[rklein]

I have decided to buy a FP for the basement.  I have total flexiblilty but will ceiling mount the FP.

Looking to DIY a 120" (diagonal) screen using a Sintra board which will be spray painted with a concoction found over at AVSForum.

Anyhoo, I am looking to purchase either a refurbed Epson 8700UB, or a LG CF181D, or a new BenQ W7000.

I am leaning towards the Epson reburb unit as I can buy it for around $1,500 - $1,600.  It comes with a full warranty and has the best black levels out of all three.   I have read that the LG has better colors and is brighter and is approximately the same price as the refurbed Epson.

The BenQ W7000 enters into the equation because a new unit can be had for $2,100.  It is a light cannon(shouldn't be too much for a 120" screen...) and has kick ass 3D.

That being said, I am pretty ambivilent as far as 3D goes.  The comments about the "Pop/Wow" factor of the Benq unit is interesting but I hear many great comments regarding the Epson as well.

My throw distance is flexible anywhere from 12' to 17'.  The vast majority of use will be movies in a light controlled room.  Maybe 10 to 20% sports with the lighting anywhere from none to medium depending...

I would certainly appreciate if anyone WHO HAS USED any of the above mentioned three projectors have an opinion they could share?  Keep in mind that I am leaning heavily in favor of the refurbed Epson.

Regards,

Randy

[Tyson]

Epson is the way to go, if for no other reason than they have an insanely good warranty - if something goes wrong, they send you a new one, no questions asked. 

I just got the 5010 after my old Panasonic projector died and I am AMAZED at the light output, you can actually watch it during the day.  It's so friggin sharp that it looks like a giant retina display (like on the iPad and iPhone).  I think the 5010 and the 3010 are game changers.  Great blacks, insane light output, incredibly sharp, 1080p, and 3D capable.

The 5010 is more expensive mainly due to having lense shift and better contrast, but if you are going to ceiling mount, then the 3010 is $1500 and comes with free 3D glasses.

[Bob in St. Louis]

I would certainly appreciate if anyone WHO HAS USED any of the above ........

Well, since you put so much extra emphasis on that, I'll just stay over here with my mouth shut looking pretty. 

Bob

[rklein]

Tyson:

Thanks for the input.  I looked at the Epson 5010 but really don't want to spent that much money as I believe they are running around $2,500.  As for the Epson 3010, I will read more on this unit as it seems to be the same price as the refurbed Epson 8700UB.

Bob:

The reason I put an emphasis on wanting opinions from actual users is I didn't want comments like "well, from what I have read..., etc.   Any comments from you would be welcome.  I know by reading threads in this circle that you have had a HT for many years now.  I think I remember you having a Sanyo for many years.  Not sure what you are running at this point.  My goal is to get a pretty good projector and not go over a certain price point.  I am certainly open to any suggestions that you may have.

Regards,

Randy

[Bob in St. Louis]

Ok, gotcha.   

Yes, I had a Sanyo PLV-Z2 that went through a few lamps (about 7000 hours).
Then I had an InFocus that went a few lamps (another 7000 hours).
Now I've got an Epson 8350 with a few hundred hours so far. This is by far and above both of those. big time. It more than fits the bill regarding budget, but you'd need to check for screen size/throw distance. For 12'-17' feet and 120" sound fine. Mine is 140" at 19' and there's a lot of room left on both sides of the zoom knob.

The unit is just a couple feet over my head and is very quiet. Much quieter than the above units.

I'm not familiar with the models you're talking about, but on a performance basis, I couldn't imagine having a better image than what I've got now. Granted, I'm not a "videophile", but Bluray movies like Avatar are nothing short of sharp, bright and spectacular. It's not 3D, but you didn't care much about that anyway.

Give this unit a look, it deserves some attention.

Hope that helps,
Bob

[rklein]

Thanks Bob.  I am still kind of looking at the 8350.  I can pick up a refurb unit for $999.(not scared of refurbs...)  What is scaring me is all of the problems I am reading about in regards to this unit, such as covergence, dust blobs, etc.  It seems if you get a good one you are lucky.  While Epson's service and warranty is second to none, alot of people are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th units and still can't seem to get an 8350 without problems.  That's why I was keying in on the 8700UB.  I will go back and look at the 8350 again.  Maybe I will give VisualApex a call and talk to them about the 8350 vs the 8700UB.  I have heard nothing but good comments regarding quality of picture for the money regarding the 8350.

