Where to buy projectors? (1 Viewer)

[CRyan]

What are good sites to purchase a projector? I have never bought one and am looking at the abyss of retailers I have never heard of. I am looking for decent prices, but the biggest concern is quality of service.

Where should I look and should I not?


Thanks for any input.


C. Ryan

 

[Darrel McBane]

It may depend on what brand of projector your interested in. Most dealers don't sell any and all brands. Just like any electronics place. They have their line of products. I was looking at the Sony HS-20 projector a month ago. I started with using the google search site. I just typed in Sony HS-20 and read through the links.

Here are a few links that I found of interest.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/home.cfm

http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...calculator.cfm

That is off of projectorcentrals site but very useful.

http://www.mountsandmore.com/

http://www.ritzav.com/index.html

I got my Chief ceiling mount and draper screen through ritzavs site. Very good price and three day shipping was cheaper than ground.

http://www.oade.com/index.html

Oades quoted me $2795 on the Sony HS-20 projector. But, I went local due to a fear of issues with a potential projector purchase. I actually got the Sony cheaper going local and the store that I purchased it from. Is an authorized Sony service repair store.

http://www.videogon.com/

I didn't even know Audiogon had a Videogon....But they DO!

Hope this is of some help. Also go to AVS Forum. These guys are nuts for the most part. But, have some very useful information.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[NickSo]

www.bhphotovideo.com has some of the lowest prices i've seen and are highly regarded...

 

[CRyan]

Thanks so far!



Darrel,

How are you liking the SONY? You know I cannot find one local store selling this. How did you find your local store. Sony's site gives bogus stores for my area. Not one sells projectors. I would rather buy local as well, but looks as though I am stuck online.


C. Ryan

 

[Darrel McBane]

I was lucky! A buddy of mine works as a installer for a HT store. The owner had ordered 5 of the Sony projectors. And my friend mentioned my online price from Oades. He said he could beat it and did. I got the projector Chrismas eve. What luck! I rigged up a sheet for a few days. And then went to a hobby store and found some white pull down material that was 55" wide and had them cut a 92" piece. Stapled it to a couple of 8' wood slats. And hung it from eye hooks. It's only a temp screen. But, works pretty well. Cost was like $18.00. My screen should be here this week. And I'm hoping to hang the projector and screen this weekend.

As for the Sony. I'm very new to projectors. And can't compare it to any other. But, I'm very impressed with my temporary setup. HD from cable is amazing. Comcast has about 12 channels in HD. Most are 4x3 rather than 16x9. But, on a 106" screen. 4x3 is fine. Not true HD format. But, very watchable. Sports are like watching from a box seat. INHD channels have sports, older movies upconverted to HD and nature shows in true HD 16x9. I'll just switch to INHD 1 or 2 and just watch it. My son will come in and say what are you watching. I usually say I don't know? But, doesn't it look great!

I watched LOTR the other day and it was like what I would call a true HT movie experience. Size really does matter when it comes to Home Theater. I denied it for years. But, it is so true. The picture is stunning IMO. I'm still working through some daytime light issues. But, they are fixable.

I would call around locally. I understand your concern with online purchases for a projector. You may find a better price online. And have no problems at all with the unit from a online dealer. But,........theres always the potential problem that may have to be addressed. I bought my Sony 9000ES DVD player and 333ES CD player from Oades a few years ago. Their price was great. But, I didn't have any issues later that I can say one way or the other as to a follow up and support form them. Some things I just like to buy locally for things like expensive speakers, TVs and power amps. Returning or getting instant feedback and help is worth a little more IMO.

 

[ChadLB]

www.projectorpeople.com

www.projectorcentral.com is great for any info on a projector...

 

[Brajesh Upadhyay]

I recently bought my Panny PTAE500U @ onecall.com

 

[Steve F M]

OneCall is way over-priced on all the projectors I have looked at so far.

VisualApex.com is a very good online seller which has great prices. They personally check for dead pixel's on every projector(if you want) before they ship out.

The Panny 300 can be had at Tigerdirect.com for $1299 but good luck if you get a lemon. Great price though!