Even the AE900 and Z4 720p LCDs can't match this price. The DLP has DarkChip2, Brilliant Color & Image AI.
I didn't think I would see a 720p DLP with such features to hit a grand for at least a year.
It's pretty amazing that you can now have an 8-10'+ wide HD DLP display for such a low price, especially when you see the prices of those overpriced tiny "big screen" TVs.
Spiky
09-08-06, 11:13 AM
Wow, didn't expect this before announcements of 1080p in the <$3K range. Most impressive. Only 4x wheel, but does have 7 segments. I wonder if this will suffer from the recent, "only offer bizarre placement options in low-priced DLP" difficulty.
Sdallnct
09-08-06, 01:08 PM
Very nice...however like Spiky placement is a major issue. But my current set up is pretty straight forward. However flexible set means helping with "future proofing".
I may start upgrading around Christmas...maybe...
Slayer2005
09-13-06, 03:05 PM
www.projectorcentral.com has a positive review of it up now. How can the non C2Fine/non 1080p LCDs survive? I heard the new 720p Panasonic was announced at around $2200. I can't believe the highend LCDs went from providing bang for you buck to being overpriced. Not all that long ago DLP was commanding $1,000-$2000+ more for 720p models. LCDs one big advantage was price and now that is not only gone, but the prices isn't that close anymore. DLP has zoomed past LCD price/performance ratio.
Unless they fire back with a $799 720p LCD at the same level as the AE900/Z4 (at least) their sales should be destroyed. If they do not, their savior will have to be cheap 1080p.
Sdallnct
09-13-06, 03:16 PM
www.projectorcentral.com has a positive review of it up now. How can the non C2Fine/non 1080p LCDs survive? I heard the new 720p Panasonic was announced at around $2200. I can't believe the highend LCDs went from providing bang for you buck to being overpriced. Not all that long ago DLP was commanding $1,000-$2000+ more for 720p models. LCDs one big advantage was price and now that is not only gone, but the prices isn't that close anymore. DLP has zoomed past LCD price/performance ratio.
Unless they fire back with a $799 720p LCD at the same level as the AE900/Z4 (at least) their sales should be destroyed. If they do not, their savior will have to be cheap 1080p.
Well this is just one PJ. And with no lens shift...Right now I still have the AE900 on the top of my upgrade list. But lets see what happens after the electronics show. Who knows the AE900 & Z4 may have another round of price reductions.
Having said that, is your general felling that DLP "overall" has a better picture the the LCD? The other night I was watching CSI: Miami on my X1 with OTA HD, and it was awe inspiring. Now it appears that CSI itself is a "pumped up" colors show (like watching a Pixar flic) but still, I was amazed at the detail, the color, etc. I just can't image it getting better. But the one thing I don't want to happen is to loose anything by going from the DLP of the X1 to the LCD of say the AE900.
X
09-13-06, 03:21 PM
There will probably always be a market for LCD until DLP gets rid of the rainbow effect.
I'm wondering whether I'll ever get another DLP. It doesn't give me headaches but it's distracting at times.
Slayer2005
09-13-06, 04:03 PM
Well this is just one PJ. And with no lens shift...Right now I still have the AE900 on the top of my upgrade list. But lets see what happens after the electronics show. Who knows the AE900 & Z4 may have another round of price reductions.
Having said that, is your general felling that DLP "overall" has a better picture the the LCD? The other night I was watching CSI: Miami on my X1 with OTA HD, and it was awe inspiring. Now it appears that CSI itself is a "pumped up" colors show (like watching a Pixar flic) but still, I was amazed at the detail, the color, etc. I just can't image it getting better. But the one thing I don't want to happen is to loose anything by going from the DLP of the X1 to the LCD of say the AE900.
Yes, I find that DLP is overall superior in image quality. Better, blacks, better native contrast, less screen door than the Z4, sharper than the AE900 and better shadow detail than LCDs. However, I am referring to newer DLPs. The AE900 is better than the X1 in most areas. The X1 only has about 800:1 native contrast when calibrated. The 4805 reaches 2200:1. The AE900 I believe is around 800:1-1200:1 before the iris go into action. They can claim 5500:1 because of the way their irises work, but in reality it looks more like 1300:1-1500:1.
