Color Laser Printer: what you guys own and print great?

[Patentagosse]

I'm looking to get a new laser printer for the shop. I work alone so I'm not shopping for fast machine nor device to start a small printshop (biz cards), all I want is get nice outputs, vivid colors that match my file's specs (Pantone or as close as possible). In a perfect world, the finish would be glossy and saturated.

My actual Brother in a POS so I want to "upgrade". Budget up to $800.

Actual searches lead me toward Xerox 6600N but no deposit dropped yet.

What's yours?

Thanks

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

This is what we have: http://shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-o...E956A#BGJ&ci_sku=CE956A#BGJ&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=

There area few profiles available for it and it is also compatible with magnetic inks if you ever want to print checks.

 

[Patentagosse]

So it prints nice colors and does the finish looks "glossy"?

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

Colors are good and I'd call it a luster finish unless its on glossy photo paper then its really glossy.

 

[Patentagosse]

Luster is a better term for it. As it doesn't apply UV varnish, it couldn't be "glossy". I just want a finish from a different appearence to contrast with the matte of the paper...

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

Sometimes you can get the people at big box stores to print samples for you to test printers... I know Staples and Office Max do anyway.

 

[Patentagosse]

Usually, the print samples are from special files created especially to get the most out of it... to show the best side of the printer...

 

[Mosh]

Take a flash drive in with you and have them print something you bring. That printer listed...you have to buy the toner separately? Did I read that wrong?

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

The HP we bought had a full set of toner, but it isn't uncommon for laser printers to be sold toner-less.

Our staples will print samples off of a flash drive or they will print random pictures/forms out if you don't have files.

 

[Patentagosse]

Thanks for your reply 2CT Media but from all the XXXX members of this great forum, I had expected at least a dozen of suggestions (models to compare)...

No "my laser prints better than yours" this time...

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

No problem, I'm sure as people get time they will respond.

 

[SightLine]

We have a couple Xerox Phaser 7750 printers that are great. You can find the newer 7760 version used in your price range. The nice thing - they are fast, have excellent color, single pass (they have 4 drums), and can print up to Tabloid Extra (12x18) on card stock. Proofs on decent quality 11x17 pages look fantastic and huge compared to an 8.5x11 page. The ones I picked up (also used) have over 300,000 pages printed and they still work great. Mine also have the option dual big lower 1000 sheet trays which is nice for basic cheap 8.5x11, a slightly nicer 8.5x11, then we keep legal in tray 3, tabloid in tray 2, and use the multipurpose tray for special stuff like card stock that we do not use a lot of.

If you are handy on ebay you can easily find genuine toner and supplies for a very good price as well. Regardless of the brand you get, on a color laser it is best to stick with OEM toner. They all have slightly different formulations. I'd also suggest sticking with slightly better quality paper, the cheapest multi-purpose stuff will give you problems in the long run.

 

[2B]

Konica Minolta was the winner when we did our testing a couple years ago. beat out levmark, xerox, cannon, etc...

we went with the 4695MF model and there are plenty of settings to mess with for color profiles.