Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 UB - LCD projector - 1600 ANSI lumens - 1920 x 1080 - widescreen - High Definition 1080p Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've only had it for a week or so but I absolutely love it so far. This replaces a Sanyo PLV-70 (2200 lumens; 720p). I don't have a dedicated home theater room so I deal with some ambient light. I was afraid that going down to 1600 lumens might be an issue but it has not. The 1080 UB is plenty bright.
I've read other reviews that have said the 1080 UB required significant picture adjustment out of the box. It seems to me that the brightest settings will require a decent amount of adjustment but I have not been using them. I have it set on Theater Black 1 (which I believe is 2 or 3 notches down from the brightest setting) and the picture was gorgeous out of the box.
I can definitely tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on my 120 inch screen (running Blu Ray disks from a PS3). The blacks and color richness from this projector are much better than my 5 year old Sanyo (which was plenty good). HD content via DirecTv also looks significantly better, which I assume is largely due to the much higher contrast of this projector and probably some better color capabilities as well.
This projector is also plenty quiet for me and it sits just a few feet away from me.
Overall, I am completely satisfied and very happy with this purchase so far.


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Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080 Home Theater Projector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros
- Under $3000!
- VERY easy to set up.
- Well-designed, backlit remote.
- ZERO screen-door effect from real viewing distances.
- Relatively bright (even in theater mode).
- Excellent performance.
Cons
- Blacks could be a little deeper.
- No vertical stretch (only an issue if you're looking to do CIH).
- Menu navigation a little sluggish when using a universal remote.
Being the first 1080p projector under $3000, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 arrived with a lot of hype and anticipation. I bought into that hype, and as a result I was among the first to pick up one of these bad boys the day it came out. Prior to the Epson, I had owned two different 720p HD projectors- a Sanyo Z4 and a Panasonic AX-100U. The Sanyo produced a super-sharp, noise-free picture, but I found the visible pixelation too distracting at close viewing distances. The Panasonic doesn't have that problem as it utilizes Smoothscreen technology to reduce screen-door effect, but it also results in a noticeably softer image. The Epson, on the other hand, is capable of projecting a sharp AND pixel-free image (both undoubtedly thanks to the 2 million pixels afforded by 1080p). The Epson also performs surprisingly well out the box, and after a simple calibration I found that it can deliver even more vivid and accurate color. Black level is the one area where I feel this projector is lacking. For deep, DLP-like blacks you would have to shell out another grand or two for a higher-end model like the JVC RS-1. What I did though was paint my own screen, using a special DIY mix designed to boost contrast and improve black level performance, and voila! I'm looking at a beautiful picture with much darker and convincing blacks. Summing up, the Epson is a killer deal, and for under $3000 I honestly couldn't be happier. If you haven't experienced HD front-projection before, I would advise you to go with a 720p model first as prices are tumbling and you can pick up a pretty decent model for around $1000. If you're looking to jump from 720p to the next level, and you watch a lot of HD DVD, Blu-ray, or other high-res HD material, then this is the projector for you. Highly recommended!

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking to break into the 1080p projector territory, this is an excellent projector! I've had the chance to use my 6100 now for a few weeks, and it definitely doesn't disappoint. Image quality is fantastic, and the colors are great too (when configured correctly). I've been using mine with the HDMI output of a Harman Kardon AVR-254 7x50W 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.3a Repeater.
Pros:
* This sucker is BRIGHT. I am amazed at how nice it looks even with ambient light.
* Minimal screen door, as should be expected for a 1080p projector.
* The expanded color mode is beautiful, and works quite well.
* Contrast ratio is good, but don't believe the 18000:1. It is still remarkably good for a

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Experience home entertainment in a whole new way with the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6100. This affordable projector puts you in the middle of the action with blockbuster brightness and contrast. Whether you enjoy movies, games or sporting events, every image is sure to pop off the screen thanks to Epson's new D7 panel and an impressive 18,000:1 contrast ratio. It's easy with Epson's 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine and 1800 lumens of color/ white light output* Best of all, with the Epson exclusive Cinema Filter and OptiCinema lens by Fujinon, you're sure to experience movies like never before. (*Footnote: Light output varies depending on modes (color and white light output))

