are Reflective LCD.

Just check out JVC, which is the performance standard, and you will be fine.

This is not to infer that cost effective alternatives will not satisfy you, but JVC is outstanding and has been for more than a decade now.

I figure that many will give advice on most of the alternatives, but I would certainly consider the current Panasonic if I were in a cost minded place, with JVC as the performance standard.

Thank You

Originally Posted by deeman54

Im new to projectors and im trying to figure which piece of techonlogy will give me the best results as far a pic quality goes. Im very familiar with flat panels and i know the Plasma gives the best pic quality so i need to know which PJ technology gives off the same type of clarity.

[Trogdor2010]

Unless if you have the money to buy a high end 3 chip DLP projector which the cheapest one is more than $10,000 and is a 720p set, the best projection display for a consumer friendly price would be LCoS (JVC is D ILA, Sony is SXRD), LCoS displays produce the best contrast out of the projection displays, dosn't suffer from the dreaded "screen door" effect, and the color artifacts from single chip DLP sets (Rainbow effect for example) are not found. Price is still a problem with modern 3 chip LCoS sets, but it is no where near as bad as with 3 chip DLP chips.

A cheap LCoS display would be the LG CF181D, which cost $2499 (Not cheap, but a bargain), keep in mind this is a different type of LCoS projector from Sony and JVC, which produce better contrast, the LG prefers high brightness, but that is for the cinema mode. Otherwise it's an excellent projector.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/proje...tronics+CF181D

[lDlisturb3d]

What about 3 chip LCD, i was looking at the epson 8100 and Panasonic 4000u. They seem to be great under 2000 bucks

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by deeman54

What about 3 chip LCD, i was looking at the epson 8100 and Panasonic 4000u. They seem to be great under 2000 bucks

They are great projectors, and they also improve many of the flaws of older generation LCD projectors and are catching up with LCoS (I bet the Panny is a better performer than the LG). The more premium LCoS projectors are still the best performers for the consumer market, although to some home theater users, they can be questionalble values in comparison to the newer LCD projectors, and it's arguable that the differences are negligable to the point you might as well save the cash and go for a panny or an Epson. Pick your poison and you'll be very happy with it.

[tilallr1]

Yeah my vote would have to go with LCOS projectors. In terms of quality and price point they are the best bang for your buck right now. In terms of leaders in the category, JVC is king.

[Blaumann]

I used to have two DLP pj's over the last five years. In february, i directly compared a Panasonic 4000U (E in my case ) with an JVC 750, side by side for a few hours. (Both pj's can be calibrated to Rec 701, which is important to me.)

I'd have to pay twice as much for the JVC. I went with the Panny, because for me the imo slightly better performace of the JVC wasn't worth the much higher cost. Make no mistake, the JVC was noticeably better, but not "twice" as good.

Personally i couldn't point out a pj tech, that is superior just by being a DLP, LCD or DILA. It's the total package that counts and each comes with trade-offs. The current "forum hype" is probably JVC-DILA, i'd recommend demoing pj's for yourself though.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

I used to have two DLP pj's over the last five years. In february, i directly compared a Panasonic 4000U (E in my case ) with an JVC 750, side by side for a few hours. (Both pj's can be calibrated to Rec 701, which is important to me.)

I'd have to pay twice as much for the JVC. I went with the Panny, because for me the imo slightly better performace of the JVC wasn't worth the much higher cost. Make no mistake, the JVC was noticeably better, but not "twice" as good.

Personally i couldn't point out a pj tech, that is superior just by being a DLP, LCD or DILA. It's the total package that counts and each comes with trade-offs. The current "forum hype" is probably JVC-DILA, i'd recommend demoing pj's for yourself though.

Very true, everyone is different in terms of perceived PQ and what you deem extremely important. Also, agree that demoing PJ's is the best way to go. Although, this can be extremely difficult as all Projectors are not readily available to view everywhere.

Another factor is time and side by side comparisons, which is rarely a possibility. One quick viewing on a projector might not give you enough time to properly evaluate it, nor do a proper comparison. Which is why sometimes, it's much more important to weigh reviews then going solely on your own personal exposure to the technology. Especially if you no nothing about it. If at all else fails go with your gut or your wallet.

