Sim2 Domino D35

[Sean_Melb]

Hi all,

Been to most of melbourne's big AV stores - the specific HT stores not HN or JB etc and nearly all the ones who seem reputable (i wont name all but been to the ones in blackburn/carlton audio visual/Big picture people/Norlec just to name a few) and all are recommending the Sim2 D35 over the 8270 and before you all jump off the shoot me down i have seen both up and running and im just a novice this being my first ever projector purchase but for aud7000 retail (can get it down to 6100aud) the sim2 seems to have an great picture to me over the benq product.

ok before all those from price japan site say i can get it 2 times cheaper i will be having it installed and want the australian warrantly and the service from the Ht store as it will be part of a 16grand upgrade to what i already have in audio (see my setup below) so wont be buying from there.

Just wanted to know who has a Sim2 Domino D35? Are they happy? is it worth the extra money over a 8270? Has anyone seen them side by side. I have only seen them in different rooms so far.

One thing also it is ceiling mounted in a lounge room and frankly the 8720 is large and ugly compared to the Sim2 and id hate to see the 8720 in the middle of my lounge ceiling? Seems like most of this forum has specific Ht rooms so this doesnt come into it.

Be good to know your thoughts on the Sim2 and their service.

thanks

[yamapro]

Well if you would hate to see the 8720 in your lounge room and price is clearly not an issue... i think you have solved your own dillema

Enjoy the purchase.

P.S. I've not done a side by side but Sim 2 products are always top notch and as you have obviously noticed have that whole form/function balance thing. I think the 8720 has such a huge following because of it's value, not many competitors come close to it for spec, features, build and image quality at anywhere near the price. It's a real taste of the 'high end' for not a massive outlay. I don't think it's a market segment Sim2 Domino's have ever competed for

[Gino]

Perhaps consider the HD1 at that price?

[benthx]

Well if you would hate to see the 8720 in your lounge room and price is clearly not an issue... i think you have solved your own dillema

Enjoy the purchase.

P.S. I've not done a side by side but Sim 2 products are always top notch and as you have obviously noticed have that whole form/function balance thing. I think the 8720 has such a huge following because of it's value, not many competitors come close to it for spec, features, build and image quality at anywhere near the price. It's a real taste of the 'high end' for not a massive outlay. I don't think it's a market segment Sim2 Domino's have ever competed for

Well said. I couldnt agree more.

However, the power of brand recognician still reins supreme in the upper escelons of society. Its not the case of how little one paid but how much.

Ben

[yamapro]

Good point Gino

You are deifnately getting into the realmsof 1080 machines at the$7k mark... and if your nota fan of LCDs then the new BenQ W10000 is rumoured to be hitting at $8k and is apparently a big stepup in PQ fromthe 8720 (as it should be at over twice the price )

Food for thought...

[Foggy]

Are you able to live with the SIM2's fan noise?

[cwt]

You are deifnately getting into the realmsof 1080 machines at the$7k mark... and if your nota fan of LCDs then the new BenQ W10000 is rumoured to be hitting at $8k and is apparently a big stepup in PQ fromthe 8720 (as it should be at over twice the price )

Food for thought...

If a hd dvd/blu player is in the offing Ide certainly want a 1080 too yamapro -no downscaling for a start. .Ide save some money and get a pearl

[Foggy]

Are you able to live with the SIM2's fan noise?

Sorry for the short initial reply as I was busy at the time, but here's some more info:

I looked at this projector at the time that I bought my 8720, and I talked to Samhain about it at some length as he had one in his home, and also had an 8720 on display at the store that he was working at at the time.

Here's a summary of my findings:

• The SIM2 had slightly better colour rendition
  
• The 8720 was significantly brighter
  
• The 8720 had more flexible placement configuration
  
• The SIM2 had a smoother picture, the 8720 was sharper. Some would say that the SIM2 was more "film like", this is probably because the 8720 has a sharper image (which I happen to prefer).
  
• The SIM2 had a significant amount of fan noise, whereas the 8720 was very quiet
  
• The 8720 was significantly cheaper
  

If you can stretch your budget a little further, my suggestion at this point in time would be to look at the JVC HD1. It is a significant leap forward in performance.

EDIT: I just realised that I was comparing to the SIM2 30H, not the D35. I haven't seen the D35, so I can't comment.... sorry about the mistake.

Edited April 10, 2007 by Foggy

[Mjr69]

I have the old Sim2 projector - (which I actually bought from Samhain). Go directly to JVC do not pass Go etc... The 8720 is sooo last month.

You will not be sorry with the JVC HD1!

[benthx]

I have the old Sim2 projector - (which I actually bought from Samhain). Go directly to JVC do not pass Go etc... The 8720 is sooo last month.

You will not be sorry with the JVC HD1!

I concur with that statement!

PM me if you want to know more and be part of the HD1 owners club. Happy to facilitate everyone with their purchase.

Ben

[Samhain]

I concur with that statement!

PM me if you want to know more and be part of the HD1 owners club. Happy to facilitate everyone with their purchase.

Ben

I have not seen the D35, so cannot comment on that, and my old 30H is too old to be comapred I would guess (made in a different time for a different market).