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Epson PowerLite S1 Multimedia Video Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)Looking at the S1 in respect to using it for home theatre -
* it provides a brighter picture than most Home Theatre Projectors at 1200 Lumens
* the picture is very clear
* the colours are accurate and vibrant
* the contrast is average. DLP PJ's like the Infocus X1 have better contrast but u risk seeing rainbow effects with cheap DLP PJ's
* It has a short throw lens so 10 feet gets approx 100 inch diagonal screen so it can suit small rooms down to say 9 x 9 feet
* It doesnt have a genuine zoom feature so placement in a room is limited
* It is SVGA resolution but with the .5 size pixels (instead of .7 on most SVGA PJ's) screen door/pixelation is much reduced. I have it in my 12' by 11' bedroom at a diagonal screen size of approx 95' and it looks supurb.
* Fan sound is about average. It exhausts the air out the front so can be mounted close to a wall
* It doesnt have manual individual colour adjustments. The 5 preset viewing modes will be fine for most, coupled with the ability to adjust contrast/brightness.
* Try to position the PJ at right angles to the screen in order to avoid using keystone correction. The picture looks slightly better if u dont use keystone correction with this PJ.
* The PJ itself is very inexpensive and the replacement lamps are the cheapest i have ever seen. Would be good if the lamp could go more than 2000 hours but since they are so cheap its not so much of an issue.
* Many S1's are sold/have been sold so it should be easy to get replacement items such as lamps in the future.
* Doesnt have a individual component video connection. U have to use the RGB port so if u have a pc u have to share this port. Would have been good to have a seperate component video port.
There are several entry level PJ's which are providing performance at a level previously only found on PJ's much more expensive. At similar to the EPSON S1 price point you could look at Infocus X1, Hitachi CPS210, Sanyo Z1 amongst others.
In Summary Epson S1 - Bright, very clear picture, excellent colours, short throw, cheap globes
Im very happy with the S1. The most important issue above all is the picture and this PJ's picture is crystal clear, bright and vibrant.
Regards Talisman

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Early Adopters Pick: July 2003. The S1 from Epson is a price-busting portable projector that delivers brilliant, full-featured SVGA performance, under $1,000.
With a footprint of just 14.6 by 10.4 inches, the S1 sets up on nearly any convenient surface and weighs just 7 pounds, making transportation painless. An SVGA native resolution of 800 x 600 ensures that projected images retain their clarity even at great distances, while 24-bit color support of over 16.7 million colors results in accurate, true-to-life images. A monitor out capability lets you display images on both the projected screen and on a monitor simultaneously, while compatibility with both PC and Mac operating systems ensures that your presentations a snap to set up, no matter where you are. The 400:1 contrast ratio provides sharp detail, and 1,200 ANSI lumens of brightness results in projections that are easy to see from anywhere in the room. The 132 W UHE lamp provides over 2,000 hours of lamp life, while the internal power supply consumes 180 watts during normal operation and just 5 watts in stand-by mode.
The S1 has a variable aspect ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9 and an adjustable projection screen size of 30 to 300 inches. The digital zoom/manual focus lens has an F-number of 1.4 and an f-number range of 16.6mm, which combine with digital keystone correction of plus or minus 15 degrees to help achieve accurate, in-focus projections across the entirety of the image. The S1 supports NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, M-PAL, N-PAL, PAL60, SECAM, and HDTV formats, the latter including 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. Mini DIN, RCA, and mini D-sub signal inputs and an RS232C control input are provided. The internal fan emits less than 33 dB of noise during normal operation, while the internal 1-watt mono speaker provides a clear, intelligible internal audio output. The remote operates at a distance of up to 19.7 feet and provides control over a wide range of projector functions. The S1 also comes backed with a two-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxProjector, power cable, computer cable, projector remote control with lithium battery, presentation remote control, soft carrying case, air filter, CD-ROM, Quick Setup Sheet

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6500UB 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After many years of wishing and slowly peicing togther the parts for a home theater I have finally achieved this lofty goal. This is my first projector so bare in mind my relative experience. A few things to note. I use this projector solely for movie watching and usually at night in a completely dark room. I am not using a blu-ray player but an HDMI equipped Sony DVD player with "upscaling" on a 106" screen.

