Ultra short throw projector recommendations?

[gshaw]

I've got a feeling Smart 660i systems might have a bit too much horizontal footprint for the building I'm running a project for at the moment and as such have been recommended these 3 projectors to use as an ultra short throw alternative...

 

- Epson 440w

- Hitachi EDA100

- Sanyo ???

 

From personal experience what are your thoughts on any of these? We're usually an Epson shop but it's the priciest of the three so wondering if it's worth the premium?

 

Ta

[jamesreedersmith]

What about a tv and an overlay?

[laserblazer]

We've standardised on the Hitachi A100 or later model and are very pleased with them.

[sacrej]

we just purchased a epson 450wi

 

LOVE IT

 

and the mount is rock solid, though we had to get our DT department to create a metal plate to support it on a weaker wall.

 

very sharp, but dont bother using USB/ethernet to project if you are planning on using rolling videos due to framerate, but for powerpoint they are fine.

we get a nice 82inch screen thats sharper than any ceiling mount projector I've ever used.

[powdarrmonkey]

We also favour the Hitachi A100.

[glennda]

well i have just had a sanyo blow up while i was 3 inchs away will off (had been for 10 mins or so) blew air into to clean the dust from (in dt) and it went bang with a nice ball of flames

 

as you can guess i was fuming

[laserblazer]

It wasn't air from an aerosol can was it?

[glennda]

It wasn't air from an aerosol can was it?

 

it was the clean air stuff - but i check the power was out and it was cool - i used to do it loads with old epsons i had just just doesnt work the same with sanyos!

 

 

i need to find a replacement that will cover a whole 80" board from only a meter... although my boss keeps telling me just to put it back up!!

[Educare_AV]

I have just installed 50 Hitachi EDA100's and they work great. Installed many over the last 12 months or so and have not heard of any issues.

 

I would reacommend you pay the little extra and go for the unicol mount as it has alot of adjustment for lining them up.

 

They are a true short throw unlike many epsons that basically have a large magnifying glass stuck on the front to reduce the throw distance. Image quality in my opinion is not as good as the Hitachi's.

[gmantime]

I am in a similar position, I love the short throws. My AV guy was in yesterday and told me hitachi are ncreasing their warranty to five years at the end of March arocrding to him. This is only for education.

[localzuk]

i need to find a replacement that will cover a whole 80" board from only a meter... although my boss keeps telling me just to put it back up!!

 

The projector is most likely fine. The only thing that will have actually burnt is the propellant in the air. It will have burned so quickly, it will probably not have done any damage at all. Had it happen here with one Epson, everything was fine.

[glennda]

The projector is most likely fine. The only thing that will have actually burnt is the propellant in the air. It will have burned so quickly, it will probably not have done any damage at all. Had it happen here with one Epson, everything was fine.

 

yeah i think it would, but in my opinion better to be safe then sorry! all the filters etc have be burnt through but and then all the c:censored:p would be sitting inside the projector

[ranj]

I am in a similar position, I love the short throws. My AV guy was in yesterday and told me hitachi are ncreasing their warranty to five years at the end of March arocrding to him. This is only for education.

 

Yes this is true, more information about this can be found here. According to the source its from the beginning of march...

 

Extended 5 year warranty FREE* on all education projectors, giving you 5 years peace of mind!

 

We have just installed 3 Hitachi EDA-111 where there was a need for short throw, the rest of the areas we have gone with the NEC NP410 models, they are very good I must say.

[BaccyNet]

We have the Hitachi ED-A111's here too. The newer ones come with a chunky filter on the front which saves the amount of times it needs to be cleaned.

 

Only thing I have found is some of our kids have become found of touching the mirrors, not sure why!

[bossman]

Ditto Hitachi ED-A111 they are very good

[Obiwan]

we just purchased a epson 450wi

 

LOVE IT

 

and the mount is rock solid, though we had to get our DT department to create a metal plate to support it on a weaker wall.

 

very sharp, but dont bother using USB/ethernet to project if you are planning on using rolling videos due to framerate, but for powerpoint they are fine.

we get a nice 82inch screen thats sharper than any ceiling mount projector I've ever used.

 

Has anyone had a play with the interactive feature of this range? I'd be interested to know how it compares to a full IWB.

[sacrej]

yes, seems pretty accurate, and due to the strength of the mounting, doesnt seem to 'drift' like other systems.

 

edit.

 

we are using these over smartboards as they seem to be cheaper/superior.

 

also...only the projector can fail not the whole board...we've had to bin some smart's because the kids have damaged the surface, not a problem with these.

Edited March 2, 2010 by sacrej

[AVShopper]

Not a big fan of the old Sanyo, but agree on the Hitachi EDA-111 even though it can be a bit fussy on installation (choose a decent bracket with lots of adjustment). The Hitachi warranty offer of 5year on the projector and 3years on the lamp is running from now up to the 16th April for education customers.

 

Others you might want to consider are:

 

Hitachi CPD-10 (Short Throw Unit, 2000 ANSI, XGA, 3 Year O/S Warranty with 3 Year Lamp Warranty)

 

NP610SEDU (Short Throw Unit, 2600 ANSI, XGA, 3 Year De/Re-Installation and 3 Year Lamp Warranty)

[gshaw]

Just ordered the Hitachis... just noticed one on my mechanics course at college the other night... very funky