If you like the color saturation of your X1 you are going to be blown away by today's units. I learned that one of the X1's problems is actually somewhat washed out colors occasionally. Sounds crazy until you see for yourself. My CRT was the first to show me how muted the X1's colors could be at times. Huge difference in saturation and color depth. The 4805 and most other units today are also a pretty big improvement over the X1 in that regard and many other areas as well. Of course my CRT also obliterated the X1's black level so badly it's hard to even describe the difference. :) Checking out Underworld was like looking at different film and I thought it looked very good on the X1 for a dark film. I couldn't believe I had this level of image quality in my house. The newer affordable DLPs offer a decent black level improvement in dark scenes, but still are far behind CRT in that regard. One thing that can make up for less than inky blacks in dark scenes is good shadow detail. Units like the HC3000U have much better shadow detail than the X1. The H70 should be an improvement in that area too.
The $1449 HC3000U is still a superb deal. It's about as close as you can get to DarkChip3 quality without getting a DC3 unit and it costs about a grand or more less.
The AE900, overall will blow away the X1, but better can be had for the same price or less (HC3000U, HD70, for example).
Sdallnct
09-13-06, 04:25 PM
Yes, I find that DLP is overall superior in image quality. Better, blacks, better native contrast, less screen door than the Z4, sharper than the AE900 and better shadow detail than LCDs. However, I am referring to newer DLPs. The AE900 is better than the X1 in most areas. The X1 only has about 800:1 native contrast when calibrated. The 4805 reaches 2200:1. The AE900 I believe is around 800:1-1200:1 before the iris go into action. They can claim 5500:1 because of the way their irises work, but in reality it looks more like 1300:1-1500:1.
If you like the color saturation of your X1 you are going to be blown away by today's units. I learned that one of the X1's problems is actually somewhat washed out colors occasionally. Sounds crazy until you see for yourself. My CRT was the first to show me how muted the X1's colors could be at times. Huge difference in saturation and color depth. The 4805 and most other units today are also a pretty big improvement over the X1 in that regard and many other areas as well. Of course my CRT also obliterated the X1's black level so badly it's hard to even describe the difference. :) Checking out Underworld was like looking at different film and I thought it looked very good on the X1 for a dark film. I couldn't believe I had this level of image quality in my house. The newer affordable DLPs offer a decent black level improvement in dark scenes, but still are far behind CRT in that regard. One thing that can make up for less than inky blacks in dark scenes is good shadow detail. Units like the HC3000U have much better shadow detail than the X1. The H70 should be an improvement in that area too.
The $1449 HC3000U is still a superb deal. It's about as close as you can get to DarkChip3 quality without getting a DC3 unit and it costs about a grand or more less.
The AE900, overall will blow away the X1, but better can be had for the same price or less (HC3000U, HD70, for example).
Great information...thanks so much...
Well the one thing I can't seem to asjust is I have noticed is I can't seem to get my X1 to not crush white ON CERTAIN HD stuff. Mainly like football, but a few other shows as well. Now for example, Leno and Letterman, CSI's all good. But in particular during Sundays football games I lost serious detail in the whites. Tho this may be more of factor of the source, then the X1. Or if it might be my screen should have a little more grey in it.
I'd definatly keeping my options open. I don't know exactly when I'll make the move. I trying to keep a short list of units in mind in case I see a smoking deal.
Slayer2005
09-13-06, 07:18 PM
Great information...thanks so much...
Well the one thing I can't seem to asjust is I have noticed is I can't seem to get my X1 to not crush white ON CERTAIN HD stuff. Mainly like football, but a few other shows as well. Now for example, Leno and Letterman, CSI's all good. But in particular during Sundays football games I lost serious detail in the whites. Tho this may be more of factor of the source, then the X1. Or if it might be my screen should have a little more grey in it.
I'd definatly keeping my options open. I don't know exactly when I'll make the move. I trying to keep a short list of units in mind in case I see a smoking deal.
Have you tried lowering the contrast and/or color controls. If the color controls are set too high they will make whites clip. Same goes for contrast. It may need a different setting than your dvd player. You may be able to improve it, but you won't get the level of white detail that you can get with higher end projectors.
