anyone have an lcos or LCD projector?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I have a DLP projector that is just over 3 years old and is exhibiting the dreaded "white spot syndrome". Over the past 2 months, it has spread from just 1 or 2 pixels up to more than two dozen. It is definitely distracting, and I'll have to replace the projector within a couple of months. I'm disappointed that I only got about 40 months out of it. I think I got at least a decade out of my last monitor, and also from my last TV.

From a durability standpoint, are LCD projectors longer lasting?

I have also looked at some of the newer technologies, such as laser projectors and lcos projectors. Laser projectors seem to be lower resolution than I'd like (400x800, etc.), and lcos seems to be out of my price range. However, I came across this:

http://home.toolshomes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=&products_id=419

Never heard of them, and wondered if anyone knows if this company or product is legit? I have read some reviews of lcos online that say the blacks (space scenes, etc.) are better on lcos. However, I don't like the fact that I don't see a good number of well established manufacturers marketing LCOS projectors for $600 or less.

Thanks!

 

[vshah]

my parents have had a panasonic ae700u since 2004 and it's still working as well as the day we got it.

 

[Matt1970]

Never heard of that brand but at that price I highly doubt you would get a quality unit. That one you linked to is 1024x768 so it will be downconverting even a 720p resolution so it will suffer on any level.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Never heard of that brand but at that price I highly doubt you would get a quality unit. That one you linked to is 1024x768 so it will be downconverting even a 720p resolution so it will suffer on any level.

It would still be a step up for me, because I've been using an 800x600 DLP projector that is dying. We watch TV through an SD tuner, so I believe the projector can show it without much of a loss of any resolution. It probably does lose a bit compared to DVD, though, which comes in across the S-Video cable.

 

[vshah]

that's 180 lumens, you won't be able to have much more than a 30-40" screen in a dark room with such limited light output.

~400 will get you a nice 720p dlp projector these days.

 

[Soundmanred]

Save more money before buying things, stop settling for cheap stuff.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

>Save more money before buying things, stop settling for cheap stuff.

It took me nearly a year to save up the $300 for my original DLP projector. I promised myself I wouldn't take money away from our car fund, retirement fund, clothing fund, house fund, etc. to do it. When you are on a budget, and every dollar is accounted for, it is difficult to come up with extra cash. Our property taxes just went up 41% from last year, and our health insurance went up 33% last year as well. Things are financially tight. If I really scrimp and don't spend all of my $60 in misc money allocated for two weeks, I might have $10 or $20 a month to sock away for something like this.

Anyway, yes, if I saved longer, I could probably get a better quality projector. However, my current one is failing, and will be pretty much unwatchable in 2 months. Hence, I should probably limit myself to $350-$400 or less.

I'd love to repair my current one, if it can be done for $150 or less. Anyone know of a source for the DLP mirror chips for Optoma projectors? How about a place online that shows how to take the old one out, and put a new one in?

 

[sdifox]

I have a Mitsubishi HC4900. It's a 3 LCD projector. From what I understand the LCDs will not last.

 

[NutBucket]

Why wouldn't the LCDs last? The projector I use daily at work is about 11 years old and still looks great.

 

[sdifox]

Why wouldn't the LCDs last? The projector I use daily at work is about 11 years old and still looks great.

the panels just age. Mine had to be serviced under warranty because apparently a panel was no longer in its place and I get weird colours showing on screen.

 

[Muse]

I've had my Sanyo PLV-Z2 LCD projector since Nov. 2003, has 4458 hours on the original bulb. Never an issue (except for having to clean out dust bunnies once or twice a year due to the primitive filter on that PJ) until a couple of weeks ago when one of the fans started making a racket. At first it was a soft tic tic ticing and a tap on the case made it go away. A few days ago it got a lot louder and wouldn't go away. I determined that a small part of one blade had broken off and that the 4 screws that held the fan (the smaller of two) in place had become loose. I tighted the two screws I could get at. I think I'll put contact cement on all 4, hoping it will stop the problem permanently. I'm unhappy with the contrast and black levels and am shoppoing for another PJ. They've gotten a lot better and cheaper since 2003. I'll likely get another LCD. Am thinking of the Epson 8350 or 8700ub, but I'm just started doing my research.

 

[Muse]

Why wouldn't the LCDs last? The projector I use daily at work is about 11 years old and still looks great.

the panels just age. Mine had to be serviced under warranty because apparently a panel was no longer in its place and I get weird colours showing on screen.

I heard that the LCDs last way better if the panels are inorganic, FYI. Many are now.

 

[sdifox]

I heard that the LCDs last way better if the panels are inorganic, FYI. Many are now.

so you are saying OLEDs are doomed?

Yes, I know the difference between LCD and LED

 

[Muse]

so you are saying OLEDs are doomed?

Yes, I know the difference between LCD and LED

No I am saying no such thing. And I don't know the difference, sorry, at least well enough to assert knowledge. I'm just relaying what I was told in a thread at AVS Forums, for what it's worth. It was apropos my situation, currently having a Sanyo PLV-Z2 (evidently with non-inorganic panels) and shopping for a replacement PJ.

The AVS Forum thread is here: Please suggest replacement for Sanyo PLV-Z2

See posts #11 and especially #13 in the linked thread or search on the word "inorganic."

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

> I'd love to repair my current one, if it can be done for $150 or less. Anyone know of a >source for the DLP mirror chips for Optoma projectors? How about a place online that >shows how to take the old one out, and put a new one in?[/QUOTE]

I called Optoma, and the cost to have a new TI DLP mirror chip put in (which would solve the white spots) is quoted as over $500, including shipping. The entire projector only cost $300 new! Considering this, I don't think I will be buying another Optoma projector in the future. Charging 166% of the projector's original purchase price for a single repair part does not keep me as a loyal customer for their brand. Nor does tightly controlling access to repair parts, which rules out anyone trying to do their own repairs, and saving on labor/shipping.

Can anyone recommend a projector that has cheap replacement bulbs, at least an XGA resolution, and 16:9 native? Thanks!

 

[mashimaroo]

i have had experience with both some lcos and dlp projectors but i dont use them on a daily basis so i havent had any issues with them yet. They were also both LED's so no bulbs are needed to replace em! Sure they arent 1000-3000 lumens but they are fun gadgets

 

[Pr0d1gy]

If picture quality is important to you, and especially if you want to watch any 3D or do gaming, then I would recommend a Mitsubishi DLP HDTV in that $600 price range.

 

[Muse]

Why wouldn't the LCDs last? The projector I use daily at work is about 11 years old and still looks great.

I have an 8.5 year old LCD projector that works OK (720p). I thought it was dying so I started checking things out and recently bought another LCD projector, the 1080p Epson 8700ub, which has 200000:1 contrast ratio, which makes my old Sanyo look pretty bad in comparison. So far, no issues other than a fan that worked it's way loose on the Sanyo. I've never had a DLP, heard some stuff can happen with them (rainbow effect, the problem the OP mentioned). I figured if a certain percentage of people report headaches or fatigue from the rainbow effect, even if I don't seem to get it, there might be some strain, so I went with LCD.