Projectors Considered: Large Venue Projectors 2

This projector is often just referred to as Sony’s laser projector, as it received a whole lot of buzz when first introduced.   The VPL-FHZ55 is the first “solid state light source” projector to really deliver both a very bright picture and one with excellent color, perhaps thanks to combining the laser with 3LCD technology.  Not inexpensive, remember that the long life engine is designed to outlive the usefulness of the projector, so, nothing to replace.  The lightsource should last at least a decade (20,000 hours is 20 hours a week for twenty years), in the heaviest use university classrooms, all for a typical street price just under $4500, and no doubt lower costs for schools!

The price may seem high, but not at the least, out of line for what the Sony delivers, including 4000 lumens enough for the largest classrooms at your favorite University of … (fill in the blank).   That’s color lumens as well as white, so you get far more vibrant colors than a 4000 lumen DLP would deliver. The Sony didn’t quite hit 4000 lumens when measured but still must be considered a very bright projector.

The PowerLite 1965 will fool you.  It looks a lot like other Epson small install/ portable projectors, but is a little heavier at 8.5 pounds, but the performance is a whole different thing.   Although lacking interchangeable lenses, this projector is ready to handle large venues – the largest university classrooms and small auditoriums with a claimed 5000 color and 5000 white lumens!  (Note that the widescreen equivalent, the PowerLite 1945W which is WXGA is not quite as bright, at a mere 4200 lumens.)

Other than the lack of additional lenses, the PowerLite 1965 is loaded for bear.  It has wired, and wireless networking, supports BYOD with apps for android and iOS, so bring that iPad, etc.  Split screen capabilities using Epson’s Moderator software is ideal for presenting up to four students work though the projector, we’re talking network presenting.

NEC introduced this true 1080p projector with an MSRP of $2999, but an official street price of $1999.   A web search shows that to be about the high price with some dealers several hundred below that $2000 mark.

Although $1500 - $2000 is a pretty big spend for a classroom projector, consider that the PE401H is hi-def at full 1080p, not WXGA, so it’s more suitable for scientific, architecture, engineering math, art history and other classes demanding a more detailed picture.  Placement flexibility is impressive with a 1.7:1 zoom ratio.  That’s interesting because some of NEC’s documentation indicates only 1.1:1.

The PE401H is a serious fixed install projector, although at just over 10 lbs, it could make a good, if larger/heavy portable for occasions requiring a really bright portable.