Super Deal of the Day!

InFocus X9 just $799 PLUS free overnight shipping!

Game day is coming soon, and if you don’t already have a projector to watch it on, you can still make your 120-inch screen dreams come true. Today’s Deal of the Day is a nicely featured InFocus X9 home theater projector with a bright 1800 lumens, and native 720p (HD) resolution. It also offers a longer lasting lamp (3500 hours). Buy today and you can enjoy the big image for March Madness, the World Series, and in your summertime backyard home theater. Buy tomorrow and you will pay $300 more dollars for this projector.

Free Overnight Shipping

We are also throwing in free overnight shipping for buyers who purchase before 3:00pm EST so that your big screen theater arrives before that big Sunday football game. Please call for free shipping so that we can ensure your projector arrives in time!

[ Get Your InFocus X9 for $799 ]

Projector Expert Rich Morgan took home another HD projector for review (see his Sanyo PLV-Z700 review). Coincidentally, he reviewed the projector on the day of the Champs Sports Bowl Game. Rich also happens to be a fan of one of the teams involved in the game, but we won’t mention who, so that we do not alienate any of the National Championship Gator fans. Here are some pictures and comments from Rich and the Epson Home Cinema 6100 (sometimes called the Epson HC6100)

[ Photos from the "Band of Brothers" HBO Series now on Blu-Ray. ]

Rich says : “I would say at the new price point the Epson Home Cinema 6100 is in a class by itself. Better than the ‘budget units’ and close to the better ones.”

[ Photos from the "Band of Brothers" HBO Series now on Blu-Ray. ]

[ Photos from the "Band of Brothers" HBO Series now on Blu-Ray. ]

Rich says : “My biggest surprise is having a bright image at the same time as deep black levels. This is a great choice for outdoor movies… actually I used it outside for some of the FSU bowl game. Didn’t take any pictures… couldn’t hold my camera AND a (beverage).”

Ups

• Sharp, bright picture (1800 lumens / 18000:1 contrast)
• Price point very competitive
• Accurate color with good flesh tones (even muted tones as in “Band of Brothers”)
• 2-year warranty

Downs

• Some visible video noise (not 120 hz)

Conclusions

For around $1,700 (after $200 rebates) the Epson Home Cinema 6100 outperforms cheaper projectors in the category. It falls between high performance and entry level pieces and is a good mid-range option for buyers who want a bright, new 1080p projector with good contrast at a lower price.

Writing inspiring copy about why you should buy a projector is no easy task this holiday season. With belts and wallets tightening and a challenging outlook for next year, we know your projection needs might not be at the top of your list. But for those of you who are looking for a great excuse to stay in and save for the next year or two, we are now offering our deepest discounts ever on a wide selection of projectors in our Inventory Clearance Sale. So, just to be sure you spend your hard-earned money on the right stuff, we’ve put together a handy Guide to Savings for Home Theater Projectors. Read on.

The Basics of Brightness

Our Projector Experts don’t go a day without answering questions about brightness. That’s a good thing, because it’s one of the most important questions to ask when buying a projector. As projection technology has improved, brightness has been one of the areas that has improved the most. Hence the difference between the suggested lumen numbers you might have seen a year or two ago. Here is a “new” chart for you with brightness suggestions for 2008, and probably 2009.

[ Photo : The Panasonic PT-AX200U is a 2000 lumen 720p projector, but it also has Light Harmonizer technology for an extra kick of brightness when the lights are on. ]

Home Theater Projector Brightness Recommendations

Room Type	Recommended Brightness
Small Theaters*	900 – 1200 lumens (or more)
Large Theaters**	1200 – 2000 lumens (or more)
Outdoor Theaters	1500 lumens (or more)
Media Rooms***	2000 lumens (or more)

* Dedicated space with controlled lighting and a screen under 100-inches.
** Dedicated space with controlled lighting and a screen over 100-inches.
*** A media room as defined here is a space with windows that is used for multi-purpose entertaining.

SAVINGS TIP : Don’t buy more lumens than you need unless you plan to use the projector in multiple locations. Darker rooms with controlled lighting may require less brightness than specified above, especially if the viewer is not particular. Ask a Projector Expert if you have a question about your environment.

