I need help in deciding If/When/What TV to get.

[Squisher]

I?m lost as to what TV to buy or even what kind of TV to buy or even if I should wait a while before I make the jump. I don?t even know if my wants are unrealistic. All I can say right now is that I want BIG. Big as in bigger than my 10 year old 65? RPTV. I?d sure like to keep the budget for this thing under $2500, but I guess if that is unrealistic I could revise it upward from there.

I sit about 10 feet from the screen now with the room being 14 feet across at its width. With a 30 degree viewing angle that works out to around to an 85? TV.

Here are some views of my current room setup:

From the front

A little from the side

Side and back

You can see I?ve gotten my rear speakers up in the air now.

As you can see from the pics, with the size of TV I want I?d need to have a free standing screen if I go with a projector because the wall behind the TV isn?t flat and it?ll even be a little in front of a window. Btw-the drapes do a pretty good job of darkening the room.

I know that if I go with a rear projection HDTV, at my budget this points to a DLP, but that scares me. I probably watch a couple of hours of TV a night (maybe I?m kidding myself and it?s a lot more) so having to replace bulbs regularly is not something I would want. One DLP that caught my eye was the Mitsubishi 73? Best Buy link Although, some have said the fan is a little noisy.

Now, I understand that later this year some laser rear projection TVs are coming out that won?t be prone to bulb failures. So, maybe my best bet is to wait until then, although I have no idea what the price is going to be on these. They might be way outta my price range.

Someone take me by the hand and lead me through my muddled thinking.

 

[vi edit]

I think you want a projector..not a projection TV. At least for the size you want at the budget you are allowing.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I think you want a projector..not a projection TV. At least for the size you want at the budget you are allowing.

seconded. I almost posted that last night.

Projector will be cheaper, more flexible, and give you the biggest screen.

 

[Lemodular]

Anything over 65" in that buget will have to be a projector as everyone said. In your case however, you will need to rearrange your room and get better (black-out) drapes. Although not optimal, you may have to"flip" the room to get the screen close to centered in the room.

 

[Squisher]

Ok, at what price point could I realistically be looking at something besides a front projector? I'm not going to say money is no object, but the only thing holding me back is my own guilty conscience.


As for rearranging the room, that's out. I'll just have to move the Sub that is all the way to the left to under the screen or TV, and everything will just move to the left a little.


Blackout curtains are fine. I know they make a blackout liner that goes under the curtains.

 

[krotchy]

Your only option for a bulb-free TV bigger than 65" is the Samsung HL67A750, LED based DLP, an its a whopping 2" bigger than your old one. However it has a much better picture than your old TV I guarantee.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: krotchy
Your only option for a bulb-free TV bigger than 65" is the Samsung HL67A750, LED based DLP, an its a whopping 2" bigger than your old one. However it has a much better picture than your old TV I guarantee.

I totally agree with this! Amazon has it for $2500 shipped, but it's not out yet. Since he doesn't want to change bulbs, a projector won't do.

 

[pennylane]

I think if you can control the light in your room and don't have issues with watching in the dark, you should get a projector. I see curtains, but it's a basement?
Changing bulbs on a projector isn't a big deal. It's probably no more than once a year and more likely once every 1 1/2 or 2 years.
I don't know if there are TV's you could realistically afford that are bigger than 70" or so TV's. If you want 85" (or better yet, 100"), a projector is the only affordable solution for the non-gazillionaire. Size is part of picture quality. Having a 100" screen is very nice.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: fanerman91
I think if you can control the light in your room and don't have issues with watching in the dark, you should get a projector. I see curtains, but it's a basement?
Changing bulbs on a projector isn't a big deal. It's probably no more than once a year and more likely once every 1 1/2 or 2 years.
I don't know if there are TV's you could realistically afford that are bigger than 70" or so TV's. If you want 85" (or better yet, 100"), a projector is the only affordable solution for the non-gazillionaire. Size is part of picture quality. Having a 100" screen is very nice.

It is a walkout basement, two 5' X 4' windows and a door-wall. pic from the back

Changing the bulb won't be hard, but inconvenient and expensive.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is most of what you watch 4:3 or 16:9?

That's a 4:3 screen you have now looking at the pictures, so if you're getting a 16:9 TV, it's going to have to be a really big one to make the 4:3 images look the same size, but if you watch a lot of 16:9 or 2.35:1 content, then a 16:9 TV that's even a similar size is going to have the overall advantage in your viewing angle.

A 60" 16:9 TV will give you the same actual image size as your 65" when viewing 16:9 or 2.35:1 material.

On the other hand, then viewing 4:3 content, you'd have to get an 80" 16:9 TV to keep the same image size.

Could you move the couch forward towards the screen to give yourself a larger image size?

It seems like LED DLP to avoid bulbs is your best option for getting away without bulbs, but I've been very happy going front projection personally. It looks like you're certainly handy enough to make your own screen based on those speaker mounts for the back so you'd have no problem getting a screen the size you want and the position you want down there.

I was hesitant to go with a front projector first based on bulb cost as well, but I'm quite glad I did.

Also, there are some people that have multiple displays for the same setup. For example, you could have a pull-down screen that comes down in front of the display you have right now. You could watch your current TV when it's just watching the news or something as to not use up the bulb in the projector and then when you want a cinematic experience, fire up the projector and enjoy.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Is most of what you watch 4:3 or 16:9?

That's a 4:3 screen you have now looking at the pictures, so if you're getting a 16:9 TV, it's going to have to be a really big one to make the 4:3 images look the same size, but if you watch a lot of 16:9 or 2.35:1 content, then a 16:9 TV that's even a similar size is going to have the overall advantage in your viewing angle.

