Mini Home Theater

Description

EPSON PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD Home theater projector

Features

• 720p, high-definition, widescreen performance; for movies, games and more
• Bright — 2500 lumens color and 2500 lumens white light output
• Rich, vibrant true-to-life color — advanced 3LCD, 3-chip technology
• Easy setup — 1.2x optical zoom, auto keystone
• Versatile connectivity HDMI, USB Type A, Component Video, and S-Video digital connections

Reviews

Bright and sharp - but misleading description of what's included

by I care about quality from on 2010-09-03
I've only fired this up once and we're still putting it through it's paces. I will update. Notes so far:* Nice and bright * Easy to set up with a laptop * Shows photos off a USB stick with easeOne gripe so far: The description clearly states it comes with a "Computer adapter" and "Component adapter" but the only cable it arrives with is a 3" (male) VGA to (female) 3-RCA connector. The back of the projector requires 3 MALE RCA connector. Thus the cable they send you, while technically a "component adapter" CANNOT be used to hook a computer up to the projector without buying a male-to-male RCA cable connector. There is NO other adapter so the "Computer Adapter" advertised at the time of this order and writeup does not exist.In short: Out of the box you cannot connect it to anything without more cables, the computer adapter listed in the description is just plain false.Now, I have a house full of cables so this is just annoying on principle, but it's worth others knowing.

Absolutely fantastic product!!!

by PenguinClassics from on 2010-08-11
Without a doubt the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 705 HD 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector is one of the finest purchases I have had the pleasure of making. Quiet, efficient (In EcoMode), portable with great picture and color quality. The price tag is fantastic as HD projectors are few and far between under $1000. I use it to watch TV, Blue Rays, and play games via my PS3, all of which look much better than any of the over priced behemoths of tv's they sell these days.On EcoMode the lamp life is some 5000 hours, which under our regular (and not so regular all night gaming sessions) is set to last us close to 3 years. The replacement bulbs go for 100-150 dollars on ebay so for 3 years worth of image I'm more than willing to shell out the 150. The filters are easy to clean and with a can of compressed air you should have no problem keeping your projector clean. **********************WARNING************************* ONLY USE THE COMPRESSED AIR ON A POWERED DOWN PROJECTOR THE EXHAUST GETS HOT AND CAN IGNITE THE COMPRESSED AIR!!!!!!!!I cant recommend this product enough, and if you are tired of overpriced, power guzzling, bulky, ugly, SMALL tvs there is absolutely no reason why not to get this projector. I def recommend using the HDMI output as the means of image relay, poor quality in = poor quality out.

Epson 705HD vs Optoma HD66

by Dan Goldstein from San Franciso, CA United States on 2010-07-16
I've never written an Amazon review before, but I've learned a lot about projectors over the past couple weeks, and thought I should share.As prices have been coming down, I finally decide to get a projector. 720p was plenty good for me. After reading plenty of reviews here and the various projector websites out there I narrowed my search down to the Optoma HD66 and the Epson 705HD, both going for +/- $650 at the time of this writing, and both highly rated.A bit about me - I'm not a projector or electronics nut, but I do appreciate knowing that I have the best (or better) of what's out there when I do buy things of significant $$$. Male, early 30's. Don't watch any TV, just the occasional movie at home.After much fuss, I decided to order the Epson. It seemed to have more features, had longer bulb life, and in the end I figured since I'm no projector connoisseur I would be more than impressed with its performance. However, I was not blown away enough, so I ordered the Optoma. I am keeping the Optoma, and returning the Epson. I tested both using a connection to my old Mac Powerbook G4 laptop, projecting onto a white wall painted matte white.Here is what I learned:Epson 705HD:-LCD technology really does display "little pixels" that are visible if you are up close. Not really a big deal with a movie where things are moving all the time. -Significantly brighter than the Optoma. -Better designed box, integrated lense "cap" that slides, easier to use adjustable legs, more friendly packaging/manuel, carrying case. Basically you get the feeling that Epson put some thought into its product. Feels more name brand and consumer friendly. -Supposedly has ~1000 bulb hours more than the Optoma when in Eco mode (a touch less bright than normal mode). -Has a speaker (I didn't use it). -Definitely better for office or daytime use. -Blacks appear grey when compared to adjacent wall. -Compared to the Epson, has a larger "screen size" to "distance from wall" ratio (I think this is called "throw"). Plenty big. In fact I had to "zoom out" as the screen actually felt too large for the distance I was from the screen. The projector was propped up on a table immediately behind my couch. Once adjusted it was fine. The large size could be great for the gamers out there though.Optoma HD66:-Feels more "made in China" with less fancy stickers and design. -Not quite as bright as the Epson. -I have yet to try this one during full daylight, but guessing the Epson would be better here. But this is fine with me b/c I figure if it's bright outside, I should probably be there instead of inside. -Much better colors. -Throw ratio not as good as Epson, but more than adequate for my needs. -DLP really does have much better blacks. The "black frame" around the movies is a far cry from grey, and I have a feeling if I fool around with it, I can probably get it to almost disappear. -Better picture quality - this was apparent to me and all 4 of my non-professional projector testing friends, and more apparent the darker the room is. The Epson is great, but the Optoma is like "Whoa - I wouldn't think I would be able to tell, but I can." -Harder (though still possible) to discern the "pixels" - feels more like film. -I was worried about the "rainbow effect". My friends and I were all able to see RGB shadows if we shook our heads back and forth wildly, and maybe a flash of it once or twice during the movie when our eyes would flick across the screen. Not really a big deal, though I guess some people are more "susceptible" to seeing it than others.Both: -Easily found my computer and displayed the correct resolution automatically. -Amazing resolution. -Plenty of adjustments to mess with color and whatnot. I only fooled around with these for 5 minutes or so. You can easily make the colors warmer or cooler. -Have a small remote with plenty of functions. Batteries included. -Do NOT come with HDMI, DVI, VGA cables. However, each does come with cable that allows you plug the traditional DVD player (the yellow, red, white "RCA?") cables into the VGA port.Like I said in the end I am sticking with the Optoma HD66.Since the reason to get a projector, for me, is to have a really great screen to watch movies on, I figured I should lean toward picture quality over features. If I watched TV for a lot of the day, the brightness and bulb life of the Epson may have swayed me in that direction. I hope this is helpful and saves you all some time.

