Projector or Plasma

[SithSolo1]

I'm getting tired of watching movies on my 19" monitor and I'm ready to get something else. For a while I was dead set on a plasma and then about a week ago someone said why not get an HD projector. Now I don't know which to get. Mostly because I have no clue if I need/could use a projector in this situation but it sounds like a cool idea.

Situation:

Location for the screen is on the wall above the fireplace so that means flat panel or plasma. Seating is 13ish feet from said wall. If a projector is used it will be ceiling mounted(well on a post hanging down) 8ish feet from said wall. The wall to the left of the screen position is 70% glass w/o curtains. The sun rises on the back-left of the screen position and sets on the front-right so its in direct sun light in the morning and then indirect till about 8pm. I would like to be able to use the screen for gaming but its not a deal breaker. I'll probably watch TV/movies ~2-4hrs day and will definitely be watching sports on the weekends(mainly football). Other than that I'm trying to keep my budget under $2500.

 

[Goosemaster]

Probably Plasma.

That said, for $2500 you will not get a large and capable screen.

Get a projector in that case. For $1500-1800 you can get a nice 720p projector.

Honestly get DLP or LCD since it will be cheaper.

[/ambiguity]

 

[Apex]

Unless you are willing to use curtains to block out ambient sunlight, go plasma. I absolutely love projectors, but they do not compete well with ambient light, especially when that light is near or on the screen.

 

[n7]

I love my projector also, but it sounds like you're in a light room, which simply doesn't work well with a projector.

That being said, if you are willing to invest in some heavy duty curtains & doing that would keep the room dark, the projector would be so much better.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well I plan to watch my Bulldogs play on game days but the problem is that I can see the football stadium from the seating position and if I use the curtains it will kill the "atmosphere." Sounds pretty dumb huh? Oh well, back to plasma.

 

[Kalbi]

DLPs nowadays work well in lighted areas.

 

[ai42]

I just bought a TV and I've come to the conclusion projectors are really cool but good ones that work in typical conditions (not darkened room) cost big bucks.

That being the case get an LCD. LCDs last longer and are a bit more durable and lighter than plasmas. I'm sure you will find out but Plasmas only have 4-5 year lifespans and LCDs are almost infinate (10-15 years for practical purposes). I don't know about you but paying up $1000+ I would like something that last a long time.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well last time I checked 40-42" LCDs were well over $4K and I don't think they make them any bigger.

 

[suse920]

DLP and spend the rest of football tickets

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

So why the plasma craze? I've seen DLP tv's that IMO look much better. Is the word "plasma" cool or something?

 

[Staples]

DLP.

Look at the Samsung HLR4677W. That is the model I would get if I were buying a TV.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: ai42
That being the case get an LCD. LCDs last longer and are a bit more durable and lighter than plasmas. I'm sure you will find out but Plasmas only have 4-5 year lifespans and LCDs are almost infinate (10-15 years for practical purposes).

That is no longer the case.

 

[SithSolo1]

I guess those of you recommending DLP didn't read what I posted or know of some physics defying method of wall mounting a DLP TV above a fireplace while still making it look decent. -_-

As for the football ticket idea: I like football but I do not like going to the games. It's hot, sunny, and the seat suck. That said I do go to the bowl games if my team is in it.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1
I guess those of you recommending DLP didn't read what I posted or know of some physics defying method of wall mounting a DLP TV above a fireplace while still making it look decent. -_-

There are flat ones (ie. the Infocus or RCA), but they're being EOL'd.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Above a fireplace, eh?

That's where I'm shooting my projector.

There are 5 windows in the room and four others are in adjacent rooms with huge openings to the livingroom.

Cardboard in the windows works wonders. My gf thought otherwise and we're now working on room darkening shades (they work pretty darn well too).

I can get it dark enough any time of day that you can't read a book in here... and that's about as dark as you need it to be to have things look their best on a projector.

If you can't get it dark enough that you'd have trouble reading printed text, then you should look elsewhere for displays.

The room

Screen with the windows blocked

Screen with the flash (pretty much what it would look like in the daytime with all the windows open)

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: ai42
I just bought a TV and I've come to the conclusion projectors are really cool but good ones that work in typical conditions (not darkened room) cost big bucks.

That being the case get an LCD. LCDs last longer and are a bit more durable and lighter than plasmas. I'm sure you will find out but Plasmas only have 4-5 year lifespans and LCDs are almost infinate (10-15 years for practical purposes). I don't know about you but paying up $1000+ I would like something that last a long time.

this information is not correct. plasmas are coming out with 60,000 hours or more now, which is about the same as most LCDs. that is several hours a day for several years of TV watching. plus, all that number means is when the brightness is half of its original value, and plasmas are brighter than LCDs, so the numbers arent really apples to apples.

if you go plasma, get a good one. i wouldnt go LCD, and not because im a fanboy of plasma or projector...its simply not the best choice currently.

edit: oh, and listen to apex. most people are blowing smoke up your a$$. apex is not.