Great video. It's important not to lose sight of the objective, i.e. to watch and enjoy movies preferably with family and friends. Too many people fall into the trap of obsessing about their equipment. I have heard a famous youtube reviewer say he hardly gets round to watching a film from beginning to end as he's always tweaking his picture and sound. Audiophiles do this too, they do not actually listen to the music but rather listen to their equipment.
Absolutely! 💯! It’s like buying a car and keeping it on the driveway until you get bigger tires, tint, new rims, etc, and never taking out for a drive.
I have a 5050ub and have been waiting for Epson to come out with a native 4K, because I assumed it would still be in a price range i could reach unlike JVC and Sony. Epson seems to have let me down with their current pricing. It also seems like I am going to have to keep 2 projectors in my theater when I upgrade, because the new projectors aren't able to do 3D. Going to have to keep the 5050ub running for 3D content. Even $5000 is pushing my budget limit for a projector.
CES is around the corner. Maybe they can unveil a new projector in the price range that we want with the features that we are looking for. Thank you for watching!
Just subscribed. Nice video. I used to have Epson 5040 UBe but recently got a brand new JVC NZ8 and honestly I can’t even compare the two. The Epson was an Incredible projector no doubt but what this JVC NZ8 can do is no joke. I still get amazed every time I watch something. Keep up the good work and I hope you get a JVC upgrade soon
Similar to my journey. My first projector was a used Epson 5030 ($400). After about a year I upgraded to a used JVC rs500 ($1,600). That felt like an amazing upgrade. Two years later, I got a used Lumagen Radiance Pro. Last year I was able to get a b-stock NZ9. It is incredible, yes. But at the end of the day, the movie is the movie, good or bad. I always try to remind fellow hobbyists that we are supposed to be into watching movies, not watching projectors. If you're thinking about your equipment during the movie, what's the point of all this?
NZ500 stripped a lot of features from NP5. no 3D, No frame interpolation, no theater optimizer, no 120Hz, lesser HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, less memory slots. They even used a plastic element in the lens as compared to NP5’s all glass lens, and gave less elements in total on the lens for the NZ500. Booo. It isn’t all negatives though as they added the high contrast optical block to the NZ500 that the NP5 didn’t have - that should help intrascene contrast be a bit better on the NZ500.
In your opinion, would the NP5 be a better value at $4k than the striped nz500 at $6k? I’m still leaning towards the LS12000 later this year. I’ve got a 150” diy spandex screen that would benefit from ls12000 brightness. Love the Sunday podcasts with you and Ryan! Lots of great topics!
@@KevisFilms hi. Thanks for the reply. I am holding my opinion until we see some intrascene contrast testing on the NZ500. The JVCs without the high contrast optical block of the past only muster like 250:1 contrast on high brightness scenes and that’s like half the LS12000. That’s noticeable to me in everyday use more than is noticeable the dim dark superiority of the JVC native contrast. IF the NZ500 fixes that and the ANSI contrast is more like 500:1, then unless you need some of the other features like frame interpolation, the extra brightness, or 120Hz, or 3D, then JVC might have a winner for $6k for the NZ500. Since I value those things, I’d probably personally choose the NP5 over the NZ500. especially at $4k vs $6k. The LS12000, I honestly preferred more than the RS21000 (NZ7) I bought. The RS2100 didn’t have the high contrast optical block and that 250:1 intrascene contrast is kind of stinky. It makes things look milky. Also motion is way better on the LS12000 than the JVC, and I too appreciate the extra brightness on the Epson. Time will tell if the NZ500 is worth consideration, but I personally would pick the LS12000 over the NP5, and I think I’d have to get up to the NZ8 before I’d pick JVC again over the LS12000. I’m curious to see the QB1000, but fear it’s overpriced at $8k.
I agree, the NZ500 is a disappointment. I thought that the next generation JVC would be my last traditional projector, but now I’ll probably get a 100” TV. The TV, mini-LED or OLED, will probably be better in most aspects besides image size.
Good video. This is one of the main reasons why I've purchased older, high-end, used projectors. You obviously take some risks doing this and the technology isn't the newest, but the picture quality can still be very good. I currently own roughly $50k in projectors (at their original value). I paid less than $1k combined for all 3 of them. I just can't bring myself to speend thousands on a single unit. I would rather gamble on buying used for a fraction of the cost.
Hi Matt! Thank you for watching! I really enjoy watching your videos! Keep up the good work! There is a thread on AVS about older high end projectors like you mentioned above that I enjoy browsing. I do think with patience and outside the box thinking, you can find some really good deals on projectors that would still look stunning today. I’ve looked around at some older commercial cinema projectors but they seem intimidatingly massive and would require some electrical upgrades to my panel and like some hvac upgrades as well. Super tempting!
@KevisFilms That thread is a big influence. I've been on there for a few years. I can't venture into actual cinema projectors as I don't have the space, but the projectors I have purchased have all been really good. They may be lacking in some features and the most recent technology, but they're a great value with great picture quality.
Ultra Short throw is taking over this market as they are easier to install. Also perform better in ambient light due to ALR screen. These regular throw projectors will become even more of a niche solution for dedicated cinema rooms, whilst big TVs and USTs will be a choice for living rooms and small HT.