Resolution and Recommended Usage

In many cases, a buyer’s choice for resolution is based entirely on price. The higher the resolution, the higher the cost. If money is no object, true HD (1080p) images look spectacular and you should just go ahead and buy it. If your budget is tight, see the recommendations below for a little guidance on the resolution question. Remember there are now several 1080p projector options well under $2,000.

Home Theater Projector Resolution Recommendations

Resolution	Recommendations
XGA (720 or 480p)	A low cost option for watching 4:3 material. Brighter projectors with this resolution cost less, but you will see large ‘black bars’ along the bottom of the image.
WVGA (480p)	An excellent choice for a kids playroom or a low-budget outdoor theater. WVGA projectors with built-in DVD players and speakers (like the Epson MovieMate 55) are also a good choice. Not HD.
WXGA-H (720p)	720p native projectors can typically scale to 1080p, but with some artifacts. Many HD channels broadcast 720p native signals.
HD (1080p)	Best for true HD theaters. The best image quality when used with a 1080p source and source material.

SAVINGS TIP : A WVGA projector should cost a couple hundred less in the short run, but as technology progresses it may not be supported as HD becomes the standard for broadcast. If your purchase plans are cheap and short term, there are some bargains to be had in both WXGA-H (720p) and WVGA (480p). If your plans are long term, HD is a good choice and there are several options for well under $2000.

Connection Suggestions

If you’re buying a projector as a gift for the holiday’s, don’t forget to make sure you have the right kind of cable on hand. Projector People carries professional grade cable which is recommended for permanent installations because it provides better shielding from electronic interference in the home. Call a Projector Expert for assistance if you’re not a cable pro and you have more questions. You can also view our handy Cables and Connections Guide if you’d like to learn more about projector connections.

Connections You’ll Want

Connection Type	Recommendations
Dual VGA / component flexibility	Good option for projectors meant to be used with a computer (as well as work/home projectors).
Component Video	Carries HD analog video. Either HDMI or component video should be used for an HD source. Component video may be better if a cable run is longer than 30 feet.
HDMI	Becoming the most common connection type. Carries digital HD video and audio, so best used with a receiver.
S-Video	A great back-up for older video sources. If you take your projector with you to a holiday party, S-video may come in handy, although there is a noticeable decline in the image quality.
Composite Video	Like S-video, a great back-up for older video sources. It’s the lowest common denominator for video.

SAVINGS TIP : A little planning ahead of time can save you money. Use our throw distance calculators (on most of our product pages) to determine the distance your projector will be from the screen. This may prevent you from buying 35 feet of cable when you only need 20 feet.

FEATURED CLEARANCE HOME THEATER PROJECTORS

• Optoma DV11 [ WVGA resolution, 1500 lumens, built-in DVD player ] save $100
• Panasonic PT-AX200U [ Native 720p resolution, 2000 lumens ] save $50
• Panasonic PT-AE2000U [ HD 1080p resolution, 1500 lumens ] save $100
• Mitsubishi HC5500 [ HD 1080p resolution, 1200 lumens ] save $300 plus $500 rebate
• View full list here of deeply discounted projectors

[ This is a reprint of our Business Edition Projector People Post Newsletter sent this month. We publish our tech stories here, but newsletter subscribers will get the messages sooner and will receive additional information including our Top Five best selling projectors, presentation tips, or customer home theater examples. Sign up here. ]

Writing inspiring copy about why you should buy a projector is no easy task this holiday season. With belts and wallets tightening and a challenging outlook for next year, we know your projection needs might not be at the top of your list. But for those of you who do have a little bit of budget left to invest in your business, or who are looking for a great excuse to stay in and save – we are now offering our deepest discounts ever on a wide selection of projectors in our Inventory Clearance Sale. And just to be sure you spend your hard-earned money on the right stuff, we have put together a quick and easy buyers guide for you.

Business Projection Savings Guide

Projectors for business are now more versatile then ever before. There are now network ready projectors available from just about every major manufacturer and most of the kinks and glitches from the first generation products have been smoothed out. Wireless projection has not come as far as we might have hoped, but is more than adequate for business presentations without video. Both wireless and network technology can save you money. Wireless, obviously saving you the cost of cables, and adding a projector to a network allows for more efficient management. And, of course, the best news is that both features have also become less expensive since their introduction. But wireless and network compatibility are extra features that can be elminated in the interest of savings. Here is a quick look at what can’t.

