Monthly Archives: January 2016

Acer S1385WHne: Projector Review

The Acer S1385WHne combines portability and output brightness to serve primarily on-the-go business operators. And even though it’s super affordable, starting around $750, the projector performs extremely well. The images are cast in native WXGA resolution and the projector delivers 3,200 lumens of estimated brightness. It works best in small- to mid-sized venues.
Of course, with its sub-$1,000 price tag, the S1385WHne isn’t equipped with a long list of features, but even so, it’s not a complete bare-bones piece of hardware. First, it’s equipped with dual HDMI ports – which are very useful for business presenters. Plus, its short-throw lens works well even in cramped venues. Bottom line, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly projector that gets the job done, the S1385WHne is well-positioned for PowerPoint presentations and occasional video.
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Acer S1385WHne: Most Useful Specs
A number of the Acer’s features are standard fare when it comes to projectors released in 2015, but there are a few points that help this projector stand out from the competition. Its best features include:

  • Above-Average Brightness: At 3,200 lumens of brightness, the Acer competes above competitors in the price range, as the average hovers around 2,500-3,000 lumens. Because of the output, the projector is better-suited for larger venues, especially those with more amounts of ambient light. In darkened spaces, the projector can handle 250+ inch screens, but in a venue with moderate ambient light, the projector would work best with about a 100- to 150-inch screen. The projector is DLP-based, and as such, full color images aren’t as bright as black-and-white, but the diminished quality isn’t noticeable on average-sized screens. Additionally, the projector’s bulb achieves a lamp life of between 4,000 and 10,000 hours – which is also much better than the competition.
  • High-Quality Data Images: The Acer S1385 is designed to deliver high-quality black-and-white data images. With a high contrast ratio of 13,000:1, as well as optimize color balance, the images are right on point, with an accurate palate, great contrast in white-on-black text, and superb crispness. Overall, image quality is great and on par with what you might find in more expensive models.
  • Versatile Portability: Another reason this projector is a business favorite: Its size. The S1385 weighs just 5.5 pounds, and it measures about the size of a reference book. That makes it easy enough to quickly move from presentation to presentation. Additionally, the projector is designed with a short-throw lamp with a .49:1 throw ratio, making it possible to fit the image on the screen even in small conference rooms.

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Competitors to the Acer S1385WHne
There are a number of entries in the sub-$1,000 category, but the Acer S1385WHne offers a little something more compared to its competitors. For starters, the Acer is one of the brightest in the category, and it’s also priced competitively. Here’s a look at some of the competition:

  • ViewSonic PJD6683ws: The ViewSonic was recently discontinued, but it’s still available from third-party resellers. It compares closely to the S1385 in terms of brightness (3,000 lumens) and contrast (15,000:1), but it was still $100 more.
  • Optoma GT1080: Last year, Optoma released this Full HD projector. It compares closely with the Acer in terms of price, about $700, as well as brightness and contrast, 2,800 lumens and 25,000:1 respectively. They’re very evenly matched; yet the GT1080 is more suited for video and gaming, while the S1385 is a more optimized data projector.
  • InFocus IN1146: The InFocus is an LED projector that’s rated for just 800-lumen images. Yet it does cost $100 less than Acer, and has a 30,000-hour lamp life. If you won’t be battling with ambient light, this would be a suitable option.

Looking for an Acer S1385WHne replacement lamp? Shop and save on MyProjectorLamps.com. We offer the best prices on replacement projector lamps, fast shipping, and unbeatable selection.
 
