New Projector ideas and suggestions

[chewee]

Hello All

 

My work is currently looking at replacing 3 sanyo xe40 projectors as they are getting to be unusable, the suggestions so far have been the following

[h=1]HITACHI CP-CX251N [/h]InFocus IN124STx

 

Does anyone have any experience with these projectors and what they are like to use, are they reliable, is the image easily viewable in a bright sunny room?

Also our promethean v2 smartboards are getting quite old (11 years old) in your experience have they got much more life in them and if not what would you suggest as far as replacements go.

 

We have had the usual suggestion of going with newer touchscreen boards/computers, the huge 70 inch ones, but given that the boards may have another 5/10 years of life in them we dont want to rush into replacing what isn't broken.

Any and all advice is appreciated as AV stuff can be a bitof a minefield without having the option to test units for a term before purchase.

[mrbios]

Pretty much always stick to Epson here, and i know a few on these boards that do the same.

 

Personally the current models I purchase are EB-W05 (Which is their cheapest current WXGA projector that supports quick corners) or EB-W39 if i need a nice one.

 

Seeing as you're looking at short throw i'd look at the EB-525W or 535W

 

I generally stay well away from optoma and infocus, had hitachi in the past and they were ok, but Epsons are fantastic.

[caffrey]

Just stay away from DLP - stick with LCD.

[ShellfishClive]

I've used Hitachi before not specifically that model but they seem okay. I do normally stick to Epson as they are the most reailable ones I have found, the bulbs are a little pricey but do last a long time if they need to be replaced.

 

For stanard I would go Epson EB-X39, if you need a short throw an EB-675W is amazing, expesnive but I've never had an issue with that series.

[chewee]

Just stay away from DLP - stick with LCD.

 

why do you say that? what advantages are there for LCD over DLP

[ShellfishClive]

why do you say that? what advantages are there for LCD over DLP

 

LCD are brighter and generally last a lot longer but more pricey generally.

[chewee]

I've used Hitachi before not specifically that model but they seem okay. I do normally stick to Epson as they are the most reailable ones I have found, the bulbs are a little pricey but do last a long time if they need to be replaced.

 

For stanard I would go Epson EB-X39, if you need a short throw an EB-675W is amazing, expesnive but I've never had an issue with that series.

 

with these epson ones do you know if they would fit the promethean activboard v2?

[gbiltd]

Yes I agree. Epson so reliable

[ShellfishClive]

with these epson ones do you know if they would fit the promethean activboard v2?

 

Off the top of my head you would need a short throw projector for that. So the second one should, I am not sure if it's an interactive projector though. I don't think they are. Short Throw or Ultra Short Throw should be fine.

[chewee]

my concern with any new projectors is that the mounting bracket wont fit the boom arm or will need a series of conversion brackets, the board in the picture is the model of board we have(picture taken from another edugeek thread) as we cannot mount to the cieling deu to having false cielings. The epson ones do look good specs wise and im loving the lamp life on them.

One thing i did wonder about is if there are any similarly priced LED projectors that would work as they have great life and also need no servicing due to no filters, does anyone know of one or is a cheap LED projector a bit of a pipedream.

[ShellfishClive]

You should be okay with the bracket if it's universal one which most tend to be as they allow you to offset. As for the LCD short throw I am sure there will be some decent ones out there but I have never used them myself I wouldn't want to recommend.

[BennyG]

Hi,

 

We had several of these older height adjustable Promethean +2 systems/Sanyo Xe40s, our installers managed to remount the board and speakers without the height adjustable set up and added a Epson ultrashort throw. I think RA Technology also make retrofit mounts for these Promethean systems. One thing I would add is that when converting from standard to ultra short throw on to an older Promethean boards we have found a slight curve at the bottom of image - almost like the bottom of the board has warped/isn't flat.

[Katy]

We've got about 10 of these (although it's with the square/rectangle arm rather than the round arm), we used brackets from RA to retro fit Casio XJ-ST145 short throw LED projectors. The projectors cost just over £1k each, and Casio don't make short throw LED projectors any more (at least not last time I checked), but provided you can get a bracket it's not difficult to do and it's given them a new lease of life - from "you have to close the blinds and turn the lights off and hope it's not sunny" to "you can teach with the blinds open and the lights on"

 

The other option is as BennyG says (if you don't need it to be height adjustable) - mount the board to the wall and mount either a short throw or ultra short throw on a boom arm, short throw gets the better image and usually cheaper projector but it's a longer boom than ultra short, where you instead have to put up with a curved image due to the lens.

[nicholab]

Looks like casio heard you XJ-UT351WN-UJ | Ultra Short Throw Series | Projectors | Products | CASIO. I would use standard projector if I could as they cost so much less. The interact and short throw start costing you as much as a interactive screen. Edited February 27, 2018 by nicholab

[Wubbalubbadub]

Another vote for Epson here.. fantastic projectors! The support is also really good.. bulb replacements are sent next day!

[Pottsey]

LCD are brighter and generally last a lot longer but more pricey generally.

DLP's are starting to come out with lasers instead of lamps. No bulb change, last a long time and bright colours. It will take years but I believe over time Laser DLP will replace all lamp DLP's.

[chewee]

Thank you all. I have been looking at teh epson models and the epson EB-530 seems to be the winner at the moment, has anyone here used that model and if so what were they like to service? were the filters easy to clean, were the bulbs a pain to replace atc. Also thank you for the RA Technology suggestion, they do a bracket for the promethean boards we use.

[HTCPCP]

Always go Epson here too. Decent kit, well priced and long lasting.

 

A quick look at the manual shows it's got the standard Epson Design of having the bulb on the top near the control buttons which means you don't have to take it down, and be a contortionist. Similarly by the looks of it, it's a side clip air filter which should be nice and straight forward too.

 

https://www.epson.co.uk/products/projectors/short-distance/eb-530#manuals

[BenQ_Support]

Just to throw in the mix. We have a number of installers replacing these with BenQ short-throws and the mentioned mount from RA technology.

 

Important to get the throw-ratio correct to work with the existing boom arm. Should be in the region of 0.6:1.

 

MX825ST is the current model. 3300ansi should be more than bright enough for normal light conditions and comes with a 5yr warranty.

 

You may be able to pick up some of the older MX819ST model still, which still offers 3000ansi of brightness and the same warranty. There's a lower cost model MX808ST as well.

 

DM me if you need more info and ill be happy to try and help.

[LytchettNM]

We got one of these with an infocus unit which was on offer at the time it fits as a direct replacement for the Orange beasts but would go for the epson in the future as we have found them to be very reliable around the rest of the site and can be networked which allows for remote control from a computer plus other LAN based projection which is great for open evening all showing the same video etc.

 

https://www.avpartsmaster.co.uk/p-32825-ra43-pm-100-retro-fit-mount-for-promethean-2-systems-v1.aspx

[chewee]

Have decided to put in an order for some Epson EB-530 projectors, i'm looking forward to seeing the difference compared to 11 year old projectors and that have been failing for the last few years. It will also be good to see the look on the teachers faces.

Thank you everyone for you input and advice.