BTW, if the HD70 is not a smoking deal for a digital projector I do not know what is. :)
Sdallnct
09-13-06, 08:08 PM
Have you tried lowering the contrast and/or color controls. If the color controls are set too high they will make whites clip. Same goes for contrast. It may need a different setting than your dvd player. You may be able to improve it, but you won't get the level of white detail that you can get with higher end projectors.
BTW, if the HD70 is not a smoking deal for a digital projector I do not know what is. :)
Yes, it seems it is. I'm a little concerned that it has no lens shift, but looking at the calculator I should be able to make it work in my current set up.
My only other complaint with my X1 is the noise. It is pretty loud IMHO. The HD70 shows 28db which would be 9 db less then the X1. Course the Z4 is a very quiet 22db and the Panny comes in at a very nice 25db. With only eight foot ceilings and the PJ mounted above but between the two rows of seating, noise is a concern.
Spiky
09-13-06, 10:56 PM
Anything under 30db should be good. I think my Tosh was rated at 27 or 28. I never noticed it with any sort of volume at all. Panny is even quieter, although it has an annoying pitch at first. But that goes away in a few minutes.
Spiky
09-13-06, 11:48 PM
Wow, 33% outside of image area for the vertical offset according to the review. They are getting farther away from the screen, not closer!! This would literally have to be above the floor above me to hit my screen properly in a ceiling-mounted orientation. Or be below the level of my butt when I'm sitting down for a table-mounted position.
Slayer2005
09-14-06, 07:35 AM
Someone on AVS who was interested in the HD70 had only one negative thing to say about it: "As for the HD70, I wish it had a bit more lumens, but that's about it.". What is funny about that is he owns an X1 and despite the X1's ratings even my 4805 at low lamp mode (where I keep it) blows ithe X1's brightness out of the water with movies and the HD70 is quite a bit brighter than the 4805, especially in high lamp mode (which is 2.16x brighter than the 4805 in low lamp mode).
I am going to be selling my 4805 soon, but I was playing with it to go as large as possible on my very pale grey wall (looks white unless there is something pure white on the wall, like a light switch, then there is a clear difference). I ended up at about 14' wide (there is an upright broom in the screenshot so you can get an idea of the size). The shot was taken with a camcorder that couldn't really capture the actual brightness they eye sees and it was taken in ambient light (readable environment), but i shaded the light heavily to keep all direct rays off of the image area.
You know what's odd? I notice more SDE sitting 2x the width at 8' wide on my Torus than I do at 14' wide from about 15' away (except when I bring up the menus). It must be the low gain and/or slight textured of the wall.
One good thing about being at this size is that blacks are 1/4th as bright as they would be on a 7' wide screen (though a fade to black is still very surprisingly bright).
I'd love to go this large with an HD unit. That would rock hard. The only thing that would need to be changed aside from less offset is that I would make a DIY medium silver screen for increased contrast in shaded ambient light. I tested a shiny silver fabric sheet on the screen during a dark scene of Pitch Black with my shaded light and the black level/contrast increase in that condition was great. The only problem is the sheet actually absorbs and passes some light through. So, I'm thinking of trying dark Silver latex shined up with silicone spray. This way I should at least reach the brightness of the wall while black would look about 50x darker in shaded ambient light. Basically, I want a very large image that is also watchabel in ambient light (shaded though). :) Seems doable.
I'll post a shot of what I'm talking about later.
Sdallnct
09-14-06, 09:54 AM
Anything under 30db should be good. I think my Tosh was rated at 27 or 28. I never noticed it with any sort of volume at all. Panny is even quieter, although it has an annoying pitch at first. But that goes away in a few minutes.
Still liking your AE900?
Spiky
09-14-06, 12:20 PM
You bet. Can't hear the thing unless I turn off volume and listen for it. I've had pretty good luck with fans, even though I have at least 5 within 5' of my ears. The 900 is silent, my 2 Tivos are very quiet, and the 2 fans for my HTPC are usually not noticeable. My receiver might have one, too.
I need to get a filter for the 900, my old one doesn't fit on this lens. Not sure if I want a CC filter or another ND filter. But everyday watching is great. If I look for things to pick on, they are there. But RBE is not, of course, and that was a pain with my DLP. Just as bright as my DLP was, I use it on the low setting most of the time. Nice unit.
Still waiting for my rebate. And watching for 1080.