I've had a 500 dollar BenQ 1080p projector for about 5 years and have enjoyed it until recently because of an overheating issue I don't have time to fix right now. Spending 20-30k on a projector seems a little coo-coo to me. Also the bulb to replace every 10-15k hours is only 75 bucks. The bulb for this thing is probably a few grand.
I’ve had my epson 4010 for over 3 years. If the bulb goes out, it would probably cost me about $100 and hopefully be able to enjoy for another couple of years.
Totally agree with your commentary currently I have a Epson 2045, a optoma hd28 and a optoma hd50 4k all for under 1000 dollars, I enjoy what I have I would like to be able to purchase some of the higher end projectors but taking family into consideration I couldn’t justify it, but if it’s in somebody’s else’s budget to do so more power to you 👍🏾
Hi, great video, good work and thanks for it! I'm on Epson 6050. It's bright, cheap lamp, quiet and so on. One weakness are the black levels, but those are important. So out of the projectors (soon) on the market, NZ500 would be a nice upgrade I guess, cause i love good blacks/contrast ratio. But then as you say.. it's a "just" a hobby which gets (more and more) expensive. So that would be 2800€ Epson vs ~ 6000€ JVC and picture quality won't be two times better in all scenes but darker ones. Let's keep the Epson and patiently wait for prices to drop or other new pj within my price range to arrive 😊
I have the Panasonic AE 2000 and have enjoyed it very much. I need another projector with a motorized lens and more lumens and laser light source, When I replace it I would like 4k as a major step up, I am waiting on CES 2025 to see what comes out. Mine was rated at 1500 lumens 1080i. I saw an article that said it was closer to 780 lumens. I think 2500 to 3000 would be perfect, Thankyou for the great video. David
@@KevisFilms Ahhh . . . you are the first I have found to have a similar distance. So, if I increase from 110 inch (16x9) to 120 inch screen, which is about 20% increase, does that mean I need a 20% increase in brightness (from 1500 lumens) just to “maintain” the same brightness on the new size screen? (Like running on a treadmill just to go nowhere?) Granted, the newer projectors are likely 18G instead of 13.5 G that I have now. Just trying to determine how much brightness/processing power is “enough” to be worthy of the extra expense of a new projector. For example, the Epson QB1000 blows by the JVC 700 in brightness to 3300 lumens. Dial that back for calibration to 2700 lumens as compared to the JVC 700 at 2300 lumens (maybe 2100 lumens after calibration?) Epson says it has better black level processing / dynamic tone mapping etc. So which is the better choice!?
That’s a tough call. The high lumens are attractive on the epson but generally speaking JVC has proven to have phenomenal blacks and fantastic tone mapping. Is it worth the extra 1k? Not sure how far the lumen drop on the JVC after calibration but it should still give you the brightness you are looking for. IMHO, the JVC wins it. If you ever wanted to go bigger than 120”, the epson would have enough fire power to upgrade size again (more than 120”). Hope this helps a little. I would go to projector central and read some of the articles as well. Might help some more. Good luck with your purchase!
Another thing I have noticed is that the hobby has “morphed” to from a “mere-hobby” to something of an “obsession” toward the “perfect” home theatre. Seems the hobby really took off during the pandemic, or at least when I found the time to really pay attention to it. During those two years of being “locked-in-at-home”, the influencers/reviewers had the time to explain all the basics. But as time went on, there was little more to talk about unless - you went into more costly and complicated equipment. Certainly, there is a market and willing buyers, regardless of cost. Amazing to watch as each one goes chasing after perfection. No problem with that. You just have to decide when is “enough/enough?”
I think one should go that extra length to get the better deal. I see Home theater system as a long term investment with a SOLID return in value in that time. I see most even in high end like $100k $200k or more systems just skimp on projector of all things they spend crazy amount on speaker setup and aesthetics of the room but end up cutting down on projector or limiting the projector budget. As important as audio experience is in a theater system the visual experience is equally important if not more.
I agree - the visual experience should be as important as the audio experience. For the amount these high end projectors are selling, they need to last at least 5+ years without issues.
Why no mention of the BenQ HT4550i (W4000i) ??? Superb value, comes calibrated out of the box, does 3D, does HDR10+, does tone-mapping, very bright, LED light source, and sharper motion handling than LCD or LCOS.
Is this Benq’s projector that came out a few months ago for about $7k? Their contrast was pretty low if I remember correctly. I wish it would have been priced a little lower.
