Super Deal of the Day!

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!

[ 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.

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. ]

* 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.

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.

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

Another way to save is to purchase a package deal. Remember you can always call a Projector Expert who can put together a custom package for you. Our Package Deals may not fit exactly what you are looking for but they might. If they do, you’ll usually save money that you wouldn’t if you purchase each item seperately. That may take some of the fun out of shopping for the bargain hunters, but it saves time for buyers who prefer a one-stop-savings-shop. Check out our packages below :

• Epson Home Theater Packages
• Mitsubishi Home Theater Packages
• Optoma Home Theater Packages
• Panasonic Home Theater Packages
• Sanyo Home Theater Packages

SAVINGS TIP : Due to manufacturer regulations, authorized resellers have to be a little creative in order to offer you our best price. So add your projector to your cart to see the lowest prices on most projectors. Or request a quick quote for a Sanyo product to see the lowest price. Packages are also a good way to find additional savings. Call for the most up to date pricing or to create a custom package.

FEATURED PACKAGE DEAL – Panasonic PT-AE3000U Simple Bundle includes :

Panasonic PT-AE3000U projector

Sanus Universal Projector Mount, Black

Liberty HDMI Cable (10 meters)

AccuScreens Fixed Frame 106-inch Screen with Velvet Frame

Package Price : $2699

Click for details »

Hopefully this has been a helpful guide to projector savings. As always, please feel free to call and speak to a Projector Expert for more detailed information, and for specific advice about your home theater space.

[ 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

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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!

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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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

• 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

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.

New 1080p Projector Comparison Chart

[ Based on preliminary specs only. ]

* Expect Sanyo to post dramatic improvements to this spec before release date.
** We are trying to confirm this. Sanyo reports the HDMI 1.3b input on their projectors is the same dimension as 1.3a HDMI, but with more pins.

A Big Contrast

Contrast ratios are coming in around the 10,000 to 60,000:1 range. But as the numbers get higher, the specification seems to mean less and less. Back in the day when people wanted to bring their work projectors home on the weekends – with 400:1 contrast ratios – contrast ratios were a serious consideration. But the visible difference between 10,000:1 and 60,000:1 contrast is not nearly as dramatic as it sounds. That is not to say that it doesn’t mean something, at least, but a 10,000:1 projector looks MUCH better than a 400:1 contrast projector. But unless you can make your room nearly black, the difference between 60,000:1 and 10,000:1 is not nearly as noticeable.

More Sizzle for your Nickel

This year there seems to be an emergence of more high-performance HD options around the same prices as some of last year’s entry level products. That’s good news for buyer’s who have been planning to spend around $3,000 based on last year’s prices, since they will get more for their money this time. Here’s a link to a blurb on Gizmodo about the Panasonic PT-AE3000U, dropping prices, and the high quality of this new $3000 projectors.

New 1080p Projectors : Product Photos

These photos were not taken by a professional photographer, as you can clearly see. They were taken by a professional product manager with many years of experience in the audio visual industry, and no natural photographic talent. I would show his photo but he doesn’t photograph well either.

Panasonic PT-AE3000U and the AE2000U Upgrades

Panasonic PT-AE3000U projector

Panasonic PT-AE3000U projector and developers

Sanyo PLV-Z700 projector