Help with projector tv...

[G8RNTN]

I'm thinking of putting a projector set up in my man room... Have read a lot of good reviews on most of them. Wondering if anyone on here has used one befor. Seems pretty reasonable for the setup. Info would be helpful.

[helix139]

I'm thinking of putting a projector set up in my man room... Have read a lot of good reviews on most of them. Wondering if anyone on here has used one befor. Seems pretty reasonable for the setup. Info would be helpful.

You can't beat the size to dollar ratio. Plasmas will give you a truer image with better blacks, and LCDs will give you a brighter one, but a good projector with a quality screen can blow them away size-wise. Just make sure you have enough room to get the size you want. You'll want to get one with plenty of brightness and contrast and a good throw distance. Mitsubishi and Sony both make good projectors at decent prices, or Runco if you have absurd amounts of money and want the absolute best.

[G8RNTN]

You can't beat the size to dollar ratio. Plasmas will give you a truer image with better blacks, and LCDs will give you a brighter one, but a good projector with a quality screen can blow them away size-wise. Just make sure you have enough room to get the size you want. You'll want to get one with plenty of brightness and contrast and a good throw distance. Mitsubishi and Sony both make good projectors at decent prices, or Runco if you have absurd amounts of money and want the absolute best.

What would be the recommended space for one in your opinion?

[helix139]

What would be the recommended space for one in your opinion?

Depends on how big of an image you'd like and how much money you have to spend

[G8RNTN]

I see best buy has a Optoma svga dlp pro160s for $399..... Review say its really good from 10ft up to 25ft plus. Said really really clear at 80 inches of watchable tv. Not corner to corner but 80 inches of picture!

[helix139]

SVGA is not HD. It's 800x600 and downconverts any inputs over that to that resolution. I'd stay away from it. Honestly you're looking at at least $3k for something good.

[G8RNTN]

It has hdmi input.

[helix139]

It has hdmi input.

Doesn't mean it is actually HD, just that it can accept an HD signal. Its native resolution is 800x600

[gators4life]

I have an Epson projector and would recommend it. Great picture. Ran me about $799 and probably the most bang for your buck.

[helix139]

I have an Epson projector and would recommend it. Great picture. Ran me about $799 and probably the most bang for your buck.

Is it HD or 1024x768? What specs?

[G8RNTN]

I have an Epson projector and would recommend it. Great picture. Ran me about $799 and probably the most bang for your buck.

I looked at one of those also, think best buy had one on sale for $649. And helix is was HD.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I'm lukewarm on projectors, because you really have to commit to them. You'll want to make sure you can get a room pretty much completely dark to really see/appreciate the picture, even on the high end models. You'll also want a silver screen (Hollywood style) or paint on your wall to bring out the contrast.

And I don't think anything under $500 is going to cut it, though I don't think you need to go up to $3k.

The other issue is the price of bulbs, which are often around $200-$400 and might need to be replaced every couple of years. You also have to be really cautious about turning the projector on and off because you can kill a bulb fairly easily.

That projector that's $649 on Best Buy is not HD. It's WXGA. The cheapest native HD projector I see on Best Buy (which is not the ideal place to be looking, really) appears to be $1,300.

So you have to weigh all of this. Screen, room treatment, projector could run you $1500-$1800. Is the room really large enough to get 80" of screen? If not, this could be a bit of a waste when you can get a 60" television for that price.

[G8RNTN]

I know a guy who has the Epson and his room is about as big as mine and he sized the picture to 80 inches and is great! A lot better than what some people may think. He has had it for a couple years now and it's doing great. He even has some natural light coming in his room and it still looks really really good. He doesn't even have it on a screen just a light colored paint on his wall. He said he has less than $900 in all of it. Bulbs on amazon are 149.00. Getting a 60 compared to this 102 screen that u can size down to 80 or even lower is full picture unlike a 60 tv is measured corner to corner. This is full 80 inches of picture.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Okay, but if you're going to make this investment wouldn't you at least want true HD?

[mvt_gator]

I would agree with the earlier comment about really needing the right room where you can control the light. I also think ideally you would want to mount it overhead to keep it out of the way.

