SynGen Posted November 8, 2020 Posted November 8, 2020 I’m new to projectors but was wanting to get one for my family room for the whole family to watch movies and occasionally do a couch play with the projector hooked up to a PC with steam. I was offered a brand new Benq W1700M with full 2yrs warranty for $1750. Wondering if this is a good deal? I can’t seem to find many reviews on the W1700M. Most reviews are of the W1700 and the W1700M never made it to the states. I understand in EU, it was referred to as the W1720. Wondering if anyone else has it and what their opinion may be like. It’ll be installed in a standard family room measuring 6.4 x 5.95m Lots of ambient light during the day. However, I do have the option of bringing down the shutters to achieve pretty good darkness during day and night.
CustomHT Posted November 8, 2020 Posted November 8, 2020 The price is very good, it's below cost price. Maybe they took a lot of stock and got a deal.. But I'd be confirming it's Australian Stock. It's very similar to the W1700.. Just has some enhanced colour coverage with 100% Rec.709.. I'd say it's going to be very hard to beat at that price point.. Main competition comes in around the $2.5k mark. 1
SynGen Posted November 8, 2020 Author Posted November 8, 2020 Thanks for your response. I did read about the earlier W1700 model having issues, being the first of that generation. This seems to be the follow-up model (hence W1700M, in Europe it’s W1720) which is supposed to have corrected some of the shortcomings of the initial W1700 model. This revised model never made it to US, hence why it seems to be near impossible to find any reviews on it According to a French reviewer, the newer model seems to have notably improved contrast, better blacks, better motion, more accurate color out-of-the-box, and subjectively better HDR image quality. It also lacks the light border of the first gen model. https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://www.passionhomecinema.fr/blog/index.php/27/04/2019/test-benq-w1720-lavis-de-gregory/&usg=ALkJrhhqApNF_yGahziy2klDDQEvPByP1w Google translated page above. Should I try to hold out for a refurbished or second-hand model of Epson EH-TW7100 (HC3800) which I have seen some people post for about $1,700 ? or immediately grab this unit?
CustomHT Posted November 8, 2020 Posted November 8, 2020 15 minutes ago, SynGen said: Should I try to hold out for a refurbished or second-hand model of Epson EH-TW7100 (HC3800) which I have seen some people post for about $1,700 ? or immediately grab this unit? That's a tough one. An Epson EH-TW7100 for $1700 would be a great buy, if you think it's likely a refurbished or second hand model would come up for that price it would be well worth looking. It's really going to come down to personal choice and consider the warranty when purchasing second hand or refurbished, as it might be less... 1
oztheatre Posted November 8, 2020 Posted November 8, 2020 If you can see it first to make sure you don't see any rainbow artefacting. That might be a problem. Why not look at the Epson TW5700? It's still a 2K projector but would look clearer than the benq. you just can't get any cheap 4k shifting projector to display 4k as the lenses are not up to it. You need to spend more than double, then 4 and 5 times that amount to get a decent lens array on a projector. I wouldn't be thinking 4k pixels at that price point, try and find good optics, makes a big difference. 3
SynGen Posted November 9, 2020 Author Posted November 9, 2020 Ok. I made a split second decision and blew my budget While doing further research, I chanced upon an Epson EH-TW9400 in the Epson Clearance Centre which comes with 3yrs warranty at $2699. It’s about $1k more than the Benq W1700M I was eyeing but supposedly it has better specs and feature-wise and has 3yrs warranty. I quickly jumped on it hoping that no one else was in the process of clicking buy. Seems like about $1.5-2k off the RRP. Time will tell if I made a rash decision or scored a great buy.
oztheatre Posted November 9, 2020 Posted November 9, 2020 29 minutes ago, SynGen said: Ok. I made a split second decision and blew my budget While doing further research, I chanced upon an Epson EH-TW9400 in the Epson Clearance Centre which comes with 3yrs warranty at $2699. It’s about $1k more than the Benq W1700M I was eyeing but supposedly it has better specs and feature-wise and has 3yrs warranty. I quickly jumped on it hoping that no one else was in the process of clicking buy. Seems like about $1.5-2k off the RRP. Time will tell if I made a rash decision or scored a great buy. You'll be wrapped with the 9400! Well done.
SynGen Posted November 9, 2020 Author Posted November 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, oztheatre said: You'll be wrapped with the 9400! Well done. I have you to thank actually. You suggested that I take a look at the Epson 5700 and I started doing some reading on it. Some googling lead me to an expired OzBargain thread on the Epson 5600 at the Epson Clearance Centre. Even tho it was expired, I tried my luck and there’s currently a unit of the Epson 5600 with 12mths warranty going for $689.40 (it’s still available now). Scrolling further down, lo and behold was the EH-TW9400 with 36mths warranty. Did a quick read, pulled out the card, blew my budget and now thinking of what and how to inform the Home Minister Ta Mate! 1
oztheatre Posted November 9, 2020 Posted November 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, SynGen said: I have you to thank actually. You suggested that I take a look at the Epson 5700 and I started doing some reading on it. Some googling lead me to an expired OzBargain thread on the Epson 5600 at the Epson Clearance Centre. Even tho it was expired, I tried my luck and there’s currently a unit of the Epson 5600 with 12mths warranty going for $689.40 (it’s still available now). Scrolling further down, lo and behold was the EH-TW9400 with 36mths warranty. Did a quick read, pulled out the card, blew my budget and now thinking of what and how to inform the Home Minister Ta Mate! haha I think I've caused a few divorces over the years 1 1
SynGen Posted November 9, 2020 Author Posted November 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, oztheatre said: haha I think I've caused a few divorces over the years Ermmm let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. It’d be cold comfort snuggling up to the Epson’s hard plastic
Johnny_Boy Posted November 10, 2020 Posted November 10, 2020 23 hours ago, SynGen said: Ok. I made a split second decision and blew my budget While doing further research, I chanced upon an Epson EH-TW9400 in the Epson Clearance Centre which comes with 3yrs warranty at $2699. It’s about $1k more than the Benq W1700M I was eyeing but supposedly it has better specs and feature-wise and has 3yrs warranty. I quickly jumped on it hoping that no one else was in the process of clicking buy. Seems like about $1.5-2k off the RRP. Time will tell if I made a rash decision or scored a great buy. The 9400 is fantastic! I've had mine for about a year and love it. Its a beast considering the price. Enjoy! 1
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