Epson Endurance seiously lacking

by Kedaar J. Kumar from Cambridge, MA on 2010-06-07
I bought this projector specifically for a video installation project and for future projects because I do live visuals (VJing) and I would probably watch some movies on it. I've run it 5 times tops and on the 4th run at the ACTUAL FESTIVAL it decided to die on me 3 times and the lamp button came on. I've barely had it a month and it's been on for no more 20 hours and it's already dying!!! I even put it in ECO mode and it still died. Seriously?? Needless to say, it's being returned.On a separate note, the image quality is fantastic but what does that matter when the darn thing won't last for 3 hours straight.

Great projector

by M. Kearns from on 2010-05-24
Great projector for the price. It looks better than my big screen tv. We use it outside in our backyard theater projected onto a 16 by 9 screen. Awesome.

Description

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

Features

• Rich, vibrant color and reliable performance ? 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine
• High-definition, 1080p home theater experience ? D7 panel delivers 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Astounding clarity ? 36,000:1 contrast ratio
• Stunning picture uniformity and clarity ? stateof- the-art lens by Fujinon
• Amazing, true-to-life color ? Epson exclusive Cinema Filter with an expanded color gamut

Reviews

Disappointed - red tint problem

by Harry from FL on 2010-09-02
I bought the item from Amazon. Hooked it up to my digital cable box and my PS3. At first glance the picture was awesome. Then I noticed a red tint in the bottom right quadrant of the image. This was present regardless of the video source. It was also there on the blue screen boot up. So I packaged the projector and sent it back to Amazon. Still waiting for a resolution. Needless to say, I am disappointed!I noticed a previous purchaser had the same problem. Is this an inherent issue with these projectors?I plan on getting a replacement and giving this another try.

Great product

by K. DESAI from on 2010-08-31
I bought this because it has 2 HDMI, extra bulb life. Installed it and projected on the light colored wall. So far every one is impressed - including some folks who had other older HD projectors. Picture just jumps out. If you do not use super bright mode then you barely her this so it is quiet. It is a great product

Great picture.

by dadasha from on 2010-08-27
This is my first projector. The picture from blue ray is amazing. The only problem for me is the noise from PJ is a little louder beyond my expectation. It is definitely over 22dB and audible beside my couch when no voice is on the movie. Checking the previous reviews I have a little worry about the life time of the lamp. I wish it reach 4000 hours.Not sure why the delivery to NY state needs to pay Sales Tax. So I bought it from the Electronic Expo without Sales Tax.So far so good.

Love it

by James B from on 2010-08-26
We have had this projector for a month now and love it.... amazing quality for the price.. sure we would love the quality of a $5000 projector, but for the cost, at an entry level projector, it is fantastic. We could not be more happy.

Great quality/price point combo

by David Rodenbaugh from on 2010-08-24
Just replaced my 10 year old $5500 Sony VPL-VW10HT LCD projector with this Epson for 1/5th the cost. Tested it with Avatar right out of the box. Huge wow factor. Beautiful picture, no burned out or stuck pixels like came with my Sony. Much quieter, even though I use the hi elevation fan setting. Super easy to install given the vertical and horizontal adjustment wheels. I installed on the ceiling, but did not buy the ceiling mount. Instead, I reused my original mount I made from a 6 ft x 1.5" long angle slotted metal support ($16, like you might find supporting your garage door). Basically cut it into 8 pieces to fashion a shoebox sized support platform(think erector set). The projector does not come with mounting screws, so I had to pick up 4 M4x10mm (metric) ones and washers at Lowes for about $1.50. The only disappointment was the condition of the projector box when it arrived from UPS. The top was bashed in an inch. It was not shipped inside another box. Fortunately no damage to the projector. I was cheap and used the SuperSaver Shipping option; if I were to do it over, I would pay a little extra for quicker (and hopefully safer) shipping (SSS took a week). Bought 15 ft. MediaBridge HDMI cable from Amazon for $14. Works great (I'm done paying a premium for Monster Cables).

