Moving to a new home in 2 weeks

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
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And the basement has the perfect location for a home theater setup using a projector. I'm going to sell or give away my 73 inch DLP and go with a 3d projector and either paint the wall or use a screen.

What's the best bang for the buck in 3d projectors out there? Distance isn't an issue. Do all of them use active glasses or passive? Is it even worth it for a 3d projector or just get a good regular projector? I'm going to hook it up to my receiver which will have a kodi computer, Xbox one, and possibly a cable box hooked up to it in the future (using OTA for now.)
 
Nov 29, 2006
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Im not a 3D fan at all. Youd probably have to say if you really want 3D or not for us to narrow it down.
 

RearAdmiral

Platinum Member
Jun 24, 2004
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I personally use the Sony HW50es. The HW40es is just as fine depending on your budget. They are some of the better all around projectors. I wanted 3d for a while as well, but that soon turned to meh. I believe the DLP projectors are best for 3d, but you may sacrifice some 2d viewing. Think on your percentages of viewing. Even though I wanted 3d I knew 2d would vastly outweigh it and settled on the sony. My sony uses active glasses.

I really wouldn't paint the wall either, screen material and frames are cheap. It is pretty typical that walls won't even really be flat, let alone any other issues that will come up. It "works" but I frankly don't see the point when having an excellent screen for a few hundred bucks is possible.

Regardless any setup will be pretty cool. Just get a screen pretty plz!
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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tbqhwy.com
that one seems solid, the BenQ linked above is also solid, the Optima has higher light output which may be important
 

s44

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2006
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Yeah, looks like AVS Forum people prefer the BenQ for its superior color wheel and fault the Optoma for boosting output at the expense of color accuracy.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
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Keep in mind that projector is 3D Compatible not 3D Ready. The difference is that the prior requires some extra hardware to perform 3D where the latter does not. In this case, you need an IR emitter (that plugs into the projector) and compatible glasses.

As for your question on passive vs. active, active 3D projectors are far, far more common much like their screen-based counterparts. However, unlike their screen-base counterparts, passive 3D projector systems are usually far more complex. Passive 3D projector systems either work by using two projectors with a polarity filter on each, or they use a single projector with an alternating polarity filter. The latter is actually not "true" passive 3D as it's actually just converting active 3D to passive 3D since it alternates between the two polarities. However, there's also one more important thing to keep in mind about passive 3D. Passive 3D requires a silver screen. Active 3D does not have a screen requirement.
 

kgokal

Senior member
Jul 20, 2004
423
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I bought an Epson Home Theater 2030, for $800 and couldn't be happier...
needs pretty low mount to not have to use keystoning...
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
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that one seems solid, the BenQ linked above is also solid, the Optima has higher light output which may be important


yeah, that benq is nicer and I have the same problem as the first reviewer. I have an AC duct going halfway through the room so my setup would be almost exactly like his. Thanks for everyone who recommended it.
 
Nov 29, 2006
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yeah, that benq is nicer and I have the same problem as the first reviewer. I have an AC duct going halfway through the room so my setup would be almost exactly like his. Thanks for everyone who recommended it.

Now you just need to invite me over to check it out when hooked up :p
 

giantpandaman2

Senior member
Oct 17, 2005
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I'd go with the BenQ w1070 or Epson 2030. If you have good light control: w1070. If you have poor light control: 2030.
 

007ELmO

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2005
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I took the Epson 3010 (their first 3D projector) and it had horrible crosstalk. I ended up with an Optoma HD33 and it's great for 3D.

Ensure your walls and ceiling are painted black (or a dark color), use triple plush velvet black fabric on your entire front wall around your screen (syfabrics.com): http://www.syfabrics.com/View.aspx/Plush-Triple-Velvet/Black-Plush-Triple-Velvet/681/264. The cheapest and biggest investment you can do for your image quality.

I use a painted screen as well, you can roll it but most spray it on. Order of operations, paint the walls/ceiling, spray the screen, apply black velvet fabric around screen to encase image.

I recommend BenQ or Optoma for budget 3D.
 
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slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
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I would buy a motorized screen. I don't want to do anything to the wall.
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
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Ordered the benq projector, mount, and HDMI wall outlets tonight. After reading up on screens, I think I'm just going to paint the wall. Unless the screen is tab tensioner (and pricey) it will develop waves in a year or two. I also ordered the 4 pack of the active 3d glasses earlier today. Everything should be here on Tuesday.