Quote:
| Usual street price on this item (new) is $4700+ (MSRP $6999) |
???
Before anyone jumps at this, you may want to consider a few things.
This projector came out in 2002 featuring the then new HD chip from TI. InFocus stopped manufacturing 7200 shortly after CES.
There are still plenty of new models available, but $4,700+ is most certainly not the usual price!
Considering you can buy newer LCD and DLP HD projectors that significantly outperform the 7200 in almost every way
(contrast, color accuracy, color wheel, lens shift, fan noise, inputs, etc) for under $3,500 and in some cases for as little as $2,000 anyone trying to sell a 7200 for over $3,000, let alone $4,700 is going to have a hard sell to anyone other than an uninformed consumer.
A quick search on eBay shows new sealed 7200 models with "buy it" now prices below $2,900. Looking at what has been sold, the average price of a new and sealed 7200 was about $2,500. I've seen used 7200 on eBay and on Videogon selling for as little as $1,500.
So while $2,200 might at first look good, it is important to realize this is relatively old technology, and for a refurb unit the price is not that good compared to what new and used 7200 units are selling for.
In addition, current DLP and even LCD projectors significantly outdate this projector. TI has made several modifications and enhancements to their newer DLP chips since they developed the HD2 chip that is used in the 7200.
There are several other models in that price range that would be worth looking into. One than immediately comes to mind is Toshiba's MT700.
(here are some of the key features and comparisons to the 7200)
- The latest HD2+ chip from TI
- The latest video processor from Faroudja
- Contrast levels about twice that of the 7200
- HDMI input
- Fan noise is several dB levels lower than the 7200
All that and it sells new for about $2,500.
If you are on a tighter budget, or are not a fan of DLP technology, then $2,000 will get you a brand new Panasonic AE700 which not only has specs quite similar to the MT700, but its "screendoor effect" or pixel gap is significantly less do to Panasonic's exclusive "smooth screen" technology.
Personally, I would not buy a 7200 unless it was significantly cheaper than these projectors, as its performance capabilities are noticeably inferior.
I do not mean to rain on anyone's parade, just want to share what I know with fellow HTFers so they wont make uninformed decisions.