This machine is AMAZING. The picture quality is first class! Being as this is the format Blu-ray is designed for I was a bit worried about the regular dvd quality. However I can happily say even with a regular player a well made DVD(well made as in the Studio actually went in there and really digitally mastered and maxed out the DVD capability) the image quality is superb. At 720P with a A-class DVD transfer such as a Lord of the Rings, Wall-E or Kingdom of Heaven, u will happily enjoy every crevice and wrinkle of you favorite actors face, knick knack and chink in metal and the little hairs on the fabric of their blanket or cloak. With lush vivid colors and crisp fluid action and movement with no jaggies. Again this will vary depending on the DVD itself. Some DVDs(usually older and or obscure movies) the studio in question just didn't give a damn and basically just transferred a VHS image onto a DVD. In those cases you will notice the lack of razor sharp clarity we've grown accustomed to but in such cases it pretty much feels like an old movie theater anyway and generally doesn't detract from the experience. In the rare case I will come across a DVD(usually one of my kids cheap noggin cartoons) so poorly transfered u will even have some jaggies. Again this is the DVD not the projector. It should also be said that the DVD transfer issue is a problem in both formats. There are many Blu-Ray dvds in which a given studio simply took the old print and through it on Blu Ray. I recently read a review on Terminator 1, where the guy had the regular DVD and the Blu ray and the quality was indestinguishable for this very reason so be careful. Format is not necessarily indicative of image quality.
The calibration options are especially in-depth and allow for a broad range of variation depending on your viewing environment and personal preference. I read and observed that the default color range ran a little warm and was able to easily and quickly cool it down to obtain a slightly more balanced hue. I should also note that this is a rather nit-picky thing and other people might find the default hue fine. The vertical and horizontal lens-shift also offer great versatility. I personally don't find manual focus and zoom bothersome, so these features are more then adequate and up to the job for me.
Fan noise is negligible. The projector is a rather meager 6 feet above the top of the couch and when there's silence in the movie there's silence in the room. Boot up speed is also quick taking no more then 30 seconds to a minute tops. (just enough time for the screen to roll down and grab a snack).
The only flaw I could point out is lack of apsect ratio. All the images are projected in widescreen format. Now the Aspect ratio CAN be changed(there's even a button on the controller) but apparently not when using the HDMI feed. If your confused its ok, so am I. I have to say that this problem may be my fault and not the projectors and since except for some of my older movies which were shot in the older 4:3 format all of my movies are widescreen anyway. And I haven't carved out the time to call the support line to try and sort it out. So the combo of a few factors including my own potential ignorance, my own laziness and limited hindrance by said problem, all should be noted and taken into account in respect to this issue. For this and the fact that it is my first projector I give only 4 out of a possible 5. But really for me it's perfect.
Hmmm that's about it. This things rocks and I'm in cinema heaven.

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The Epson Home Cinema 6500UB takes Home Theater entertainment to a whole new level, featuring a rich, vibrant color and details that's sure to win a rare reviews from friends and family alike. With 1600 lumens and the deep, dark blacks, crystal clear detail of Epson 3LCD technology, this mega star will make your home the hottest ticket in town. Experience movies, games and sporting events like you never have before. As stylish as it is entertaining, it is the perfect performer, adapting well to virtually any scene, whether you mount it on a ceiling, shelf or table. Designed by the world leader in home theater projectors, the Home Cinema 6500UB is your choice for amazing home entertainment that all are sure to enjoy.Contrast Ratio (in Dynamic Color Mode) -Up to 75,000 - 1 Color Processing -Full 12-bit Terminal Inputs -2 HDMI 1.3a, 1 RCA(Composite), 1x3 RCA (Component), 1 Mini DIN (S-video), 1 D-Sub 15 pin (AnalogRGB), 1 D-Sub 9pin (RS-232c)Dimensions (W x D x H) -17.7 x 15.5 x 5.4 (excluding feet)Weight -16.5 lbs Manufacturer's 2 Year Limited Warranty, 90 days Limited Lamp warranty

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Sony BDP-S301 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player BD/DVD/CD Playback Review

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(More customer reviews)I gotta admit it: when it comes to electronics, I'm about as brand-loyal to Toshiba as they come. Nevertheless, for me, the whole history of the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD wars has unfolded on the software battlefield. Sony has simply come up with a better DVD. By the time HD-DVD catches up, we'll all either own two fine DVD players, or one that can play both formats. After haunting a few electronics showrooms, and seeing and hearing the decks in my price range, this latest Sony player just became a no-brainer.