Honestly, for me the need for the room to be somewhat dark led to me eventually getting rid of my dlp 720p projector after a while and getting an LCD/LED type tv. It was fine at night, but most football is in the day time - and I (and people I would be watching with) liked having some daylight in the room. I also felt like I would also always need another "main" tv for everyday watching so I thought it was better to put the $ towards one really nice tv.

Having said that the picture was pretty awesome, I was just looking for more of a low maintenance setup.

[G8RNTN]

I would agree with the earlier comment about really needing the right room where you can control the light. I also think ideally you would want to mount it overhead to keep it out of the way.

Honestly, for me the need for the room to be somewhat dark led to me eventually getting rid of my dlp 720p projector after a while and getting an LCD/LED type tv. It was fine at night, but most football is in the day time - and I (and people I would be watching with) liked having some daylight in the room. I also felt like I would also always need another "main" tv for everyday watching so I thought it was better to put the $ towards one really nice tv.

Having said that the picture was pretty awesome, I was just looking for more of a low maintenance setup.

He has his set up through his cable company... His is 1080. My man room is dark well actually in the process of building our home as I type this but I didn't put in windows in it. So it will be dark since its a finished basement. As far as room goes the room is about 25x35.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

If it's that $649 Epson you listed above, that does not have native 1080p output. I do think that if you buy a projector, you're going to want/need to drop at least $1k based on what I'm seeing for a good HD projector.

[mvt_gator]

Noticed this 1080p Optoma at Costco a while back which seemed like a pretty good deal. The brand is one I was considering when I was looking for a projector and seems to focus more on home theater. Costco's return policy and warranty extension would also be a good thing to have for a projector IMO.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11543258&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|90607|90613&N=4047294&Mo=14&No=3&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=90613&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11543258&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC%7C90607%7C90613&N=4047294&Mo=14&No=3&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=90613&Ns=P_Price%7C1%7C%7CP_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C)

[orangeblueorangeblue]

The guys at CNET are pretty particular about displays, projectors, etc. I like to see what they think if not treat their word as canon:

http://reviews.cnet.com/projectors/

The Optoma 72 (not the 180 above) did fairly well, 3.5 stars out of 5.

It looks like a good deal and a much better projector than the Epson you listed above.

[G8RNTN]

I really don't wanna spend a $1000 but I wanna get good picture quality. This is a man cave only purchase.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Obviously this is your call, but I'm in the "if you're going to do it, do it right" camp.

Anything in the sub-$500 range is not going to be futureproof or of very high quality. The bare minimum should be HD-ready, and the one listed at $850 above looks like it fits the bill.

[helix139]

I really don't wanna spend a $1000 but I wanna get good picture quality. This is a man cave only purchase.

Those two criteria are incompatible. If you want a good, bright picture with contrast and deeper blacks, you're looking at upwards of $3k for the projector and you're going to need a decent screen. Like most other things in life, you can do it a) cheap, b) fast, or c) right. Pick any two.

[mvt_gator]

Well, at least you have some ammunition to go ahead and spend some $ if wife approval is a factor.

[panamacitygator]

Well, at least you have some ammunition to go ahead and spend some $ if wife approval is a factor.
If not turn in your man-card.

[gators4life]

Helix my Epson is HD 1280x800. I've hooked it up with an HDMI cord to my cable box and watched the BCS National Championship in HD. I could see every pimple and facial feature like I was there. G8RTN I think this would be perfect for your price range, and you'll really enjoy it. I also bought an 80' projector screen for it which is nice. But if you have a plain white wall, it still looks amazing as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QC17VG/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15473202699&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5754668361620709112&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B002QC17VG

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Well yeah, that's an HD projector.

