Extra Extra: Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide is on sale

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It may be a tad early to start your holiday shopping, but there’s a good chance you’ve at least been thinking about it. Maybe you’ve had a big-ticket gift—like a new TV or home theater—in mind for a while now, but are putting off the purchase till November or December. If it’s sales you’re waiting for, you probably know what you want and how much you’re willing to pay. On the other hand, you might just a teeny bit leery of throwing so much cash at something you know very little about. Which is better: a plasma or LCD TV? Should you upgrade to a Blu-ray player or stick with standard-def DVDs?

If you find yourself in need of expert advice, consider the newest edition of the Consumer Reports Electronics Buying Guide. Inside you’ll find a wealth of information on everything from televisions and computers to smart phones, GPS units, and much more. For each product, the Consumer Reports editors walk you through the basics, explaining what’s available, which features matter, brand profiles, and offering tried-and-true shopping tips.

In addition to product information, the guide offers advice on how to shop smarter, including:

• Netting the best deals online, and protecting yourself when you shop on the Web


• When to repair and when to replace a broken item


• How to haggle effectively


• Finding the best electronics retailer based on our comprehensive annual survey


• How to save—and what to be wary of—with refurbished or open-box products on store shelves


• Where to get free office software, free computer security programs, and more useful freeware

CEDIA 2009: New 1080p front projectors aim high and low

Sony Bravia VPL-VW85 (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Sony]

Been waiting to pull the trigger on a new front projector, but were wondering if prices are going to drop further? The answer is yes, as companies such as Epson, JVC, Mitsubishi, Samsung, and Sony—whose projectors have typically done well in our Ratings (available to subscribers)—announced new, lower-priced models that will arrive over the next two months at the recent CEDIA electronics trade show. While there were no low-price bombshells—that happened a several weeks ago when both Vivitek and Optoma debuted the first sub-$1,000 1080p models—we did see some new, lower-priced entry-level products from these companies, plus step-up models at lower prices than we've seen so far. Here are some of the front-projector highlights from the show:

Sony aimed high and low with its newest 1080p SXRD (LCOS-based) front-projection models. At the upper end is the Bravia VPL-VW85, an $8,000 model that will be available later this month. Among its features is Sony’s Motionflow 120Hz anti-blur processing, and a mode for using an anamorphic (2.35:1) lens. Targeting a more budget-conscious customer is an entry-level SXRD model, the $3,000 Bravia VPL-HW15. Both models arrive later this month.

Mitsubishi unveiled two new lower-cost models. Priced at $1,500, the HC3800 is an entry-level 1080p DLP projector (most recent Mitsubishi projectors we've reviewed have been 3LCD models). It will be available during the third quarter. A step up is the $2,300 HC6800, a 3LCD model that features a motorized lens shift (both vertical and horizontal). The projector has a snazzier design and matte-black finish. Both have a pair of anamorphic lens modes.

Epson Pro Cinema 9500 UB (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of Epson]

Epson headed to the show with four new 1080p 3LCD home-theater projectors, all in its PowerLite line. Two are PowerLite Home Cinema (HC) models, and the other pair are PowerLite Pro Cinema (PC) units. The HC8100 ($1,600) is an entry-level piece, while the HC 8500 UB ($3,000) is a step-up model with claimed better contrast thanks to a dual-iris system and Silicon Optix's Reon-VX video processing/upscaling. In the Pro Cinema series, the PC 9100 is a $2,600 1080p LCD model that features ISF calibration and a 2.1x optical zoom with manual focus. It will be available next month. The step-up model is the Pro Cinema 9500 UB ($4,000, November), which adds THX certification, the dual-iris system, an anamorphic lens mode, and Reon-VX video processing. Epson throws in a ceiling mount and cable cover with the unit.

Samsung has a new, lower-priced DLP projector, the A600, which will retail for $1,800. The projector is relatively lightweight (13 pounds) and features a gloss-black finish. It has a short-throw lens, so it can be placed on the floor or ceiling-mounted closer to the screen.

InFocus showed off its first projector since new management took over in April. The ScreenPlay SP8602 ($5,000) is a 1080p DLP model available at the end of the month. The unit uses a DLP's DarkChip technology, Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processor, and 120Hz technology. Unlike many less expensive DLP projectors, this model has a lens shift (both vertical and horizontal) for easier placement, and optional colored "skins" are available to match room decors. It also has a 5-year warranty.

JVC DLA-HD550(Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Courtesy of JVC]

After wowing the crowds with its $175,000 "4K" home-theater projector—a "Quad HD" model with 4096x2400 resolution, four times that of a 1080p model—JVC then served up six new D-ILA (LCOS-based) front projectors in the $5,000 to $10,000 price range. Three models— the DLA-HD550 ($5,000), HD950 ($8,000) and HD990 ($10,000) are Procision consumer models, while the DLA-RS15 ($5,500) RS25 ($8,000) and RS35 ($10,000) are Reference-series projectors sold by its pro division. Common features include claimed higher native contrast ratios (without the use of an auto iris), 120Hz Clear Motion Drive, motorized horizontal and vertical lens shift, four screen-type (anamorphic) modes, and HQV Reon-VX video processors/upscalers from Silicon Optix. The four pricier models also get THX, and the top two get ISF certification and a longer 3-year warranty.

