CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[betel]

I have a couple of questions about the Zenith Pro 1200x hopefully someone (Kal maybe) can answer:

Does it use common boards with the BG808s?
How does the throw distance compare to a an 808?
How's the noise level compared to an 808?
Can the Sony tubes in a BG808s be used as replacements for the 1200x?
Are used replacement boards readily available?
All things being equal, how does the image quality compare with a G70?
Any known issues?

[kal]

Start by reading this: http://www.curtpalme.com/Zenith1200.shtm (and the subsequent sub-sections).

In the 'Layout and Setup tips' I list all of the part numbers. I believe a lot are common to the 's' series 808.

I also talk about the throw. (Throw is very very short - the HD215 lenses on the 1200x have a much shorter throw than HD8 lenses - around 14-18" closer [guessing] for an 8 foot wide screen).

Noise is likely the same as it's the same chassis and fans basically. Not the quietest PJ, not the loudest. Probably in the bottom 1/3 in terms of noise level. Many people will be very happy to not hushbox it but I find any noise objectionable so mine's well hushboxed (with venting).

Not sure about the tubes but I'd say no given that one is LC (1200x) and one is not. Not something I've looked into.

Used boards share a lot of commonality with other higher end Barcos so spares are available but not as easy to find as lower end Barcos.

Never seen a G70 but I'd say the image quality is likely very similar given that both are 8" LC machines with 120Mhz of bandwidth and colour filtered. This is why they're ranked equal here: http://www.curtpalme.com/Projector_Rankings.shtm

Kal

[kal]

Start by reading this: http://www.curtpalme.com/Zenith1200.shtm (and the subsequent sub-sections).

In the 'Layout and Setup tips' I list all of the part numbers. I believe a lot are common to the 's' series 808.

I also talk about the throw. (Throw is very very short - the HD215 lenses on the 1200x have a much shorter throw than HD8 lenses - around 14-18" closer [guessing] for an 8 foot wide screen).

Noise is likely the same as it's the same chassis and fans basically. Not the quietest PJ, not the loudest. Probably in the bottom 1/3 in terms of noise level. Many people will be very happy to not hushbox it but I find any noise objectionable so mine's well hushboxed (with venting).

Not sure about the tubes but I'd say no given that one is LC (1200x) and one is not. Not something I've looked into.

Used boards share a lot of commonality with other higher end Barcos so spares are available but not as easy to find as lower end Barcos.

Never seen a G70 but I'd say the image quality is likely very similar given that both are 8" LC machines with 120Mhz of bandwidth and colour filtered. This is why they're ranked equal here: http://www.curtpalme.com/Projector_Rankings.shtm

Kal

[betel]

Thanks Kal.

Currently I have a G70 with a bit less than optimal wear on the G & B tubes. The wear is really only apparent during white scenes but it bothers me. I'm considering a 1200x because I have a BG808S in storage that I could cannibalize for parts. Each projector I've gotten is incrementally better with the biggest jump from the BG808S to the G70. I'd love to have one of the top 9" machines but the price difference is a too steep for me. Had I started with a 9", I would probably have spent less totaled. The 1200x I've found is a low hour machine that was used in a home theater since new and the price is right but I haven't actually seen it yet. Of course I'm hoping for the best.

[kal]

I definitely wouldn't swap a G70 for Zenith 1200x if they were in similar condition, but if your G70 has tube wear that's *noticable* up on screen (ie: uneven wear like you mentioned or you can't get good colour balance) then it may be worth it. Otherwise it's very much a side-ways move.

Not sure how many parts are transferable from your BG808s. Check out the list of part numbers from your BG808s and compare them to the ones I have here: http://www.curtpalme.com/Zenith1200_Layout2.shtm

Kal

[kal]

I definitely wouldn't swap a G70 for Zenith 1200x if they were in similar condition, but if your G70 has tube wear that's *noticable* up on screen (ie: uneven wear like you mentioned or you can't get good colour balance) then it may be worth it. Otherwise it's very much a side-ways move.

Not sure how many parts are transferable from your BG808s. Check out the list of part numbers from your BG808s and compare them to the ones I have here: http://www.curtpalme.com/Zenith1200_Layout2.shtm

Kal

[betel]

Thanks for the help Kal. Many parts are common between the two machines.

I found in the thread on lens, the 1200x only has one focus adjustment. Every CRT projector I've seen uses a separate center and edge focus. You think this is an issue?

[kal]

[kal]