If you're wondering what's the difference between this and the BDP-S300, so am I. The operating manual that came with my S301 listed both model numbers on the cover. I got mine at a price $50 cheaper than I could have got the earlier model, and I didn't pay shipping. That's the only reason I have one and not the other.

Blu-ray Discs are awesome in every way. I use an optical 5.1 connection, and even though there are better connections in newer systems, the sound quality is still noticeably deeper and more dimensional than standard DVD's, due to the greater bandwidth available on the discs. Colors are far more stable, especially with Blu-ray Discs, but also with standard DVD's. My taste in films doesn't run perfectly parallel to the titles currently available on Blu-ray, so the rest of my comments really pertain to the quality of this deck as a player of standard DVD's.

I have found the transition blip between layers on DL-9 discs to be almost imperceptible. The bit encoding rate of "up to 40 Mbps" is probably the single most important spec this player has to offer. That is slightly higher than the Toshiba decks in this price range, though I doubt few people have eyes good enough to appreciate the difference. The point is, you are going to see a picture that contains every bit of information encoded on whatever disc you're watching, with gradations of color and depth of detail that make the disc the weakest link--and that's a good thing.

The fan motor on the S301 is whisper-soft, another factor that gives this deck superiority over its Toshiba counterpart.

All of that said, it should be noted that Sony is going for complete vertical integration, with all the studios (save Universal) behind Blu-ray, and with this and the S300 designed to work optimally with a Bravia monitor and audio system. They want world domination, and I guess we'll just have to trust the marketplace to sort things out. But for now, this is about as good a player as you'll find in this price range, and it works adequately with systems not designed by Sony.

"Adequately" is about as high a complement as I can pay it, though. Each disc has a certain amount of futzing around that is necessary to get the aspect ratio and video specs right. In other words, this doesn't just magically read the disc you put in and know where the settings should be. It does have a very handy video control center that allows for six picture settings, three preset to "standard," "theatre," and "light room," and three that allow you to make custom presets. By the time you've gone through a few discs and tweaked the color, white and black balance, etc., you'll find yourself flipping through the six available settings and finding one that suits each disc you're watching.

All of this extra "trouble," I should add, in reality arises from the far greater picture fidelity you will be seeing.

Some minor annoyances: 1) although this plays music CD-R's, it won't recognize data CD-R's. So, for example, if you have your jpegs stored on CD-R's, prepare to move them to DVD-R's, if you want to use this player as a slide viewer; 2) note the dimensions of the unit, especially the depth, which becomes about 16.5 inches once you've connected everything up--my player is hanging out about 2" from my other components; 3) there is no true "fast-forward," only a multi-speed "scan" feature that, even on the slowest speed skips over frames of significant action you may be trying to spot; 4) there is no "off" button on the unit itself, which, if you don't want to hunt down the remote, will shut itself off after about 25 minutes; 5) the "on" button on the unit doubles as "open" and "close," which is fine, I guess, but it takes exactly 32 seconds between the time you turn the power on and when the "Blu-ray" insignia appears on your screen. Once it is powered up, though, I found the loading times to be reasonable.

Finally, I would want to mention the aspect ratio issue, namely that it sometimes has to be changed manually, by changing the resolution. Some of this may be due to the fact that I am connecting to my monitor using an HDMI-to-DVI cable, but I rather doubt it. I suspect Sony simply did its best to make a good player, but loading it with electronics that would enable it to decode a wide variety of commercial discs would have made it prohibitively expensive.