The Basics of Business Projection : Fast and Easy

Brightness

Room Size	Lumens Suggested
Small Conference Room	2000 lumens
Large Conference Room	3000 lumens
Auditorium / Classroom	3500 lumens

SAVINGS TIP : Don’t buy more lumens than you need unless you plan to use the projector in multiple locations. Darker rooms with controlled lighting may require less brightness than specified above. Ask a Projector Expert if you have a question about your environment.

Resolution

Resolution	Recommended Usage
SVGA	Only for use with older sources such as VCRs, older computers, etc.
XGA	A better choice for 4:3 sources such as NTSC DVD players, many laptop computers.
WXGA	Best for widescreen laptops
SXGA+	Best for applications that require high-detail

SAVINGS TIP : An SVGA projector might cost a hundred bucks less in the short run, but as technology progresses it may not be supported by newer sources (computers, etc.). If you have 4:3 sources, investing in XGA will be more “future-proof.”

Connectivity

Connection Type	Good to Have Because
Dual VGA / component	flexibility. Most common connection type.
HDMI	Playing video. Common on newer video sources – DVD players, etc.
S-Video	A back-up for older video sources. Particularly useful in school settings.

SAVINGS TIP : If you plan to sneak the projector home on weekends for some movies and gaming, an HDMI connection is a plus. However, a dual component / VGA connection will do the trick if your source (receiver, gaming system, DVD player) has component video out.

OUR CLEARANCE BUSINESS PROJECTORS

• ASK Proxima C445 [ XGA resolution, 3500 lumens ] save $200
• Hitachi CP-X807 [ XGA resoution, 5000 lumens ] save $50
• NEC VT700 [ XGA resolution, 3000 lumens ] save $150
• Sanyo PLC-XU56 [ XGA resolution, 2500 lumens ] save $400
• View full list here of deep discounted projectors

So there you have just a few of the basics of business projection. Still have questions? Call a Projector Expert for more advice and information. Now we’ll touch on cross over and home theater products. Watch for a more comprehensive Home Theater Guide on our blog next friday.

Cross Over Projector Guide

There are fewer manufacturer specifically targeting the cross over buyer these days. That is partially because most business projectors do a reasonable job producing video, particularly for those who are not picky about their image. And now with more widescreen business projector options, you can even get true widescreen (and even HD) images from a business projector. The video quality, however, is not (even close to) optimized. The greatest advantage of a cross over projector is probably the brightness. Home theater projectors are tweaked out to produce higher contrast ratios (deep blacks and rich colors) and sacrifice brightness to achieve them. Here’s the quick list of things to look for in a cross over projector.

What to Look for in a Cross Over Projector : Quick Look

• WXGA (720p) resolution
• HDMI connection
• Lens shift / zoom lens
• Better video scaling technology (promotional materials usually mention it if applicable)
• Contrast ratio of 2500:1 or better

Of course, for those who are not particular about the image, just about any projector will reproduce decent video and a very big image.

SAVINGS TIP : Manufactures who make both business and home theater projectors are more likely to have a good video processor in them, as are projectors with a widescreen native chip in them.

OUR CLEARANCE CROSS OVER PROJECTORS

• NEC NP901W [WXGA resolution, 2000 lumens ] save $100
• Panasonic PT-AX200U [WXGA-H resolution, 2000 lumens ] save $50
• Mitsubishi WL639U [WXGA resolution, 3500 lumens ] save $300
• View full list here of deep discounted projectors

HD Home Theater Guide

Here’s a quick look at what to look for in a home theater projector. We are just hitting on the basics, since we will be covering this more fully in the Home Theater version of our newsletter next week. Check our blog next Friday afternoon if you are interested in reading more about HDTV projectors. Until then, here is our quick take on what to look for in a home theater projector.

Resolution

Resolution	Good to Have Because
HD (1080p)	Offers the best readily available image for the money.
WXGA-H (720p)	720p native projectors can typically scale to 1080p, but with some artifacts. Many HD channels broadcast 720p native signals.
WVGA (480p)	Good for backyard theaters or kids rooms. Not HD.