Description

VIERA Cast's assorted online content just keeps getting better - in addition to the popular contents such as YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, it now offers Pandora Internet Radio, movies streamed from Netflix, exciting sports from FOX Sports, and tweeting web communications with Twitter. No PC required. By using a combination of real speakers and virtual speakers, a more natural and smoother sound can be enjoyed. You'll notice the difference, epecially in an action scene - you'll feel like you're sitting in the center of a true cinema theater. With the new bamboo cone speakers, the sound becomes much more responsive. Vocals are more pure and cleaner, and the dialog is crisper and easier to understand than ever before. The SC-BT230 is compatible with a new feature of ARC (Audio Return Channel). ARC allows receiving audio signals from the TV, on top of the preexisting HDMI function of sending audio/video signals to the TV with just one cable. This new feature will simplify the connection by eliminating an audio cable connection between the TV audio output and the main unit's audio input.

Features

• Smooth high speed consecutive shooting - With data transfer speed of up to 22 MB/s
• Long Archive Life with Refresh Function - The number of errors occurring with flash memory increases for reasons
• Minimized Defect RisksStatic wear leveling technology equalizes rewrite frequency on each writing block
• Power Fail RobustnessWhen power is interrupted
• Temperature Range -13F(-25C) to +185F(+85C)Panasonic SD cards are extremely reliable even under severe temperature

Reviews

Perfect for the price

by A. Bridge from on 2010-09-06
I gave this system 5 stars because of the options that it offered for the price. For the price you could not ask for a better sound system/Blu-ray player.

Great deal, just what I needed

by D. Gould from Worcester, MA on 2010-09-05
I had been waiting patiently for months for a home theater system that had the features I wanted at a reasonable price. This met all of my needs and then some. Very satisfied.

Amazing Picture and Sound

by Anthony Nelson from Florida on 2010-09-01
This by far is the best surround sound system Ive had hands down. The sound and picture is absolutely incredible. Easy set up, unless electronics is not ur thing. Yeah the rear speakers arent wireless but there wireless ready. If u have white walls and clear thumb tacks like me, u wont see the wires. Only flaw about this system is, for you to watch movies/videos off ur iPod/iPhone u to use a composite cable. In my case I have the new model Samsung LED/LCD and there are no compostie connections. So im outta luck. Other then that, Im really glad I bought thisBTW.... When u upgrade the firmware.... It takes about 30 minutes, so dont panic!

Good not great

by Dan D. from Minnesota United States on 2010-08-25
Most of the reviews I read in Amazon were accurate. The remote is a little awkward but not a deal breaker. The sound is good not great. I wish I could tweak the audio to my liking instead of the having to use of the four presets.I paid $243 and I feel I got a great deal. I went with this model because of the FM radio. Setup took about 5 minutes.One downside, it takes a while to maneuver from one app to another (for example go from watching a dvd to Pandora). (Since this is the only home theater system I have ever used, it could be super fast compared to others)

Good sound qualtiy

by Globetrotter from on 2010-08-25
Good sound quality and easy setup. I did take awhile to figure out how to have TV, DVD and streamed movies all work through it though. Only issue I have it that it takes 30 sec or so after you turn it on to cycle through the options in order to find the input used for them. Can't find a way to set up a default for the DIN-1 channel we set them too. Good product. Would recommend.

Description

VIERA Cast's assorted online content just keeps getting better - in addition to the popular contents such as YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, it now offers Pandora Internet Radio, movies streamed from Netflix, exciting sports from FOX Sports, and tweeting web communications with Twitter. No PC required. By using a combination of real speakers and virtual speakers, a more natural and smoother sound can be enjoyed. You'll notice the difference, epecially in an action scene - you'll feel like you're sitting in the center of a true cinema theater. With the new bamboo cone speakers, the sound becomes much more responsive. Vocals are more pure and cleaner, and the dialog is crisper and easier to understand than ever before. The SC-BT330 is compatible with a new feature of ARC (Audio Return Channel). ARC allows receiving audio signals from the TV, on top of the preexisting HDMI function of sending audio/video signals to the TV with just one cable. This new feature will simplify the connection by eliminating an audio cable connection between the TV audio output and the main unit's audio input.

Features

• Features 1250 watts (1kHz, 3 ohms, 10% THD) total distributed among all channels
• Blu-Ray player also plays DVD and CD discs
• Component Video and HDMI connections
• Features VieraLink

Reviews

But how?

by MMT from Here on 2010-08-29
As far as stereo equipment goes,I'm from the old school:2 three way speakers and a meaty receiver a cassette deck and turntable (or CD player).Eventually,in this generation,that's played out.I took a chance on this "creation" because I've been dealing with Technics (Panasonic) equipment since 1990.First off,the box was about as big as the box that Rock Band 2 comes in.A whole stereo? Then upon opening the box I found it was half Styrofoam.The actual "stereo" is as big as a DVD player.The speakers came in three pieces.That was the questionable.Now for the good. It actually sounds good. The integrated Blu-Ray player shows a GREAT picture. The ipod/iphone slot looks and sounds GREAT.All that and it looks good. True,it not a $1,500 Technics setup but it's okay and highly recommended.P.S.:DO NOT LOSE THE REMOTE thinking you can run to the corner drug store or the local big box store and get a universal one.When you see it,you'll know why.