Regards,

Randy

[Tyson]

3010 is pretty much the same as the 5010.  The main difference is the 5010 has lense shift while the 3010 is a fixed throw.  That means the 5010 can be put anywhere and the image optically moved without affecting resolution.  On the other hand, the 3010 must be mounted flush with the top of your screen, and dead center.  If you do that, then you lose no resolution.  The 5010 does have blacker blacks than the 3010, but you can address that by using a grey screen instead of a white one.  The 3010 and 5010 are both so bright that you don't lose anything by going grey instead of white.

Plus, if you have misconverged panels, dust, etc... Epson replaces it, no questions asked.

[rklein]

Thanks Tyson.  I will start to read comments on the 3010 over at AVSforum.  I have the ability to mount the projector to be flush with the top of my screen and also to be dead center as well.

Regards,

Randy

[Big Red Machine]

I'm moving very soon.  Interested in a Mitsubishi HC5000 for $1200 shipped?

[dwk]

Looking to DIY a 120" (diagonal) screen using a Sintra board which will be spray painted with a concoction found over at AVSForum.

I'm still in the process of finalizing things, but recently set up a Mits HC4000 in the basement on a painted 2.35:1 screen. I'd strongly suggest spending a bit of time over at the diy screen forum at hometheatershack for a different perspective on screen paint. They argue pretty persuasively IMHO that the complex paint concoctions favored at AVSForum dont' really deliver as advertised - far from neutral, prone to hotspotting etc.  Many do seem happy with them, but it's at least worth a bit of research. I used the 'Black Widow' formulation from HTShack since I had lumens to spare on my small screen, and am very happy with it - only 2 components, so far simpler than the AVS mixtures.

[rklein]

DWK:

Thanks for the heads up regarding paint mixtures. After talking with the folks at VisualApex, I will probably end up  buying one of their package deals which will include the projector, 120" screen, ceiling mount, Disney's WOW calibration disk. The screen would be fixed with a matte white with 1.1 gain.

The whole package(provided I stay in the $1,600 projector range will be $1,900.

Being a front projector "virgin", the package deal appeals to me.

Regards,

Randy

[Bob in St. Louis]

That seems like a reasonable deal. Not sure what unit they're talking about though.
Also, is the cal disc the silly type of "calibration" disc that comes with some Pixar movies, or does it go beyond that?

Bob

p.s. I'm using Kilz II as my screen paint, aa the fellas on The Shack site that was the most neutral paint color made.
The videophiles would take it a step further and use one of their recipes (painted over the neutral Kilz II) like The Black Widow recipe to take it that one step further. But I get no hotspotting with Kilz II and it's $20 a gallon.

But in order to take it to that extra step would require having the video measurement device to see what your unit is outputting in your room with your screen etc..etc..etc...
Much like an Acustic guy would measure your room for sound treatments.
To each his own regarding level of satisfaction.

Bob

[jarcher]

If you must have a warranty, then an epson refurb is probably the safest bet.  Remember also at some point you may want to sell on / upgrade, and an epson is going to be more appealing on the second hand market.

If you don't have to get something w/ a warranty, then you might want to look at a JVC model.  All the DILA's are great - very cinematic - and proper high end / quiet projectors designed for home theater. Always series always get very strong reviews.

Two years ago I got a JVC DILA-RS1 & a 108 inch Stewart Studiotek 130 screen all delivered to my door for less than $1800. This was the asking price - no discount asked for. The screen alone goes for over $2500 new.  The projector was over $4K new.  All from a craigslist ad from a well heeled videophile in the Denver area who wanted to upgrade. 

Not trying to toot my horn - I think anyone can get a killer deal on very high end projection / screen if your a bit patient & willing to trawl craigslist and not just the high end listings.  Many times people throw in very good screens w/ projectors & are willing to take much more of a loss on the screen, for some reason.