Post by: Jonm888 on September 09, 2005, 11:35:00 AM
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 09, 2005, 11:49:00 AM
You can pickup a projector for under $1K if you look for used, or late model projectors.
The Infocus X2 is a decent budget projector and last I looked you could pick it up for about $800 at Circuit City. Though it's replacement, The Infocus ScreenPlay SP-4805 looks like a MUCH better projector.
Also keep in mind that with a projector You'll need to provide your own audio... I got by for a while with a pair of stereo PC speakers (no better or worse than any TV's build in sound...) but you'll want to upgrade to a surround sound eventually I'm sure.
Also keep in mind that a good screen can DRAMATICALLY improve the picture quality. You can get buy projecting onto a clean white/off white wall but keep in mind that you should consider buying a screen eventually. A decent sized quality pull down screen will run you about $300 - $500. Electric remote operated screens are typically about $200 more than regular screens.
Or if you're handy you can buy the raw screen material and build it your self (Attached directly to a wall or to a frame you build for it).
Talk to Deftech too he's a projector junky like myself.
General rules of thumb when buying projectors
-DLP technology (don't settle for anything else
)-Get native widescreen if you can afford it
-Get native 720p (WXGA) if you can afford it
-Bulb life should be 3000hours or better
-Contrast ratio should be 1500:1 or better
-look for around 800 lumins or better brightness
-get a 4x color wheel or better if you can afford it (most cheaper projectors are 2x though it wont bother you unless you're one of the few people we see "rainbows" with DLPs)
-make sure it supports all the resolutions 480i/p 720p and 1080i (if it supports PAL 576i/p even better)
-make sure it's "HDTV compatible" and has component inputs or has an optional adapter for component inputs (for instance my projector has a VGA port but includes a component cable adapter SPECIFIC to my projector, if it's not included check the price of it, mine was included but they can run as high as $80)
-If it has DVI or HDMI make sure it also has HDCP on those ports, as you'll need to that play the upcoming HD-DVD and BRD formats.
um yeah... check out some AV forums and get people opinions on certain models or see what models others are posting about. it's hard picking out a good projector because stores don't even have them setup like the do TVs... so you pretty much have to buy them blind.
Post by: Deftech on September 09, 2005, 12:13:00 PM
QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Sep 9 2005, 02:00 PM)
I have a projector and I love it... It's not even that great of a projector and I wouldn't trade it for any other display period
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Title: Projector
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 09, 2005, 02:03:00 PM
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In all honesty unless you have a component output (say from an HDTV tuner, even if it isn't in HD) will look miles and miles better.
3. Well... I bought my projector a little over a year ago and the average price for a projector with similar features from then to now has dropped about $100 to $200... so in 6 months time it might drop another $75 or $100 overall if it continues at the same rate.
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Title: Projector
Post by: ClintiePoo on September 09, 2005, 04:21:00 PM
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Awesome post. One day, when I get that big job, ...
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 09, 2005, 10:19:00 PM
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Model:....................Rated:.. Actual:
BenQ PE5120...........1100.......380
InFocus SP4805........750........350
Toshiba MT200.........700........330
Optoma H31.............850........325
Mitsubishi HC100......1300......300
NEC HT410..............1000.......250
Optoma H27.............850........185
Now its my turn to chime in.....
If youre going to go the projector route, do it right. make the room as dark as possible, and if youre single like me and dont have some whiny whench complaining how the theatre shouldnt be dark all the time...take advantage of the situation and make it dark. Mines black around the clock
Id be compromising the picture otherwise. Not to mention the more light you have in the room the more you crank your black level and contrast, and that takes away from lamp/bulb life.
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 09:27:00 AM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 12:37:00 PM
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maybe thats where I confused them, because at one point I wanted a crt proj years ago.
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 03:51:00 PM
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well compared to the higher end ones
I will always recommend DLP. We will see it get better and better at an even faster rate than it is now. I dont want to get into the resolution debate, it just makes me grumpy.
Im happy for now with native 720p and how affordable they are
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 05:25:00 PM
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Post by: twistedsymphony on September 09, 2005, 02:03:00 PM
In all honesty unless you have a component output (say from an HDTV tuner, even if it isn't in HD) will look miles and miles better.3. Well... I bought my projector a little over a year ago and the average price for a projector with similar features from then to now has dropped about $100 to $200... so in 6 months time it might drop another $75 or $100 overall if it continues at the same rate.
