Name some good HD Projectors

[Kabob]

Some friends of mine just bought a house and are looking for a TV. Well, they're about to drop alot of money on a 55" LED TV (which they really don't need), I'm trying to convince them to do otherwise. They have a great den with plenty of room for throw on a projector.

I don't know alot about projectors, trying to figure out what some good options are for them. I've heard good things about the InFocus X10 but it's been out for a few months, didn't know what the best options are.

Thanks!

 

[BassBomb]

I thought this was about HID projectors, and I got excited

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

There will hopefully be a lot of price changes and new models available shortly since CEDIA 2009 just finished.

http://www.projectorcentral.co...timedia-projectors.htm

How much are the going to be spending?

Things to consider
- Light controlled rooms are best
- Seating distance / projector mounting / throw range etc. all have to be considered
- Bulb cost
- More tweaking likely to be involved
- Receiver / audio system pretty much required
- Might not really appeal to people for versatile content (like watching the news)

I'm probably going to end up getting my third projector soon, so I do like them, but I know they're not for everyone. Trying to convince someone else might not be the best thing. If they're open to the possibility, maybe go see a front projector in person at a home theater type store (that sets them up in a pseudo home environment) and let them decide if that's what they want to do.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Like YoYo said there are a lot of things to consider with a projector. If set up properly they can result in an absolutely epic viewing experience.

With bulb costs they are not great for just normal TV watching, and once setup it becomes painful to plug new things into them. Your buddies won't be able to bring over their 360 or whatever and easily hook things up, unless you set up extension cables for every input on the projector to allow easy rehook ups. Also cooling for the projector needs to be considered. Projector bulbs get really really really freaking hot and need to be in an open area otherwise your projector will overheat and shut off mid movie, which is always exciting. (I live in the central valley of California and during the day I can't use my projector as the room gets too hot and it will overheat)

Definitely get your friends to go look at a projector with you. Often times people are put off by projectors at first because they think of the crappy tv projectors from the 80s and such. Show people a modern projector and they usually drool. Also if you can get a projector screen, they help the picture, especially darker scenes which can become washed out especially as the bulb starts to dim.

Edit: I love my projector and wouldn't get rid of it for anything, except maybe a 1080p one (mine is only 720p)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Mine is 720p as well. I have my eye on the Panasonic AE4000 or the Epson 8500UB as a replacement.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I've got a 720p Sharp, and I love it. I'm looking forward to getting a 1080p, but you can't get anything for a used 720p projector, so I'm going to use up more of the bulb before I switch.

That $999 1080p Optima got my attention, though...

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

To reiterate one point: How much money is your friend willing to spend?

Ambient light can be overcome partially with a quality high gain screen. Strange mounting limitations like low ceilings or a hanging ceiling fan means you'll need to rear shelf mount the projector. This means you'll need something with better placement flexibility, typically LCD projectors.

The entry to mid-level segment (especially DLP) is exploding with new projectors. But first you've got to nail down a budget.

 

[JackBurton]

Since you didn't specify budget, I'll recommend the Sony VPL-VW200. Beautiful image and very quiet. Just make sure you get a nice screen.

If your buddy has a bigger budget, check out a SIM2. Awesome picture quality, but it comes with an awesome price.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Since you didn't specify budget, I'll recommend the Sony VPL-VW200. Beautiful image and very quiet. Just make sure you get a nice screen.

If your buddy has a bigger budget, check out a SIM2. Awesome picture quality, but it comes with an awesome price.

I wonder how the new VPL-VW85 for $8k compares
http://www.sonystyle.com/webap...Id=8198552921665968176

Or the new JVC units
HD550/HD950/HD990
($5k/$8k/$10k)

I would suspect that these new models would put up a good fight to the VW200 with its "ancient" technology from 2007

It's amazing how fast these things are improving.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Since you didn't specify budget, I'll recommend the Sony VPL-VW200. Beautiful image and very quiet. Just make sure you get a nice screen.

If your buddy has a bigger budget, check out a SIM2. Awesome picture quality, but it comes with an awesome price.

I wonder how the new VPL-VW85 for $8k compares
http://www.sonystyle.com/webap...Id=8198552921665968176

Or the new JVC units
HD550/HD950/HD990
($5k/$8k/$10k)

I would suspect that these new models would put up a good fight to the VW200 with its "ancient" technology from 2007

It's amazing how fast these things are improving.

Yep. I'd actually like to see a VW200 vs VW85 comparison. If the VW85 proves to be a better projector at a much lower cost, that would be awesome. Especially since the replacement bulb for the VW2000 is ~$1000. :Q

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Since you didn't specify budget, I'll recommend the Sony VPL-VW200. Beautiful image and very quiet. Just make sure you get a nice screen.

If your buddy has a bigger budget, check out a SIM2. Awesome picture quality, but it comes with an awesome price.