SAVINGS TIP : If your primary source (receiver, cable box, DVD, gaming system) is not 1080p, you may do just as well with a less expensive 720p projector. However, if you are likely to upgrade in the future, 1080p provides a significantly better image.

Resolution

Room Type	Recommended Brightness
Small Theaters	1000 lumens (or more)
Large Theaters	1500 lumens (or more)
Outdoor Theaters	1500 lumens (or more)
Media Rooms	2000 lumens (or more)

SAVINGS TIP : Controlled lighting will make all the difference in the world in a home theater space. Lower lumen projectors can produce a great looking image in a dark room. However if you want to leave the lights on, more lumens are worth the investment.

OUR CLEARANCE HOME THEATER PROJECTORS

• Optoma DV11 [ WVGA resolution, 1500 lumens, built-in DVD ] save $100
• Panasonic PT-AX200U [ WXGA-H resolution, 2000 lumens ] save $50
• Panasonic PT-AE2000U [ HD 1080p resolution, 1500 lumens ] save $100
• Mitsubishi HC5500 [ HD 1080p resolution, 1200 lumens ] save $300 plus $500 rebate
• View full list here of deep discounted projectors

That’s all we will cover in this newsletter, but watch out our Projector People Blog for a more comprehensive Home Theater Guide next Friday. We’ll discuss the value of 1080p projectors beyond resolution, discuss screen sizes, and much more. Thanks for tuning in!

And if we don’t see you before, here’s wishing you a Happy Holiday and a Wonderous New Year!

Hello blog readers! This is the first of many full training videos we plan to share with you all. This week we had Jeff Paiva, National Training Manager for Epson America’s Home Theater Projector division. Jeff came to Projector People to talk about Epson’s brand new Home Theater line up including the Epson Home Cinema 6100, Home Cinema 700, and Movie Mate 55.

Epson’s Home Cinema 1080 and Home Cinema 1080UB have been (and still are) best sellers for us. By comparison they are some of the nicest on the market. We were excited to learn more about the new line up.

Jeff is always an entertaining presenter, so it’s a great way to start our ‘Watch and Learn’ video series. Watch (or read) and enjoy!

Your Training Cheat Sheet for Epson Home Theater

If you don’t feel up to watching our entire training video here are a few notes from what we discovered this week.

Expected Ship Dates and Other Info

• The Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 6100
• The Epson HC6100 will include a 2 yr. advance replacement warranty
• The higher-priced 1080p HC6500 expected to ship last week of November
• New models have new industrial design, no longer “chiclets” but more squared edges and slightly larger cabinets for better heat and noise reduction, and for bigger video processors
• The new Color Light Output specification, developed by the 3LCD consortium, has been adopted by Sony as well as Epson with more to come

About Projector Contrast Ratios

• Average contrast ratio in a commercial movie theater is 150:1
• Lights off commercial movie theater contrast would be around 350 to 400:1
• The highest, true contrast ratio Jeff Paiva has ever measured was just over 400:1 and the image looked holographic from all the detail revealed

Watch:

Jeff Paiva on Contrast Ratio. How is contrast measured in a home theater projector? Epson’s Jeff Paiva discusses the difference between full on / full off contrast ratio and reveals the highest contrast ratio display he has ever tested in his years of experience.

Difference Between Home and Business Projectors

• Pushing green levels to achieve higher brightness
• Typically have poor video processors which show artifacts. Can’t handle fast motion video
• Louder fans on ultra portable projectors because of emphasis on smaller casing

Differences between image on a 720p vs. 1080p projector

• 3 million vs. 6 million pixels (or 1 million x 3 panels vs. 2 million x 3 panels)
• Colors appear more saturated in 1080p because there are more pixels to show depth
• Better black levels in 1080p
• More detail in the image, and a smoother image since less screen door effect visible

Watch:

Jeff discusses the advantages of 1080p over 720p projection.

Watch Entire Training Video

Epson Training Session from Projector People on Vimeo.

Full Epson Home Theater training video, including all of the things we mentioned in our cheat sheet above. Jeff also demonstrates how projectors create white light, how the new Epson home theater projectors achive their high contrast ratios, and the benefits of 1080p projectors over 720p.