Optoma H78 with DC3 coming to Europe in 3 weeks.

Seems like the Guys over at AVSFORUM reckon the H78 with DC3 will be shipping to Europe in 3 weeks.

They cite this german link as initial evidence.

http://www.grobi.tv/opencms/produkte/produkt.html?id=691

And allegedly grobi.tv has received written confirmation from Optoma that these units will be shipped in 3 weeks.

Could all be pure speculation but I really hope there is some truth in this.

If they can bring this unit to Europe with a competitive price, Optoma could be on to a winner.

 

That German site is selling it for about £2850. It would be the first sub-£3k DC3, but will they just replace the current H78 HD2+DC2 and charge £3,500 in the UK? Or will they continue selling the current H78 and drop it down to something like £2k to challenge the PE7700/MT700/Z2000 price tier. That could get really confusing with the clashing names here in Europe and the US. It's a forum readers nightmare!

Nevertheless interesting. Audiovision normally have the first info on this. Any news, Neil?

Squibbly

 

Probably all new ThemeScene H78 units are now DC3. That's what I've heard

 

I’m ready to upgrade now and as a minimum I want a HD2+ equipped projector for circa £1500. At the most I’d probably stretch the finances to 2K but no more than that. For me an Optoma H78 would be worth an extra £500 over the likes of the BenQ for the improved contrast and flexibility but much more than that and the bang per buck really starts to tail off. As Gordon has mentioned before HD2+ projectors are capable of very pleasing images don’t get too hung up about whether it’s HD2+ or DC3. The DC3 is only an upgraded HD2+. Probably just darker/less reflective paint under the mirrors.

Also worth considering is the possibility of 1080P LCD projectors from the likes of Panasonic with the new D5 panels. (Real details should emerge in September with CEDIA in the US). To fight off the H78 DC3 which in the US is around £2200 the LCD camp really needs to fight back with 1080P resolution. I don’t think further improvements in contrast; refinement of dynamic irises and VB reduction will be enough.

If you’re currently thinking about upgrading I reckon it’s probably best to wait until the new wave of projectors are revealed early September at CEDIA in the US. There could be some surprises like last year… We will still have to wait a month or more before anything revealed at CEDIA reaches our shores (No mention of BenQ 8720 please) but at least we’ll have a better picture of the fixed panel front projector scene in 2006.

A 1080P LCD with > 3000 contrast & under £2000 could happen by the end of the year (Although to keep this balanced a lot of people reckon it will take another year for 1080P LCD to hit that sort of price) in which case I’d be glad I hadn’t rushed out and bought a BenQ 7700, very tempting though it is.

However an H78 HD2+ price dropped now to 2K or less (like it is in the US) and I'd crack. No more waiting the trigger will be pulled...

 

Would be nice if it was over, Optoma didn't think it likely but they may have changed their mind. Would be news to me!! If it were though, I cannot see the H78 dropping in price. It would be a premium priced projector or at least a small decrease in H78 price. Will hunt down my rep and let you know if there's any fire to this smoke (not much to look forward to if Grobi is right tho - same contrast ratio as the normal H78 which is pretty much the bulk of the difference with DC3!!)

1080p LCD is here already, and with a 3000:1 contrast... but also a £17,000 price tag. (Fuji LCD using Epson D5 panel) £2k 1080p? Not likely. Not for a bl00dy long time anyway!!!!!

 

Boy, its going to be an interesting few months over these coming months, as it is always this time of year for projectors. Glad i put off upgrading until the year end now

 

This time last year, if I'd said 720P LCD with > 3000:1 contrast for under 2K most people would of said the same thing. Not for a long long time. I like to remain optimistic on the possibility. A 3rd generation of 720P LCD it just won't be able to compete with 2K DC3 & sub 1.5K HD2+ DLP in the states.

For that reason I reckon 720P LCD will need to continue to improve in areas of contrast & VB and come in at the 1K to 1.5K price point with 1080P LCD around 2K to 3K???? (Pricing of D5 1080P by end of 2005.....anyones guess to be honest)

If LCD is going to claw back some ground to DLP it's going to need to hit the middle ground of premium single chip DLP with an increased resolution.

The jump to affordable 1080P LCD is a big one the Fuji LPF-D711 is a great bit of kit but at 17K not realistic for must of us.

Sub 2K 1080P LCD by the end of the year?? If that year is 2006 perhaps.....2005??? No harm in wishing.