We'll also be filing a Blu-ray wrap-up from the CEDIA show, so stay tuned. —James K. Willcox

Optoma HD20: A 1080p front projector for $999

Optoma’s new HD20 joins the $999 1080p front-projector club. (Click to enlarge.)
[PHOTO: Optoma]

With its new $999 HD20 front projector, Optoma is the latest manufacturer to offer a 1080p front projector for less than $1,000, the new entry-level price for a "Full HD" projector. Like Vivetek’s new H1080FD model, the HD20 is a DLP model, and based on its specs, is likely using the same DarkChip2 DLP chipset used by that company.

The HD20 will be available at a mix of online and storefront retailers, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, CDW, Fry's Electronics, J&R, Micro Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart, PC Richard, ProjectorPeople.com, and Staples.com, among others.

The HD20 is a small, lightweight projector—at 6.4 pounds, a few ounces heavier than Vivitek's H1080FD model—that has two HDMI inputs, component and composite inputs, plus a VGA port for connecting a computer. The HD20 comes with a backlit remote control and a one-year parts and labor warranty; the lamp is covered for 90 days. —James K. Willcox

Vivitek to sell sub-$1,000 1080p front projector

The H1080FD from Vivitek is a high-definition 1080p front projector that will be available in August 2009 through several retail outlets for under $1,000. (Click to enlarge.)
[ Image courtesy of Vivtek ]

If you’ve been thinking about a “Full HD” front-projection system but have held out for lower prices, you’re about to get your wish: Next month, Vivitek will help push the opening price point for a 1080p front projector to under $1,000 when it debuts the H1080FD, a DLP-based model that will carry an everyday price tag of $999.

The H1080FD will be available through several brick-and-mortar retailers, including a major warehouse club and some specialty A/V dealers, as well as via online shops including Amazon and Tiger Direct (which now owns the Circuit City.com website). The company will also have a higher-priced ($1,499) model--with some extra features, such as ISF calibration and a lens shift, plus a longer warranty--that will be sold through custom-installation dealers.

Vivitek is looking to use the H1080FD to help build its brand in the U.S. The company first came on our radar at this past CES, when it showed a $999 720p (1024x768) model, as well as a high-priced ($15,000) model that uses LEDs instead of a traditional lamp.

The new projector is a small, lightweight (under 6 pounds) model that uses a Texas Instruments' Dark Chip 2 DLP technology. Unlike some DLP models we’ve reviewed that have the bulb-access panel on the bottom of the projector--which requires you to take the projector down to change the bulb if it’s mounted on a ceiling-- the bulb door on this model is on the top of the unit. The H1080FD has fairly standard features, including two HDMI inputs, plus one component-video input and a composite-video input, and an RS-232c control jack and a 12-volt trigger. The projector carries a 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor,and a 90-day lamp warranty.

While there have been some other 1080p front projectors that have flirted with the $1,000 price point, they’ve typically gotten there with rebates. But by this fall, we expect that Vivitek’s H1080FD—-plus a few models from some of its competitors—-will help establish $999 as the new opening price for 1080p front projectors.—James K. Willcox

New Ratings: Front projectors offer a front-row seat at the big show

An Epson front projector (Click to enlarge.)

Nothing can bring home the excitement of watching a movie in a big-screen theater like a front projector paired with a very large screen—100 inches or more—and a surround-sound entertainment system. Until recently, though, you had to earn like a movie star to afford that kind of set-up.

Not anymore. For the past three years, prices for front projectors have fallen steadily, making a front-projection system an option for more of us. In our just-completed Ratings of new projectors (available to subscribers), you’ll see that some of the best 1080p models now cost about the same as a highly rated, big-screen LCD or plasma TV. For example, the two top-rated front projectors in our Ratings—an Epson and a Mitsubishi—each cost just $3,000. Other models, rated Very Good in overall picture quality, start at $1,800.

In general, we’ve seen the quality of front projectors rise even as costs have dropped. In our latest test, almost all the projectors we tested were able to project reasonably bright, detailed high-definition images, creating an engaging, theater-like experience. But the ability of the projectors to produce deep black levels, high contrast, and accurate colors varied, as did price. (For our tests, we used a 110-inch Da-Lite screen with a matte finish.) Models from most of the major brands, including Epson, InFocus, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Sanyo, and Sony, were included. Most of the projectors in our latest Ratings are LCD models. The two exceptions were an InFocus projector that uses a single-chip DLP design, and a Sony SXRD model that’s based on LCoS technology.

Super Bowl HDTVs: Get the right TV for the "Big Game"

The next best thing to being at this year's Super Bowl in Tampa is watching it on a big-screen HDTV—especially since the game will be shot and broadcast in high definition. For the most impact, look for a TV with at least a 50-inch screen; go larger if you’ll be cheering on the team with a crowd gathered ‘round your set.

