Panasonic PT AT 6000E - ownership experience.. alternatives?
Discussion
Hi..I'm going to be kitting out our home cinema room over the next couple of months. I'm looking sub £2k to spend on the AV Projector...got a lot of other things to budget for so can't go over this. From a bit of web research and looking around I'm favouring the Panasonic PT AT 6000E...you can get these for £1300 from Amazon (previously listed at £3K). Anyone own one of these and can comment on long term reliability (I've read mixed reviews on this on some US AV forums)?
Also welcome other recommendations at that pricepoint particularly longer term reliability.
I've no need for 4K we don't have the internet bandwidth to get this where we live unfortunately and you're into a another price bracket too.
Thanks in advance
Also welcome other recommendations at that pricepoint particularly longer term reliability.
I've no need for 4K we don't have the internet bandwidth to get this where we live unfortunately and you're into a another price bracket too.
Thanks in advance
A Sony VW40ES would be within budget and likely a much better projector too. While the '6000 is cheap at £1,300 compared to it's original price of 3k it never reviewed very well against it's peers, so you have to balance getting something cheap against being sat there feeling underwhelmed by the image.
Don't be mislead by the figures Panasonic claim; the light output is highly exaggerated and even then relies on using very inaccurate modes just to give a higher lumens reading. When set in a reasonably accurate mode the light level drops due to an internal colour filter and itactually ends up lower than most other competitors (who claim lower figures too).
Likewise the contrast claims are completely unrealistic and only relevant if you watch pure white and pure black images. The native contrast is pretty low on the AExxxx models, so dark scenes soon look washed out and bright scenes don't have the punch of models like the above Sony.
Granted you get features such as the lens memory, but if you don't plan to run a 2.35:1 screen it is irrelevant anyway. Even if you do, having a convenient zoom feature is cancelled out if the image looks poor once the lights go down...
Full disclosure: I've owned the early AE1000 (broke shortly after I got it and replaced with the newer AE2000), then the AE3000. I subsequently replaced the '3000 with a JVC HD350 within 3-4 months of getting it and lost £700, but still considered it was worth it as the image was very disappointing and very dim once calibrated. Everything I've read about the newer models suggests that only small changes have occurred and that they haven't kept up with the competition.
Panasonic have pulled out of home cinema production, so there won't be a replacement for the '6000 probably why they are selling off cheap...
Don't be mislead by the figures Panasonic claim; the light output is highly exaggerated and even then relies on using very inaccurate modes just to give a higher lumens reading. When set in a reasonably accurate mode the light level drops due to an internal colour filter and itactually ends up lower than most other competitors (who claim lower figures too).
Likewise the contrast claims are completely unrealistic and only relevant if you watch pure white and pure black images. The native contrast is pretty low on the AExxxx models, so dark scenes soon look washed out and bright scenes don't have the punch of models like the above Sony.
Granted you get features such as the lens memory, but if you don't plan to run a 2.35:1 screen it is irrelevant anyway. Even if you do, having a convenient zoom feature is cancelled out if the image looks poor once the lights go down...
Full disclosure: I've owned the early AE1000 (broke shortly after I got it and replaced with the newer AE2000), then the AE3000. I subsequently replaced the '3000 with a JVC HD350 within 3-4 months of getting it and lost £700, but still considered it was worth it as the image was very disappointing and very dim once calibrated. Everything I've read about the newer models suggests that only small changes have occurred and that they haven't kept up with the competition.
Panasonic have pulled out of home cinema production, so there won't be a replacement for the '6000 probably why they are selling off cheap...
Hi OldSkool...just the guidance I was looking for. 
Thank you! The fact that Panasonic are exiting the market puts me off. I want some longevity in the manufacturer since from I can tell I should expect to be replacing the lamp withing the lifetime of ownership of the product so I want spares to still be available.
And these devices seem a bit 'fragile' so I want some decent aftersales support. The Panasonic was from an EU provider through Amazon rather than a local mainstream provider. But at the pricepoint I was prepared to take the risk. But perhaps a false economy and spending a little more on the Sony but through a UK provider is a better way to go.
Good advice. Will look into the Sony now. Thanks again.
Thank you! The fact that Panasonic are exiting the market puts me off. I want some longevity in the manufacturer since from I can tell I should expect to be replacing the lamp withing the lifetime of ownership of the product so I want spares to still be available. And these devices seem a bit 'fragile' so I want some decent aftersales support. The Panasonic was from an EU provider through Amazon rather than a local mainstream provider. But at the pricepoint I was prepared to take the risk. But perhaps a false economy and spending a little more on the Sony but through a UK provider is a better way to go.
Good advice. Will look into the Sony now. Thanks again.
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