 

Epson Pro Cinema 1985 Projector Review

Just before New Year’s, Epson released the latest in their best-selling line-up of mid-level projectors: The Epson Pro Cinema 1985. Like most Pro Cinema projectors, the 1985 carries a middle-of-the-road price point, starting right around $2,000. But this isn’t designed to be an entry-level model.
Instead, the Pro Cinema 1985 offers a number of features you won’t find in more budget-friendly projectors. First, and most important, is the Pro Cinema 1985’s lamp. The Pro Cinema delivers an ultra-bright image rated at 4,800 lumens. In other words, it’s very well-positioned for environments with high ambient light, like a sports bar, large home living room or business venue. But the 1985 is not a true cinema projector like the name suggests. For one, the 1985 isn’t equipped with 3D imaging or frame interpolation – common features in Epson’s Home Cinema line-up – and that’s why it’s much more like a high-quality business projector with above-average video.
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Epson Pro Cinema 1985: Best Features

  • Impressive Brightness: With a rating of 4800 lumens, the Pro Cinema 1985 delivers a substantial amount of brightness. Most home theater operators wouldn’t ever need a lamp that bright, and that’s one reason it would be suited much more for commercial or high-ceilinged living room applications. In standard operating mode, the projector performs great in well-lit environments like a busy sports bar, or bright living room. And although some detail is lost due to the brightness, the video image quality is still much better than you’d find from many similarly priced commercial projectors.
  • High-Resolution Imaging: The Pro Cinema 1985 has a native resolution of WUXGA or 1920×1200. Many other business and brighter units are built on top of the WXGA resolution of 1280×800 – which is about 2/3 as resolute compared to WUXGA. Therefore, the Pro Cinema 1985 achieves enhanced clarity, better video quality, and the ability to project much finer details.

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Epson Pro Cinema 1985 vs. Epson Home Cinema 5030UB
The Pro Cinema is Epson’s answer for larger spaces with greater amounts of ambient light, whereas Home Cinema projectors are better suited for darkened home theater spaces. Therefore, if you’ll be using the projector in a larger living room with many windows, the Pro Cinema model might be best. The Home Cinema wouldn’t be nearly bright enough, especially during daytime.
Plus, although they’re similarly priced, each model excels in different areas.  The Home Cinema’s image is much clearer, providing loads of shadow detail and expressive black-level performance, while the Pro Cinema is much brighter. In other words, you should choose the model that best suits your home theater space. Another consideration: The Pro Cinema 1985 is equipped with many features you’ll find in true cinema projectors, and as such, it will not leave many cinephiles disappointed.
Bottom line: The Pro Cinema 1985 delivers impressive brightness and enhanced resolution for larger screens. It’s an ideal projector for large-screen home entertainment, as well as many different commercial applications, but it’s not built for high-performance home theater use.

Acer H9500BD Home Theater Projector Review

In 2011, the Acer H9500BD was one of the first 3D projectors to hit the market at a sub-$2,000 price. Thanks to its pricing, it quickly found a loyal audience of operators. But that was just one factor that made it a fast favorite. The projector was also equipped with several technologies that delivered impressive image quality. For example, the H9500BD’s dynamic iris increased the overall black levels, providing rich dark scenes.
Overall, the 3D specs are fairly impressive too. The projector is capable of displaying a variety of 3D content – from Blu-ray to PC 3D – and the image quality is fairy crisp, bright and clear. Today, the projector’s specs are a little aged, as many of the components that made it unique in 2011 have become commonplace. But at the time, the H9500BD was a unique and powerful projector for 2D and 3D content.
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Acer H9500BD: Unique Specs and Features
Although the projector is capable of 3D imaging, it’s particularly impressive as a 2D projector. Image quality and color performance are far above-average and near flawless, especially compared to similarly priced projectors. Features that made this possible included:

  • Dynamic Iris: The projector’s dynamic iris adds depth to dark images, helping to enrich black levels and clarify shadow detail. In 2011, when the projector was initially released, dynamic iris wasn’t common in $1,500 projectors. Today, it’s more of the norm. Even so, the H9500BD’s iris delivers superior performance; dark scenes are vibrant and the black levels are deep. With a 50,000:1 contrast ratio, images are also crisp and fine details are on point. Maxing out the contrast can create a soap opera effect, though, and it’s best to adjust the contrast until you reach a desired level.
  • Accurate Color Pre-Sets: Another advantage: The H9500BD’s color performance out-of-box was near perfect. It only required slight adjustments for optimal color performance. Because of this, it’s pretty much a plug-and-play projector. Overall, the color performance is very good. Skin tones appear natural and colors are saturated and vibrant.Acer_h9500bd Back_
  • Additional Specs and Features: Acer H9500BDIn addition to supreme image quality, the projector was also equipped with tons of rich features. For starters, it delivered a bright image with a 2,000-lumen output in standard operating mode. That was well-suited for home theaters and moderately lit living rooms. Plus, there are tons of other great features:
    • Horizontal and Vertical lens shift
    • 50:1 Zoom Ratio
    • Connections: 2 HDMI, Composite Video, S-Video, 2VGA