My HT Rave

by Ghost Walker from on 2010-08-28
What a great home theater in a box. I did my homework checking out all the competition and reading the reviews.Then with the help of my IT manager we settled on a mid-range system that delivered great perfomance and Blu Ray at an affordable price. The Panasonic SC-BT330 5.1 met all of my criteria. The system was easy to install and the sound balancing capability was a bonus. It perfomed well in all modes. I especially liked the I-Pod playlist display capability. Bottom line is this is a great buy that as a discriminating consumer I can readily endorse.

Panasonic SC-BT330

by James D. Billie from on 2010-08-16
Purchased this for a large den vacation property. The BluRay video system works surprisingly well. The audio is good for the price. It doesn't compare to Denon, but neither does the price. The wireless USB adapter works well. We use it a lot for Nexflix etc & the streaming working very well. Pandora Radio included in the system was a pleasant surprise. I'd not used Pandora Radio, but find it to be a great source of back ground music. The Panasonic system plays it very well. Sounds like an add for Pandora....but it is impressive, so much so I bought a Samsung BluRay player with Pandora to use for my home Denon system. With Denon receiver & Klipsch speakers Pandora is truly impressive. The reason I give the Panasonic a 4 is the Subwoofer isn't powered and quite wimpy. I replaced it with a Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer from Amazon, and it completed the setup nicely.

do not buy this product

by madinmn from on 2010-07-28
I bought this product in March of 2010. Used it 5 times and it broke. An IC power fried on it. Took it to a service center and have been waiting 2 months now for a part. Complained to panasonic and they told me the part was on backorder. Threatened to return the product and they told me that they could get it to the service center in 7-10 days. It was not, called to complain again and wanted to return the product and customer service was horrible. They said if the unit was repairable, I just had to wait fo the part. I spent a good amount of money for a poor quality product and even worst customer service. Save yourself a headache and buy a different brand.

Awesome

by TBone from USA on 2010-05-16
Got this system a few weeks ago, and I'm glad I did. Setup was a breeze and the sound is nice. I played the Avatar Bluray and I was impressed. Don't let the price (which I got a lot cheaper) fool you, this system performs.

Description

EPSON POWERLITE HOME CINEMA 8500 UB

Features

• HQV processor, super resolution chip, and frame interpolation for superior video quality
• 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine for rich, vibrant color and reliable performance
• D7 panel with C2Fine technology delivers high-definition 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Revolutionary Super Resolution technology enhances DVD, SD and HD content
• UltraBlack technology for deep, dark blacks, crystal clear detail, and a contrast ratio up to 200,000:1

Reviews

First mid/high end projector - wow!

by Michael J. Fink from West Palm Beach, FL United States on 2010-07-30
This projector is really something else; if you haven't seen a mid-range projector in a few years, you're in for quote a shock. I'm using mine in a dedicated/light controlled media room on a 100" 1.1 gain screen. The image is really beyond what I expected, it's pretty incredible. A few things that I'll highlight (good and bad).First off, the projector is white. Most media rooms are dark colors, so this thing sticks out like a sore thumb. A black/dark color would be much better. Also, this thing is BIG. If you haven't seen one in person, be prepared for how large these projectors are. It's not bigger than I expected, but it's a big device (and reasonably heavy), just be ready for it when you place your order. Finally, this thing (and all projectors) makes some serious heat. It's usually mounted on the ceiling, so not that big a deal, but you certainly wouldn't want this thing right behind you; it's pretty hot.In my light controlled room, the image is almost too bright in normal mode; in "Eco" mode it's perfect. I've got about 17' of throw and a 100" screen; and I've never taken it out of eco mode; it's more than bright enough.Overall, I'm very happy with it; I'll have to update this review in a few months (and give a more long term view), but, as it sits right now; it's a great device; truly breathtaking picture.. For the price, certainly a 5 star item.

Very Good but what about 3D

by Cid Goncalves Filho from Brazil on 2010-05-24
This projector is very goodGood contrast, bright and definitionI had a Sanyo Z5 for 3 years, and the contrast of Epson is significantly betterI am afraid about 3D as we know, its necessary a 120Hz refresh rate in the projector Specialists say that LCD projectors can't do that. Epson said in the past that this projector was able to do 120 Hz, but this argument disappeared from sites and advertisements after the 3D market boomI verified that some users are trying to get 3D images from LCD projectors but I am afraid of facing hard difficulties to do thisIf you don't care about 3D and want a very good image this is a very good productI am waiting an Epson and other manufacturer's options to help people with LCD projector to get 3D, even with a worse image quality and 60 Hz refresh rateI read some comments about lamp problems with Epson 8100. I am not sure about quality, but this projector is made in China ... Some of this category are made in Japan.I must be honest - the image is excellent ... I recommend it ....So time will tell me more about quality...