[lDlisturb3d]

The panny looks, great but my only issue is that bulb, its life spand is only 2000 and its cost about 350. Thats way too much for a short life spand. the Optoma hd20 last twice as long, and is cheaper. the Epson 8100 as well. i dont think is worth if if you have to change the bulb every year and a half

[Chizzap30]

The best picture I've seen from a Projector thus far has been from the Runco Q750i LED Lit DLP Projector. No other projector has produced the black levels. This is even compared to Runco's VX-22D (which retails at about $50-60k depending on the anamorphic lens options). I've seen the sony SXRD (which you need a Stewart Firehawk SST screen to even remotely look good), the Runco RS-900 (Runco's entry level projector). If you're looking at a good beginning point, the Epson Procinema 9500UB is a good starting point for the money ($3700). But nothing has blown me way like the Q750i which does retail for $15k but there is no lamp to replace, uses 70% less electricity, and quieter this there is less heat produced requiring less fan speed.

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by deeman54

The panny looks, great but my only issue is that bulb, its life spand is only 2000 and its cost about 350. Thats way too much for a short life spand. the Optoma hd20 last twice as long, and is cheaper. the Epson 8100 as well. i dont think is worth if if you have to change the bulb every year and a half

$350 for a bulb is typical for a projector with a stated 2000 hour life even for a projector less than $1000, although they are getting better, especially Epson is. If you don't put matenence to the projector would make the stated bulb life irrelevant. The only thing I would be concern with the panasonic is the warranty, which I think is one of the more weird warranties, which gives you a 1 year warranty or a 2 year warranty for a little more, both which have a 2000 hour bulb limit, which exceeding the stated 2000 hour bulb life, expires the warranty and you'll have to pay for repair and labor. I would highly consider how much you use the projector before purchasing it. Typically users tend to use less than 1000 hours a year for either projection or televisions, but if you play alot of games or television programming, especially if you play in long sessions, you could break the warranty just for heavy use.

Put it short, when it comes to really expensive equipment, warranties are your best friend and I would advise to consider it when you buy any product.

[GTP]

Without considering cost , I would go with DLP for the best sharpness and pop.

[bhampton]

I know LCOS/SXRD is the absolute best.

(Cuz that's what I've got, yo.)

-Brian

[Crimson King]

My manager at s former Multiplex claimed that the Xenon bulbs for the film projectors were over a grand a piece, I surley did not beleive him!

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

My manager at s former Multiplex claimed that the Xenon bulbs for the film projectors were over a grand a piece, I surley did not beleive him!

The Sony VPL-HW100 used a xenon bulb, which cost $1000 and the thing can barely break 400 lumens. The new JVC projectors have much better contrast, sharpness, color accuracy, and is even much cheaper ($4000-$9000 depending on model and dealer), and twice as bright. Plus the bulb only cost a modest third of what the Outdated Sony VPL-HW100 did. Keep in mind though that the Sony, while cost a heavy penny ($9000) at the time, it was the first consumer 1080p displays and many people were willing to pay to have it.

[phansson]

Its hard to rank them, as both DLP and SXRD/LCOS have strengths and weaknesses.

DLP is usually brighter, better picture during motion and usually has a sharper image. DLP can also be very loud, have screen door effect, rainbow effect and poor black levels.

SXRD/LCOS usually has better color reproduction, quieter operation and better black levels, but usually have a slightly softer picture because of alignment issues and I have all ways noticed motion blur on the two SXRD units I have owned.

For my installation I went with SXRD/LCOS because of where the projector is mounted (right above my head, so quiet is better) but if I had a room where the projector could be mounted behind a wall or in a hush box, I would have gone with DLP.

There are all ways exceptions, such as 3 panel DLP but those options cost $$$$$$$$.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by phansson

Its hard to rank them, as both DLP and SXRD/LCOS have strengths and weaknesses.

DLP is usually brighter, better picture during motion and usually has a sharper image. DLP can also be very loud, have screen door effect, rainbow effect and poor black levels.

SXRD/LCOS usually has better color reproduction, quieter operation and better black levels, but usually have a slightly softer picture because of alignment issues and I have all ways noticed motion blur on the two SXRD units I have owned.

For my installation I went with SXRD/LCOS because of where the projector is mounted (right above my head, so quiet is better) but if I had a room where the projector could be mounted behind a wall or in a hush box, I would have gone with DLP.

There are all ways exceptions, such as 3 panel DLP but those options cost $$$$$$$$.

So 3 chip LCD aren't on the level of these 2 technologies?

[phansson]

Originally Posted by deeman54

So 3 chip LCD aren't on the level of these 2 technologies?

Here is a good read on 3 chip LCD vs DLP.

SXRD is a modified 3 chip LCD design and has some advantages over LCD.

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

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by phansson

Here is a good read on 3 chip LCD vs DLP.

SXRD is a modified 3 chip LCD design and has some advantages over LCD.

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

thanks

[john_1958]

still say hd-ila and led-dlps, would like lasertv are the best but for some stupid reason can't find them in canada stores