Waiting 2 years to replace my current Sony 285 ES / 1500 lumen projector. with almost 2000 hrs. on it. The issue for me, and what caused me to wait, was excessive fan noise in high mode that some Sony X5000 and x6000 projectors suffered from at launch back then. Then I want the latest technology represented by a laser light source that provides consistent brightness over the life of the projector. However, this too has a quirk: start at 75% power to be able to increase power to maintain the equivalent brightness over time. Here again, the fan is lower when it starts out but gets excessively louder when you need more power to increase/maintain equivalent brightness. So the fan starts low but say 2-3 years down the road, you need more power, fan gets louder and louder (makes a racket!) then you realize you are past warranty - well, you get the idea. Then the brightness bump from LS 12000 to 2700 lumens as compared to similar budget models of the JVC and Sony that are in the 2000 lumens range. Then I heard that if you get the LS 12000 calibrated the brightness dims from 2700 lumens down around 2100 lumens. Same thing with the newer QB 1000 but that is at 3300 lumens calibrates down to say 2700 lumens. (That is not bad - but the price takes a big jump up!) If that is not enough to confuse you, there is the prospect of requiring a Lumagen or MadVR video processor for the Epson to get the very most out of it, let alone JVC or Sony. This adds another $4-$6000 to the total cost. As for the more expensive alternatives, it would seem the ultimate benefit for all that extra money is - much larger screen size! - say from 120 to 150+ inches. From what I can glean from reviews is that all that extra brightness gets lost in the larger screen size so the picture looks the same as with the budget variety in a smaller screen size. So, what do I do if I want to maintain a “budget approach” to my home theatre experience? I first want the best money can buy - right now! Do not want yesterday’s hand-me downs BUT AS WELL - PROOF!!! - the new crop of projectors are in for the long-haul and will not let me down in various ways a couple of years down the road. Later this fall, I will trudge back down to my dealer to see first hand how the various projector samples they have pan out and wait and watch the influencer reviews to get a sense of - if I can actually TRUST the manufacturers hype. Maybe this will be the year HYPE matches ACTUAL-FACT-IN-REAL-TIME, whereupon I can decide what is actually the most reasonable budget to spend. Excuse my rather convoluted reasoning, but I am not as a - consumer -going to be the “lamb-to-the-slaughter” . . . any more. Said another way: If YOU as the manufacturer say it- it had better be TRUE!! . . in actual use!!! - long-term!!! . . . OR . . . I won’t buy it until you “belly-up-to-the-bar” and get the - job done! - as you promised in your “marketing hype!”
@@KevisFilms Thanks! It’s been an ongoing journey as you can tell. What caused my rant is with my Sony 285ES / 13.5G - in 2018. At the time, I was working with a Control4 integrator to install the projector into my system. He could not! We called Sony tech support. Only when the integrator got on the phone and explained the issue in highly technical terms, did Sony agree to take back the projector and replace the whole motherboard. Took about a month or so. Since then, the projector has worked properly. Then, just as I was about to buy the Sony x5000 two years ago as a joyous upgrade, I learn from my dealer about excessive fan noise in an x6000 that they had just sold to another customer. Then other such reports in “some” other x5000/x6000 projectors were separately posted. This is when I got far more cautious and about projector marketing info: “product-rep” reviewers as compared to “product-performance” reviewers. Manufacturers at one time were “initially” happy with the extra exposure they were getting through RUclips reviewers UNTIL they started getting - failing reviews. Not a problem until they likely started seeing a drop in sales, or more complaints from those who had already purchased their products. Then over time, I began hearing some reviewers say they couldn’t get “product” unless they provided a favourable review. Some held their ground and now can’t get the product they request while others “caved” and now are just “acolytes-of-the-manufacturer” or have just become “product-rep” reviewers. Not a problem just as long they acknowledge at the outset: what side of the coin they are representing. Over the last few years, I have pretty much figured out “who-is-who” and take their advice accordingly.
I feel like so many reviewers only say positive things and are afraid to be honest so they don’t lose their relationships with manufacturers. Not saying there are a ton of bad products out there but the loyalty should be to the viewers and not the manufacturers. Glad your dealer was honest about the fan noise!
@@KevisFilms everyone would like to know that 😅 My guess is bcs eu is banning lamps in projectors and with price over 6.000usd they wouldn't be competitive 🤷🏻♂️
I think Sony is going to be coming with a Bravia 7 to replace the 5000es. I bought the LS12000 last year on sale. Epson is going to keep the LS12000 in the lineup. I went with LS12000 over 5000es because of motorized lens and lens memory. I wanted a laser projector because I didn't want to deal with bulbs. The JVC NZ500 looks interesting though. I am sure there will be deals to be had on it by dealers. The NP5 is going for a good price right, if you want to deal with bulbs. Anyways good vid.
@@KevisFilms I am thinking the Bravia 7 would be priced in that $5000-6000 range. One of my biggest gripes with the NP5 is that it was overpriced when it was first released. That projector should have been selling for $4500-5000 when first released. To me their whole lineup was overpriced by $2000 per projector. With Epson and Sony coming out with laser projectors that were $5000 it made JVC lower their prices which is a good thing. The LS12000 is a really nice projector. However I would like to see a NZ500 though.
JVC's affordable NP5 just can't compete against Epson's LS12000 when it comes to gaming. I need my 4K 120hz performance without having to turn features off.
That's exactly right. The audience of this show is mostly the integrators who install smart home and A/V tech into other peoples homes. And as their customers tend to be wealthy that skews the products that are best marketed here. On the positive side: there are a lot of free numbers under Bravia 8 and 9, so possibly more to come
Tvs are getting cheaper, and projectors are getting more expensive. They are taking features like 3D off of the projectors. Looks like I'll keep my JVC RS540 and use my 83-inch Oled tv. I think I'm done with projectors for now until they come out with one that has good black levels and is bright enough for under 5000. They also need to include the 3D. I think projectors will be a thing of the past once Tvs hit the 120 inch and above mark.