For less than $100 more though he could have a 1080p projector (versus your 720p)

[helix139]

Helix my Epson is HD 1280x800. I've hooked it up with an HDMI cord to my cable box and watched the BCS National Championship in HD. I could see every pimple and facial feature like I was there. G8RTN I think this would be perfect for your price range, and you'll really enjoy it. I also bought an 80' projector screen for it which is nice. But if you have a plain white wall, it still looks amazing as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QC17VG/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15473202699&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5754668361620709112&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B002QC17VG

That's a decent projector, but there is more to a picture than simply resolution. Contrast, black levels, brightness, etc. are important, especially when watching movies and other dramatic content that isn't naturally "bright" like sporting events. It will get you size and HD, but IMO it's like the difference in going from one of those bargain Westinghouse TVs you see at Best Buy or Target to a Panasonic Plasma or Samsung LED LCD.

[gators4life]

I don't know much about this stuff like you guys, but I've watched movies, blue-ray, gaming, TV, and it looks damn good to me. I've had it for almost 2 years without a problem. I've seen other ones to, and I can't tell much of a difference. I'm just saying if he is looking for a decent set up for a reasonable price I would recommend it. Just don't see what else more your could want in that price range. Good luck OP, you can't go wrong with a nice projector.

[gators4life]

Well yeah, that's an HD projector.

For less than $100 more though he could have a 1080p projector (versus your 720p)

Heck for 2,000 more you could get it with Erin Andrews personal movie included in 1080p with 3D glasses. Like I said I don't know a ton about projectors but I really enjoy mine. Just thought I would give him my experience.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Right, but $80 is negligible for a significant feature upgrade, $1200 isn't. :wink:

[G8RNTN]

Ok so I ended up with the Optoma HD 23, it's a 1080p projector and I bought a 120" screen (elite screen). I have it set up at 14 feet mounted to the ceiling. Picture is amazingly crisp!!!! Bought it at best buy for $999 and the screen is a electric that ran me $245. All in all this is a sweet set up.

[Itssaul]

Ok so I ended up with the Optoma HD 23, it's a 1080p projector and I bought a 120" screen (elite screen). I have it set up at 14 feet mounted to the ceiling. Picture is amazingly crisp!!!! Bought it at best buy for $999 and the screen is a electric that ran me $245. All in all this is a sweet set up.

Hmmmm interesting, might do this myself....

Also a tip I learned in the AP grind in HS. But some aluminum foil and use that to block off all light from windows. Tape it up and literally the darkest place in the world will be your room. ( I used to sleep from 7am-5pm during those tests)

[panamacitygator]

My son just picked up a Optoma HD-20 on craigslist. It was 3 months old with a transferrable 2 year warranty and a 10' screen for 600 bucks!

[G8RNTN]

My son just picked up a Optoma HD-20 on craigslist. It was 3 months old with a transferrable 2 year warranty and a 10' screen for 600 bucks!

My friend had the optoma HD 20 and a 150" screen and was nice... Does he like it???

[panamacitygator]

He loves it. The picture is great!

[mvt_gator]

My son just picked up a Optoma HD-20 on craigslist. It was 3 months old with a transferrable 2 year warranty and a 10' screen for 600 bucks!

Sweet deal - the bang for the buck on dlp projectors like this is outstanding

[gatorr4life]

I'm still using my 60' Sony sxrd. It's a rear projection. I've replaced the bulb 3 times since I bought it in 2006. Not too bad, considering I play games on it. (they say not play games too much on them) not because of burn in, but it's just hard on the bulb. Anyway, She's been good to me, but I believe the inner components are going bad. Starting to get a greenish tint. Also, the screen will sometimes flash in out. (somewhat subtle of a flash, but definitely noticeable) it's not the bulb, as I just got a new one from a reputable seller.

Did some research, and apparently my model was recalled. Called Sony a few months ago, and they said they would give me a discount on new Sony tv. Never took it because I found workarounds to fix my problem. (Temporarily) I have to adjust the hue for one problem, and the other is toggle the power save setting. The hue I haven't really had to mess with after the first time. But the flashing in and out, that i have to mess with about once a week or so.

Bout to give up on it, and sell it for cheap. There's so many cheap tvs now. When we bought it, I believe it cost us around $2,300. Something like that....cant really remember it's been so long.

[gatorr4life]

What that has to do with the topic of this thread, I have no clue! Lol just thought I'd share my experience with our tv.