You wont be dissapointed

by Stephen Wells from SLC, UT on 2010-05-20
I did quite a bit of research on this projector and a model from Panasonic. I ended up going with this one and I am thrilled with it. Avatar Blu-ray on my 100" screen is more stunning than it was in the theater--I saw details that I couldn't see in the theater. The colors are amazing! The THX mode and the black-level 2 modes have been perfect for me without any color-correction from me. The Settings menu is intuitive and easy to use. I haven't taken my projector out of eco-mode yet, and I don't see any need to. The picture is bright, crisp, color-accurate. The only less-than-perfect thing I have noticed is a very very minor amount of screen-door effect on white portions of the image only. I have to be looking for it to notice it and it doesn't distract me during a movie at all. Most all LCD projectors have the screen-door effect, so I don't really consider it a problem or a flaw--especially since it is undetectable most of the time.

Incredible

by The Jabberwocky from seattle, wa on 2010-05-04
We received our 8500 projector yesterday and it is fantastic. The best I have ever owned/demo'd. Right out of the box, the colors are beautiful, the blacks are intensly black, and its brightness is excellent and more than enough for both the 137" and 106" screens we tried it out on.I have owned several projectors for quite a few years now (the infocus X1 and most recently the Optoma H79). Each impressed me in its time, but there is really no comparing either of these two to the Epson. I can't see how anyone could be disappointed in this purchase. It feels like it should be thousands of dollars more for the performance.Last night, we watched Avatar, and to us, it was better looking than when we saw it in the theater (probably owing to the 3D presentation dimming the colors and blurring the action somewhat).I'll rate this thing a solid 10. Could not be more happy with it.

Unbelievably happy

by RonL from Pittsburgh, USA on 2010-03-28
I read reviews on projectors for two years before I purchased the 8500. I was all set to buy the previous years model and decided to wait. I sold Audio/Video for 5 years and have been planning my theater room for ever. The projector was a very important piece to me and I was very nervous. You can't seem to find anywhere that carries more than 2 or 3 projectors in a demo enviroment, and even when you do they are all in different rooms on different size screens playing different material. I basically bought this projector sight unseen based on the reviews from many of the websites. I have to say its actually better than the reviews say. I'm projecting on a 110" Dalite white screen. (gain 1.0)in a room with full light control. The projector has tons of light output and the clarity is amazing. You actually really start to notice which shows are fillmed very tightly focused (The Apprentice/Surviror) and shows that are filled a little softer (Burn Notice). I also had the opportunity to try out the custoemr service. I had a small problem and as stated in reviews I called Epson told them the problem, they walked me through a couple of solutions they agreed something was wrong and shipped me a new one 2 day air. Did I mention I spoke to a live person each time I had to call with less than a 2 minue wait. Regaring the trapazoid effect the other review mentioned. I had the same problem I realized on a ceiling mounted sytem you actually need the projector parallel to the ceiling, instead of aiming the projector at the middle of the screen. Use a level and make it level with the floor and ceiling and then use the lens adjustments to move the image around. It removes almost the entire effect. Final Comment. Buy this project you will not be disappointed.

Description

The SC-PT480 DVD Home Theater Sound System offers 1080p upconversion, front surround mode, and HDMI audio return to enhance your home theater experience. 1080p UpconversionAutomatically upgrades your video signal to the best picture quality Front Surround ModeEnjoy real surround sound without worrying about rear speaker placement HDMI Audio ReturnQuickly and easily connect surround sound to your compatible TV with only one HDMI cable

Features

• Output Power - Home Theater Mode (RMS) - Total Power - 1000 Watts Front - 125W x 2 (1kHz, 3ohms, 10% THD); Center - 250W (1kHz, 6ohms, 10% THD)
• Surround - 125W x 2 (1kHz, 3ohms, 10% THD); Subwoofer - 250W (100Hz, 6ohms, 10% THD)
• Selectable Speaker Layout - 5.1ch Surround or 5.1ch All Front Layout
• EQ (Flat/Heavy/Clear/Soft) Yes (4 preset)
• Subwoofer Level

Reviews

For the price, this is a great system

by mark twain from atlanta on 2010-09-02
I have a Panasonic Plasma in our Apt and I love it! So i wanted to get a Panasonic HTS to match it. Not to mention i wanted to try out the Viera Link option which ended up being just an 'OK' feature. Basically i can control my TV(not cable) and my HTS w/ just the Home theater sys controller. But it still lacks the important controls for the TV (i.e. pic format and pic mode) so its really not all its cracked up to be. I was trying to decide on this unit and the Panasonic SC-BT230 5.1 Channel System. The BT230 has a blu ray player. When i compared the 2 systems the only difference was the blu ray player along with some web features(youtube, pandora, netflix). Also the BT230 has decoding for newer audio codecs(DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD).The web features i could care less about bc i have a computer hooked up to my TV. The blu ray wasn't worth the extra 130 dollars to me considering i could buy a blu ray player for around 100 bucks. Plus i want to wait for the price of blu ray disc to go down before i invest in a player. They will only get cheaper as time goes on. Anyway, when comapring the 2 HTS's, the SC-PT480 has the almost the same surround sound sys as the BT230. Both are 1000 watts -RMS- (both really only put out 446 watts -FTC-) and both have the SAME Speakers. So if you're looking for an inexpensive 5.1 system and aren't ready to dive into blu ray yet, then go for it. The bass is pretty powerful, IMO. I kept it on the lowest setting when I tried it out on an episode of True Blood and then a few scenes from The Dark Knight. Like the other reviewer said, it does pack a pretty good punch for its size. Now I can't wait to get Halo Reach this month and try it out on the 360.Pro's: Inexpensive Small speakers Small DVD unit sleek design Strong sound for small-medium sized rooms DVD up-conversion HDMI port 5.1 Surround sound Front speaker surround sound mode (surround sound from all speakers set up like in the pic above) Ipod/Iphone ready Easy set upCon's: Not 7.1 Not many ports on back No fine tuning No DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD

Good System for a Bedroom

by Pat Dickman from on 2010-09-02
This 5.1 DVD system has a specific niche - This system takes up very little space and packs a good quality sound for the price. I listen to music, view DVD's, and sports and movies sourced by an HD cable STB. The surround speakers do their job just fine. My test DVD that I used was Diana Krall's "Live in Paris". It is a standard 480p disc and my DVD player in the LR is also standard. The LR speakers are KLM with two 12" woofers in each and bright dome tweeters. The subwoofer is a passive 15" and has a huge magnet. The music is clean and has a good "sound stage". Jeff Hamilton's impactful drums and the acoustic bass played by John Clayton are replicated as if they are in the room. (So it seemed was Diana.) In the bedroom where I placed the Panasonic (easy install)I had to turn down the db's for the center channel and was able to drop the subwoofer (four settings available) output so it was cleaner and not so "boomy". The subwoofer has a very small footprint (5.5Wx10Dx11H). The system pleased me in its playback, and the up-conversion on my 37' Visio at 720P was a delightful surprise! I was given deeper and more vibrant colours and better detail in the fabrics, hair and so forth - much more realistic. The optical audio cable was run from the STB and gives me great 5.1 sound while viewing HD sporting events and HD movies. As I wrote in my above preamble this system is for an intimately sized room - our BR is 14x18 and was filled with sound beautifully.

the dvd unit never work

by kca from on 2010-07-04
i dont understand why if the panasonic brand is an international brand and i have a problem with the warranty. i live in costa rica, and result than the warranty only is valid to canada, usa and puerto rico. i cant send all the stuff to amazon again, because is to expensive, i paid 80 dolars to reciept my home theather to costa rica, rigt now i have my dvd unit fixing and i have to pay for all the parts. the dvd unit only work 2 minutes. you know how much i had to pay for fixed 103.00 dollars in costa rica because the audio out was burn, and rigt now i have to wait 30 days to bring the part from panama, this is my worst buisinnes

A good little surround sound.

by Siryak from on 2010-06-03
Ok first of all coming into this don't expect this system to blow you away. This is a pretty small little surround sound system and packs a pretty good punch for its' size. On the other hand it is not going to sound as good as the higher end surround sounds(obviously). I bought this for a system to use in my bedroom and it works great for that. Now don't get me wrong it does pack a pretty good punch, just nowhere near as good as the bigger systems. If you are looking for a good cheap surround sound this one will do just fine though. If you have never had a better system then you will probably think it is amazing.My recommendation though is if you can afford it I would go for a higher end model. I went into this one not expecting much, so I wasn't disappointed, but if you are expecting it to blow you away you will be.The bottom line is this system is just average at a very low price.

Watch out what you wish for!

by Charles T. Peele from Port Orange, Fl on 2010-05-27
Since I had a five year old Panasonic precurser to this thing, and have had faith in Amazon from earlier purchases, I ordered the SCPT 480. Since I had never heard of the sources, listed by Amazon, I recalled they listed J&R Music. J&R is a trustworthy supplier so I went to them, ordered the system and in record time received it. Unfortuneately it proved to be defective and needed to be returned. Could not ask for better treatment than I received from J&R's cust service. Second system arrived, again, in record time. I returned it, DEFECTIVE as the first was, this morning. I do not blame Amazon nor do I blame J&R---I blame Panasonic who has fallen to the same level as other out sourced product manfacturers and expects we customers to be their quality control. They have become like the Itallian Chef who knows when his pasta is ready by throwing it at the wall untill it sticks..............CTP

Description

Projector-Gear Projector Ceiling Mount for EPSON PowerLite Home Cinema 8100: Precision CNC Machined Aircraft Aluminum Design - 100% 6061-T6 Aluminum. Adjustable to +/-40°, That is more then you will ever need - Guaranteed. Lower profile -- Sets the projector only 4" from the ceiling, that is 25% better than the imitation mounts. No tools required -- Can Be Adjusted By Hand. This mount is covered by our exclusive mount upgrade program. you will never have to pay full price for a projector mount again. ask us how.