It just seems like the projector market overall shrinks more and more with each passing year. Lower customer interest and fewer sales overall. Most people just don't have the ability to darken their room enough to make a projector really shine. And, on top of that, the price of HUGE TVs just keeps right on dropping every year. Now, there is another shoe to drop here soon that has the potential to wipe out nearly all projector and TV sales: AR glasses. Once they really start to hit the market here in the next two years or so, you are likely to see sales of both projectors and large TV displays get completely decimated. AR glasses are likely to win at every level. This entire market space will look VERY different two or three years from now.
yea I dont know why they cost so much. I have a 4010 as well I dont see why I need to upgrade to anything the 4010 already looks better then going to the movies and why should I pay so much for a projector over $1,800 as well movies only cost $30 and now no 3d why upgrade to anything. I also got a older pansonic 1080p laser projector for $250 for using the comptuer and playing video games I just use the Epson now for movies and that works out great so I dont have to replace the bulb too much.
I’m waiting for Sony to replace the 5000ES with a Bravia 7 model. Once Sony releases a budget projector with the improved tone mapping that the XR processor can deliver, I’m all in. If I’m going to spend 5K on a projector it better be good enough to impress for at least a decade.
@@L3G1T1SM3 yes! The MAX is super intriguing and would like check all my boxes plus more at an unbelievable price. Not sure if I will do the kickstarter or wait till may to hit the purchase button.
@@KevisFilms The pricing is a big deal to me aswell, I feel like I should be pretty happy with however it turns out. And I'm backing the max and hopefully it will be substantially better than my Sony HW65ES. If the specs are correct what do you think it would compare to now?
I used to have an Epson, it was great for sports and brighter films like Avatar and Aquaman for e.g, but would struggle with darker films like BvS or The Batman etc. In some cases I'd put a film on and it was just unwatchable so I would have to switch back to my TV. Since I got a JVC, everything is watchable, don't get me wrong, Snyders JL is a challenge for any projector, but the JVC did it "justice" I still watch films and when a darker scene comes on I'm still amazed how good they look. Not perfect of course, projectors by their nature have their limitations. I'm not in a position to spend thousands on a projector like you and most people, but I don't think I would buy anything but a JVC from now on. I would rather buy an older, maybe even used JVC than a brand new Epson. If someone hasn't personally experienced both in their own theatre, then don't take their word for it, they are just speculating. Just my personal thoughts and experiences.
Which JVC did you end up getting? The price on the NP5 right now is super tempting on my end. My room is completely light control so the lumens should be about right.
It doesn't matter if you want to pay this much or not. Projector sales continue to drop - just like you said, it's a small niche - and if you want them to continue investing in R&D and manufacturing of projectors, this is the price point they need to be to be a viable market. If you can make them this good for less, go for it. It'll be a hit. But the fact is it costs money to continue to improve and manufacture projectors, and with fewer people buying them, the price has to go up or they have to stop making them. Complaining about the price won't make prices go down. Convincing more people to get back into front projection might. I know what I'm going to do, and it's not bitching and moaning about the price point.
Great video 😎👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video. It's important not to lose sight of the objective, i.e. to watch and enjoy movies preferably with family and friends. Too many people fall into the trap of obsessing about their equipment. I have heard a famous youtube reviewer say he hardly gets round to watching a film from beginning to end as he's always tweaking his picture and sound. Audiophiles do this too, they do not actually listen to the music but rather listen to their equipment.
Absolutely! 💯! It’s like buying a car and keeping it on the driveway until you get bigger tires, tint, new rims, etc, and never taking out for a drive.
I have a 5050ub and have been waiting for Epson to come out with a native 4K, because I assumed it would still be in a price range i could reach unlike JVC and Sony. Epson seems to have let me down with their current pricing. It also seems like I am going to have to keep 2 projectors in my theater when I upgrade, because the new projectors aren't able to do 3D. Going to have to keep the 5050ub running for 3D content. Even $5000 is pushing my budget limit for a projector.
CES is around the corner. Maybe they can unveil a new projector in the price range that we want with the features that we are looking for. Thank you for watching!
Just subscribed. Nice video. I used to have Epson 5040 UBe but recently got a brand new JVC NZ8 and honestly I can’t even compare the two. The Epson was an Incredible projector no doubt but what this JVC NZ8 can do is no joke. I still get amazed every time I watch something. Keep up the good work and I hope you get a JVC upgrade soon
The NZ500 is very tempting!! I would really love the nice blacks JVC provides and DTM. Thank you for watching!!
Similar to my journey. My first projector was a used Epson 5030 ($400). After about a year I upgraded to a used JVC rs500 ($1,600). That felt like an amazing upgrade. Two years later, I got a used Lumagen Radiance Pro. Last year I was able to get a b-stock NZ9. It is incredible, yes. But at the end of the day, the movie is the movie, good or bad. I always try to remind fellow hobbyists that we are supposed to be into watching movies, not watching projectors. If you're thinking about your equipment during the movie, what's the point of all this?
Great commentary.