Funny thing, though. It reads Universal Studios discs perfectly and without any tweaking necessary. Kind of makes you wonder if they weren't putting in a little more effort to win over the one Blu-ray hold-out.

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OMNIMOUNT OL125FT 23-Inchto45-Inch OmniLite Tilt Flat Panel Mount Review

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(More customer reviews)Omnimount OL125FT bracket was used to wall mount a 40" Sony Bravia KDL-40EX400 LCD television. The television weighs about 30 lbs. Sony recommends you use their SUWL500 bracket, which is outrageously expensive...over $200! The Omnimount bracket is a suitable affordable alternative.
The bracket is heavy duty and supplied with four 2-1/2" long lag screws intended to screw into wall studs. The package also comes with an assortment of screw sizes and spacers for attaching the bracket to the back of the television. I used four of the supplied screws, with some washers I added so that the screws did not penetrate too far into the television body.
The bracket can be set to a limited number of fixed angles so that the TV angles correctly to your line of sight.
Directions provided with the package are pictorial only and quite minimal. Took some trial and error to figure out how the locking bar was to be installed (keeps tv from being lifted off the wall mount). Reviewing directions on the manufacturer's website was helpful.

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Da-Lite 92" Diagonal HDTV Format Home Theater Fixed Frame Screen with High Contrast Cinema Vision Fabric and Pro-Trim Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently finished setting up my home theater in my basement. InFocus ScreenPlay X2 DLP Projector, Genelec sound system and the Da-Lite 92" HDTV fixed frame screen with their new high contrast fabric. I had been showing my images on the wall but the Da-Lite screen made the picture really pop! My family and I just love the way the pictures look so real. I'd highly recommend the high contrast fabric to everyone. Every projector should be sold with a screen. You cannot imagine what a huge difference it makes when watching your favorite movies.

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110IN Diag Cinema Contour Fixed Frame Cvhc 16:9 54X96IN Review

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(More customer reviews)My screen arrived, I opened the box and within 30 minutes had it assembled. Very easy setup and attractive on the wall. The picture with my Epson 8700hb is awsome. I would definetly recommend this to anyone looking for a projection screen.

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Da-Lite 133" Diagonal HDTV Format Multiple Aspect Ratio Home Theater Fixed Frame Screen with High Contrast Cinema Perf Fabric and Pro-Trim Review

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(More customer reviews)This comes in real handy in my double wide. My first 100 inch wasn't quite big enough. This was a choice upgrade.

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8500 UB LCD Projector (V11H337020) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first projector. I tend to be extremely picky about my image and sound quality. I was nervous and somewhat skeptacle going from my 62" DLP TV to a projector. I researched different projectors for weeks. Every time I looked up a review for one projector it would mention a different one for comparison. I would then have to research that one. I ended up creating a spreadsheet listing prices, pro's, con's and more finer details. I ended up settling for the 8500UB since many sites rave about it.
I wish I could have given 4.5 stars on this review. I wouldn't call it a perfect 5 nor would I call it a 4. I am overall very pleased with the projector and it is well worth $2500. Shop around and you'll save a lot. I ordered mine at projectorbundles.com. You get cables, screen, mount and projector at a great price. If they don't have the screen size on the website just email them.
I have about 30 hours on it. I still fiddle with the color calibration settings. [...] has a decent starting point for calibration.
Since it is LCD you have much wider flexability where it can be mounted. The problem with the offsets is image distortion especially side to side. Plan to mount it in the center with VERY little side offsets. See note 2 below. Side offset makes the image twist appear out of level. Over the width of a large screen being off-level slightly is very noticeable.
The two very minor things I would mark it down for:
1.Small dark text on a light background can get slightly washed out. It is still legible, just not crisp.
2.I use the projector as my main TV. Not everything is broadcast in HD widescreen. I have it ceiling mounted with a standard 8' ceiling with 110" 16:9 grey screen. Full screen 4:3 images have a very slight trapezoid effect. Since the projector is closer to the top of the screen light has to travel further to get to the bottom. It is slightly wider at the bottom. Again, I am very picky!!! A friend viewing would probably not notice.
Screen Tip: Make sure the screen has a velvet frame because the black velvet absorbs light. Since the trapezoid effect is noticeable with full screen images if you overshoot widescreen images just a hair they will appear square and you don't notice trapezoid effects at all.
Washout: If you have a lot of ambient light in the room you will definitely have washout. I highly recommend blackout curtains for sunlight.
Noise: The projector is very quiet. I have it mounted on my ceiling about two feet behind my couch. Occasionally, I can hear the Iris shift but I have to be listening for it. Quiet scenes in a movie are no problem.
Color is fantastic. Nice deep dark blacks and shadow effects. HD signals and Blu-Ray discs are awesome. With a little planning setup is a breeze.
-------------------
Update: I'm happy to give this projector a 5/5 star rating. One of the comments left mentions to make sure the the projector is mounted squarely on the ceiling. Then simply use the lens shift. It does not skew the image at all. As long as the screen is level you are good to go. I have used the projector for about a year with nearly 2000 hours with no problems.

