Just about all of the new and exciting home theater projectors have already hit the shelves here at ProjectorPeople.com. In fact, unlike distributors of Eggo Waffles, we should be well stocked for the holiday season for the most popular projectors. However, the $999 1080p home theater projectors have kept buyers in waiting, as some models shipped more quickly and in greater supply than others.
So, naturally, one question we keep hearing is, “Which of the new $999 1080p projectors is the best?” So, we thought we’d talk about some of the differences between our top three $999 1080p models (BenQ W1000, Optoma HD20, and Vivitek H1080FD) to help folks sort out which might be the best choice for them.
Similar, But Not the Same
We should probably start by mentioning that these are all very similar projectors. The same basic technology (DLP chip) is used in each of the three. If you saw an image each of them individually for a half hour, then were sent out of the room, came back in and saw all three together (with the chassis covered), I’d bet a dollar that you wouldn’t able to tell which image belonged to which. And you’d probably think they all looked pretty darn good. However, there are some differences in features. And although all of these entry-level projectors are light on features, some of the differences may matter to you. Check out our quick comparison chart below.
Comparison Chart : New $999 1080p Home Theater Projectors
HDMI (x2), Component (RCAx1), Composite (RCAx1), S-Video (x1), VGA (x1), USB Type B (x1), RS-232 (x1), Analog Audio (x1), Stereo Mini-Jack (x1 in and 1 out)
* For current prices and availability please check the ProjectorPeople.com website.
And Now a Break Down…
So, now you see some of the key specs. And if you want more, you can see a complete comparison chart here. But let’s discuss the potential differences between these very similar projectors.
Brightness
1800 or 1700 lumens. What’s the difference? Not much! But at least you can tell your friends who bought the Optoma HD20 that you have 100 more lumens in your living room. And if you bought the Optoma HD20, you can tell your friends that bought the BenQ W1000 or Vivitek H1080FD that Optoma is just more careful and conservative. And if you haven’t bought any of them yet, then don’t worry about the brightness. It’s not a significant differentiator here.
Contrast
Contrast might actually be visibly different between these units, but having not seen them all in person head-to-head, we can only really say, they all actually look almost better than they spec. DLP, the technology used in each of the three projectors, has always had nice contrasty look. The blacks look very deep, and the colors are full and rich, even on a 2700:1 DLP projector.
Now if you’re comparing a projector with a 200,000:1 contrast ratio to a 5000:1 model, what you’d see is a difference in detail. The beauty is in the gradients, grays and color accuracy. And make no mistake, there is a significant difference between the two. But from 2700:1 to 5000:1 in two projectors the same technology, any difference you see initially can probably be ‘tweaked’ away. So mark this one as another spec not to worry too much about.
Speaker
Built-in speakers are not terribly common on home theater projectors, but it is an admittedly handy feature to have. There’s nothing like just plugging in a DVD player to your projector and having a 100-inch screen pop up in front of you. Add to that the instant gratification of sound to go with it. This is likely to be a popular feature for traveling presenters, who want to have an instant movie theater on the road. Of course, most home theater enthusiasts will hook up some speakers. Unless they are insane.
Throw Distance
There isn’t a huge difference between the three projectors, but the Vivitek H1080FD does specify a longer throw distance, which might be handy in some cases. Essentially that just means you can mount/place the projector a little bit further back and make a smaller image. There isn’t much zoom on these and if you have a specific place you need to place the projector, call a Projector Expert to make sure that you can get the screen size you want from the location you want to place the projector.
Connectivity
All three units have two (2) HDMI inputs, which is what most folks will want to use. But there are connections that are available on some and not others. S-video, VGA, and 12v screen trigger are all included on the BenQ W1000, as well as a specified support for 1900×1200 computer signals (the others may do this also, since they have a VGA connection, but it is not quoted on their spec sheets). The Optoma seems to have the sparsest connectivity options, but it has what most will need. So, if you want to hook up something that’s not HDMI, make sure your $999 projector choice has that function.
Other Stuff?
Our customers are very good at letting us know if we missed something in a review. Please leave a comment below if you have something to add! And we will make updates if there are surprises – or stuff we didn’t think about – with any of the models here.
Projector People kicks off a year-end Weekend Savings Trend on this, the luckiest unlucky day of the year. Check out some of the deals we have served up for you below. And remember to check back each weekend for more deals!