NZ500 stripped a lot of features from NP5. no 3D, No frame interpolation, no theater optimizer, no 120Hz, lesser HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, less memory slots. They even used a plastic element in the lens as compared to NP5’s all glass lens, and gave less elements in total on the lens for the NZ500. Booo. It isn’t all negatives though as they added the high contrast optical block to the NZ500 that the NP5 didn’t have - that should help intrascene contrast be a bit better on the NZ500.
In your opinion, would the NP5 be a better value at $4k than the striped nz500 at $6k? I’m still leaning towards the LS12000 later this year. I’ve got a 150” diy spandex screen that would benefit from ls12000 brightness.
Love the Sunday podcasts with you and Ryan! Lots of great topics!
@@KevisFilms hi. Thanks for the reply. I am holding my opinion until we see some intrascene contrast testing on the NZ500. The JVCs without the high contrast optical block of the past only muster like 250:1 contrast on high brightness scenes and that’s like half the LS12000. That’s noticeable to me in everyday use more than is noticeable the dim dark superiority of the JVC native contrast. IF the NZ500 fixes that and the ANSI contrast is more like 500:1, then unless you need some of the other features like frame interpolation, the extra brightness, or 120Hz, or 3D, then JVC might have a winner for $6k for the NZ500. Since I value those things, I’d probably personally choose the NP5 over the NZ500. especially at $4k vs $6k. The LS12000, I honestly preferred more than the RS21000 (NZ7) I bought. The RS2100 didn’t have the high contrast optical block and that 250:1 intrascene contrast is kind of stinky. It makes things look milky. Also motion is way better on the LS12000 than the JVC, and I too appreciate the extra brightness on the Epson. Time will tell if the NZ500 is worth consideration, but I personally would pick the LS12000 over the NP5, and I think I’d have to get up to the NZ8 before I’d pick JVC again over the LS12000. I’m curious to see the QB1000, but fear it’s overpriced at $8k.
I agree, the NZ500 is a disappointment. I thought that the next generation JVC would be my last traditional projector, but now I’ll probably get a 100” TV. The TV, mini-LED or OLED, will probably be better in most aspects besides image size.
Good video. This is one of the main reasons why I've purchased older, high-end, used projectors. You obviously take some risks doing this and the technology isn't the newest, but the picture quality can still be very good. I currently own roughly $50k in projectors (at their original value). I paid less than $1k combined for all 3 of them. I just can't bring myself to speend thousands on a single unit. I would rather gamble on buying used for a fraction of the cost.
Hi Matt! Thank you for watching! I really enjoy watching your videos! Keep up the good work!
There is a thread on AVS about older high end projectors like you mentioned above that I enjoy browsing. I do think with patience and outside the box thinking, you can find some really good deals on projectors that would still look stunning today. I’ve looked around at some older commercial cinema projectors but they seem intimidatingly massive and would require some electrical upgrades to my panel and like some hvac upgrades as well. Super tempting!
@KevisFilms That thread is a big influence. I've been on there for a few years. I can't venture into actual cinema projectors as I don't have the space, but the projectors I have purchased have all been really good. They may be lacking in some features and the most recent technology, but they're a great value with great picture quality.
Ultra Short throw is taking over this market as they are easier to install. Also perform better in ambient light due to ALR screen. These regular throw projectors will become even more of a niche solution for dedicated cinema rooms, whilst big TVs and USTs will be a choice for living rooms and small HT.
I feel like USTs would be great for living rooms or non-dedicated theater. For me, I still prefer rear projection. Thank you for sharing!
I've had a 500 dollar BenQ 1080p projector for about 5 years and have enjoyed it until recently because of an overheating issue I don't have time to fix right now. Spending 20-30k on a projector seems a little coo-coo to me. Also the bulb to replace every 10-15k hours is only 75 bucks. The bulb for this thing is probably a few grand.
I’ve had my epson 4010 for over 3 years. If the bulb goes out, it would probably cost me about $100 and hopefully be able to enjoy for another couple of years.
Just to clarify, It is not a replacement for the LS12000,, that model will continue in production and sales.
@@FrankieKennethL thank you for clarifying!
Totally agree with your commentary currently I have a Epson 2045, a optoma hd28 and a optoma hd50 4k all for under 1000 dollars, I enjoy what I have I would like to be able to purchase some of the higher end projectors but taking family into consideration I couldn’t justify it, but if it’s in somebody’s else’s budget to do so more power to you 👍🏾
Thanks for sharing
Hi,
great video, good work and thanks for it!
I'm on Epson 6050. It's bright, cheap lamp, quiet and so on.
One weakness are the black levels, but those are important.
So out of the projectors (soon) on the market, NZ500 would be a nice upgrade I guess, cause i love good blacks/contrast ratio.
But then as you say.. it's a "just" a hobby which gets (more and more) expensive.
So that would be 2800€ Epson vs ~ 6000€ JVC and picture quality won't be two times better in all scenes but darker ones.
Let's keep the Epson and patiently wait for prices to drop or other new pj within my price range to arrive 😊
Agreed 💯! Thank you for watching!
