Projector Central got a hold of an Epson Ensemble HD 6100 package and has just published their review. We wanted to make you aware of it and throw in one or two thoughts which you can take or leave. Below are some quotes pulled from the review. You can also just read the full review on Projector Central.

Projector Central says :

“The Ensemble is designed not to be the ultimate in home theater, but to be an all in one, easy to install solution that eliminates the mystery of assembling all of the components on your own. It is meant for the person who likes the idea of big home theater with a front projector and big, bold surround sound, but isn’t quite sure where to start, but doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in research and product selection. It is meant for the typical consumer who wants home theater but doesn’t want to turn it into a full time job or hobby.”

Exactly sir! The real reason this product should be a big seller is in the details. Our customer service team installed the entire system in one of our conference rooms and they were able to complete the task in a work day.

Projector Central says :

“But the real “Wow” factor of the Ensemble isn’t found in the spec sheets. It’s actually very simple: if someone told you five years ago that you could have a complete home theater, with 5.1 surround and a high-definition front projector, for less than $7,500, you would have laughed. Today, it is available at over 200 dealers around the country, as well as two authorized online resellers for the do-it-yourself crowd. If you are looking for a great big screen solution with the full surround sound experience, and want it installed in short order with no muss or fuss, the Epson Ensemble may be just the solution.”

We second (or third that if you read the Projector Reviews overview) that emotion. And not only have they made the price reasonable (not cheap, but very reasonable), they have removed a great cost to the customer in hassle. So the customer who is willing to pay a little more (and not much more) to spare the cost of hassle, should recognize that an Epson Ensemble system is a serious bargain.

Anyway, enough of our overview. Slide on over to Projector Central and read the complete Epson Ensemble HD system review here.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/epson_ensemble_hd_review.htm

In our efforts to maintain the best projector site on the internets, we have just recently upgraded our Custom Home Theater Package Builder to better serve you. We created the original Package Builder a couple years ago and it has been a frequently used feature. But good can get better, so our Package Builder 2.0 includes more intelligent logic for cable and mount selection – based on the size of your specific space. It also has updated product selections and discounts on more accessories.

What’s New on the Custom Home Theater Package Builder?

• Updated selection of home theater and crossover projectors.
• Broader accessory options from mounts to cables.
• Updated recommended and featured products.
• More intelligent product recommendations with room size calculations for mounts and cables.
• More products with discounts.

So if you are looking to find a deal on a home theater package, it’s worth taking a minute to test out the new Custom Home Theater Package Builder tool.

Prefer to Speak to an Expert?

If you have more questions about which projector is right for you, how to connect all the pieces of your home theater puzzle, or anything related to your home theater package, we have our very own staff of Projector Experts ready to assist you (Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 8:pm EST) with all your questions and concerns. They may even be able to save you even more money on your package. Our new Package Builder is available 24-7.

Your Suggestions?

We are already compiling our wish list for version 3.0. If you have suggestions on how we can improve the Package Builder, please drop us a note at webmaster@projectorpeople.com.

Keeping the current economic times in mind, our friends at Electronic House have posted a story about a fella who spent under $2300 on his home theater. Of course we know many people who have achieved a goal like this one, but we thought the story was worth sharing – particularly because we have a number of options for packages under $2300.

From Electronic House :

Shawn Lyman has to laugh. He sees “Electronic House” profile $25,000—and even $5,000—theaters as “budget.” However, he is the biggest super-saver of them all. He spent a mere $2,000 on his theater room, and has never looked back—except to check in on his equipment, of course. …

Is a $25,000 home theater really $20,000 better than a $5,000 theater? I don’t know. But $20,000 might as well be $1 million to me. But is a $5,000 theater noticeably better than a $2,500 theater? Professional quality audio, electric screen, quality cables, universal remote are all nice touches, but the image, is still the real crucial element in creating a great theater. If you ask me. Since there are some great projectors for under $2,000 – you can really do a LOT with $2300 – as the featured theater shows.

… While many audiophiles may pooh-pooh Shawn’s decision to add a 720p projector, it has served him well for over two years. Optoma’s unit was the first 720p DLP projectors under the $1,000 mark, and he was eager at that time (and price). “At 100 inches, I love the 720p and really only think the 1080p would be helpful over a 100-inch screen size,” he says. “You just can’t resolve the detail differences between 720p and 1080p at those smaller sizes at 10- to 15-feet viewing distances… It doesn’t really matter that it’s 720p or 1080p. It’s HD.” Of course, he’s hoping that the new house will warrant a larger screen—and a 1080p projector.