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EPSON POWERLITE HOME CINEMA 8500 UB

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Liteon 4X Blu Ray Reader Black Retail Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)[See updates below: I would now give this unit only two stars.]
Summary: At time of writing, it is cheaper to install this drive in a reasonably powerful HTPC than to buy a blu-ray disc player, assuming you have the HTPC already. As with any new technology, there are problems; these will be worked out as the technology matures. You should upgrade the firmware (CP56 recommended). The bundled software, PowerDVD, has limitations and problems which you can work around.
NOTE: This drive is a READER only. It does not write any kind of disc. This is stated clearly in the product description and I am not complaining: it is much cheaper than a writer, and fine for my HTPC.
THE DRIVE
The drive itself works fine so far (one month). As a very standard optical drive, it is as easy to install as any DVD drive. SATA is required for this model, of course, but the advantages of SATA is one reason I bought this drive. In operation, the drive is reasonably quiet.
Blu-ray content requires a reasonably powerful computer. My do-it-yourself HTPC is based on an Intel E6600, an Asus/Nvidia EN9600 video card, and Windows Vista SP1. These are adequate for quality playback on most discs, but I see a stutter occasionally (no more than once every 3 seconds) on Batman Begins, but not others. Blu-ray requires a video card and display or TV that supports HDCP. I was pleased to find that my 3-year-old Sharp Aquos LCD TV does support HDCP; I assume most or all modern LCD TVs and monitors do now.
My drive came with firmware version CP54 installed. I had two serious problems that were corrected by upgrading to CP56 (visit lite-on's support page):
1. Windows Media Center complained that the region number was incorrect, so I was unable to play a conventional Region 1 (USA) DVD, even after setting Region 1 in the control panel.
2. Using PowerDVD 7.3, I was able to play blu-ray movies for awhile, but then one day, every time I tried, I got an Information box that told me that certain key parts of the program needed to be updated (sorry, I don't have the exact message). It gave me the opportunity to update, to which I said yes, and after a brief pause, it said it was successful. Pressing the Play button again put me through the same sequence; I was no longer able to play movies I had already played on the same equipment.
Since both problems were corrected by upgrading the firmware, I recommend that all users upgrade to CP56 or newer by visiting lite-on's support page.
THE BUNDLED SOFTWARE
PowerDVD 7.3 BD, two channel edition, is included. It is capable of playing some blu-ray discs (Blade Runner, Stargate), and not others (Batman Begins).
Some people complain that the two-channel edition does not provide surround sound. For sure it does not provide Dolby Digital 5.1, but I do hear surround effects on my system, at least for Blade Runner blu-ray edition. There are two possible explanations: it could be that the movie includes a two-channel soundtrack with Dolby Pro-Logic (an early surround technology that is inferior to Dolby Digital 5.1); it could be that my updated Accurus digital processor is simulating surround sound in the same way it expands stereo music into full surround. I don't know which, but the surround I heard on the two-channel edition sounds appropriately surrounded, and comments from others on a different forum report the same thing (suggesting that the Pro-Logic theory is correct).