I have the Panasonic AE 2000 and have enjoyed it very much. I need another projector with a motorized lens and more lumens and laser light source, When I replace it I would like 4k as a major step up, I am waiting on CES 2025 to see what comes out. Mine was rated at 1500 lumens 1080i. I saw an article that said it was closer to 780 lumens. I think 2500 to 3000 would be perfect, Thankyou for the great video. David
Thank you, David! I’m looking forward to CES 2025 as well! I’d like to aim for that 2500-3000 lumens as well!
Curious - what is your projector throw distance in your media room?. Mine is 20ft.
I’m about 19’ ish. I would have to double check.
@@KevisFilms Ahhh . . . you are the first I have found to have a similar distance. So, if I increase from 110 inch (16x9) to 120 inch screen, which is about 20% increase, does that mean I need a 20% increase in brightness (from 1500 lumens) just to “maintain” the same brightness on the new size screen? (Like running on a treadmill just to go nowhere?) Granted, the newer projectors are likely 18G instead of 13.5 G that I have now. Just trying to determine how much brightness/processing power is “enough” to be worthy of the extra expense of a new projector. For example, the Epson QB1000 blows by the JVC 700 in brightness to 3300 lumens. Dial that back for calibration to 2700 lumens as compared to the JVC 700 at 2300 lumens (maybe 2100 lumens after calibration?) Epson says it has better black level processing / dynamic tone mapping etc. So which is the better choice!?
That’s a tough call. The high lumens are attractive on the epson but generally speaking JVC has proven to have phenomenal blacks and fantastic tone mapping. Is it worth the extra 1k? Not sure how far the lumen drop on the JVC after calibration but it should still give you the brightness you are looking for. IMHO, the JVC wins it. If you ever wanted to go bigger than 120”, the epson would have enough fire power to upgrade size again (more than 120”). Hope this helps a little.
I would go to projector central and read some of the articles as well. Might help some more. Good luck with your purchase!
@@KevisFilms Good advice! Can’t go larger than 120 inch as the screen sits in an alcove.
Another thing I have noticed is that the hobby has “morphed” to from a “mere-hobby” to something of an “obsession” toward the “perfect” home theatre. Seems the hobby really took off during the pandemic, or at least when I found the time to really pay attention to it. During those two years of being “locked-in-at-home”, the influencers/reviewers had the time to explain all the basics. But as time went on, there was little more to talk about unless - you went into more costly and complicated equipment. Certainly, there is a market and willing buyers, regardless of cost. Amazing to watch as each one goes chasing after perfection. No problem with that. You just have to decide when is “enough/enough?”
Great points!
@@KevisFilms What did you think of my previous rant? Prior to the above?
I think I replied back. Let me check. I do appreciate your posts!
I think one should go that extra length to get the better deal. I see Home theater system as a long term investment with a SOLID return in value in that time. I see most even in high end like $100k $200k or more systems just skimp on projector of all things they spend crazy amount on speaker setup and aesthetics of the room but end up cutting down on projector or limiting the projector budget. As important as audio experience is in a theater system the visual experience is equally important if not more.
I agree - the visual experience should be as important as the audio experience. For the amount these high end projectors are selling, they need to last at least 5+ years without issues.
@@KevisFilms I expect lasers ones to get us through a Decade with little to no maintenance.
@@KING_DRANZER even better than I thought. More peace of mind for sure!
Why no mention of the BenQ HT4550i (W4000i) ??? Superb value, comes calibrated out of the box, does 3D, does HDR10+, does tone-mapping, very bright, LED light source, and sharper motion handling than LCD or LCOS.
Is this Benq’s projector that came out a few months ago for about $7k? Their contrast was pretty low if I remember correctly. I wish it would have been priced a little lower.
@@KevisFilms Nope. Its street price is a little over $2K. The contrast is excellent. Just google it! BenQ frequently punch with the big boys.
@@KevisFilms Nope. More like $2K with excellent contrast. Definitely worth learning about.
Will check out! Thank you!
Waiting 2 years to replace my current Sony 285 ES / 1500 lumen projector. with almost 2000 hrs. on it. The issue for me, and what caused me to wait, was excessive fan noise in high mode that some Sony X5000 and x6000 projectors suffered from at launch back then.
Then I want the latest technology represented by a laser light source that provides consistent brightness over the life of the projector. However, this too has a quirk: start at 75% power to be able to increase power to maintain the equivalent brightness over time. Here again, the fan is lower when it starts out but gets excessively louder when you need more power to increase/maintain equivalent brightness. So the fan starts low but say 2-3 years down the road, you need more power, fan gets louder and louder (makes a racket!) then you realize you are past warranty - well, you get the idea.
Then the brightness bump from LS 12000 to 2700 lumens as compared to similar budget models of the JVC and Sony that are in the 2000 lumens range. Then I heard that if you get the LS 12000 calibrated the brightness dims from 2700 lumens down around 2100 lumens. Same thing with the newer QB 1000 but that is at 3300 lumens calibrates down to say 2700 lumens. (That is not bad - but the price takes a big jump up!)
If that is not enough to confuse you, there is the prospect of requiring a Lumagen or MadVR video processor for the Epson to get the very most out of it, let alone JVC or Sony. This adds another $4-$6000 to the total cost.
As for the more expensive alternatives, it would seem the ultimate benefit for all that extra money is - much larger screen size! - say from 120 to 150+ inches. From what I can glean from reviews is that all that extra brightness gets lost in the larger screen size so the picture looks the same as with the budget variety in a smaller screen size.
