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Home Theatre Projectors - Which ones are good for $1,500 or less?

I

Ilmater

Diamond Member
I need some help. I'm very naive in the area of home theatre procectors, so I'm wondering if anyone here in OT knows about them. Any help is greatli appreciated!!
 
hey..i was looking at projectors today too. held off on purchasing it for so long. had to stop myself each time by looking at my bank account and mentally subtracting the cost of teh projector.
 
I heard home projectors require a special light bulb that doesn't last that long and is expensive to replace. Is this true?
 
Originally posted by: Sureshot324
I heard home projectors require a special light bulb that doesn't last that long and is expensive to replace. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Depends on what is "long" for #1, and Yes to #2 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the projector is the lamp.
 
Originally posted by: Ilmater
I need some help. I'm very naive in the area of home theatre procectors, so I'm wondering if anyone here in OT knows about them. Any help is greatli appreciated!!
Click to expand...

It depends on what you'll be using it for. Dell Projectors are designed to be Power Point projectors, my friend who's a cheap @$$ bought one for his home theater and it looks like crap. After seeing that, you couldn't pay me enough to buy a Dell projector for my home theatre. If the main function of your projector will be TV/movies/games, then don't go with Dell. But there are so many factors in choosing a projectors you need to tell me alittle more like what room will it be in, what you watch, and what other components you have/want and what your total budget for you whole theatre will be.
 
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: Sureshot324
I heard home projectors require a special light bulb that doesn't last that long and is expensive to replace. Is this true?
Click to expand...

Depends on what is "long" for #1, and Yes to #2 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the projector is the lamp.
Click to expand...

The bulbs are quite expensive, I believe mine are $500 each, but they work like any other light bulb. They are rated for a certain number of hours usually several thousand or tens of thousands.
 
Originally posted by: JeffCos
Originally posted by: Ilmater
I need some help. I'm very naive in the area of home theatre procectors, so I'm wondering if anyone here in OT knows about them. Any help is greatli appreciated!!
Click to expand...
It depends on what you'll be using it for. Dell Projectors are designed to be Power Point projectors, my friend who's a cheap @$$ bought one for his home theater and it looks like crap. After seeing that, you couldn't pay me enough to buy a Dell projector for my home theatre. If the main function of your projector will be TV/movies/games, then don't go with Dell. But there are so many factors in choosing a projectors you need to tell me alittle more like what room will it be in, what you watch, and what other components you have/want and what your total budget for you whole theatre will be.
Click to expand...
OK, so I'll not go with the Dell. But can you explain why it would be so bad for HT when the specs are so good?

It will be in the living room in a loft. There are windows on one side that don't have shades.

It will be for regular TV viewing along with movies and such; everything someone would use their living room TV for: news, movies (DVD and HBO), maybe games (Xbox, PS2, etc.).

It's actually for my friend, but I'm curious as well. His budget basically leaves NO MORE than $1500 for the projector. He's starting from scratch, so he'll be purchasing all new home theater equipment.
 
Originally posted by: Ilmater
Originally posted by: JeffCos
Originally posted by: Ilmater
I need some help. I'm very naive in the area of home theatre procectors, so I'm wondering if anyone here in OT knows about them. Any help is greatli appreciated!!
Click to expand...
It depends on what you'll be using it for. Dell Projectors are designed to be Power Point projectors, my friend who's a cheap @$$ bought one for his home theater and it looks like crap. After seeing that, you couldn't pay me enough to buy a Dell projector for my home theatre. If the main function of your projector will be TV/movies/games, then don't go with Dell. But there are so many factors in choosing a projectors you need to tell me alittle more like what room will it be in, what you watch, and what other components you have/want and what your total budget for you whole theatre will be.
Click to expand...
OK, so I'll not go with the Dell. But can you explain why it would be so bad for HT when the specs are so good?

It will be in the living room in a loft. There are windows on one side that don't have shades.

It will be for regular TV viewing along with movies and such; everything someone would use their living room TV for: news, movies (DVD and HBO), maybe games (Xbox, PS2, etc.).

It's actually for my friend, but I'm curious as well. His budget basically leaves NO MORE than $1500 for the projector. He's starting from scratch, so he'll be purchasing all new home theater equipment.
Click to expand...

A projector would be worthless in your application. A front projector setup does not work well at all in a room with any signifigant ambiant light. So unless it will only be used after it's dark out, find a good rear projection unit. A DLP rear projection unit is best for a room with lots on ambiant light (you can turn up the contrast all the way and not worry about burnin issues).
 
Samsung DLP

I was in circuit city a few days ago and saw this TV. I believe it was $3300 and it blew everything else away, even more expensive stuff. If your friend was going to spend $1500 on his projector, this is well within the rest of his budget and he'll still be able to get some nice speakers for 5.1 (I suggest B&W's...if they're good enough for George Lucas' home editing room they're good enough for anyone)
 
My X1 is pretty incredible considering I ended up paying $770 for it 🙂 (+ tax)

But yes, if he's got uncovered windows, his projector will be pretty useless before 6pm (or 9pm here in Texas 🙁).

Living in a smallish apartment (not unlike a loft), I'm running into problems getting my furniture into a comfortable and stylish configuration in a living room that was obviously designed for a standard TV...

Check out these sketches I made in MS Paint: Link

Not that his place is shaped anything like mine but you can start to see how complicated it can be...
 
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