Oh, forgot. I can hear the dynamic iris if it is on. Esp when I'm surfing the net or something like that: quiet, with very dark and very light onscreen. So I generally leave that off, it is annoying.
Slayer2005
09-15-06, 02:30 AM
Word has it the keystone has no noticeable effect on image quality with the HD70. Infact, after hearing some people complain about the offset saying they would have to go to LCD because of it I decided to try out my 4805's keystone for the first time with a DVD to see what all the fuss was about.
I was playing a DVD at about 13' wide. I saw zero difference on the DVD image or the Infocus menu options box while adjusting. I guess a projector just needs a good scaler/deinterlacer.
Sdallnct
09-15-06, 08:50 AM
Word has it the keystone has no noticeable effect on image quality with the HD70. Infact, after hearing some people complain about the offset saying they would have to go to LCD because of it I decided to try out my 4805's keystone for the first time with a DVD to see what all the fuss was about.
I was playing a DVD at about 13' wide. I saw zero difference on the DVD image or the Infocus menu options box while adjusting. I guess a projector just needs a good scaler/deinterlacer.
To get my X1 perfect, dead on square (really I was the only that could notice and only if I specifically was looking for it), I have to adjust keystone one setting I think it is. I guess 0 keystoning is 50 and I'm using 52. But switching between the two even on HD, I can't see any difference. Doesn't mean it is not there, but I can't see it.
That is one reason I'd like a PJ with a small lens shift so, if I decide to move my screen up or down whatever, I have plenty of options.
Spiky
09-15-06, 10:25 AM
Doesn't keystone use up some resolution? The farther it goes, the lower the resolution can be. 1 or 2 notches has generally not been a problem with any PJ.
X
09-15-06, 10:53 AM
Word has it the keystone has no noticeable effect on image quality with the HD70. Infact, after hearing some people complain about the offset saying they would have to go to LCD because of it I decided to try out my 4805's keystone for the first time with a DVD to see what all the fuss was about.
I was playing a DVD at about 13' wide. I saw zero difference on the DVD image or the Infocus menu options box while adjusting. I guess a projector just needs a good scaler/deinterlacer.I think you lose the perfect pixel-mapping when you use keystone, like going from native to 16:9 mode. That probably isn't very noticeable with DVD images. You might try it with a desktop and see how text looks.
Sdallnct
09-15-06, 10:54 AM
Doesn't keystone use up some resolution? The farther it goes, the lower the resolution can be. 1 or 2 notches has generally not been a problem with any PJ.
That is what I heard and at extreme keystoning you lose brightness on some PJ's.
GreenMonkey
09-16-06, 02:19 AM
I've been eyeing the details up over at avsforum as they come in. This looks like our X1 replacement. We've got 3200 hours on our X1 bulb, and infrequently the buzzsaw light engine problem. Upgrade time!
Last thing I'm waiting for is someone with some game consoles to test it. I'm concerned about de-interlacing lag.
Slayer2005
09-16-06, 08:26 AM
I've been eyeing the details up over at avsforum as they come in. This looks like our X1 replacement. We've got 3200 hours on our X1 bulb, and infrequently the buzzsaw light engine problem. Upgrade time!
Last thing I'm waiting for is someone with some game consoles to test it. I'm concerned about de-interlacing lag.
Based on the review I read it has near flawless Faroudja quality deinterlacing.
Quote from the PJC review:
"Deinterlacing was better than expected for such a budget projector. The HD70 was able to deinterlace 480i material from our DVD player with near-flawless precision. We saw very few artifacts, all told. Quality was comparable to that of one of our in-house DVD players with Faroudja DCDi processing, and flipping between them yielded few differences."
I don't see why it would be any different for games, but who knows.
GreenMonkey
09-16-06, 07:26 PM
Well, a display can have a good deinterlacer, but it could still be slow. Too many ms of lag can be problematic.
Reports that it's doing a close-to-faroudja like job are reassuring, though. Most likely it's pretty good.
Slayer2005
09-16-06, 07:35 PM
I'm really considering this projector despite my love for CRT. I'm trying to decide between the NEC XG-75 on Ebay for a measly $500 (great freakin deal btw). I just don't know exactly what condition it is. The screenshot looks decent though.