Gordon if you hear any news on the H78 DC3 I'd be eager to hear it.

 

Not heard a thing, even Optoma UK has not heard a thing, not sure where this chinese whispers started.

 

Maybe it's just a grey import from the states?

Squibbly

 

Maybe Optoma will be happy sitting back and watching sales go to BenQ, Toshiba & Sharp. (PE7700/MT700/Z20000).

Or maybe they'll do soemthing about it.

 

Thats incorrect, i have spoken to the product manager of the UK office and he confirmed that within 6 weeks we would see it.

 

Has there been any general talk or reviews in mags on the Benq and Tosh though. I know there has of the Sharp but until the 'general public' get this information there is little pressure to react if there is nothing to react too.

 

The Tosh was reviewed in Home Cinema Choice and What Hi-fi this month. It won the group test (sub £2500) in HCC, outperforming the Infocus 5700. The reviewer liked it, but said he would still consider paying an extra £1k for the £3.5k models. The extremely similar Benq PE7700 is actually £2k cheaper, so that says it really.

What HiFi were typically protective of their precious advertising revenue from Infocus and gave it 4 stars.

So the reviews are getting out there. No Benq as yet, though it was mentioned in What Projector, so could be in the next issue (September?).

Squibbly

 

I read somewhere - AVS I think - that all H78 production from June is DC3, maybe more Chinese Whispers, but we can hope.

Won't be in the PJ market this side of Christmas anyway, so hopefully there should be some bargains by then.

 

I bloomin hope this isn't true.
Don't get me wrong I love my H78, but a DC3 in it would have been lovely........

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, like i said, i spoke to the head product manager of Optoma UK and asked him if it was true, he said "if your prepared to wait 6 weeks, then youll be able to get hold of one with the DC3 chip"

Oh well im sure your H78 rocks anyway...

 

H78s upgraded to the US spec H78 with DC3. That would be good but I bet they won't offer an upgrade to current H78 Hd2+ users. Cost 'em too much.

By doing another upgrade to the original H77 it should allow Optoma to continue with the current £3500 price point. Gordon has previously hinted that the DC3 over the HD2+ is nothing fantastic but it does however allow Optoma to continue to milk the H78 for all it's not worth.

But what about the £1500 price area? Oh well looks like BenQ will be getting my dollars after all.

 

Hi nOs,

Who was the product manager you spoke to? When I spoke with Stuart Acey of Optoma UK a couple of weeks ago (he's the accounts manager), and he had no word of the H78 DC3 coming to the UK (same as we aren't getting the H79 either).

Gary.

 

Spoke to Justin in the UK and Fabien in France, both confirmed that the H78DC3 would be shipping very soon, spoke to a few dealers over here in France and they expect to have it within a week or so (1st of August). Stuart sent me a few PMs telling me that i was wrong, but that is what i have been told. I doubt that 2 product managers and 3 retailers have all got it wrong but then again we live in a weird and wonderful world

 

No I agree that most likely 2 product managers and 3 retailers have not got it wrong but one individual has

There will be no H78DC3

 

Ok i have wasted to much time on this stupid subject, you guys think there wont be a H78DC3, i think there will, whetheer it is a H79 or H78 with DC3 i dont know, but there will be a DC3 machine.

Im done
n0s

 

Not sure if you have seem this reviewbut looks good

http://www.projectorreviews.com/review.asp?reid=43&page=1

How do you think it will compare to H79?

 

Will there be a H79 with DC3 then?

 

The review I saw said it was DC3

See here - http://www.projectorcentral.com/optoma_h79.htm

 

I know that the H79 is DC3, i should have phrased my question better

What i meant is will Optoma release a DC3 chip projector in Europe but call it the H79 as opposed to the H78DC3

 

That is very possible, with Optoma you just never know!

 

Guys,

Any idea on pricing on the H78 with DC3?? I'm about to pull the trigger on a new PJ and this looks likes a good candidate.

 

except the H79 is priced higher than the H78 with DC3 as its a tad better
(according to US sources anyhow)

 

Guys keep your eyes on "www.cine4home.de" in Germany they will be dismanteling the new H78DC3 soon. And i qoute

"Our Shopping Mall partner sound Brothers is characterised as one of the most beautiful projector specialist shops in Germany...... Reopening is natural on Saturday, the 23.7.05 starting from 11.00 o'clock, with the current Beamer Superstar, the Optoma H78 with DarkChip3!"