Post by: ClintiePoo on September 09, 2005, 04:21:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 09, 2005, 10:19:00 PM
QUOTE
Brightness: All projectors measure significantly lower lumen outputs when optimized for best home theater performance. In general, the theoretical maximum rated lumen output does not correlate to actual lumen output in optimized video, and there is no constant ratio between the two that can be assumed. Some projectors, like the Mitsubishi HC100 and the NEC HT410, have a wide range of lumen output options depending on desired usage, thus making them more flexible for applications requiring ambient room light. However, when calibrated for home theater use in a fully darkened viewing area, most projectors measure a fraction of their rated potential. Once set up for video, and with lamp modes set to low for maximum lamp life and minimum fan noise, the actual lumen readings we measured on these seven models were as follows:
Model:....................Rated:.. Actual:
BenQ PE5120...........1100.......380
InFocus SP4805........750........350
Toshiba MT200.........700........330
Optoma H31.............850........325
Mitsubishi HC100......1300......300
NEC HT410..............1000.......250
Optoma H27.............850........185
Now its my turn to chime in.....
If youre going to go the projector route, do it right. make the room as dark as possible, and if youre single like me and dont have some whiny whench complaining how the theatre shouldnt be dark all the time...take advantage of the situation and make it dark. Mines black around the clock
Id be compromising the picture otherwise. Not to mention the more light you have in the room the more you crank your black level and contrast, and that takes away from lamp/bulb life.
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 09:27:00 AM
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 12:37:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 03:51:00 PM
well compared to the higher end onesI will always recommend DLP. We will see it get better and better at an even faster rate than it is now. I dont want to get into the resolution debate, it just makes me grumpy.
Im happy for now with native 720p and how affordable they are
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 05:25:00 PM
QUOTE(brooksie48 @ Sep 10 2005, 07:29 PM)
Were you fucking out of your mind!? 
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Title: Projector
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 10, 2005, 10:11:00 PM
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It's got well over 14000 hours on it and still going strong, no burn in or anything
I used to have it on a push cart because the landlord of my apartment wouldn't let me mount it to the ceiling (not that I blame him
)..... anyway long story short... the calibration process to properly sync the 3 CRTs on the screen could take up to an hour if you were doing it alone... and well I had lots of drunk friends who would accidentally knock the cart around and constantly warrant re-calibration.... thank god for DLPs
A few nice things about CRTs though:
1. loads of native resolutions supported
2. Has the same natural Anti Aliasing effect that CRT TVs do
3. No worries about bulb life (as I said 14000 hours and still strong)
4. outstanding response time (especially when compared to LCD projectors)
5. Fantastic black levels
though they are generally dimmer and there is the threat of burn in (though I've never experienced any) then there's the whole calibration issue and the fact that they're huge and heavy... my particular model weighs over 200lbs... not exactly portable
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:15:00 PM
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200 lbs, good grief.
How much was it bro?
you going to try and sell it? No Im not interested, just curious.
Yeah I was always interested in projectors, but the nagging things like bad blacks(lcd's), being huge and heavy, and pricey always pushed me away from actually buying one. Thank goodness for DLP indeed
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Title: Projector
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 10, 2005, 10:38:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:42:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:53:00 PM
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Post by: twistedsymphony on September 10, 2005, 10:11:00 PM
It's got well over 14000 hours on it and still going strong, no burn in or anything
I used to have it on a push cart because the landlord of my apartment wouldn't let me mount it to the ceiling (not that I blame him
)..... anyway long story short... the calibration process to properly sync the 3 CRTs on the screen could take up to an hour if you were doing it alone... and well I had lots of drunk friends who would accidentally knock the cart around and constantly warrant re-calibration.... thank god for DLPs A few nice things about CRTs though:
1. loads of native resolutions supported
2. Has the same natural Anti Aliasing effect that CRT TVs do
3. No worries about bulb life (as I said 14000 hours and still strong)
4. outstanding response time (especially when compared to LCD projectors)
5. Fantastic black levels
though they are generally dimmer and there is the threat of burn in (though I've never experienced any) then there's the whole calibration issue and the fact that they're huge and heavy... my particular model weighs over 200lbs... not exactly portable
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:15:00 PM
200 lbs, good grief.
How much was it bro?
you going to try and sell it? No Im not interested, just curious.
Yeah I was always interested in projectors, but the nagging things like bad blacks(lcd's), being huge and heavy, and pricey always pushed me away from actually buying one. Thank goodness for DLP indeed
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 10, 2005, 10:38:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:42:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 10:53:00 PM
QUOTE(brooksie48 @ Sep 11 2005, 01:02 AM)
If you break into your movie theater and mail me the $250,000 projector I will give you my house. I can post pics if you need them.
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 11:33:00 PM
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all that nice land, I hope you have shooting ranges installed
why dont you send me your free 360, you can afford one more than I obviously. I have too many other hobbies that come first
where do you live again?
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 11:37:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: brooksie48 on September 11, 2005, 09:52:00 AM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on September 11, 2005, 09:55:00 AM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Efompor on October 10, 2005, 10:54:00 PM
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CRT projectors are going for dirt cheap these days, best deal you can get...
Look what just sold on ebay for $300... 1600x1200, 20,000:1 contrast ratio and commonly worth around $3500. Businesses are just liquidating these things for pennies on the dollar in order to get more portable DLP/LCD projectors
And I just got a Sony VPH-1030Q1 CRT projector for absolutely free from my friend... he owns a refurbishing business and had a buch to just get rid of. It only supports up to 480p but hey it was free!
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Title: Projector
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 11, 2005, 05:06:00 AM
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Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 11:33:00 PM
all that nice land, I hope you have shooting ranges installed
why dont you send me your free 360, you can afford one more than I obviously. I have too many other hobbies that come first
where do you live again?
Post by: Deftech on September 10, 2005, 11:37:00 PM
Post by: brooksie48 on September 11, 2005, 09:52:00 AM
Post by: Deftech on September 11, 2005, 09:55:00 AM
Post by: Efompor on October 10, 2005, 10:54:00 PM
Look what just sold on ebay for $300... 1600x1200, 20,000:1 contrast ratio and commonly worth around $3500. Businesses are just liquidating these things for pennies on the dollar in order to get more portable DLP/LCD projectors
And I just got a Sony VPH-1030Q1 CRT projector for absolutely free from my friend... he owns a refurbishing business and had a buch to just get rid of. It only supports up to 480p but hey it was free!
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 11, 2005, 05:06:00 AM
QUOTE(Efompor @ Oct 11 2005, 01:05 AM)
CRT projectors are going for dirt cheap these days, best deal you can get...
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on October 11, 2005, 03:08:00 PM
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I mean 360 brother
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Title: Projector
Post by: evildeadx213 on October 12, 2005, 10:45:00 AM
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Post by: Deftech on October 11, 2005, 03:08:00 PM
I mean 360 brother
Post by: evildeadx213 on October 12, 2005, 10:45:00 AM
QUOTE(EMAGDNIM @ Oct 12 2005, 04:52 PM)
I'm in the works right now planning out my HT. I have the screen picked, and my hi-fi picked out but I have to decide on a PJ soon. Its starting to get to me.
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Title: Projector
Post by: Deftech on October 12, 2005, 04:35:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 12, 2005, 07:04:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: Efompor on October 22, 2005, 03:03:00 PM
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Title: Projector
Post by: cyberg4 on October 22, 2005, 03:26:00 PM
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Nice! I got a Sony VPH 1271Q in the basement, love it! I just need to get an input board that supports 720p (best that's in there is an s-video) in time for the X360, but it still looks awesome. I got it at a government auction a year ago for $400 (canadian).
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Title: Projector
Post by: Efompor on October 23, 2005, 01:45:00 AM
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Post by: Deftech on October 12, 2005, 04:35:00 PM
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 12, 2005, 07:04:00 PM
Post by: Efompor on October 22, 2005, 03:03:00 PM
Post by: cyberg4 on October 22, 2005, 03:26:00 PM
Post by: Efompor on October 23, 2005, 01:45:00 AM
QUOTE(cyberg4 @ Oct 22 2005, 11:37 PM)
Nice! I got a Sony VPH 1271Q in the basement, love it! I just need to get an input board that supports 720p (best that's in there is an s-video) in time for the X360, but it still looks awesome. I got it at a government auction a year ago for $400 (canadian).