Projector under 400 bucks

[Falloutboy]

Looking to setup a lowend projector in my home. Main goal for this is to allow me to rearange my living room to give me more functional space, but the wall where it makes sense to put the tv is not going to work for a LCD/Plasma (no power, awkward to wire...etc over a balcony and would need a very large ladder). plus I live in a rental so fixing these issues isn't going to be something I want to do.

Thinking prolly need to look toards the used market, but so hard to find info out there on what would be some good models to look at. HDMI is the main requirement, cheap bulbs also would be nice.

I'll have some light control (will have thick curtains for the windows) but during the day it isn't going to be pitch black, and frankly most of my TV watching is two things. TV/Movies at night or sports on the weekends, so when I need the most light control nature will help me, and for sports from what i've seen you can get away with some light.

 

[funboy6942]

Here you go:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=V11H331020-N

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I may be selling my ax200u becuase i want to go to 1080p. Doesnt have many hours on it. Up until now it was only used occasionally. Now since i started using it more, and have a 150" screen i want 1080p. lemme know if your interested.

Edit: just checked - its only got 262 hours on it. Ill throw in my ceiling mount too if you want.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Might be worth looking in FS/FT as people with dedicated HT rooms might be upgrading .... I'd imagine you could probably find an assortment of good 720p Projectors under $400.

 

[vshah]

I may be selling my ax200u becuase i want to go to 1080p. Doesnt have many hours on it. Up until now it was only used occasionally. Now since i started using it more, and have a 150" screen i want 1080p. lemme know if your interested.

Edit: just checked - its only got 262 hours on it. Ill throw in my ceiling mount too if you want.

great projector, my parents have one of these.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

great projector, my parents have one of these.

Yea at the time 1080p was too expensive, so I researched it for weeks and bought that one. People are always amazed when they see it.

If I didn't want 1080p I'd have no reason to sell it, as the picture is beautiful.

 

[Falloutboy]

Definitely keeping my eye out for used on here. Thanks for the input so far

 

[Sidekicknichola]

Not sure if you're looking for new, but craigslist has some great deals once in a while...

I just picked up a Optoma HD70 (720p), 92" motorized screen, 2-45' HDMI cables, 2-12" HDMI cables, ceiling mount, and HDMI splitter for $400 exactly.

I already had a HD20 but figured it was a good enough deal to not pass up... I really only bought it to use outside, which it has been great for.

 

[Falloutboy]

Not sure if you're looking for new, but craigslist has some great deals once in a while...

I just picked up a Optoma HD70 (720p), 92" motorized screen, 2-45' HDMI cables, 2-12" HDMI cables, ceiling mount, and HDMI splitter for $400 exactly.

I already had a HD20 but figured it was a good enough deal to not pass up... I really only bought it to use outside, which it has been great for.

Yeah I watch cl constantly, only a bunch of business projectors right now. Really wish amazon had some deals going right now have a couple hundred dollars in gift cards.

 

[Raswan]

I may be selling my ax200u becuase i want to go to 1080p. Doesnt have many hours on it. Up until now it was only used occasionally. Now since i started using it more, and have a 150" screen i want 1080p. lemme know if your interested.

Edit: just checked - its only got 262 hours on it. Ill throw in my ceiling mount too if you want.

If I hadn't just dropped 380 on two samsung 830 ssds and weren't trying to save for a wedding next summer, I'd be all over this. Been wanting to get one for awhile and shed the LCD once and for all.

 

[Falloutboy]

If I hadn't just dropped 380 on two samsung 830 ssds and weren't trying to save for a wedding next summer, I'd be all over this. Been wanting to get one for awhile and shed the LCD once and for all.

Lol I tried someone local snatched it up from then looks of another post in here

 

[Falloutboy]

Taking a chance on an amazon warehouse deal on a good condition Optima hd20 for 380, If it doesn't work I know amazon is good on making it right (refunding and arranging pickup). I did a similar deal to get my Panasonic gf3 body for 180 a few months back and it's pristine

 

[Falloutboy]

got the projector today...13 hrs on the bulb and looks perfect...honestly I expected this one to be a "bad buy" and to good to be true when I saw the deal on amazon, but knew they wouldn't be a hassle to deal with if it wasn't real...

but this thing seem great, anything I should do to run it thru its passes? common issues with these things to look out for?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

got the projector today...13 hrs on the bulb and looks perfect...honestly I expected this one to be a "bad buy" and to good to be true when I saw the deal on amazon, but knew they wouldn't be a hassle to deal with if it wasn't real...

but this thing seem great, anything I should do to run it thru its passes? common issues with these things to look out for?

great news! I had a chance to quickly set mine up last night. (Epson 8350) Having some trouble making the switch. My problems are:

1. cant get whole image to focus - if i focus left side, right goes out of focus (im pretty sure pj is squared up to the screen)
2. Colors look washed out compared to my ax200u. Even navigating the 360 menus, everything looks kind of off. I turned the color temp to 7500k and it helped a bit. (using dynamic mode for everything btw)
3. it might just be the game, but there is a noticeable blue coloring at the top of my screen when i was playing nhl on 360.

On the plus side, this projector seems MUCH better when some lights are on, even though the ax200u has the same amount of lumens.

Im hoping ill be able to work all these issues out, but maybe this could be why its a refurb unit? Would hate to have to send it back.

The main reason i made the switch to 1080p was to play PC games at 1080p on it. If it werent for that, i would be fine with 720p.

 

[Chapbass]

This thread needs PICS! From both of you!

Granted, I shouldn't talk...bought a PT-AR100U last week and didn't make a thread about it, so whatever .

 

[Falloutboy]

setup is being finalized still. but got it roughed up for now. the control that came with the projector was bad, but optima is honoring the warrenty and sending me a new one. once I have that I'll lock down the projector mount and calibrate it.

but so far so good, sports at low light look fine. and movies at night (getting some black out curtains so during the day as well) look awesome.

some quick shots.

 

[Sidekicknichola]

Saw this on a newegg email today -
ACER H5360 720P 1280x720 2500 ANSI Lumens NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready Home Theater DLP Projector

It comes to $419 with Promo Code: EMCNCJH78

 

[Falloutboy]

definatly was eyeing that as one of the options if I didn't find the deal I did on the optima