Features

• Precision CNC Machined Aircraft Aluminum Design - 100% 6061-T6 Aluminum
• Adjustable to +/-40°, That is more then you will ever need - Guaranteed
• Lower profile -- Sets the projector only 4" from the ceiling, that is 25% better than the imitation mounts
• No tools required -- Can Be Adjusted By Hand
• This mount is covered by our exclusive mount upgrade program. you will never have to pay full price for a projector mount again. ask us how.

Reviews

Works ok, but not great quality

by J. Bentley from St. Louis, MO USA on 2010-08-08
I was a little disappointed with this projector mount. On the plus side it was inexpensive and it does do the job. On the negative side, it just bare aluminum with no finish. In the picture it kind of looks like it might be a silver finish - it isn't. It kind of looks like a shop class project. All hardware is included and seems to work fine for attaching to the projector and the ceiling. Because it only has a single attachment point to the ceiling plate, it isn't the most steady thing. It does tend to wobble a bit if people are tromping around the room. I've decided I'm going to take mine back down and paint it white like my old one was.

PROJECTOR GEAR Mount for EPSON 8100 Projector

by Dr. Narasimhan Ramarathnam from on 2010-07-30
I would strongly recommend this ceiling mount for anyone planning to buy the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 Home Theatre Projector (V11H336120). They are certainly made for each other. The mount comes with all the essential supplies, and the instructions are very easy to follow. If you have the location on the ceiling well prepared to hold the 16lb EPSON 8100 projector, you should be able to have the mount and the projector installed within 30 min. The pre-drilled holes on the mount plate match well with the 4 out of 5 holes on the bottom of the projector. With my EPSON 8100 projector in place (thanks to the PROJECTOR GEAR Mount) I am now able to enjoy good picture quality movies in my home theater.

Just what you need for your Epson 8100

by Chris Henshaw from Atlanta, GA on 2010-04-27
I just purchased an Epson 8100 and needed a simple ceiling mount. This fits the bill. The price was right and shipping was fast. Installing the mount is super simple. I have concrete ceilings so i had to go out and buy my own concrete screws but this was expected. The mount is easy to adjust and is well built. FYI, the piece of metal that connects the upper and lower mounting plates is a piece of common 1" square aluminum tubing (light and strong) with some holes drilled in it. Any major home repair store should carry longer pieces of this same aluminum tubing should you need to create a custom length extension rod. Super cheap and very easy to cut with a $5 metal hack-saw. I would give this product 6-stars if i could because it is hard to find a mount this inexpensive that fits the 8100 (a large projector with 4 mounting holes) perfectly.

AWESOME !!!!!!!!

by C. McCoy from Bardstown, KY on 2010-01-27
I was very hestiant to purchase a projector off the internet with no hands on or eyes on review. However, after researching for weeks, I deceided to give this one a try and I love it. We put it up with a 120 inch screen. Its better than the movies. We watch all HD TV on it and get seasick watching NatGeo and motion sickness watching sports. I could not be happier. Out of the box, no adjustments, plug it in and sit back to watch. My parents have a very expensive high end projector and this one blows it away.

Description

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))

Features

• High-definition, native 1080p home theater experience (1920 x 1080 resolution)
• Brilliant images with 1800 lumens color/white light output* (*Footnote: Light output varies depending on modes (color and white light output))
• Bright, crystal clear detail with new D7 3-chip technology and 18,000:1 contrast ratio
• Astonishing placement flexibility with vertical and horizontal lens shift without image distortion
• Cutting edge connectivity with two HDMI 1.3a ports for maximum flexibility

Reviews

Love it.

by Tushar Tyagi from USA on 2010-05-27
This box rocks. Having a great time watching movies on the big screen at home. No need to talk in inches anymore, talk in feet now. I don't have anything to play 1080p yet but even 720p is simply awesome. The adjustable lens assembly is another great feature to be able to keep it in a corner of the room. Its a bit bulky though.

Watch for HDMI compatibility issues!!

by Thomas Runge from on 2010-02-26
Well, I upgraded from a Panasonix AX200U, a 720p projector. The setup was no problem, even though the wheels to shift the picture can not be easily adjusted - the vertical one needed to be set just a little bit to the right in my set up and automatically jumped back to the middle position. Pretty poor design, but I finally got it as needed.The picture is great, but I honestly can not see a huge difference to the 720p Panasonix projector. It is bright enough to get a decent picture during the day, the blacks though looked a bit washed out, actually worse than on the 720 projector.The reason for the bad rating though is that the picture through the HDMI signal could not be displayed. I have a 1.5 years old Pioneer VSX-1017 TXV 7.1 receiver which (supposedly) support HDMI 1.3. All I got on the projector though was that the signal was not allowed to be displayed on the projector. What a crap!! I called the Epson hotline (even though India based, it was pretty good) and the response was "We know that there are compatibility issues with some projectors. Bad luck." Nothing in regards to if/when/how this would be fixed, no excuse for selling such a piece of junk. As a workaround I hooked it up to a switch vs. using the receiver, but that is not going to be the long term solution. This thing goes back.I still do recommend buying this projector - nut check if it will work with your receiver.Edit: I realized ít is not really Epson's fault, but Pioneer sells "1080p" receivers that do not allow 1080p passthrough and because of that and the idiotic copy protection mechanisms, will not work with this projector. I bought a HDMI switch and now everythings seems fine. Picture quality is good.

