Is $1k enough for a good projector?

[JMorton6]

What do I get for that price vs say $1500 or 2000? I know a good amount about HT, but have never used a projector in my life. Tks!

 

[skulkingghost]

1k is plenty, don't let anyone tell you different. I am currently running an Optoma HD I got for $550 on Amazon and its perfect, if you want to stretch your budget up to 1k try the Hd20 or HD33
http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-HD66-25.../dp/B002ZWU33U

 

[sdifox]

http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm

 

[Chess]

add a few hundred and you can get a stellar model from 2011s lineup easily

 

[A5]

Remember to budget for a screen and longer cables, too.

 

[JMorton6]

Thanks guys, I'll check all this out in a bit.

 

[vi edit]

How much flexibility do you have with your PJ placement? If you don't need lens shift then look at the Mitsubishi DLP's. 3800/4000 models are very nice 1080p devices. My 3800 has been going almost two years with no issues.

 

[Chapbass]

How much flexibility do you have with your PJ placement? If you don't need lens shift then look at the Mitsubishi DLP's. 3800/4000 models are very nice 1080p devices. My 3800 has been going almost two years with no issues.

I can +1 that. I use the Mits HC6500, which is a bit more expensive (anywhere from 2500-3200 when they first came out, several years ago now), and the 3800 models seem to be similar to it now, and IMO is pretty darn good.

 

[queequeg99]

What do I get for that price vs say $1500 or 2000? I know a good amount about HT, but have never used a projector in my life. Tks!

What do you watch and in what kind of environment (i.e. can you control ambient light)?

By moving up in price, you can get better blacks, more light, more placement flexibility (although I don't think you can get all three at the same time until you get into massively expensive units).

I got a projector last year and ended up focusing on the $1500-2000 market. I watch mainly BD movies (lots of sci-fi/fantasy movies with dark scenes) and occasionally sports. Although I can totally shut out ambient light when I want to (which I do when watching movies), I generally leave a shade or two open when watching sports. I ended up going with a BenQ W6000. It's a DLP projector that pumps out an insane amount of light. I was also looking at the Epson 8500UB and the Panny AE4000 but was concerned that they would look too washed out even under minimal ambient light conditions. Their blacks are supposed to be among the best you can get under $2,500 or so but they don't pump out a huge amount of light. My main concern with the BenQ was improving blacks when watching movies. However, by strictly controlling ambient light and using a high gain grey painted screen, I've been very happy with my set up.

Also, the BenQ has lens shift, which is pretty much unheard of in DLP projects near this price range.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

Woot has the Optoma HDs all the time, I've been running the HD20 for two years and love it... small, quiet, great picture, and plenty of inputs

 

[Chess]

Woot has the Optoma HDs all the time, I've been running the HD20 for two years and love it... small, quiet, great picture, and plenty of inputs

Those are nice projectors too

 

[Cstefan]

I ran an hd65 which was perfect till I moved to an apartment.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Would these projectors (say the Optoma HD20) suffice for an office/conference room? Or is there something special about business oriented models? Are they brighter to compensate for shitty lighting, or do they have longer lasting bulbs?

 

[vshah]

business oriented projectors are usually quite bright for the price, but they'll have square resolutions like 1024x786 or 1280x1024, not ideal for HT use.

they also may have more legacy inputs

 

[sdifox]

Would these projectors (say the Optoma HD20) suffice for an office/conference room? Or is there something special about business oriented models? Are they brighter to compensate for shitty lighting, or do they have longer lasting bulbs?

business models are cheaper than ht models. The business models have higher output but lower image quality and colour fideity.

 

[funboy6942]

Check out epsons clearance section and the regular section as well. Then go to visualapex and you can get this:

http://www.visualapex.com/Epson/Projector-Specifications.asp?For-The=Home-Cinema-8350

and you will be set. I have had my HC700 for 3 years now with no problems other then needing a bulb once which cost me around $190 for it. Epson makes some good shit

OH yeah I forgot to mention the one I pointed to you has a 4000 lamp hour and 2000 lumens so it will be good with ambient lighting, and if you get one youre going to love it. Best thing I ever did.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I got an Optoma 800x600 dlp projector for $300 on sale about 3 years ago. It was nice enough for us, though now it is exhibiting "white dot syndrome", and needs to be replaced. I guess that's $100 a year for the projector, which isn't too bad. I'm not sure if I would buy another DLP projector, though.

 

[Muse]

Check out epsons clearance section and the regular section as well. Then go to visualapex and you can get this:

http://www.visualapex.com/Epson/Projector-Specifications.asp?For-The=Home-Cinema-8350

and you will be set. I have had my HC700 for 3 years now with no problems other then needing a bulb once which cost me around $190 for it. Epson makes some good shit

OH yeah I forgot to mention the one I pointed to you has a 4000 lamp hour and 2000 lumens so it will be good with ambient lighting, and if you get one youre going to love it. Best thing I ever did.

I'm looking at that PJ too (Epson 8350), also the higher end Epson 8700ub. My main dissatisfaction with my 9 year old Sanyo PLV-Z2 is the blacks and contrast. Other than that it's fine for me, however someday I'll step up to 1080p, and the Z2 only does 720p. I'm just starting my search, so I may not get an Epson. My throw is 9'8" and I can control the light in the room very very will (almost pitch black), so I figure I don't need a super bright PJ. Maybe the 2000 lumens of the 8350 are overkill. Unless someone who knows tells me such and such a PJ is ideal for me, I'll read a ton of reviews before making my pick.

 

[bearxor]

I have a Epson 8150 that cost about $1300. The amount you spend depends totally on how much you care and what your placement environment looks like. My advice would be to start really thinking about what the room where your projector is going to be look like. Where do you want the projector? Where is the screen? Where will you sit?

Then, start hitting up projectorcentral.com hardcore. Use the distance calculator and start going through the forums and reviews.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I can +1 that. I use the Mits HC6500, which is a bit more expensive (anywhere from 2500-3200 when they first came out, several years ago now), and the 3800 models seem to be similar to it now, and IMO is pretty darn good.

+1 again ...

I love my HC3800. It ran me about 1500 when I bought it (Costco deal included spare bulb, mount, and 106 inch screen.)

 

[vbuggy]

I'm curious. How good is good in overall terms? I'm in the process of building my home theater setups and my 'me room' is going with a 2.5m screen (that's pretty much 106") with a ~4m (~12ft give or take) throw and the integrators are putting a DLA-X90 in there. I've had pretty extensive demos and I honestly felt that anything less contrasty / bright than what the JVC was throwing out in my situation would be... well, not 'good'.

 

[sdifox]

I'm curious. How good is good in overall terms? I'm in the process of building my home theater setups and my 'me room' is going with a 2.5m screen (that's pretty much 106") with a ~4m (~12ft give or take) throw and the integrators are putting a DLA-X90 in there. I've had pretty extensive demos and I honestly felt that anything less contrasty / bright than what the JVC was throwing out in my situation would be... well, not 'good'.

good enough means best you can do within your budget. I would love a Christie System 4k projector, but I can't even afford the power bill for the cooling system for that.

 

[vbuggy]

Fair enough. The X90 is the lowest-end PJ the integrators have demoed to me for use outside of the actual cinema room, and it's my first time buying a (let alone several) projector in, well, ages, so was wondering what kind of compromises were inherent in anything a lot cheaper.