Lumenlab releases Evo EDTV projector for five Benjamins

Lumenlab has released its Evo Projector V1, a $499 homebrew-style projector for home theater use. It incorporates a few features you normally don't find on projectors in this price range, such as a standard $30 projector bulb for cheaper replacement costs, component inputs. a 600:1 contrast ratio, and 1,000 lumens of light output. While its native resolution is 854 x 480 (great for DVDs and standard def content, not so much for high-definition), the low cost of bulbs and overall price puts it right into that sweet spot for the holiday buying season. Of course it's no 1080p Sony Pearl, but for five hundred a piece, you could buy four of them for less than half the price of the Sony, and matrix those bad boys up for over 18 diagonal feet of screen!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[EbonyDad @ Nov 20th 2006 2:07PM]

Of course... if you hurry over to WOOT, they are selling a 720p HDTV projector with 76" screen for $650.

A lot better deal than the $500 EDTV projector.

[Karen Manokian @ Nov 20th 2006 2:52PM]

The WOOT deal is not comparable with the 'Evo' at all. Their offer is on a standard commercial projector (with expensive bulbs). Those kinds of deal you can find everywhere (especially now at christmas time) People think they make a good deal until the lamp has to be replaced, often costing half the cheapo PJ price. The lumenlab PJ is a DIY project gone mass production. In other words it's fairly easy and cheap to replace the bulb and will most likely be upgradable when better 7" displays hit the market.

[Nate @ Nov 20th 2006 2:41PM]

sure, but not with a bulb replacement cost of only $30 on the LumenLab and about $300 on the infocus!

[Tony Myers @ Nov 20th 2006 4:15PM]

Have you looked at the COST of a REPLACEMENT BULB for the SP5000 .. it cost $402 JUST for a light bulb! And it is a REFURBISHED machine.


http://store.infocus.com/escalate/store/Ac...me=&tab=acc

[Interference @ Nov 20th 2006 2:35PM]

The advantage to Lumenlab is the bulb life and price.

[jared @ Nov 20th 2006 3:04PM]

the lumenlab folks rule.

[Crazylink @ Nov 20th 2006 3:18PM]

I could use one of these for my Wii.

[pmow @ Nov 20th 2006 3:50PM]

The LumenWii...

Damn...with this story it'll sell out for sure!

[machy @ Nov 20th 2006 5:04PM]

Hey folks, I am here to say something about this projector, just trying to tell the truth that I know about this.
First, this projector is not invented or created by LumenLab. It is one of many projectors made in China, branded. I am not 100 percent sure but according to the picture provided by LumenLab, it is exactly what I saw the same as the one that being sold in China. As I said, here is no offence to anybody.
Back to the quality of this projector, it is fairly ok but absolutely not great. Compared to my very old famous branded top model projector, it is quite similar in brightness and contrast. Mine is a 800 by 600 native, 250:1 and 500 Lumen, so you can judge the quality.
The LCD panel that used in the projector is a 7 inch 800 by 480 pixel and the color depth is "High Color" that mean it is not 16 millions one, it is around 262,000 something like that. The bulb that used in the projector is very cheap but bright.
The price that LumenLab selling is pretty good and fair. This projector sell for around USD450 in China and if you add on the shipping and something like that, it is easily more than what they asked for.
I actually followed LumenLab for few years and learned quite a lot about DIY projector from them. Until I found there are a lot of cheap sources that can found in China then I "SWITCHED". According to my experience using those parts to DIY a projector, I am very impress by the size of this projector. "How can they make it that small?" is my question and still my question without answer... I may want to buy one later to see how good this thing can be!
That's all for my words, enjoy everybody!

[Dustin @ Nov 20th 2006 4:53PM]

So when's Engadget going to do a review on this thing so I can consider buying it?

[Onetrack @ Nov 20th 2006 8:38PM]

You don't have one Machy, I ordered mine late friday night at 12:30 when the store opened and they havn't been shipped yet. 500 of them are sold, a 6000 hour 1000 lumen bulb with native 854x480 widescreen,but you can put a 720p image through this and it will take it.

I am anxiously awaiting mine. The folks at lumenlabs are great.

Yes these are manufactured in china, no they're not shiatty zoomboxes... go check out some screenshots on the lumenlab forums before you beak off.

[James @ Nov 20th 2006 6:18PM]

whoever sd the WOOT thing is an idiot and exactly the kind of person that WOOT preys on. the SP5000 (the PJ up for sale on WOOT) is complete failure and PIECE OF CRAP. ask anyone who knows anything about projectors and they will tell its one of the worst projectors ever made in its price bracket. there TONS of 480p PJs that will destroy the SP5000 in picture quality and its 720p image.

also, the LumenLab PJs are similar to the China-made PJs, but also a lot different. they are being sold from a reputable place (LumenLab) and the build quality is a lot better on them. plus they have a TV tuner built in and component inputs.

[TIMMAH! @ Nov 20th 2006 6:28PM]

Yeah, Lumenlab stickin' it to the man!!! You go Lumenlab!!!

[Nikoooo @ Nov 20th 2006 7:20PM]

Before saying "it's worth it!" or " go woot!", one must know how often a bulb must be changed. For my "normal" use (one DVD per week), a bulb is worth at least 2 years of joy.