If I get this pj I plan to go 13' wide with 16:9 and use a horizontal expansion anamorphic lens for 2.35:1 HD-DVDs. The size would be about 17.16' in width, but my wall is only 16' 7", so I'll either have to minimize the image a bit or let a small piece of each edge spill onto the black area so I can retain the full height about 7.3').
The horizontal expansion lens makes the image slightly bow inward, which means I can use a high gain torus screen to actually correct the bowing. :)
I'm obsessing over the thought of a screen that big with HD. :)
GIjon213
09-20-06, 12:59 PM
This projector has me all kinds of excited. First, the specs are close enough to the HC3000 I have been pining after for so long, and the price is with the limits of convincing my wife this is a necessity. Plus, the reviews are glowing! I hope to pick one of these up shortly! Now I have to go talk to my wife.....
Drexl
09-26-06, 11:27 PM
I had been looking at HDTVs, but this has changed my mind. I've all but decided I'm going to be getting this soon. It will be my first projector.
I also wonder about the lag for games (I'll just be using the Xbox, Gamecube, and some emulators, where the games will be progressive anyway), but I think with consoles I may use it in native mode to avoid scaling. 640x480 should still be big enough of an image.
Slayer2005
09-27-06, 04:23 PM
but I think with consoles I may use it in native mode to avoid scaling. 640x480 should still be big enough of an image.
To some, but I definitely wouldn't do it that way. Not sure why you are afraid of scaling. It's supposed to be quite good on this unit. It's unlikely you'll see a difference if the scaler onboard is good (aside from having a bigger picture). Infact, a good one can give a percieved improvement over a native 480p unit due to the finer pixel structure.
GreenMonkey
09-27-06, 08:27 PM
To some, but I definitely wouldn't do it that way. Not sure why you are afraid of scaling. It's supposed to be quite good on this unit. It's unlikely you'll see a difference if the scaler onboard is good (aside from having a bigger picture). Infact, a good one can give a percieved improvement over a native 480p unit due to the finer pixel structure.
It's the lag that's a problem. Digital devices take time to process, and scaling also takes time, some odd milliseconds. This doesn't matter if you're just watching a movie (minus the lipsynch being slightly off - which is fixable in a decent HT receiver).
Even some computer users report lag from LCDs running native resolution. There's a site out there with screenshots of how many frames behind different LCDs were behind a CRT:
Pics (see page 2 for ms measurements):
http://www.behardware.com/articles/632-1/lcds-images-delayed-compared-to-crts-yes.html
On average LCDs at native rez are lagged 2 frames behind.
The problem can be even worse on HDTVs doing the upscaling thing. Funky SD processing (like Samsung's DNIe) is even slower. Some displays offer "game mode" deinterlacing, which is much faster and apparently helps out a bit.
I notice a tiny, tiny bit of lag on my Faroudja-based X1 - There's a move that's very difficult to pull off in Tekken Tag that I simply cannot seem to do any more (this may be due to me being rusty too) but I've noticed little otherwise.
Sdallnct
10-08-06, 02:41 PM
The HD70 now has a $100 rebate (think thru CC) saw this over at Fatwallet
I just bought one from CC. That is why I asked for a 10% off for CC this morning! :D That means if all goes right, I will be getting this for $799.99!!! Also, there is a possibility for another $100 off here (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/genericContent.do?oid=163558). I don't know if it will work, but I am going to try! Once again, a big thanks to yohansen5b, he/she (I don't know which) really hooked me up.
Sdallnct
10-16-06, 08:28 PM
I just bought one from CC. That is why I asked for a 10% off for CC this morning! :D That means if all goes right, I will be getting this for $799.99!!! Also, there is a possibility for another $100 off here (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/genericContent.do?oid=163558). I don't know if it will work, but I am going to try! Once again, a big thanks to yohansen5b, he/she (I don't know which) really hooked me up.
Well? How about a review/report!
GIjon213
10-19-06, 09:49 AM
Well? How about a review/report!
Sorry, I haven't checked this thread in a while. I actually didn't plan on buying this for some time because I am building my entertainment center right now. Until my Entertainment center is finished, I can't put up the projector :( :( Believe me, when it is up, I will tell all with pics! I am just as anxious to see how it does.
GreenMonkey
11-05-06, 11:37 PM
I had my eyes on this pj but...