The 8720 in fact I believe has better colour than the Sim2 30H and is certainly sharper..... also has better contrast, as it should being a) much newer DC3 vs HD2+

Apart from that... as I said, not sure how valuable comapring the 30H and 8720 is re the D35. Probably the same optics, different chip, possibly different colour decoding.. who knows!?

Personally I am awaiting my HD1 - first machine ever purchased sight unseen, though I was in a bind where my Barco met an untimely death, so had to choose what the insurance company would give me... and the hD1 seemed the best choice of my options.

[Sean_Melb]

thankyou for all your replies.

I didnt think to listen to the Sim2 D35 with no sound to listen to the fan noise.

hey if i can save some cash and get a good projector im willing to lsiten to all advice.

havent seen the JVC item your all raving about and sounds like even more expensive than the 6990 retail for the Sim2.

but im in no rush just as yet...maybe ill wait 3 months and see how much they all fall.

after all wasnt the benq produce 8720 like aud9990 like 8 months ago?????

[norpus]

thankyou for all your replies.

I didnt think to listen to the Sim2 D35 with no sound to listen to the fan noise.

hey if i can save some cash and get a good projector im willing to lsiten to all advice.

havent seen the JVC item your all raving about and sounds like even more expensive than the 6990 retail for the Sim2.

but im in no rush just as yet...maybe ill wait 3 months and see how much they all fall.

after all wasnt the benq produce 8720 like aud9990 like 8 months ago?????

Good idea if you can wait

[Samhain]

thankyou for all your replies.

I didnt think to listen to the Sim2 D35 with no sound to listen to the fan noise.

hey if i can save some cash and get a good projector im willing to lsiten to all advice.

havent seen the JVC item your all raving about and sounds like even more expensive than the 6990 retail for the Sim2.

but im in no rush just as yet...maybe ill wait 3 months and see how much they all fall.

after all wasnt the benq produce 8720 like aud9990 like 8 months ago?????

Going on past experience with Sim2 - the price on that mahcine is very unlikely to move significantly ay time soon.

The 8720 is a nice buy @ arounc 4k.

The 8720 dropped so markedly because it's big brother the 9k was due out soon and BenQ Aus had to clear a rediculous number of 8720's.

I doubt that will be the case with the Sim2 nor the new BenQ 1080p 9k model, and unless sony release a competitor to the new JVC, I doubt that will come down in price any time soon either as popularity world wide has been huge - infact, they recently put the rpice up to slow demand....... just my opinion

[benthx]

I know another guy who I beleive will sell his sim d35 soon. The cycle will go on and on.

Just be patient if you dont mind a preloved PJ and save yourself $$$$.

Ben

[franin]

I know another guy who I beleive will sell his sim d35 soon. The cycle will go on and on.

Just be patient if you dont mind a preloved PJ and save yourself $$$$.

Ben

Your right Ben, the cycle never ends.

[Gino]

My CRT cycle ended It's you digital users

[Mjr69]

I have looked and listened to the Sim 35 and it was a brighter picture - obviously due to comparing an old bulb with a new one. The "look" was the same not sharper/softer etc.. and it was still as noisy as my old Sim 30! Same body and neat looks and great sealed globe enclosure so dust isn't a problem like it was with my old Sanyo.

The PJ is mounted 1.3m behind my head and is noticeable low drone in very quiet passages - but I also have a PC in the same room and so I live with it.

You are in a very fortunate position coming in a bit later than some of us as PJs become very outdated and loose their price in a phenomenal way. For price alone a second hand 8720 would be a good buy now - BUT if you want to keep your next purchase for a number of years I think you would be less likely to get upgradeitis if you went for the JVC.

The only downside for JVC is if you want to go the CIH route - right now you need a VP. If you can wait a few months then it may be clearer whether the JVC can even do that in a later model/firmware upgrade.

Don't get me wrong the Sim displays a nice picture but if you sit close and want to take advantage of BluRay or HD DVD in the future you should really audition the JVC before you part with your $.

[franin]

I have looked and listened to the Sim 35 and it was a brighter picture - obviously due to comparing an old bulb with a new one. The "look" was the same not sharper/softer etc.. and it was still as noisy as my old Sim 30! Same body and neat looks and great sealed globe enclosure so dust isn't a problem like it was with my old Sanyo.

The PJ is mounted 1.3m behind my head and is noticeable low drone in very quiet passages - but I also have a PC in the same room and so I live with it.

You are in a very fortunate position coming in a bit later than some of us as PJs become very outdated and loose their price in a phenomenal way. For price alone a second hand 8720 would be a good buy now - BUT if you want to keep your next purchase for a number of years I think you would be less likely to get upgradeitis if you went for the JVC.

The only downside for JVC is if you want to go the CIH route - right now you need a VP. If you can wait a few months then it may be clearer whether the JVC can even do that in a later model/firmware upgrade.

Don't get me wrong the Sim displays a nice picture but if you sit close and want to take advantage of BluRay or HD DVD in the future you should really audition the JVC before you part with your $.

I've got sim 2 d35 and once calibrated it was very nice.Don't get me wrong im not saying it's better than all the projectors out there,but picture quality is very good even better with hd-dvd and blu-ray.I had to get it professionally calibrated which costed $$$ and I was amazed how good the picture looks.Im looking forward to see how it looks with my stewarts studio tech 130 which is getting installed today.