Optoma ZU500TST-W, 5,000 lumens, 300,000:1, WUXGA

A Lamp Is Not Just a Lamp

When shopping for a replacement projector or TV lamp, it is important to understand that there can be significant differences in the price and quality of the lamp depending on how it was manufactured and assembled.

The lamp module's bulb and housing may or may not be sourced from the same manufacturer as the original that came with the projector or TV. If the bulb is sourced from a different manufacturer than what was used in the original, there can be significant differences in quality depending on the source. There are four bulb manufacturers that are often used in original projector and TV lamp modules - Philips, Osram, Ushio, and Phoenix. A bulb can also be sourced from other after-market manufacturers, in which case it is called a compatible.

Projectorquest uses four different versions to describe the type of projector lamp:

Branded OEM

This OEM version is the exact same lamp that originally came in your projector. It is the same version sold by the projector brand and comes packaged in the branded box.

OEM

This version is made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer for the projector brand, which means this bulb is produced by the same manufacturer as the bulb that came with the projector and has the same specification and is engineered to perform exactly as the original projector bulb. It is not branded and is packaged in a generic box.

OEM Compatible

This version is made by one of the Original Equipment Manufacturers of projector lamps – Philips, Osram, Ushio or Phoenix – but it is not the actual OEM version that came with the projector. It has the same specifications and is engineered to perform exactly as the original bulb. It is packaged in a generic box.

Genuine Compatible

Made from genuine OEM parts, this version is produced by the industry's leading compatible projector lamp manufacturer to meet the specifications and requirements of the projector manufacturer, so it performs closely to the OEM lamp version.

The Different Versions of Projector Lamps

Who knew there are different versions of projector and TV lamps Most people do not know that in the projector and TV lamp marketplace, there are several different versions of lamps sold. There are some important differences between those versions that can affect the performance of your projector or TV. Yet most websites do not fully disclose which version they are selling, so how do you really know what you are buying? At Projectorquest, we tell you which version you are buying. We sell four versions of projector and TV lamps. Let’s take a look at the differences between these versions… Genuine Compatible is our economy version. It is typically the least expensive version because it is a compatible lamp made by a third-party manufacturer. But not all compatibles are equal. Projectorquest only sells the highest quality compatible lamp. We call it Genuine Compatible because it is composed of genuine OEM parts and it is exclusively produced by the industry’s top third-party projection lamp manufacturer. The Genuine Compatible is engineered to perform close to the OEM version that came with your projector or TV. OEM Compatible is usually our least expensive OEM version. It provides higher quality than the Genuine Compatible version. This lamp is produced by one of the select manufacturers that produce OEM projection lamps for the projector and TV manufacturers. These lamp manufacturers include Philips, Osram, Ushio and Phoenix. While the manufacturer of this lamp version produces OEM lamps, they are not the OEM manufacturer for this particular projector or TV model. Instead, they have produced a lamp to the same specifications as the true OEM lamp. OEM lamps consist of the original bulb included with your projector or TV. We purchase the bulbs directly from the lamp manufacturer, which allows us to offer you the OEM lamp at a lower price than what you would pay if you bought it from the projector or TV manufacturer. The module the bulb is housed in may or may not be from the original housing manufacturer. If not, it consists of the same materials and is engineered to the same specifications as the original housing to ensure it works perfectly in your projector or TV. Branded OEM lamps are the exact same lamps the projector or TV manufacturer sell. This version consists of the OEM bulb and housing and is packaged in the brand’s packaging. These lamps tend to be our most expensive, but you can be assured the lamp module is exactly the same, in everyway, as the one that came with your projector or TV. Unlike most other sites, Projectorquest breaks out each version available for the TV or projector lamp model you need. This allows you to choose which version best meets your needs and budget. So when it is time to replace your projector or TV lamp, visit Projectorquest.com so you know exactly what you are buying.