So, what do I do if I want to maintain a “budget approach” to my home theatre experience? I first want the best money can buy - right now! Do not want yesterday’s hand-me downs BUT AS WELL - PROOF!!! - the new crop of projectors are in for the long-haul and will not let me down in various ways a couple of years down the road.
Later this fall, I will trudge back down to my dealer to see first hand how the various projector samples they have pan out and wait and watch the influencer reviews to get a sense of - if I can actually TRUST the manufacturers hype. Maybe this will be the year HYPE matches ACTUAL-FACT-IN-REAL-TIME, whereupon I can decide what is actually the most reasonable budget to spend.
Excuse my rather convoluted reasoning, but I am not as a - consumer -going to be the “lamb-to-the-slaughter” . . . any more. Said another way: If YOU as the manufacturer say it- it had better be TRUE!! . . in actual use!!! - long-term!!! . . . OR . . . I won’t buy it until you “belly-up-to-the-bar” and get the - job done! - as you promised in your “marketing hype!”
Fantastic post! I’m with you!
@@KevisFilms Thanks! It’s been an ongoing journey as you can tell. What caused my rant is with my Sony 285ES / 13.5G - in 2018. At the time, I was working with a Control4 integrator to install the projector into my system. He could not! We called Sony tech support. Only when the integrator got on the phone and explained the issue in highly technical terms, did Sony agree to take back the projector and replace the whole motherboard. Took about a month or so. Since then, the projector has worked properly.
Then, just as I was about to buy the Sony x5000 two years ago as a joyous upgrade, I learn from my dealer about excessive fan noise in an x6000 that they had just sold to another customer. Then other such reports in “some” other x5000/x6000 projectors were separately posted. This is when I got far more cautious and about projector marketing info: “product-rep” reviewers as compared to “product-performance” reviewers.
Manufacturers at one time were “initially” happy with the extra exposure they were getting through RUclips reviewers UNTIL they started getting - failing reviews. Not a problem until they likely started seeing a drop in sales, or more complaints from those who had already purchased their products. Then over time, I began hearing some reviewers say they couldn’t get “product” unless they provided a favourable review. Some held their ground and now can’t get the product they request while others “caved” and now are just “acolytes-of-the-manufacturer” or have just become “product-rep” reviewers. Not a problem just as long they acknowledge at the outset: what side of the coin they are representing. Over the last few years, I have pretty much figured out “who-is-who” and take their advice accordingly.
I feel like so many reviewers only say positive things and are afraid to be honest so they don’t lose their relationships with manufacturers. Not saying there are a ton of bad products out there but the loyalty should be to the viewers and not the manufacturers.
Glad your dealer was honest about the fan noise!
In Europe qb1000 is 6.000usd. Would you chose it over nz500 for that price?
That’s a tough one. Probably would try the epson first. Why is it cheaper in Europe?
@@KevisFilms everyone would like to know that 😅
My guess is bcs eu is banning lamps in projectors and with price over 6.000usd they wouldn't be competitive 🤷🏻♂️
"3D still a must ..for me and my brother we are both disabled live together ...And yes budget is very important for us we use Optoma dlp 55x
What are your favorite 3D movies?
I think Sony is going to be coming with a Bravia 7 to replace the 5000es. I bought the LS12000 last year on sale. Epson is going to keep the LS12000 in the lineup. I went with LS12000 over 5000es because of motorized lens and lens memory. I wanted a laser projector because I didn't want to deal with bulbs. The JVC NZ500 looks interesting though. I am sure there will be deals to be had on it by dealers. The NP5 is going for a good price right, if you want to deal with bulbs. Anyways good vid.
It would be interesting to see what a Bravia 7 would be priced. Thank you for watching!
@@KevisFilms I am thinking the Bravia 7 would be priced in that $5000-6000 range. One of my biggest gripes with the NP5 is that it was overpriced when it was first released. That projector should have been selling for $4500-5000 when first released. To me their whole lineup was overpriced by $2000 per projector. With Epson and Sony coming out with laser projectors that were $5000 it made JVC lower their prices which is a good thing. The LS12000 is a really nice projector. However I would like to see a NZ500 though.
JVC's affordable NP5 just can't compete against Epson's LS12000 when it comes to gaming. I need my 4K 120hz performance without having to turn features off.
When it comes to gaming, that’s a good point.
If you like cinema, you buy a jvc. If you wanna game and don't mind gray blacks for movies, you go Epson.
@@dominus519 I'm just waiting for that affordable laser JVC with full 120hz performance. Take my money!
@@dominus519 True, but the blacks are still darker than in most cinemas. And compared to a OLED, JVC blacks are grey too.
Speaking from personal experience/owning both, the JVC NP5 absolutely destroys the Epson 6050ub!
What would you say is the most impressive difference? Is the brightness an issue depending on screen size?
CEDIA is for the people who build theaters for other people. It's not for the DIY crowd. They may have more announcements at CES.
When is CES?
@@KevisFilms the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas every January
Looking forward to January and hopefully a few more affordable projectors.