Here’s the story…
Get Lucky This Friday the 13th
Jason Voorhees might have terrorized the kids at Camp Crystal Lake*. But in the new made-for-web sequel, he’s prowling ProjectorPeople.com hacking our prices! Ok, Jason isn’t cutting prices, but we are! You see, we want this Friday the 13th to be different. We want to start a new trend. So, for luck’s sake, we’ve decided to kick-off our forthcoming “Weekend Savings Events” on this previously unlucky day. Let’s take back the day from the evil-doers, and helping you keep cash in your pocket. Our list of hacked projector and accessory prices is below. Use Coupon Code “LUCKY13” to save instantly!
HDMI 25 ft. cable – just $19.99
Casio XJ-S41 B – $50 off
Epson Home Cinema 6500 UB – Update! Price just reduced! Price after $400 rebate is $1949 (plus free lamp)! Quantities limited. Act fast!
Panasonic PT-AX200U – Free projector ceiling mount
Toshiba TLP-W420U – $100 off
Plus Sanyo Home Theater Projector savings!
If these deals don’t have you jumping out of the canoe, then check back next weekend, and the weekend after that for the latest special offers from ProjectorPeople.com!
Have you been searching for projectors and asked, “Why would they sell a projector without a lens?” You are not alone. So, we thought we’d take a few minutes and explain who buys a projector without a lens, and why it’s actually sometimes necessary.
When Would I Need a Projector with a Separate Lens?
Most of the projectors we sell include a lens, because most people are using a projector in a standard size room. But churches, classrooms, and other large venue spaces run into a problem with a standard lens projector. This is because in tehir space, they might need to mount their projector from over 20 feet back for their screen. Why do you need a special lens at over 20 feet? Consider this technological analogy.
Let’s pretend for a moment that a projector is nothing more than a fancy flashlight – at least in the sense that it follows the rules of physics. If you can, visualize yourself holding flashlight and shining it directly on the wall in front of you. When you are close to the wall, the light you see is bright, and small. As you walk backwards (walking slowly and carefully to avoid injury), the light on the wall in front of you begins to increase in size, and decrease in brightness. That’s pretty much what’s happening when you try and mount a projector (with a standard lens) back more than 20 feet (or so) back from your screen.
Now if your flashlight had a lens on the front of it, instead of plain old glass or plastic, you could dial that light in. You could ‘focus’ the light into a brighter beam, and into the size and shape you need. So, if you have to mount your projector in the back of your room, let’s say from as far back as 100 feet from your screen, you will have to have the right lens to create the image size you want, with adequate brightness.
But Why Are There so Many Lens Options?
Projectors mounting location, obviously, will vary from room-to-room, based on the unique space. And a projector’s lens can only focus the light within a specific range (say 4-25 feet). Depending on the screen size you may only get 2-5 ft of play within the 4-25ft. The flexibility depends on two factors; throw distance and screen size. When you see a specification that says it has a throw range of 4-25ft it doesn’t mean you can do any size screen from that distance, but only the specified screen sizes.
So, from a manufacturers point of view, it makes sense to offer multiple lenses on one chassis rather than sort of ‘pre-building’ several hundreds or thousands of projectors with the lenses permanently fixed to the chassis. Also, different lenses sometimes have varying costs associated with them, so providing the flexibility of multiple lenses is a cost saver in terms of production – less waste and a more agile product line. For the buyer, it can also mean the difference between having to purchase an entirely new projector, versus just a new lens, if the projector has to be re-mounted in the same space.
However, looking at the available selection of projectors in this category can be overwhelming. Take, for example, the NEC NP4100 and NEC NP4100W series product line. In it there are optional lenses that enable the user to find the right lens to cover projection distances between 2.6 – 283 feet. There are a whopping twelve different projectors that appear to be almost exactly the same. But, in reality there are two primary differences, the resolution (widescreen or 4:3) and the lens. You’d simply pick the model with the resolution you want, and the throw distance you need. Below is a chart with the throw distance for each model in the NEC NP4100 and NP4100W lineup.
As you can see, NEC gives you alternatives for up to 283 feet of throw distance in this product line. And, the low end of the throw ratio doesn’t change nearly as much as the high end of the distance covered.