I got my hands on an Optoma HD72 for ~$834 AR, fatcash, coupon, etc shipped instead of the HD70 :D Overstock only had 10 of them, though.
So I'll be stepping up to 720p. :D Keep an eye out for more deals on the HD72, with the $400 rebate floating around, it's not too hard to find a good deal on it.
Sdallnct
11-06-06, 09:56 AM
Great price, I saw that deal, but couldn't get it before 00S. Assuming it will continue to be $150+/- more then the HD70, what are the advantages? This is what I have read:
-can run on by a computer native (768 v. 720)
-better "out of the box" very little tweaking needed to best the best pic
-two digital inputs (DVI & HDMI v only HDMI for the HD70)
Seems the lens, offset, zoom, noise level is all the same? PQ is pretty much the same except it is reported you need to do a lot more tweaking with the HD70.
Anything else I'm missing? The small price difference doesn't bother me, but it also doesn't scare me to do some basic tweaking and use the savings for a new DVD player. Tho the two digital inputs is nice, that means I got to run two as well.
I had my eyes on this pj but...
I got my hands on an Optoma HD72 for ~$834 AR, fatcash, coupon, etc shipped instead of the HD70 :D Overstock only had 10 of them, though.
So I'll be stepping up to 720p. :D Keep an eye out for more deals on the HD72, with the $400 rebate floating around, it's not too hard to find a good deal on it.
Slayer2005
11-06-06, 02:07 PM
The HD72 has better color accuracy and better calibrated contrast/black levels. It has been discovered that a D65 calibrated HD70 loses a lot of its on/off contrast & brightness. Some people are modding it by blocking out the white segment to improve its contrast and black levels.
Sdallnct
11-06-06, 07:18 PM
The HD72 has better color accuracy and better calibrated contrast/black levels. It has been discovered that a D65 calibrated HD70 loses a lot of its on/off contrast & brightness. Some people are modding it by blocking out the white segment to improve its contrast and black levels.
Really? So are they discounting it so much as the HD73 is now out? If it has all the advantages of the HD70 + better color and conectivity, I would think they would leave at a price point of $300-$400 more. Lately tho it seems you can get it at around the same price as the HD70.
Slayer2005
11-06-06, 10:55 PM
Well, the the HC3000U can be had for as low as $1449, so that doesn't help the HD72, because the Mits is a lot better. The HD1000U is also about the same price or less with a free lamp. That also doesn't help. So, I'd expect the HD72 to be $999-$1,299.
Sdallnct
11-07-06, 08:14 AM
Well, the the HC3000U can be had for as low as $1449, so that doesn't help the HD72, because the Mits is a lot better. The HD1000U is also about the same price or less with a free lamp. That also doesn't help. So, I'd expect the HD72 to be $999-$1,299.
Well I have knocked the HD1000U off my list as it has even more lens shift then any of the others (35% v 33%). I don't think I want to spend as much as $1,500 so that knocks out the HC3000U. So that pretty much leaves the two Optoma's. I'm leaving the Panny 900U on my short list as it would sure make for an easy set up.
I mentioned over at AVS, but I really don't get why these HT PJ have such a large lens offset. Heck I have a "normal" 8' ceiling and not sure I'm going to make it work with two rows of seating (without increasing my riser height).
GIjon213
11-07-06, 10:52 AM
I just finished installing the HD70 in my home theater, and it doesn't look bad. I didn't mod it, and just configured it by surfing AVS for a while and what I think looks Ok. I thought it was very easy to set up, and this was my first projector. Out of the box it is ready to perform, and I have no complaints about it. I am projecting onto a home-made screen using the Moakes material from Ebay. Anyway, some screens:
The Fifth Element
<a href="http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0521kn8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7631/img0521kn8.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>
Via a R10 DirecTivo with s-video:
<a href="http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0518xq4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/6425/img0518xq4.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>
Sdallnct
11-07-06, 11:09 AM
I just finished installing the HD70 in my home theater, and it doesn't look bad. I didn't mod it, and just configured it by surfing AVS for a while and what I think looks Ok. I thought it was very easy to set up, and this was my first projector. Out of the box it is ready to perform, and I have no complaints about it. I am projecting onto a home-made screen using the Moakes material from Ebay. Anyway, some screens:
Same screen material I'm using on my DIY screen. Nice pic's BTW.