    One disadvantage: The projector’s 280-watt UHF lamp doesn’t offer long-lasting performance, starting at about 3,000 hours in normal operating mode and 4,000 hours in eco mode. Fortunately, replacement lamps for the Acer H9500BD are relatively affordable, starting around $300.
    MyProjectorLamps is your source for affordable, OEM-quality replacement projector lamps. We carry replacements for the Acer H9500BD. Order yours today.

Optoma HD26 1080p Projector Review

This year, the Optoma HD26 earned high marks in the highly-competitive sub-$1,000 Full HD projector market. And it might be one of the most competitively priced models on the market, running right around $575.  But even with such a great price, the projector does a number of things particularly well.

Optoma HD26 Projector
Optoma HD26 Projector

For starters, the Optoma HD26 is a capable all-around projector, delivering wonderful images in Cinema Mode for the home theater, while offering suitable brightness for the living room. Of course, as a budget option, the HD26 is a little light on features, but for the price, it’s an extremely useful option. It’s quickly become a favorite entry-level home theater/home entertainment projector. Here’s a look at the HD26’s spec sheet:
Optoma HD26: Best Features
It’s clear the HD26 is light on features, but it does include many features you’ll find in most budget projectors: HDMI connectivity, built-in audio, and Full HD 3D capabilities. Yet, there are two areas where the projector stands out compared to other sub-$1,000 projectors. These features include:

  • Adjustable Image Settings: One main feature that’s absent from many budget projectors is the ability to adjust image pre-sets. And that’s one thing that sets the Optoma HD26 apart. This feature enables users to calibrate and customize their own image settings, which is particularly useful for users who tend to project many different types of content. For example, the user can create his own image pre-sets for sporting events or live TV, while adjusting the Cinema Mode settings for his home theater. What’s more, the projector has several different modes that can be used, including a Bright mode and Cinema mode. The Bright mode is ideal for sporting events, gaming and live TV in the living room – it doesn’t provide the best color, but it’s perfect for the living room. And in Cinema mode, the color performance gets a bit of a boost.
    Optoma HD26 Rear Inputs
    Optoma HD26 Rear Inputs
  • Super Long Lamp Life: Lamp life in standard operating mode is off the charts for the HD26. The projector achieves up to 5,000 hours at full power, which is far above average of about 3,000 to 4,000. Yet, users can get a big jump by optimizing the machine in Eco mode, which results in 6,500 hours of lamp life. Fortunately, the HD26’s replacement lamp is very affordable, starting around $200. It is also known as part number SP.8VH01GC01. Plus, the 190-watt bulb is very powerful, rated at 3,200 lumens in Bright mode. The output is optimized in Cinema mode, with an output of about 1,200 lumens.

 
Other Features of the HD26
Aside from these two areas, the HD26 offers some pretty standard features for a budget projector. It’s rated up to 3,200 lumens of brightness, with a contrast ratio of 25,000:1. And it delivers Full HD video (1920×1080) in the 16:9 aspect ratio.
Some features that users will definitely like include its dual HDMI ports, one of which is MHL enabled. That means you can connect to a variety of sources, including a cable box, Blu-ray player or other HDMI device, as well as stream live video from Roku or Chromecast. Finally, the projector is super lightweight, weighing just 5.5 pounds, making it a super portable projector. But with limited zoom and no lens shift, it’s not always easy to calibrate the machine in new environments.
Overall, the HD26 does exactly what an entry-level projector should do. It provides above-average imaging with only the most useful features, including dual HDMI ports and MHL capabilities. And although it certainly doesn’t compare to higher-end projectors in terms of image quality or feature set, the HD26 is one of the best values in the 1080p home theater class.