We started installing the newer Sony LCD projectors for home theaters with the Draper drop down screen about a year ago, and have had excellent results. Anyway our first customer had a message appear on her screen that says it is time to change the light bulb, even though it is working fine. The book says this will appear after 1000 hours of operation.

I called the Sony tech line and talked to an engineer and he said it would not hurt anything to keep running it but you may over time notice a reduction in brightness and you can just keep bumping up the brightness level to compensate for it.

My question is to anyone else who has been using the Sony LCD projectors as to what kind of bulb life can really be expected, and are there any other sources for the bulb replacement that Sony wants $500 for.

Jeff406

While we're at it, my Sharp XG-1500U needs a bulb, too. I found one for over $300 (!), but I'd REALLY appreciate any info on a better (cheaper) source.

Larry

I searched a little bit and found other places, but they all wanted the same $499 that Sony wants for it.

What kind of life did you get out of yours? I'm really interested to find out the average life of these bulbs that Sony is using. We have another brand of projector made by Runco, the bulbs seem to last about 2000-3000 hours.

The projector is question is the Sony VPL-VW10HT.
Jeff406

Jeff406,

The following faq [Link: nwlink.com]
has details on lamp life as well as lots of other useful info. The second link [Link: thebigpicturedvd.com] is a lookalike faq but with slightly different info.

Hope these are useful

Trevor



This message was edited by Trevor on 09/06/01 07:39.34.

Jeff-
Do some searches at the Sony forum here and you'll find many threads about the Sony bulb life. [Link: thebigpicturedvd.com]