Link to full story on Electronic House complete with pictures and comments.

The good news for all Electronic House readers is that 1080p projectors are cheaper now. None are under $999 like that Optoma DLP projector, however, we still have several available packages with 1080p resolution projectors at under $2300.

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Three 1080p Projector Packages Under $2300

And now for our selection of low priced 1080p packages. If you wanted to do exactly what Shawn did you’d have to add a bit of cash for your riser, carpet, and the sound system because those items aren’t part of the packages we are listing. However, the core video components are all here.

[ Image : Sample home theater from our customer showroom. Read more about this theater and view other customer theaters. ]

Home Cinema 6100 Home Theater Package

• Epson Home Cinema 6100
• Sanus mount
• Liberty Cable HDMI Cable, 8 meters Cable
• Elite Manual Screen

Package Price: $2,150

More Package Details : Click here

Mitsubishi HC5500 Simple Bundle

• Mitsubishi HC5500
• Sanus Systems VMPR1 Universal Projector Mount, Black
• AccuScreens Fixed Frame Screen with Velvet Frame
• Liberty Cable HDMI Cable, 12 meters

Package Price: $2,199 (PLUS $300 rebate and Free lamp)

More Package Details : Click here

Sanyo PLV-Z700 Just the Basics 1080p Package

• Sanyo PLV-Z700
• Sanus Systems VMPR1 Universal Projector Mount, black
• Elite Manual Screen
• Liberty Cable HDMI Cable, 12 meters

Package Price : $1,569 (after $200 rebate)

More Package Details : Click here

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Make Your Own Custom Package

If you’d rather steer your own ship, here are some of the lower priced components that are good to build from from projectors to screens and mounts.

Budget Package Components 1080p Projector Options – from $1,359 (after rebate) Mitsubishi HC5500 Epson Home Cinema 6100 Sanyo PLV-Z700 720p Projector Options - from $779 Panasonic P-AX200U Mitsubishi HC1600

Unfortunately we can’t post the lowest prices here, but if you click the links and add the products to cart you will see our lowest price.

Money Saver Screens - from $99 Elite Manual Draper Luma Pulldown AccuScreen Fixed Frame Inexpensive Mounts - from $89 Sanus Universal Mount Chief RPA-U Universal Mount

Leave room for a BluRay player (or better yet, a Playstation 3, some good cables, and if you don’t already have some dedicated audio, you will need that too. The sky is the limit for audio prices, but there are some good cheap (in a box) options out there.

So there you have the ticket to creating your own home theater under $2300. You can check out Shawn’s complete equipment list too. Just follow the link below to the complete story.

[ Link to full story on Electronic House ]

Looking for a football package for watching the big game? Check out our new “BIGGAME” coupon code and the competitively price packages created just for those who want a big screen for watching the BIGGAME. We have five packages that qualify for a gift or discount with the coupon. See details below :

Use Coupon Code : “BIGGAME” in your shopping cart! Valid Dates : Through Sunday, February 1st. Gift or Discount : $50 off or FREE AVA II video calibration disc. Qualifying Packages :

1080p HD Package Deals : With Free AVIA II Video Calibration Disc!

• Panasonic PT-AE3000U Package (includes screen, HDMI cable, mount) = $2699
• Epson Home Cinema 6500UB Package (includes, screen, HDMI cable, mount) = $2949 (after rebate)

[ use coupon code : BIGGAME in the shopping cart ]

Three HD Packages on Sale : Save $50

• Panasonic PT-AX200U Package (with mount, screen, and component cable) = $1,339.00
• Sanyo PLV-Z700 Package (with HDMI cable, universal mount, and screen) = $1,749.00 (After $200.00 rebate)
• Mitsubishi HC5500 Package (with universal mount, screen,HDMI cable) = $1,999.00 (After $300.00 rebate. Plus free lamp!)

Use Coupon Code : BIGGAME

Coupon Code valid January 10th through February 1st, 2009

Invest in the super big screen experience. It’s the gift that keeps on giving to you, your friends, and family for the big game and beyond. You’ll have your home theater for March Madness, the long Summer, and the next holiday season that’s just around the corner.

Remember you can call and speak to a Projector Expert at 1-888-248-0675 to create your own package.