[dun_buyin]

All the talk about the price of the TW2000 over here got me looking at the US epson site and projectorreviews.com and I was wondering If there are likely to be new Epson models out here at some stage or not. For example, projector reviews has just added the HC720. Is this a new model we have yet to see here or the same as the year old TW700? Same with the HC400 - is this the TW680?

From what I can tell in the UK, Epson offer the TW2000 and TW1000 as 1080p projectors and the TW700 and TW680 as 720p ones.

In the US they get a Pro and a Home version of the equivalent 1080p models i.e. the Powerlite Pro Cinema 1080UB (=TW2000)/ Powerlite HC1080UB and Powerlite Pro Cinema 1080 (=TW1000)/Powerlite HC1080.

Given the feelings in another thread about the price of the TW2000, does anyone (i.e. retailers) know if there have been any suggestions of offering a cheaper 1080p unit to the UK market? Anyone else able to shed light on which us 720p models are the same as the UK ones?

Did have my mind set on a Panasonic PT-AE2000 but still not 100% convinced yet (just too ugly a box for the wife to ignore!)

[RamonD]

Epson only do the TW2000 in the UK alongside the older model TW1000. The TW2000 is the same as the pro version of 1080pUB. A home version is not available.

The difference between the two i.e pro and home in the us is an additional 1 year warranty, extra lamp, ceiling mount and better isf calibration facilities. These are are their on the TW2000 which in the uk comes with a 3 year warranty on the PJ and bulb.

Not sure with regards to the 720p versions as I was only interested in 1080. I have had the Epson for about 8 weeks and love it to bits, but its my first PJ. I did view the Panny and shared the same sentiments about the looks, could have got away with the looks as I dont have to account WAF being a single bloke and the looks are negligable in ideal viewing conditions of a totally blacked out room, what sealed it for me was the better image of the Epson compared to the panny and the home warranty were they will replace the unit with another if any repairs are required.

However, on current prices is the panny better value? I would have to say yes, unless you can source it cheaper like I did. I got my unit at the what hi fi show special promotion that Epson had at £1975 which put in direcet competition with the panny, but at the time I took a punt in the absence of any formal reviews of which there are a few around now. The black levels are amazing on this machine, definatly one for audition.

[dun_buyin]

RamonD, that was a good show price you got the TW2000 for and I'm sure you're feeling a little smug now that the good reviews are coming in!

Given the comments from QuantumUK in another thread about how this is selling well in the custom market I guess Epson aren't feeling the pressure to reduce the price at the moment, but would a Home version like the US HC1080UB be of interest to the UK market? I can't understand how the Epson range goes from the TW700 at rrp of £999 straight to the TW2000 at rrp £2999. Surely there would be plenty of people interested in a cheaper version of the TW2000 without the isf calibration features at a similar price to the PT-AE2000.