When I start Batman Begins (blu-ray edition), I get the piracy warning and the Warner logo, followed by an icon suggesting a disc read, then a black screen. For most movies, the black screen lasts a second or two, then the movie begins. For this movie, it stays black, and the application appears to be hung (can only terminate with Windows Task Manager). I worked around this problem by installing the trial (30-day) version of PowerDVD 8 Ultra, and it played fine, so I believe this is a problem with PowerDVD 7.3 BD, or some incompatibility with Windows.
One feature I really like is the speed control. You can set playback speed to 1x, 1.1x, 1.2x, 1.5x, 2x and higher, and similar speeds for reverse. For forward speeds less than 2x, it still plays the audio! but in a sped-up fashion. When watching The Wire (HBO series), we have often wanted to replay the previous episode, and this allows us to review some parts carefully and others more quickly.
One feature I really dislike is the permanent splash screen, which is visible at all times that the program is active but a movie is not playing/paused. It is bright red, shows their logo in a large size, and includes a cheesy picture. They should allow us to have a black background, or to substitute our own image.
You can upgrade to PowerDVD 8 Ultra for eighty five dollars (which is ten dollars less than if you bought it without upgrading from the bundled version). For me, there are just a few reasons for doing so: bug fixes (e.g. a fix to allow me to watch Batman Begins), full digital sound including some modern formats, and DVD-Audio (but: NO SACD!!).
There is a whole lot of stuff in PowerDVD 8 that I will never use. I wish there was a simple blu-ray CODEC that would allow those discs to be played through Windows Media Player instead.
I have found only one alternative blu-ray player software offering: WinDVD from Corel. It is on sale for eighty dollars. Unfortunately, their trial version does not allow you to watch blu-ray, and I am unwilling to take a chance without knowing it works properly. No doubt in the future there will be better alternatives.
While I think that the PowerDVD upgrade is too expensive, the cost of the drive plus the upgrade still makes a less expensive option for watching blu-ray than buying a dedicated blu-ray DVD player.
UPDATE: Windows Media Center again complains about a standard DVD with Region 1, even though Region one is set, which forces me to use PowerDVD. The only thing that has changed since it worked before is playing a blu-ray movie (with PowerDVD). I suppose it is possible that... nah, Cyberlink wouldn't disable the free competition, would they?
UPDATE: I have seen the hardware/software refuse to believe that a disc was present in the drive, even after open/close to check. The solution is a power cycle of the computer. I saw this once before writing the original review (but forgot) and was reminded of it when it happened again yesterday.
If I were writing this review today, I would call it 2 1/2 or three stars because of the various bugs that it seems I have to live with. Perhaps the firmware will improve eventually.
UPDATE: The BluRay of "The Dark Knight" is not recognized by this drive. The player says no disc is in the drive, and that is confirmed by the Windows Explorer, even when the disc IS in the drive. "The Dark Knight" advises getting the latest firmware for your player, but the LiteOn site has a version from March 2008, which does not correct this problem. On encountering this error, I tried inserting another BluRay disc, which was recognized as before, so restarting the computer won't help (as it sometimes does). I would now rate this two stars for lack of working firmware for latest releases.