I wonder how the new VPL-VW85 for $8k compares
http://www.sonystyle.com/webap...Id=8198552921665968176

Or the new JVC units
HD550/HD950/HD990
($5k/$8k/$10k)

I would suspect that these new models would put up a good fight to the VW200 with its "ancient" technology from 2007

It's amazing how fast these things are improving.

Yep. I'd actually like to see a VW200 vs VW85 comparison. If the VW85 proves to be a better projector at a much lower cost, that would be awesome. Especially since the replacement bulb for the VW2000 is ~$1000. :Q

Yikes.

My boss at work bought a ~$6000 screen and the guys that were doing the install of the screen and projector were dumbfounded when he was going to purchase a sub-$3000 projector to go with it.

He's an economist and we had been talking about how quickly projectors were improving and dropping in price. I think we both were of the opinion that spending more than $10k on a projector was a bad move considering that a model just as good or better would likely be available for half the price within 1-2 years.

I think he settled on a ~$5000 unit for his setup.

 

[Muadib]

What screen did he get for 6k?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Muadib
What screen did he get for 6k?

He tried out a couple models in his home. Both he and the installer were not happy with the first one (had a slight crease in the material), so he got a replacement of the same model. That one also had the crease.

They then went with an alternative and they were happy with it.

I don't remember which company was which, but I know this was one of them
http://www.screenresearch.com/website/index.php

The other one might have been a Screen Excellence model
http://www.screenexcellence.com/

Other possibilities are Stewart and Vutec, but I think it was the two companies linked above. I don't know about the model other than it was around a 92" size and supposed to be excellent in terms of acoustic transparency.

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I've got a 720p Sharp, and I love it. I'm looking forward to getting a 1080p, but you can't get anything for a used 720p projector, so I'm going to use up more of the bulb before I switch.

That $999 1080p Optima got my attention, though...

Hmm. So how much would my NEC LT150 be worth? Once the bulb dies on it, I'm debating whether to get a new bulb at $200 or a new projector at $1k. It still would only be a 720p like my LT150.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
I've got a 720p Sharp, and I love it. I'm looking forward to getting a 1080p, but you can't get anything for a used 720p projector, so I'm going to use up more of the bulb before I switch.

That $999 1080p Optima got my attention, though...

Hmm. So how much would my NEC LT150 be worth? Once the bulb dies on it, I'm debating whether to get a new bulb at $200 or a new projector at $1k. It still would only be a 720p like my LT150.

Well price checks aren't really allowed, but you can try to find some used ones on ebay, craigslist, audiogon, videogon, etc. to see what the going rate is.

You can get a 1080p DLP for under $1k now btw.

 

[SirPionn]

I'm not sure how much you're looking to spend, but a friend of mine just bought a Aaxatech AF115. He wrote a review of it recently at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...=17192660#post17192660 .

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

go ceiling mount!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

go ceiling mount!

I will once I have a place I'll actually be staying in for a long period of time. I'm still renting and I don't want to screw with installing things.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

go ceiling mount!

I will once I have a place I'll actually be staying in for a long period of time. I'm still renting and I don't want to screw with installing things.

What's a few screws into the studs? :laugh:

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

go ceiling mount!

I will once I have a place I'll actually be staying in for a long period of time. I'm still renting and I don't want to screw with installing things.

What's a few screws into the studs? :laugh:

Well I got 100% of my security deposit back on my last place after living there for ~3 years. I'd like to get out clean again

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
I think I can stop reading at no horizontal lens shift.

I've moved my room around and I think I'm going to have to use some horizontal lens shift to get my projector set up since I'll have a subwoofer at the center of the back of the room. I guess I could build around it though... (my projector is shelf mounted)

I'm thinking maybe the new $3000 Sony VPL-HW15 would be a better option?

go ceiling mount!

I will once I have a place I'll actually be staying in for a long period of time. I'm still renting and I don't want to screw with installing things.

What's a few screws into the studs? :laugh:

Well I got 100% of my security deposit back on my last place after living there for ~3 years. I'd like to get out clean again

Or build a rack that allows you to put the pj over the sub I guess.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Or build a rack that allows you to put the pj over the sub I guess.

Yeah, that's the other strategy I was thinking about. I may end up doing that. I'll try out my AE900U's lens shift with the projector to the side first before I decide on the issue.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: sdifox

Or build a rack that allows you to put the pj over the sub I guess.

Yeah, that's the other strategy I was thinking about. I may end up doing that. I'll try out my AE900U's lens shift with the projector to the side first before I decide on the issue.

Mitsubishi projector do have side shift.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Sony makes great projectors. I just wish they were brighter. The next step up in LCoS projectors if you want more lumens is the JVC HS15/HD550 and costs $2k more.

I'm dying to replace my NEC HT1000. I just can't seem to nail down a budget. The glut of DLP's coming out in the next couple months has me hopeful though.