So I just bought an Infocus X-1...

[Optimus]

... there had better not be any rainbows!

Seriously, anyone here have one? Mine should arrive in a couple days, and I'm crossing my fingers that its everything its been hyped to be over on avsforums and projectorcentral.

I was going to buy a big screen TV - rear projection, HD etc - but to get DLP the price kicks up to at least $4000 cdn as far as I can tell:
The Best Buy sales guy proudly showed me a 47in DLP HDTV with the Faroujda processor that had "just broken a new price barrier" by dropping to $3999.99.
Well, if I've read everything right, I just bought a 100in+DLP HDTV with the Faroujda processor for $1399 cdn...

So - has anyone here seen one of these X1's in action? Did you see these rainbows that apparently 10% of people are prone to?

 

[lancestorm]

I don't know where you get your "10%" figure...

 

[ScoobMaster]

I haven't seen one in action, but I envy you

I assume you already have a progresssive DVD player and a monster surround receiver with adequate speakers. Run the best available video connection to the projector and you've got yourself a THEATER!

congrats and enjoy (make your guests bring the popcorn!)

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Because you know about rainbows, chances are good that you will see them. I can see them, but only when I'm looking for them. The way I see it, I got an HDTV that is twice as large as a $4000 DLP rear projection, and I only paid 25% of the price.

Do you have a screen?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Optimus
So - has anyone here seen one of these X1's in action? Did you see these rainbows that apparently 10% of people are prone to?

I'm one of the folks that are prone to seeing the rainbows. I've seen them before on the older HLM model rear projection TV from Samsung, so the X1 probably isn't for me.

If you start seeing rainbows, RETURN IT. There are other models at a similar price point that have faster 6-segment color wheels. The 2 models I've been eyeing are the Optoma H30 and the Infocus Screenplay 4805. They both cost a few hundred dollars more, but both are brighter, have better contrast, and have the faster color wheel.

 

[SunnyD]

Aren't you going to spend a fortune over the next few years of bulbs though? Or would the same apply to the rear-projection units too?

 

[Viper GTS]

I hope you have full control over the lighting in your intended room.

Viper GTS

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Aren't you going to spend a fortune over the next few years of bulbs though? Or would the same apply to the rear-projection units too?

I don't think bulbs in most rear projection TVs are as bright (they don't need to be!) and have higher lifespan than a projector bulb.

Unless you use the projector as your regular television or the bulb is defective, you shouldn't need to replace it more than once every other year. The bulbs cost around $200-300 a pop.

 

[Optimus]

I don't know where you get your "10%" figure...

ProjectorCentral refers to it as "Fortunately, the majority of the population either cannot detect the rainbow artifacts, or if they can they are not overly bothered by them."
Another source I read said that in a non scientific poll of owners done at AVS Forum ishowed around 20% never see rainbows, 60% report some but livable, and 20% see them so much its intolerable.
However other claims I've read put it as low as 5%. I'd peg it between 10%-20% given these sources.

I assume you already have a progresssive DVD player and a monster surround receiver with adequate speakers.

Yup!

Do you have a screen?

Working on it...

Aren't you going to spend a fortune over the next few years of bulbs though?

Hopefully not. New bulbs for it are $250 usd, but are rated 3000-4000 hours. As its really just for movies and some games, I'd be surprised to put more than 15 hours a week on it. At that rate, it could last 4-5 years on a single bulb.

I hope you have full control over the lighting in your intended room.

Absolutely, Gregg - I actually built the room myself with a projector in mind the whole time. Its in the basement, and has only 2 small windows which I can completely cover/darken.

 

[flot]

I've never seen the X1 in person but would be interested in hearing your impressions of it. Based on reviews I'm very close to buying one - unfortunately my room doesn't entirely lend itself to the projection experience, and I'm a little wary of having a huge projector screen on my living room wall. (basically you would be staring at it as soon as you walk in the front door)

90% of my TV watching is at night though, and even during the day my room can be made reasonably dark, so I think otherwise it would work out... Did you get any kind of special deal on the projector?

 

[flot]

By the way, I've been doing some research and it seems like the X-1 has a recent $1000 competitor, the BenQ pb6100. Very similar specs, the BenQ has a faster color wheel and people are going back and forth about which one is truely a better projector... just curious if you had looked into that one as well.

One advantage for me is that because my room is very small, looks like the BenQ would be able to project a *smaller* picture which I would actually prefer.

(the BenQ is $950 at newegg and there is a $100 manufacturer's rebate)

 

[Apex]

Congrats on your move to front projection.

If you can, pick up a higher gain gray based screen.

 

[KLin]

I have access to an X1 and have used it to watch HD programs. The Super Bowl was the best . anyways, I have noticed a few rainbows on some programs and DVD's, but the quality of the HD display is great. Like Viper GTS said, the more control you have over ambient light in your room, the better the picture.