That's exactly right. The audience of this show is mostly the integrators who install smart home and A/V tech into other peoples homes. And as their customers tend to be wealthy that skews the products that are best marketed here. On the positive side: there are a lot of free numbers under Bravia 8 and 9, so possibly more to come
Looking forward to see what CES brings to the table!
You can buy a 100 inch plus mini led tv for about 3300.
Prices have come way down for big panel tvs . I wish projectors would follow that trend!
Tvs are getting cheaper, and projectors are getting more expensive. They are taking features like 3D off of the projectors. Looks like I'll keep my JVC RS540 and use my 83-inch Oled tv. I think I'm done with projectors for now until they come out with one that has good black levels and is bright enough for under 5000. They also need to include the 3D. I think projectors will be a thing of the past once Tvs hit the 120 inch and above mark.
Very good points! Thank you for sharing!
Cedia is for the installers and homecinema intergrators in the industry. It's more for the high end of things.
Looking forward to CES - maybe a few more affordable projectors may release then. Thank you for watching!
It just seems like the projector market overall shrinks more and more with each passing year. Lower customer interest and fewer sales overall. Most people just don't have the ability to darken their room enough to make a projector really shine. And, on top of that, the price of HUGE TVs just keeps right on dropping every year. Now, there is another shoe to drop here soon that has the potential to wipe out nearly all projector and TV sales: AR glasses. Once they really start to hit the market here in the next two years or so, you are likely to see sales of both projectors and large TV displays get completely decimated. AR glasses are likely to win at every level. This entire market space will look VERY different two or three years from now.
Good points! AR glasses makes me think of ready player one. Thank you for watching!
yea I dont know why they cost so much. I have a 4010 as well I dont see why I need to upgrade to anything the 4010 already looks better then going to the movies and why should I pay so much for a projector over $1,800 as well movies only cost $30 and now no 3d why upgrade to anything. I also got a older pansonic 1080p laser projector for $250 for using the comptuer and playing video games I just use the Epson now for movies and that works out great so I dont have to replace the bulb too much.
To this day, I still enjoy my epson. Great buy!
I’m waiting for Sony to replace the 5000ES with a Bravia 7 model. Once Sony releases a budget projector with the improved tone mapping that the XR processor can deliver, I’m all in. If I’m going to spend 5K on a projector it better be good enough to impress for at least a decade.
If they have a motorized lense, then they have my attention.
Optomo or Benq please😝
I had an DLP Optima hd25 prior to my Epson. That Optima projector rocked for the price point!
have you checked out valerion's new stuff?
@@L3G1T1SM3 yes! The MAX is super intriguing and would like check all my boxes plus more at an unbelievable price. Not sure if I will do the kickstarter or wait till may to hit the purchase button.
@@KevisFilms The pricing is a big deal to me aswell, I feel like I should be pretty happy with however it turns out. And I'm backing the max and hopefully it will be substantially better than my Sony HW65ES. If the specs are correct what do you think it would compare to now?
@@L3G1T1SM3probably Benq w5800 but better blacks.
I used to have an Epson, it was great for sports and brighter films like Avatar and Aquaman for e.g, but would struggle with darker films like BvS or The Batman etc. In some cases I'd put a film on and it was just unwatchable so I would have to switch back to my TV. Since I got a JVC, everything is watchable, don't get me wrong, Snyders JL is a challenge for any projector, but the JVC did it "justice" I still watch films and when a darker scene comes on I'm still amazed how good they look. Not perfect of course, projectors by their nature have their limitations.
I'm not in a position to spend thousands on a projector like you and most people, but I don't think I would buy anything but a JVC from now on.
I would rather buy an older, maybe even used JVC than a brand new Epson.
If someone hasn't personally experienced both in their own theatre, then don't take their word for it, they are just speculating.
Just my personal thoughts and experiences.
Which JVC did you end up getting? The price on the NP5 right now is super tempting on my end. My room is completely light control so the lumens should be about right.
Under 8000, they do away with 3D. JVC is only putting 3D on the super high end models.
Chinese projectors are taking over because they offer the best value for money and they won't break the bank.
@@DonnieChoi I’m keeping my eye on the valerion projector coming late this year!
No 3d, not for me
Makes sense. I never got into 3D because I would get headaches.
It’s just pure greed these companies shan’t you to get into debt so they get a big bonus
That is what’s starting to feel like!
It doesn't matter if you want to pay this much or not. Projector sales continue to drop - just like you said, it's a small niche - and if you want them to continue investing in R&D and manufacturing of projectors, this is the price point they need to be to be a viable market. If you can make them this good for less, go for it. It'll be a hit. But the fact is it costs money to continue to improve and manufacture projectors, and with fewer people buying them, the price has to go up or they have to stop making them. Complaining about the price won't make prices go down. Convincing more people to get back into front projection might. I know what I'm going to do, and it's not bitching and moaning about the price point.
@@ballstadt I appreciate your comment. Out of the batch of projectors announced, what will be your go to?
@@KevisFilms I'll be going with the JVC NZ700, I believe. I'm due for an upgrade and this seems to be the sweet spot.
People love to skip over the poor motion of JVC… Epson smokes JVC in motion…. Which is waaay more noticeable than anything else.
I’ll have to learn a little more about this for sure. Thank you for pointing out.