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Projector Advice

Kirby

Kirby

Lifer
My roommate is looking to get a projector for our dorm. He says he wants to spend $1000 or less. Anybody have suggestions? None of us know anything about them.
 
There are a couple good 720p DLP projectors for under $1k now.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

So do you have light control covered for the room? You probably don't have too many windows in the dorm, but you're going to want it to be as dark as possible in the room.

Does he have a sound system picked out for it?

Got a white wall?

How far away are you going to be sitting from the wall? How far will the projector be?
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
There are a couple good 720p DLP projectors for under $1k now.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

So do you have light control covered for the room? You probably don't have too many windows in the dorm, but you're going to want it to be as dark as possible in the room.

Does he have a sound system picked out for it?

Got a white wall?

How far away are you going to be sitting from the wall? How far will the projector be?
Click to expand...


Heres a pic of the room. PIC

We got sorta a sound system, heh. Bose speakers ( I know 😛) and a Sony reciever.

How far we are sitting and how far the projector is sorta depends on the projector. We don't know where to put it actually. We can't actually mount anything on the walls, so that remains a problem.
 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
There are a couple good 720p DLP projectors for under $1k now.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68

So do you have light control covered for the room? You probably don't have too many windows in the dorm, but you're going to want it to be as dark as possible in the room.

Does he have a sound system picked out for it?

Got a white wall?

How far away are you going to be sitting from the wall? How far will the projector be?
Click to expand...


Heres a pic of the room. PIC

We got sorta a sound system, heh. Bose speakers ( I know 😛) and a Sony reciever.

How far we are sitting and how far the projector is sorta depends on the projector. We don't know where to put it actually. We can't actually mount anything on the walls, so that remains a problem.
Click to expand...

Bose + Sony, a match made in heaven 😉

What wall were you planning on using? Where the flag is now?

We use a metal stand sort of thing right in back of the seating.

Gets it above head height for seating, has adjustable shelves to minimize the amount of keystone or lense shift necessary, etc.
 
We were thinking of putting the screen where the Monty Python poster is. I don't think there is enough room to put it on the wall with the flag. The stand thing looks like it would work for us though. They get real pissed if you do anything to the walls.
 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
We were thinking of putting the screen where the Monty Python poster is. I don't think there is enough room to put it on the wall with the flag. The stand thing looks like it would work for us though. They get real pissed if you do anything to the walls.
Click to expand...

Do you have the dimensions of the room?

Getting a projector with a good zoom could open up some possibilities for you.

The Panasonic AE900U can do an 80" screen from 8 feet away for example.
Projector Central has some screen size calculators to help you figure things out.

AE900U
HD70
HD1000U
 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
The room is about 11'6" x 16'.
Click to expand...

You can use the projector calculators along with this to get an idea of how different sizes would look at different differences.
http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

I'm at about a 40 degree viewing angle right now.

Something in the 30 to 40 degree angle would look nice and big.

Even with the limited zooms of the DLP projectors I linked to, you should be able to get into the mid 30s projecting the ~11' distance if that would work better for you.
 
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: nkgreen
The room is about 11'6" x 16'.
Click to expand...

You can use the projector calculators along with this to get an idea of how different sizes would look at different differences.
http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

I'm at about a 40 degree viewing angle right now.

Something in the 30 to 40 degree angle would look nice and big.

Even with the limited zooms of the DLP projectors I linked to, you should be able to get into the mid 30s projecting the ~11' distance if that would work better for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the links and info. Naturally, I need to run this by him (since he's paying for it). The HD70 and HD1000U look like they would fit the ticket.

Also, they walls are off-white and are textured. Would we need to get a screen or would it matter?

 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: nkgreen
The room is about 11'6" x 16'.
Click to expand...

You can use the projector calculators along with this to get an idea of how different sizes would look at different differences.
http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html

I'm at about a 40 degree viewing angle right now.

Something in the 30 to 40 degree angle would look nice and big.

Even with the limited zooms of the DLP projectors I linked to, you should be able to get into the mid 30s projecting the ~11' distance if that would work better for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the links and info. Naturally, I need to run this by him (since he's paying for it). The HD70 and HD1000U look like they would fit the ticket.

Also, they walls are off-white and are textured. Would we need to get a screen or would it matter?
Click to expand...

A screen would helps things look their best.

I made a DIY screen for under $200 including the border and masking panels. Making just a fixed frame screen without border using BOC or some other material like that would be ~$50.

There are some other options I listed in that thread that would be affordable options for getting a good projecting surface.

It will look pretty good with no screen though probably.

A calibration disc with color filters (like Digital Video Essentials for ~$17) would be another wise investment to getting the best picture.
 
I think we can rig up a good enough screen if the wall doesn't work out.

Finally, any preference towards the HD70 or HD100U?
 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
I think we can rig up a good enough screen if the wall doesn't work out.

Finally, any preference towards the HD70 or HD100U?
Click to expand...

I can't speak as to preference, but I do have an Optoma projector and I love it! (EzPro730/745) It's a 4:3 projector that I mainly use for PowerPoint stuff, but also for movie nights at home occasionally. Good quality, nice price.
 
Originally posted by: nkgreen
I think we can rig up a good enough screen if the wall doesn't work out.

Finally, any preference towards the HD70 or HD100U?
Click to expand...

I don't know enough about them to give you an informed answer on which one is the better one.

projector central has a review of each one if you want to take a look at those.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/optoma_hd70.htm
http://www.projectorcentral.com/mitsubishi_hd1000u.htm

I'd imagine there are a few good threads on AVSforum for people looking for $1k projectors that would have some useful information to check out.
 
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