A 60" 16:9 TV will give you the same actual image size as your 65" when viewing 16:9 or 2.35:1 material.

On the other hand, then viewing 4:3 content, you'd have to get an 80" 16:9 TV to keep the same image size.

Could you move the couch forward towards the screen to give yourself a larger image size?

It seems like LED DLP to avoid bulbs is your best option for getting away without bulbs, but I've been very happy going front projection personally. It looks like you're certainly handy enough to make your own screen based on those speaker mounts for the back so you'd have no problem getting a screen the size you want and the position you want down there.

I was hesitant to go with a front projector first based on bulb cost as well, but I'm quite glad I did.

Also, there are some people that have multiple displays for the same setup. For example, you could have a pull-down screen that comes down in front of the display you have right now. You could watch your current TV when it's just watching the news or something as to not use up the bulb in the projector and then when you want a cinematic experience, fire up the projector and enjoy.

Once I get the HDTV I'll get a HD box so I'd say along with DVD watching it'll probably end up 60/40, watching more HD. I'm already 10 feet from the screen now so I don't think I'll want to move the screen/TV in.

One of the reasons I wanted to go big that I really didn't want to downgrade too much in image size or maybe go bigger.

It's just that if I make the decision to go with a projector it'll be more work for me. I'll probably mount the projector in the room behind the couch which is like a 13' X 20' storage/furnace room and I'll have to devise some kind of screen stand that'll allow me to put the sub and the center speaker under it.

Oh well, if I go with a projector, do you have any recommendations in the $2500-$3000 range?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

A third one of those speaker mounts would be a great projector mount imo.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/

Is a great resource for keeping up with what the best units are. It actually changes really quickly what the best units are at any given price point just because the technology is progressing so rapidly. I haven't been keeping up with it for several months so I don't know what the hottest new projector is for that range.

Do you know if you're bothered by the rainbow effect? With large screen sizes and close viewing, your eyes are going to be moving around a lot which can aggravate the effect of this.
There are a lot of great 1080p projectors in that range and I haven't done enough research on the current models to really tell you a good short list.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Squisher
It's just that if I make the decision to go with a projector it'll be more work for me. I'll probably mount the projector in the room behind the couch which is like a 13' X 20' storage/furnace room and I'll have to devise some kind of screen stand that'll allow me to put the sub and the center speaker under it.

Oh well, if I go with a projector, do you have any recommendations in the $2500-$3000 range?

Sanyo Z2000 Price listed at $2,495, but it's cheaper if you email them. Has a $600 rebate until 5/31. The price will make it the lowest for 1080p.

Panasonic's 1000u $1969

Mitsubishi HC4900 $2299

BenQ W5000 $2349

Panasonic PT-AE2000 $2599

Sony VPL-VW40 $2799

Epson HC1080UB $2900

Shopping for a projector in this price range is hard, because odds are you won't find a local place that has the models on display. In my area there are plenty of places that have projectors on display, but they are in the higher price range. That means reviews & word of mouth are your main resource. I would start with the buyers guide on projectorcentral, and then read some reviews.

Here's another good review site.

I advise you to then go to avsforum, and find the official thread for each model you might be interested in. Be prepared for information overload, because most of the threads are huge.

Screen choice is also important, and the price range is pretty large. Be sure to go by the screen section on avsforum, so you can get an idea of what you might want. They also sell screens, and their prices are good.

Another cost you must consider is cabling, and a mount for the projector. A friend of mine thought he ordered everything, but I sadly had to bring him back to earth when I saw he didn't get any type of video cables. I got a good laugh, but don't let it happen to you.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Samsung's 72" 1080p DLP HL-T7288W is $3,150 delivered at OneCall. I haven't looked for any better deals.

I know that if I go with a rear projection HDTV, at my budget this points to a DLP, but that scares me. I probably watch a couple of hours of TV a night (maybe I?m kidding myself and it?s a lot more) so having to replace bulbs regularly is not something I would want.

You'll have the same problem with a projector, but at least with Samsung's models from 2005-on this doesn't seem to be a big worry.

Anecdotally, my brother's 61" Samsung from Spring 2005 is still on its first bulb, and so is my 50" Samsung from Summer 2006. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Samsung's 72" 1080p DLP HL-T7288W is $3,150 delivered at OneCall. I haven't looked for any better deals.

I know that if I go with a rear projection HDTV, at my budget this points to a DLP, but that scares me. I probably watch a couple of hours of TV a night (maybe I?m kidding myself and it?s a lot more) so having to replace bulbs regularly is not something I would want.

You'll have the same problem with a projector, but at least with Samsung's models from 2005-on this doesn't seem to be a big worry.

Anecdotally, my brother's 61" Samsung from Spring 2005 is still on its first bulb, and so is my 50" Samsung from Summer 2006. Your mileage may vary.

I hate to bump this dead thread, but ever since Mr. Simmons recommended this TV 12 days ago, the price has been dropping like a rock. Right now buy.com has it for $2200 with $75 shipping. I figure if I wait a month it'll be free after rebate.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: Squisher

I hate to bump this dead thread, but ever since Mr. Simmons recommended this TV 12 days ago, the price has been dropping like a rock. Right now buy.com has it for $2200 with $75 shipping. I figure if I wait a month it'll be free after rebate.

Just to make sure you are aware, this TV is last years model. This years is the HL72A650.

I still recommend the HL67A750 for the LED bulb advantages, but if those 5 inches mean alot to you I recommend finding a deal on the 2008 model.