Our latest HDTV Ratings (available to subscribers) include 58- and 60-inch plasma TVs, and 52- and 55-inch LCD TVs. Want to go even bigger? A 60- to 73-inch rear-projection DLP TV from Mitsubishi or Samsung, the only brands remaining, offer the most bang for the buck. (Rear-projection DLP sets have been about three times more repair-prone than LCD and plasmas, though). For the greatest impact, consider a front projector and a screen 100 inches or more, mated to a multichannel surround-sound system. While front projectors aren't ideal for everyday TV use, they're perfect for an event like this, as long as you can handle the setup and installation of a separate screen, projector, and speakers.

Tech talk: Contrast ratio

Q: I've seen HDTV ads where "contrast ratio" is highlighted. What is that?

A: "Contrast ratio" represents the difference between the brightest whites and darkest blacks that a television can display. But claimed contrast ratios can be misleading.

One ad might list a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 for one set, for example, while another ad for another set boasts about a ratio of 1,000,000:1. That's 200 times better, right? No!

There are many ways to measure contrast ratio, and the results aren't comparable. Also, they might be based on settings that wouldn't work in actual use, with picture brightness set too high and black level too low.

What you need to know: The best way to find a TV with great contrast is to check our HDTV Ratings (available to subscribers) and choose one that has an excellent score for picture quality. Contrast ratio is one of a few critical areas in which a TV must do well to earn that high score. You can rest assured that the scores for different TVs are comparable, because our engineers calibrate each set before testing and conduct the same exacting tests on every set.

To get a better understanding of what to look for when choosing an HDTV, watch our free online video: Buying a big-screen TV. You can also check our free HDTV buying guide on ConsumerReports.org.

Epson, Panasonic add new 1080p front projectors

Epson has joined Sanyo in offering a 1080p front projector for less than $2,000, clearly the new entry-level price point for these models. 

Epson's PowerLite Home Cinema 6100, a 3LCD model with a price tag of $1,999, has a manual lens shift, six color modes, and a 2.1x optical zoom. Sanyo's new projector is the PLV-Z700, mentioned in an earlier blog.

Epson also introduced two other 1080p LCD-based projectors the step-up PowerLite Pro Cinema 7100, a sub-$3,000 projector with ISF certification, and the PowerLite Pro Cinema 7500 UB, a $4,500 LCD model with improved contrast and additional features, plus a spare bulb and ceiling mount. The 6100 has a 2-year parts and labor warranty; the 7100 and 7500 UB come with 3-year warranties.

Meanwhile Panasonic announced the LCD-based PT-AE3000, a 1080p model with a unique feature—called Lens Memory—that lets you lets you project a 2.35:1 aspect ratio (increasingly common in movies) without the use of an anamorphic lens. It will be available in October at a price of $3,500. This projector also has 120Hz "frame creation" technology, which analyzes adjacent frames to interpolate new ones, essentially doubling the frame rate to help reduce motion blur. For 24p signals, the frame rate is quadrupled to to 96 frames per second.

—James K. Willcox

Report from CEDIA: Next-gen TVs come into focus

What's the next big thing in the fast-changing HDTV market? I'm in Denver this week at a trade show called CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installers Association) to find out. Much of the focus is on pricey gear that needs to be custom-installed by a dealer, but manufacturers usually give us a glimpse of key trends and new products likely to make their way into the mainstream next year.

Here are a few things I expect to see:

LCD's 120Hz technology jumps to 240Hz

In the LCD TV arena, 120Hz technology—which essentially doubles the TV's frame rate to help reduce motion blur—has become a popular new feature. I expect to see several leading manufacturers, including Sony and Samsung, showcase new TVs with 240Hz technology, presumably with the belief that if doubling the frame rate is great, quadrupling it will be spectacular.

Sony has said it will offer two 240Hz models—the 46-inch KDL-46W1 and 40-inch KDL-40W1 in Japan by the end of the year. Based on my conversion of the price in yens, those sets will sell for about $3,700 and $2,700, respectively, but there's no word yet on arrival here in the U.S. At a recent European trade show called IFA, Samsung showed a prototype set that won't arrive for a few more years.

HDTV: Adjust the picture for best quality

When you turn on your new high-definition TV, it probably won't look as stunning as it did in the showroom. The default, out-of-the-box settings on most HDTVs are designed to create a super-bright, vividly colored image, but they're almost always a bad choice for use at home. Here in our labs, our engineers fine-tune each set before evaluating the picture. It's likely the TVs in our Ratings would have much lower scores if we didn't.

You don't need an engineering degree to get the most from your HDTV. The easiest way to adjust picture quality is to use one of the preset picture modes. (Press menu on the remote and find picture or video controls.) Most TVs are set to Vivid or Dynamic (names vary by brand), but we've found that modes like Natural, Cinema, or Pro generally provide the most pleasing, natural-looking picture. Play around with the choices and see which looks best. Finding the right mode might be all you need to do.

You can also adjust picture settings individually rather than using a preset mode. One simple method is to set the brightness, contrast, color, and tint controls to a middle or neutral position, then move them up and down until the image pleases you. Also, turn off sharpness, noise reduction, and image-enhancement. This approach generally results in a decent picture.

If you're more adventurous, try these seven steps to better picture quality. You'll find more detail in our article on tuning your TV.