Great projector

by W. D. Brodie from New York, NY on 2010-02-09
With no adjustments, this projector throws beautiful 8' wide images onto my blank white wall. I set it up on an elevated shelf and have had no problems with it. Adjusting image size, position, and focus were easy and I haven't touched it since. Colors are vivid and sharp, especially with Blu-ray disks. Other than a little more contrast and some loss of tonal subtlety, it's like being in a movie theater. This is also one of the most flexible projectors in zoom range and ability to move the picture horizontally or vertically away from center -- check the specs, especially if you need the positioning flexibility; some projectors constrain you to a much smaller range.

Great projector at a good price.

by John J. Celardo from on 2009-10-01
I have about a month of experience with the Epson 6100, and I'm thrilled. It replaces an Infocus 4805 that is about five years old. The 4805 has 2800 hours on the lamp, and the light tunnel is faulty causing a yellow smear down the left side of the screen. I had a few bucks set aside for a new projector, and between the great reviews I read, the long lamp life, and the $100 and spare lamp rebate, I pulled the trigger.I opted for free shipping, and thank you Amazon, I got delivery in three days. The first impression was how huge this thing is. It's twice the size of the 4805. In fact, it's about as big as my Pioneer Elite receiver. It didn't fit in the tight little space next to the couch the old projector occupied. I knew I'd need a ceiling mount, but for the time being I jury rigged a platform. My only high resolution source is a Fios HD box. The HD image looked good through the 480P Infocus, but I was blown away by the bright, sharp, colorful image the 6100 produced right out of the box. I'm using analog component cables for now. Sports like baseball, football and the U.S. Open tennis are spectacular. Movies on standard definition DVDs are exceptional. I have a Marantz DV 6400 multi-player which is a very nice machine. I can't wait to see what Blu-ray looks like through the 6100.I got the Vantage Point ceiling mount which makes a big difference. The mount has a six inch extension that works well on my sloped Cape Cod ceiling. It's a solidly built mount the supports this big guy very well. The 6100 has great placement flexibility with it's up and down, and right to left lens shift. The image fills my 72" wide screen from about ten feet, and can go much bigger. I changed the settings to those recommended by one of the reviews I read, which cut down the brightness a bit, and warmed the colors. This is a very impressive machine for a reasonable price. With the spare lamp, I hope to have it well into my golden years. If I could give it ten stars I would.

Great projector for the price

by B. Nelson from Lansing, MI USA on 2009-09-15
This projector works great right out of the box. Once it was mounted and connected, I just set the focus and size and it's been fine - no problems.

Description

This projector mount can set your projector 4" or 23" to 30" below the ceiling. It includes a 23" to 30" telescoping extension. WHILE I SHOULD BE FLATTERED THAT ANOTHER SELLER IS USING PICTURES OR OUR MOUNTS TO SELL THEIRS, IT IS REALLY NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER OR US. If it looks like our projector mounts but doesn't say "Projector-Gear" in the title, it is not a REAL Projector-Gear mount. We are proudly the highest rated and most sucessful projector mount seller on ebay: Kramerica_incorporated, and have a 100% rating with over 20,000 feedback! We have been at the top for years and had lots of people trying to copy our designs, but this is the first time we had another seller actually use our mounts in their pictures. I can't blame them though. Our mounts look MUCH NICER! Plus our mounts are designed better and set your projector only 4" from the ceiling. That is 25% closer to the ceiling than the imitation mounts. Our Projector-Gear mounts are constructed using precision, custom designed, aluminum parts. If it does not say "Projector-Gear" in the title of the ad, it is NOT a real Projector-Gear projector mount. Our mounts are proudly designed and manufactured in the USA by Projector-Gear, LLC -- Beware Of Cheap Imitations. WE OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE MOUNT UPGRADE PROGRAM. When you buy a new projector, you will never need to pay full price for a projector mount again. When you get a new projector, upgrade your mount for only $14.99 + shipping and handling. Just purchase a new base plate online and it will ship within 24 hours via 2-3 day priority mail. Unlike so-called "FREE" exchange programs, you won't have to UNINSTALL your old mount, PAY to ship it back, WAIT and then PAY to have the replacement shipped. Ask us for more details. 90 Day Money Back Guarantee.

Features

• TELESCOPING EXTENSION INCLUDED - Sets Projector 23" to 30" below the ceiling in 1" increments
• Adjustable to +/-40°, That is more then you will ever need - Guaranteed
• Precision CNC Machined Aircraft Aluminum Design - 100% 6061-T6 Aluminum
• NO TOOLS REQUIRED -- Can Be Adjusted By Hand
• Backed by a LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY and 100% Money Back Guarantee

Description

Home theater system with Blu-ray Player

Features

• 1000W total output power
• Advanced Class D power Amp
• Dolby Digital ,DTS,5.1, HDMI Output 1.3 Deep Color Processing
• Pro Logic II Surround Sound
• Full HD 1080P output