1080p projector for under $2500?

[Chaotic42]

Hey all.

My 42" plasma has served me well, but it's time to consider upgrading. I was thinking about a 1080p projector. Are there any under $2500 that are worthwhile? What would you recommend? Would I be better off grabbing a ~70" TV for the same cost?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Panasonic AE3000U
Mitsubishi HC5500
Sanyo Z700
BenQ W5000

are all below $2500 street price and highly rated at projector central...

Time to start reading reviews and checking out AVSforum. Have you gone out and seen any front projectors in well set up demo environments to see if you like it?

Do you have a good room for this? (Total light control is ideal)

 

[chris2112617]

it's going to be in my basement kind og bad light.

 

[chris2112617]

not into rear projector. just lcd

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Panasonic AE3000U
Mitsubishi HC5500
Sanyo Z700
BenQ W5000

are all below $2500 street price and highly rated at projector central...

Time to start reading reviews and checking out AVSforum. Have you gone out and seen any front projectors in well set up demo environments to see if you like it?

Do you have a good room for this? (Total light control is ideal)

Yeah, my house is pretty dark. There are some good light-controlling curtains that I would install. My target wall is 120", IIRC. I will have to get a screen since the target wall was covered with rocks for some reason. The only projector I've seen in action was some 720p deal. It would be hard for me to get to see one of the projector's you've listed in action, or really any projectors. My AV resources are pretty limited down here. Maybe New Orleans.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll be back...

 

[manimal]

The New Sanyo plv-1080P is street priced for 1600ish right now and just came out as well. I am waiting for those things to get in stock at BB so I can test drive one.

Nice 720P dlp projos are nothing to sneeze at as well. I Use a optoma hd65 that I got for 699 that looks amazing on 120 inch screen.

 

[erwos]

Once you're spending that kind of money on a projector, it's time to move up to AVSForum. I'm tempted to kick it up to a projector eventually, as I have a nice wall for it - the ceiling mounting bit scares me, though.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Panasonic AE3000U
Mitsubishi HC5500
Sanyo Z700
BenQ W5000

are all below $2500 street price and highly rated at projector central...

Time to start reading reviews and checking out AVSforum. Have you gone out and seen any front projectors in well set up demo environments to see if you like it?

Do you have a good room for this? (Total light control is ideal)

Yeah, my house is pretty dark. There are some good light-controlling curtains that I would install. My target wall is 120", IIRC. I will have to get a screen since the target wall was covered with rocks for some reason. The only projector I've seen in action was some 720p deal. It would be hard for me to get to see one of the projector's you've listed in action, or really any projectors. My AV resources are pretty limited down here. Maybe New Orleans.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll be back...

Does that mean you're looking for a 120" screen, or that 120" is the maximum size it could be? Screen size is definitely a balancing act. I found that a 40 degree horizontal viewing angle was a good fit for my taste. I then made my screen the right size to produce that size based on my seating distance.
http://myhometheater.homestead...istancecalculator.html

Since you wouldn't have a flat wall to experiment with before getting the screen, you might want to consider projector central's movie theater method:
http://www.projectorcentral.co...ection_screen_size.htm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: chris2112617
it's going to be in my basement kind og bad light.

Originally posted by: chris2112617
not into rear projector. just lcd

Hi chris. Did you mean to post those messages in this thread?
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...239942&highlight_key=y


If you're looking for your own set with your own requirements, I would suggest starting your own thread and putting information about what you're looking for yourself in it. Having projector suggestions in this thread and suggestions for your own set in the same thread could get messy.

 

[Muadib]

When it comes to projectors in this price range, reviews & owners are your main source of info. Odds are that whatever you buy, it will be sight unseen, so doing your homework is a must!

Here are some sites to get you started:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/ This is the best site for reviews.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1078678 The best site for owners reviews, and deals.

Projector Reviews Not as good as Projector Central, but not bad.

Be sure to add the price of cables, a mount if you plan to put it on the ceiling, and a screen to your budget.

 

[Chapbass]

I just bought a mits HC6500 recently, and absolutely love it. Rumor has it you can get them from some sources for 2500, i believe.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: chris2112617
it's going to be in my basement kind og bad light.

huh? if it is in the basement, you can get 0 external light which is perfect for projector.


And there is no way you are going to get a 70" flat panel at the same price of a projector. Besides, 70" is too small for a projector Think 100" at least