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106IN Diag Model B Manual Vs 16:9 52X92IN Review

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(More customer reviews)If I was hired to design worse packaging than this came shipped in, I would be hard-pressed to do so. First, the cardboard box was not double-walled, a necessity with a long, heavy screen like this. Second, the screen itself was "suspended" in four thin pieces of foam that broke apart easily. Result was a huge dent on the back, courtesy of somebody in the delivery chain. Screen itself came down but wouldn't come up without spending 15 minutes fighting it, and was full of waves also. Very poor showing by both Amazon and Da-Lite.


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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 Home Theatre Projector (V11H336120) Review

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(More customer reviews)This technically is my third projector so I am experienced in projectors. My InFocus Screenplay 4805 had reached 3000 hours and the lamp burned out. I was ready to upgrade. At first I bought the Sanyo PLV-1080HD as an open box buy. When I got it home, to my dismay there was over 700 hours on it! BUMMER!! Since I had 30 days to return it, the salesman told me new projectors were on the way and to hold tight. (I would never buy a demo projector again!)
Well two weeks later I saw the Epson in the store. Since I had the Sanyo for 2 weeks, I had something to compare it to. The blacks are twice as good. It is super bright. The colors POP like an LCD TV. Basically it turned my white screen at home into the world largest flat panel. They had a gray screen at the store and the whites were still plenty bright. The screen at the store had glass particles that showed up and were distracting during the movie, so I won't be purchasing a glass particled screen.
Both projectors were much better at my home. The demo room has too much light near the screen. At home, I was a little alarmed by the Epson 8100's oversaturated color right out of the box. The Sanyo was pretty good right out of the box, but the Epson demands adjustment. On HDTV (Cox) most of the people were overly reddish. One of the preset modes for HDTV removed too much color.
I found a review of the projector that included calibration configurations and that made a WORLD of difference. That's when it started to shine even on ECO mode! (I think it could beat Sanyo PLV-1080HD's brightest mode on ECO mode!) I am so excited to have purchased this brand new. I find it a definite upgrade to be able to go 4000 hours on a bulb and only pay $300 for a replacement versus Sanyo's approximate 2000 hours and $400 for a replacement.
Blu-rays were awesome on the Epson 8100. Razor sharp. Even up close to the screen, you can hardly see the porch screen. The contrasts and shadow details were notable.
There are plenty of parameters to adjust this projector. With the warranty, lamp life, and awesome picture. I will definitely be pleased for a long time.
Some reviews went back and forth about organic versus inorganic panels and guess about what kind of panels this projector is made of. The two year warranty give me peace of mind that if the panels go bad, I will get it fixed.
I have used a projector since 2005 and I have used it for TV, movies and some computer use. I do cut it off if I'm not watching but I have fallen asleep a few times. It's on most of Saturday and Sunday. Still in 4 years, I only used the In Focus for 3000 hours.
I had considered having a LCD TV in addition so I could save the bulb, but I can buy a lot of bulbs for that cost and even a 52" TV seems tiny after being accustomed to a 92" screen.I was watching Larry King and the wall behind him was true black. The color was awesome. CNN shines! Sports look GREAT. (Sports were dim on the Sanyo PLV-1080HD.)
My projector is at least 20 feet away and giving off plenty of light even with my lights on. According to one of the reviews, the light is considerably cut when you have it too far away. I have it at the longest distance where you can have it 100" and using ECO lamp with the light off and it's plenty bright.
I have it on a shelf in the back of the room so I can still enjoy my ceiling fan in the summer. The exhaust vent on the front is a life saver on this unit. The Sanyo was blowing hot air and some bright light out the side of their projector. The Sanyo did have a door to hide the lens but Epson has a lens cover. Since I can easily reach the lens, I'll just put the cover on, when I'm finished. I may even purchase a full projector cover for when it's not in use to cut down on dust.
There were overwhelming positive reviews for the Sanyo, but this Epson will blow it away. Even the exterior design in a little more sexy in pearl white and a little bit more stream lined and less boxy.
Finally, don't pay full price as it's a buyer's market. I got an awesome price at a major retailer and for 0% financing, so get yours today! Get this projector!

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Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 8100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector

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106 16X9 Model B with Csr High Contast Mw Man Pull Down Scree Review

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(More customer reviews)This gives a crystal clear picture!! Very nice. The CSR works perfectly. It did not come with hardware(hooks to secure it to the ceiling ect). I got them from a hardware store for less than a buck however.

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Number 6 Wall Bracket Used To Mount Manual Screens Review

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(More customer reviews)The brackets work great for a 90" 16x9 motorized screen. Only problem that I had is that it wasn't clear that the item was for a pair and not a single bracket so I ended up buying 2 pairs.

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Da-Lite Model B Manual Wall and Ceiling Projection Screen, 60" x 60", Video Spectra 1.5 Surface Review

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(More customer reviews)Da-Lite's model B 60"x60" screen is great for multimedia presentations and great for the home theater! We just got one with/for our projector and it is great to make the picture quality more clear! It is easy to taughten it and draw it for your comfort! It rolls up and down like a typical roller shade and the most important thing is that there are no wrinkles in it & it makes the picture quality so much better than a typical wall or platform, etc.--From one of the best company's, Da-Lite is always best! thank you!

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