[machy @ Nov 21st 2006 2:30AM]

Hi Onetrack,
Yes you are right, I don't have one. And you are right too, it is worth to buy base on the price and the quality.
I am not here to say anything negetive to the LumenLab PJ as I claimed. I am just here to tell everybody a little bit of the fact of this PJ. It is made in China, no problem for sure, just think how many thing you can find in the market, whatever products, not made in China?! but it can only be an OEM product instead of they claimed it is their product. I was a bit shock when I first saw the LumenLab website introducing this PJ. They did say that is based on an idea of DIY projector (which is I play for this idea for more than 2 years. I used the exactly same LCD panel, the exactly same lamp, even more types of lamp I've been trying). Because of they said it is similar to the China made DIY PJ then I started to do some search in those Chinese forum (yes, I am Chinese too but I don't live in China). I then found a exact same photo that LumenLab has post up in one of the PJ manufacturer (here is the link of the product if in case you are interested http://www.scrc-tech.com/cp-htm/products-e9.htm). I was even more shock that what the hack of the PJ looks exactly like the LumenLab one! and I start look at the details about it, EXACTLY THE SAME TOO!
One thing I am quite happy with LumenLab is their price, they set a very reasonable price for the PJ which is I said that is around 450 USD selling in China. I am not live in China but I have tons of friends live and work there so I guess I am able to share something that I know about the PJ to everybody in North America.
I am actually one of the poor guy that has no money to buy those impressive projectors, that is why I try so many thing to try to build one for myself. (the engadget DIY projector is something that I already built for more than a year, sorry guy you are a bit late :), but that is no problem, good things need to share to everybody!) I have not seen any actual picture quality about the PJ but I did see every other people in China making the same kind of projector and their result pictures. Some are very impressive and make me jump into it to start to build one for myself.
Finally, I hope this projector is a real deal then I don't need to build it for myself, I will just buy one from LumenLab or from China of course :)
So, good luck to all the buyers!

[Shrikant @ Nov 21st 2006 10:29AM]

Machy,

Brian, the co-founder of Lumenlab, has stated that Sichuan Ruicheng Science & Technology (the Chinese company whose link you provided) is Chinese manufacturing partner of Lumenlab. His own words:

"It is a ground-up design but it was acheived by forming a partnership with Ruicheng to build these. Ruicheng started as a DIY projector company just like Lumenlab, so our partnership is a perfect match. The projectors are a result of joint development, and though the E8 case design is utilized, the Lumenlab branded product is our exclusive."

[spazmodium @ Nov 21st 2006 10:06AM]

machy,

Externally the eVo is the same as the unit marketing within China - internally the Lumenlab unit is superior in the use of an electronic ballast instead of an iron ballast and less inputs in the chinese marketed version.

[milo @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:39PM]

Ordered mine last week, and I can't wait!!!

The only thing keeping me from getting a projector was the cost of the bulbs, this solves that problem. The battery powered fan shutdown and TV tuner are also nice additions.

[tinker @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:29AM]

Ordered mine Friday the Nov 24th received Nov 30th based on 1-4 shipping USPS and paying with PayPal.

Machine did not work. Power light comes on but nothing else. Have contacted/informed Lumenlab via on-site Customer Service Form but have heard nothing back.

There was no manual or paperwork included so I had to go back to their site to check policies. (heads up: any shipping damage or issues must be communicated to them in 7 days)

Really hoping to resolve problem, but feeling pretty out-in-the cold with their customer service.

[tinker @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:34AM]

Correction to dates:
I actually ordered mine Nov 17th (the day I received their notification)
My apologies for mis-info.

[Jwyatt @ Dec 18th 2006 10:05AM]

Great article, I found no disinformation and you hit the target on what this device can and cannot do.

For those of you about questions on this unit, the following is some history on how it became the device you see today.

The proprietor of LumenLab.com was aware of the predecessor of the Evo and went on multiple trips to china, (where he has special optics made for the DIY portion of LumenLab). During his visits there, he expressed to the manufacturers of the original device, those ideas and wishes of the DIY community that would make this a killer projector.

This is an unorthodox projector, the internal lcd is huge compared to 'normal' projectors, (seven inches), which allows for off-the-shelf components to be added to augment and make this a more valued device..

The previous gen device does not have battery backup (to cool down the lamp) which saves your bulb from heat stress during power outages / fluctuations. The previous device does not have the multitude of fans within it to keep it cool and does not have the higher tolerances that was requested of thsi build.

The current EVO was designed by request, and although looks very similar to previous gens, is a very different box. Yes, this is made in china, but what isn't anymore?

In the end you can get an almost HD projector form you or your kids for $500 that has a 6000 hour lifespan bulb that only costs $30. As projector lightbulbs are the biggest investment, for the infocus projector mentioned earlier you would get 2000 or so hours of use for about $380 per bulb. When you compare hours to dollars and then compare the two bulbs you get:

EVO 1/2 a penny per hours of use
Infocus 19 cents per hour of use

The infocus costs 38 times what the evo costs to run.


Thats the math, even an idiot can figure this one out.

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2006 10:55AM]

Hi, bought one of these and am having a problem with it.

It worked fine for a couple of days, but now every time I power it up it cuts out just before producing a picture.

Any ideas what the problem could be? I'm from the UK and it will be a pain to return it, besides I wanted it for Christmas.

Thanks

[hexodeci @ Feb 25th 2007 4:32AM]

Anyone but v1 of this? v1.1 is coming out soon. I was wondering if v1 worked out well...I cant find a review anywhere

[zardoz @ Jan 30th 2008 12:17PM]

I have an eVo 1.2 and I love it! Get one BEFORE you slam them... for the money this pj rocks! I too have built several of my own pj's... Lumenlabs has saved me from having to refine my own designs further... I have a projector that I am happy with.. I can stop buying LCDs just to rip them down to see if they are suitable for DIY projector use.

Lumenlabs you rock! Your customer service is top notch!

zardoz