Quick Tip : Optimally, you will want to select a lens that fits you squarely in between your distance requirements. So, if you are planning to mount your projector 150 feet back from the screen, you’d do better to choose the “10ZL” model than the “09ZL.” This is because there is slightly more distortion when the light passes through the edge of the lens. A projector has what’s called a “sweet spot” for the distance that provides the optimum image quality through the lens, and that spot is near the mid range of the recommended throw distance. Call a Projector Expert for more information on that.
Why can’t you just use a zoom lens?
Unfortunately, zoom lenses don’t have that much flexibility. Generally speaking, a zoom lens can give you an extra 2-5 feet of “play” in the projector’s throw distance. So, while the extra 2-5 feet is nice, it won’t help you if you need an extra 100 feet. This may change in the future, but for now, the zoom lens is mostly a tool to help the home user install their projector with a little less accurate math.
Quick Tip : The general rule of thumb for throw distance is that your projector creates one foot of image for every two feet back from the screen. So, at 50 feet back with a standard lens, you would have approximately a 100 foot width, and a very dim image.
What if I Need to Mount a Projector Very Close to my Screen?
If you want to set up your projector within six feet of your screen, and you want a large image, you’ll want to find a projector with a “short throw lens.” We have a quick tutorial about those here. You can also call a Projector Expert and find out if a “lensless” projector would be right for you. In some cases, they offer the best solution, but there are only a few made.
How Much Will a Projector and Lens Cost Me?
Lenses are typically around $1500-$2000. It’s usually easier to buy the manufacturers lens, for compatibility and inventory reasons. There are some other lens makers out there in a pinch, but prices are usually about the same for a business projector lens.
Projectors that accept multiple lens options are usually in the large installation category. They are high brightness, and higher resolution units, so they start at around $2000 and go up from there. So your lowest priced scenario would be around $3500-$4000 and the prices go up from there. You’ll pay a little more for brightness and features like network monitoring, filter free design, 24/7 useage, lens shift, and other good stuff.
Our NEC series featured here is a premium line, and it retails for around $7,000. But call a Projector Expert, or get a Quick Quote for a significant discount.
Quick Tip : Keep your eye out for installation projectors that sell without a lens. A lower price is usually a tip off. There are some high brightness units that look like a great deal, but that actually will need a lens to work. The NEC lineup we feature here does have one base unit featured, but the rest of the line up ships complete.
Well that’s about all we have for now. Please call a Projector Expert if you have any more questions about any of your large venue projection needs!
Is it a Halloween miracle? Not really. But it is good news for buyers looking for a 1080p bargain projector. Projector People has just acquired shipment of brand new Panasonic PT-AE3000U projectors. And they are in stock and ready to ship, right now!
Last week we received a call from Panasonic saying they have located an additional pallet of AE3000U’s in their warehouse. Since this was such a great unit, even though it’s not the newest model (Panasonic PT-AE4000U), we went ahead and bought their found boxes. With strength of the product, and the $1799* price point, we still think this is an excellent value.
By the way, these are new units, not open box or refurbished, and they have the full factory warranty, including the additional 2nd year warranty rebate through December 31st, 2009.
Quantities are obviously very limited, so if you are interested act fast!
*Prices and availability will change. Click here for current price and inventory status.
[ First shipment of Panasonic PT-AE4000U's are here! ]
If you aren’t already following us on Twitter, or Facebook, then you may not know that our first shipment of the new Panasonic PT-AE4000U has just arrived!
We’ve got a couple truckloads full of them, so we are happy to report that all of our customers who pre-ordered their AE4000U should have theirs on the way to them before the end of the week – aka today or tomorrow.
One of our Facebook fans is already planning his first movie night with new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie (available November 17th on Blu-Ray and DVD)!
If you don’t already know about the new Panasonic PT-AE4000U, then we have some stuff for you to read. Just a few weeks ago we didn’t even know if it would be available in the U.S. Then, we found out it would be coming here, and we dropped the price on the old AE3000U and sold through our remaining inventory in short order.
Alright, so now you are up to speed on the Panasonic PT-AE4000U. Now all you have to do is wait a few days for yours to roll in – or upgrade your shipping ASAP and have it for Halloween.
And just for fun… here is some video of the unloading – because we have iPhones, a Flickr account (we won’t bother YouTube with this one), and are very excited
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Posted by Jennifer on November 19th, 2009 | 
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