Hi,

 

I'm looking for home projector for movies, tv and occasional computer work.

 

Now I have been a bit interested about BenQ PB6100 which is the lower cost one. There is also a slightly better model with XGA display PB6200. According to Projector Central these both got recomended status.

 

Specifications: http://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-PB6100.htm http://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-PB6200.htm

 

How about these? Any other, better choises?

 

Where I can buy? I went to Funan in Singapore and the price for PB6100 was 1899 without a screen. Looking at the prices in the web, this might be cheaper somewhere else?

 

Thanks for your advice.

 

-P

 

 

Hi P,

 

Warm welcome to the PJ club.

 

There are few things which you need to check before buying the 6100.

 

1) 6100 does not have short throw lens, therefore you will need a long viewing area to bring the image size to 100" (diagonal). i.e you need to place the 6100 PJ about 17ft away from the screen in order to get a 100" screen size. Whereas for a short throw PJ like AE500 (most popular here is think ;), you need only about 12ft.

 

2) If I can recall, 6100 has limited input port, which make it very troublesome to switch video input source, and you definitely need to buy adapter/converter if you intend to use component cable or DVI inputs (which is highly recommended for DVD)

 

3) Dont be fool by DLP projector Lumen rating. It usually take more light to project a DLP projector, than a LCD one. If you notice the lamp power rating, DLP lamp wattage is usually about 250W, while LCD is about 130W. However DLP pj does have better contrast, which make the black look darker

 

4) Yes you are right 6100 is a SVGA pj, and at $1899, I think the price is reasonable. As for the 6200, I think it will cost you above $3K.

 

If you can stretch your budget a little, I would recommend you to check out the AE500, which is a WXGA (16:9 native) PJ and it is price at around $2700 (i think). so far I dont think any WXGA PJ sold here can come near to this price.

 

Good luck!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeap..'P' you may like to check out AE500 Projector for a starter...DLP Projectors are very good but you may not be able to take in the "rainbow effect"...

 

Demo both AE500, Z2 or X1 for DLP route for a start and judge for yourself which one suits you most.

 

:)

Hearing the word around for the new Hitachi pj, you might also want to consider that.

 

At a budget price, I actually recommend going for LCDs instead. The rainbow effect is very much proportional to the speed of the colour wheel, and well, the the price goes up with increasing colour wheel speed.

 

IMO, the ae500 does seem to quite good, but is about $1k more than the benq6100. Choices are more closer to the 3k mark. That puts Optoma H30, infocus 4805, AE500, Hitachi 100 all in that same price bracket.

 

 

My 2 cents would be not to save on the difference in price for a real HT PJ.

 

Unlike the earlier days when the difference between an X1 and a Sharp Z90 was $2k+ and higher starting price of $2.7K...today for ard $2k+ you could get the AE500, OP H30, Hitachi 100 and maybe the SP4805 ($3k).

 

But since you mention occasional computer work you may also consider the IF X1.

P, try to see the demo for yourself, if u can tolerate the raiwbow effect of this 3x color wheel prj then this is best buy projector for your budget.

 

I'm very happy with my PB6100 and it clocked 135 hrs now and projected on 78" screen (16:9) only - even I have 84X84 screen.

 

Trust me u will surprise with pb6100 picture quality when image < 85" (16:9) .

However, if u lookin for screen something > 90" then 6100 will not give u the promising quality.

 

I bought mine in KL, RM4000 ( $1800 SDG) come with screen.

 

Hi,

I'm not too familiar with this rainbow effect things, how do the BenQ compare in this aspect with other dlp prj? Does it bother you at all?

 

Besides, may I know what type of screens u r using the BenQ with?

 

I am interested in the BenQ too, currently considering the PB6200, Panny AE500 or maybe the new hitachi, but not in the hurry.

 

BTW, does the PB6100 has adequate resolution for DVDs?

 

P, try to see the demo for yourself, if u can tolerate the raiwbow effect of this 3x color wheel prj then this is best buy projector for your budget.

 

I'm very happy with my PB6100 and it clocked 135 hrs now and projected on 78" screen (16:9) only - even I have 84X84 screen.

 

Trust me u will surprise with pb6100 picture quality when image < 85" (16:9) .

However, if u lookin for screen something > 90" then 6100 will not give u the promising quality.

 

I bought mine in KL, RM4000 ( $1800 SDG) come with screen.

 

Just a normal manual roll down dalite matte white. PB6100 is more then enough for DVD lah. I like panny AE500 too but Pana price like a boom and selling at $3.9K (Sgd) here in KL and so I rather spend the extra money on good DVD player.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

I'm actually more confused at the moment :)

 

Now thinking about BenQ PB6100, PB6200, Panasonic ae500 , H30 or Hitachi TX100

 

What is the current price for TX100 ? If I understood correctly it would be the best one of these?

 

Anybody upgrading and want to sell ae500 cheap ? :)

 

-P

 

-----

Hi,

 

i am wondering while the topic is about the BenQ 6100, has anyone experienced using the new Acer PD112? its close to the same price range, but noticed that no one has ever heard or discussed abt it... if i am not wrong its somewhat similar to eh 6100 since BenQ and Acer is kinda linked rite?

I think, Acer PD112 is aka "Optoma Ez732" & Acer PD111 is Optoma Ez731 and more..... ;)

 

P, Hitachi TX100 is in different price range lah and AE500 below $2.8K at Singapore is consider very good already.

 

BenQ recently claimed that PB6100 & PB6200 will be replaced by new modal PB6110 & PB6210 in August 2004, so if u still interested in BenQ then hold your horse.

I have a pretty much similar shortlist here. But I would like to add one more after reading some favourable reviews on NEC LT240K. Visited SLQ last week and were told that it is selling at around S$3.7k.

 

A bit ex compare with the rest but looking at the US list price and the good comments it get I tot perhaps we should consider it too.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

I'm actually more confused at the moment :)

Now thinking about BenQ PB6100, PB6200, Panasonic ae500 , H30 or Hitachi TX100

What is the current price for TX100 ? If I understood correctly it would be the best one of these?

Anybody upgrading and want to sell ae500 cheap ? :)

-P

-----

Hi P,

After coming to this forum, i noticed a few things. Alot of projector dealers (AV-Media: Panasonic) are very active in this forum, steering projector enquries to the brands they carry.

 

Personally i would go demo all your choices and read online reviews from respectable sources like www.projectorcentral.com, Hi-Fi magazine because they reflect an unbias reports and reviews as well well true market share (what the public is buying).

 

When i bought my X1 from a PC/IT show (it was the last day of the show, can't rem which IT show), i overheard the dealers talking and comparing notes. Seems like Infocus and BenQ are the top 2 best selling brands, which incidentally are DLP projectors. Which also comes in line with the statistics reflected on projectorcentral.com, where either Infocus, BenQ or Sanyo are always on the top home theatre 3 brands.