GIjon213
11-07-06, 11:31 AM
Same screen material I'm using on my DIY screen. Nice pic's BTW.
Thanks! :D
GreenMonkey
11-08-06, 02:30 AM
Great price, I saw that deal, but couldn't get it before 00S. Assuming it will continue to be $150+/- more then the HD70, what are the advantages? This is what I have read:
-can run on by a computer native (768 v. 720)
-better "out of the box" very little tweaking needed to best the best pic
-two digital inputs (DVI & HDMI v only HDMI for the HD70)
Seems the lens, offset, zoom, noise level is all the same? PQ is pretty much the same except it is reported you need to do a lot more tweaking with the HD70.
Anything else I'm missing? The small price difference doesn't bother me, but it also doesn't scare me to do some basic tweaking and use the savings for a new DVD player. Tho the two digital inputs is nice, that means I got to run two as well.
That's pretty much it. The extra digital input will be cool, I might eventually hook up my HTPC work-in-progress to it. I liked that the out of the box color accuracy was better - it sounded trickier to get the HD70 with very accurate color. The computer friendly x768 rez thing is cool, and the extra height should make 4:3 a bit better (which we have a lot of).
I'm going to be building a screen again, I guess. When I moved my old screen became too small and I disassembled/threw it away. I couldn't easily build an 80"x60" 4:3 screen for my X1, and didn't want to spend a lot of money as I knew an upgrade would be coming, so I've been projecting on our white wall (with a tiny bluish tint). I'm going to see if I can do a blackout cloth screen again...it's a tight fit at 53" high image, and AFAIK the projection calculator doesn't quite have the right height/width for a 16:10 image.
Sdallnct
11-15-06, 08:15 PM
Well I finally ordered a HD70! Sweet. The 12% BB coupon expired today (tho I got a new one that starts on Friday) so I went in tonight and got one. Well sort of. They did not have one so they "special ordered" for me or something and it will be here 12/8. That will give me time to get a HDMI cable & wall plates and run the wires.
Looking forward to it. I just couldn't find a deal on the HD72, and with 12% off on the HD70, that made it roughly $880. Good deal. And if by chance I find a deal on the HD72 or even a better deal on the HD70, I can cancel this one at BB since I don't have it yet.
Sdallnct
11-15-06, 11:11 PM
I'm using the Leviton Quickport connection system for audio and video runs. Does anyone know if they make a HDMI connector? I can't find anything on their site and a google didn't reveal anything.
I have a single box at my PJ and a single box at my gear that has three connections for component and one for composite. I was hoping to replace the composite with HDMI and then I would be set...hopefully....
GIjon213
11-16-06, 08:12 PM
Well I finally ordered a HD70! Sweet. The 12% BB coupon expired today (tho I got a new one that starts on Friday) so I went in tonight and got one. Well sort of. They did not have one so they "special ordered" for me or something and it will be here 12/8. That will give me time to get a HDMI cable & wall plates and run the wires.
Looking forward to it. I just couldn't find a deal on the HD72, and with 12% off on the HD70, that made it roughly $880. Good deal. And if by chance I find a deal on the HD72 or even a better deal on the HD70, I can cancel this one at BB since I don't have it yet.
Congrats man! I am sure you are familiar with AVS, but if not, here are some (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=729665) links (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=710466) that may help you out.
Sdallnct
11-19-06, 12:05 PM
There is talk over at AVS that the Mitsubishi HD1000U has dropped below the $1,000 mark "on the street" and the free buld if purchased from an authorized dealer appears still in place.
It is an awesome time to buy a projector. And not just any PJ's but highly rated ones as well.
Sdallnct
12-08-06, 02:34 PM
Picked up my HD70 at BB today (they had to special order for me). Yea!
While I was waiting for them to get out of the back, I was looking around: They had a 4805 display unit for $599! With no box, remote, power cord or anything! And what is the deal with those Monster Cables! 16' HDMI for $249??? Does ANYone buy that stuff!
Got to go out of two on Sunday, but will try to get it up and running tonight or tomorrow.
Had to go to Elliots Hardware to pick up the M3 screws and picked up a piece of plexiglass all for the mount.
Buy: