[subversus]

I'd say DLP, it's super fast repsonse time it good for games. There's some short throw 720p 3D projectors like the Optoma GT750 that throw out something crazy like 3000+ lumens, that's more than twice what I have and tbh mines more than enough. GT750 will do 100" from around 6 feet back iirc, no zoom though so you'd physically have to move the projector closer or farther back to adjust screen size.. Even with blinds down that thing will be really bright and watchable, but of course contrast will suffer. Zero input lag when running it's native 720p from what I remember reading a while back, that might not be 100% true though. There's a downside in it's slower colourwheel, that + high brightness might make rainbows more noticable but simply cutting the light output down a bit can help if it's a problem. I'm not knocking LCD at all, they can be really good and placement is easy but like I said before, especially at 720p the pixel grid can be noticable. edit: review that mentions input lag: http://www.projectorreviews.com/game...projector.html I assume he's comparing it to a CRT or zero lag monitor or the test is irrelevant.

Thanks. I have read that DLPs might be bad for eyes though.

[drugstore_cowboy]

It's not bad for your eyes, just hard to live with if you see them all the time.

Try and get a demo first if you are worried.

[Durante]

ok. I'm leaning towards buying 1280*720 projector. If we talk about input lag - DLP or LCD? And is it possible to watch it during a cloudy day + may be shutters closed?

You should get a DLP that can do 120 Hz. Since these are usually for 3D they'll be brighter, and 120 Hz DLP is basically as good as 120 Hz CRT in terms of response time (that is, the best you can get).

[Always-honest]

Thanks. I have read that DLPs might be bad for eyes though.

depends.. if your eyes are sensitive to the rainbow effect, then it's impossible not to be distracted by it.

But there are DLP projectors that limit this effect.. maybe they are far more expensive though.

I bought a LCD projector because of it.

I'm still sooo happy every time i watch a movie, play a game or watch photographs on my HD projector. Even after a couple of years. Highly recommend one to everyone.

[subversus]

I'm still sooo happy every time i watch a movie, play a game or watch photographs on my HD projector. Even after a couple of years. Highly recommend one to everyone.

one of the reasons I want a projector is because of eyes. Everything that emits light puts strain on eyes after some time. While everything that reflects light doesn't.

do you use it in the daytime?

[Always-honest]

one of the reasons I want a projector is because of eyes. Everything that emits light puts strain on eyes after some time. While everything that reflects light doesn't. do you use it in the daytime?

Sometimes, i bought thick curtains just for the projector. If you want to play during daytime, make sure you can really make your room dark, or that your projector has a shitload of light.. my projector is only great when it's dark. But it's a couple of years old.

Buy one. Seriously. BLu rays movies (like planet earth or any movie), or hd shows like breaking bad, HD sport-games, HD video games, etc. It's so much more immersive. Watching holiday photographs is like being there again.

Like i said, i have a great panasonc plasma. Sure, when you get down to the specs and techs, it has better black values and beter colour, but the projector is just so much better as an experience.

I do hope you have great sound though. They sort of go hand in hand.

[drugstore_cowboy]

Use a grey screen or ND filter to cut light output at night, our setup in down in the lower end of cinema brightness and I never suffer from eyestrain from it.

[Mattlikewhoa]

Going for another projector demo today. It REALLY sucks that Sony is now making venders sell at MSRP. I should have pulled the trigger on a VW95 and called it a day. Now it's $1500 MORE then the last time I had seen it.

Forget that noise...I still don't like LCD tech so it's going to be DLP or LCOS.

In other news, I've started the basement. I am already over it HAHA...So much to do still :(

[subversus]

I watched the demo of LDP and LCD projectors. Couldn't stant LDP. Thought about buying LCD but my room is too small for it, I have to move buy different furniture to make that happen.

may be one day...

[drugstore_cowboy]

I watched the demo of LDP and LCD projectors. Couldn't stant LDP. Thought about buying LCD but my room is too small for it, I have to move buy different furniture to make that happen. may be one day...

I made my setup work in a tiny little room:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/membe...-box-room.html

[Mattlikewhoa]

Well, after going to another demo, and talking about the space with my wife we are going to run both a large panel display, and a projector in the basement.

So it looks like I need to look into tab tensioned screen for the space. I will wire the space so that I can use a electrical screen.

[b3b0p]

I made my setup work in a tiny little room: http://www.avforums.com/forums/membe...-box-room.html

wut?! The mirror? You are pointing at the mirror back to the screen, behind the projector in your open room.

That is bad ass. It's like a rear projector, but you are living inside it.

[Mattlikewhoa]

WOW I totally missed that. That's a rather smart setup drugstore_cowboy!

[drugstore_cowboy]

Yeah it's just that, projector faces backwards and the image bounces back onto the screen, works amazingly well!

There's another guy at the bottom of this thread I made who's got a similar setup too.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/proje...ted-image.html

[Always-honest]

Yeah it's just that, projector faces backwards and the image bounces back onto the screen, works amazingly well!

Ha, smart!

[Mattlikewhoa]

Picture from when I was working on the basement earlier...



The outline in awesome painters tape is the the screen size I'm planning. It's 112" so far. I am waiting to hear back from the manufacture about the case size for the 120" model. I'm planning to go with a tensioned drop down and mount a panel to the wall.

I can't wait till I'm enjoying movies on a large screen again...

After going for another projector demo over the weekend, I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase a JVC RS55/X70...

[subversus]

My problem is that the screen is too huge for me to comfortably watch it. It's like sitting in the first row in a very big cinema.

[Karak]

My problem is that the screen is too huge for me to comfortably watch it. It's like sitting in the first row in a very big cinema.

MANY MANY people have this complaint abour projectors. Addition space where people can walk and things that are unique like a Kinect for a 360 and so forth. Sadly you have to take it all into account. When we install them in homes we usually spend a good deal of time discussing the issues with the home owners to verify that it is really what they want. Projects can be installed in many ways to make the screen big but not BIG as well. Its all in the distance and projectors throw.

[OldJadedGamer]

My problem is that the screen is too huge for me to comfortably watch it. It's like sitting in the first row in a very big cinema.

My couch is about 15 feet away from the wall and I have a 120" viewing area. It's enough. If you sit too close it may not be worth the jump.

[Hawkian]

I've heard good things about this guy... http://www.amazon.com/Epson-PowerLite-Home-Cinema-8350/dp/B0044UHJWY/

That's what I've got. It's outstanding.

I stream 1080p through my PS3, play PS3 games, and sometimes use a 40' HDMI cable to connect my computer. 1080p, high anti-aliasing, awesome framrates, with a 360 controller on a 103'' screen.

Just started Assassin's Creed Revelations with this setup *melts*

[Mattlikewhoa]

My couch is about 15 feet away from the wall and I have a 120" viewing area. It's enough. If you sit too close it may not be worth the jump.

The picture above is 112" from 15 feet back (seating position). I can do a 120" from that distance. The place I was getting the demo from was talking me into a 128" at 15 feet because of the 4K lite tech in the JVC RS55/X70.

Some people state that they want to fill their wall, while others are more reserved. It's all up to the end user.

[OldJadedGamer]

The picture above is 112" from 15 feet back (seating position). I can do a 120" from that distance. The place I was getting the demo from was talking me into a 128" at 15 feet because of the 4K lite tech in the JVC RS55/X70. Some people state that they want to fill their wall, while others are more reserved. It's all up to the end user.

I'm a fill the wall kind of guy. I'm moving soon and won't have the 15 feet so I may lower the screen size.

[drugstore_cowboy]

Are you going for a 16:9 screen? If you haven't already looked into 2.35:1 setups, I suggest you do!

A cheap side masking system (mine was under £10) and almost certainly a smaller 16:9 image is a small sacrifice for a real cinema feel, plus every aspect ratio under 2.39:1 can be masked so no grey/black borders ever.

edit: providing the JVC has the zoom range for it, I'm almost certain it would.

[Mattlikewhoa]

Are you going for a 16:9 screen? If you haven't already looked into 2.35:1 setups, I suggest you do! A cheap side masking system (mine was under £10) and almost certainly a smaller 16:9 image is a small sacrifice for a real cinema feel, plus every aspect ratio under 2.39:1 can be masked so no grey/black borders ever. edit: providing the JVC has the zoom range for it, I'm almost certain it would.

I've toyed with the idea. Though I'm not one for zooming after seeing the difference while using an A Lens. I was thinking a 2:35 setup till I've decided to go from a fixed screen to a electric tensioned screen.

[ghibli99]

I made my setup work in a tiny little room: http://www.avforums.com/forums/membe...-box-room.html

Very cool... that Simpsons shot looks great, too!

[drugstore_cowboy]

I've toyed with the idea. Though I'm not one for zooming after seeing the difference while using an A Lens. I was thinking a 2:35 setup till I've decided to go from a fixed screen to a electric tensioned screen.

Anamorphic lenses themselves cause all sorts of issues you wouldn't get with zooming, the only thing they do better is in fill rate and brightness (at the expense of cost, sharpness, barrel distortion/pincusion, chromatic aberration and so on). D-ILA has a high fillrate any way.

If it's not for you, fair enough.

Very cool... that Simpsons shot looks great, too!

Thanks! I'm rubbish at taking photos, looks so much better in the flesh.

[Mattlikewhoa]

Anamorphic lenses themselves cause all sorts of issues you wouldn't get with zooming, the only thing they do better is in fill rate and brightness (at the expense of cost, sharpness, barrel distortion/pincusion, chromatic aberration and so on). D-ILA has a high fillrate any way. If it's not for you, fair enough.

Yeah I went over ALL of the options since spending $3K+ on an A Lens is something that you wouldn't want to regret. There were a TON of variables (a lot that you've mentioned) that I've gone over.

Now I'm looking for a good quality tensioned screen. I think I'll be going with a EluneVision Screen. I still haven't decided on gain or anything like that. I *could* make a HP screen work, but I'm kinda scared about the colour drop off because of the limited viewing cone.

[TommyT]

Older thread here but maybe someone can chime in. I went to have some electronics repaired last night and saw they had a pretty big projector. Asked if it was for sale and any information on it.

Guy says he just wanted his money back for it ($400) as he thought he could resell it but the area the store is in is not a good one. Says it's complete and works great, comes with all cables, remotes, etc. Model is an XD2000u. Doing a bit of research on it later today, but curious if anyone is familiar with it, knows if it's worth the investment to flip, good for movies/games/etc.

[drugstore_cowboy]

Had a quick look, seems to be an old data projector with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Data projectors often are bright but low contrast with slower colour wheels.

You could get a new 720p or a second hand 1080p home theatre model for around that.

[Always-honest]

Older thread here but maybe someone can chime in. I went to have some electronics repaired last night and saw they had a pretty big projector. Asked if it was for sale and any information on it. Guy says he just wanted his money back for it ($400) as he thought he could resell it but the area the store is in is not a good one. Says it's complete and works great, comes with all cables, remotes, etc. Model is an XD2000u. Doing a bit of research on it later today, but curious if anyone is familiar with it, knows if it's worth the investment to flip, good for movies/games/etc.

Don't.

Invest some time in finding a good HD projector for a reasonable price. Just watch online reviews and you'll find a good one within two hours of your time. You will enjoy that decision for years to come.

[The Abominable Snowman]

What brightness should I focus on if I wanted to get a projector that I wouldnt have to turn off all the lights in the room to get the full enjoyment? 4K lumens? More?

[drugstore_cowboy]

3000+ for a brighter room imo, contrast will still be a problem though.

My projctor is dialed down to 600 or so and it's still watchable for sports/games or general TV when a lamp is on.

edit: depends on screen size of course.

[The Abominable Snowman]

I wouldnt mind a 60-90" screen. Heard lots of people saying 84 is the sweet spot but I dont know if my poor eyes can process that much real estate. I'll just be watching Digital HD Television and a few movies and tv shows streaming from my PC, so 720P is fine resolution.

I guess 4000 lumens would be decent. Im looking at the BenQ MX717 with 5K Contrast ratio.

I just heard BenQ is a horrible brand.

[drugstore_cowboy]

Well it depends on your seating distance, too far back and you'd lose the wow of a big screen, too close and you'll see the pixel structure (moreso at 720p).

imo 90" is good for 8-10 feet back, soon get used to the size.

If you find the image too bright at that distance try a cheap ND filter to cut the light.

[Mattlikewhoa]

I just heard BenQ is a horrible brand.

Their build quality is not bad (There was a time where I wouldn't touch one if they'd have paid me). I'd stay away from Optoma for sure...

[Mattlikewhoa]

My screen arrived and if everything goes well, I should have it hung this weekend...



It's been almost a year without a projector setup, but I'm almost back into one...