projector vs. hd tv, plasma

[guynexdoor]

So i'm thinking of buyin g a flat panel tv, but they can costs thousands.

Why don't people just buy a projector? WHAT do you think? It's cheaper than the plasmas. and you still get the big screen. and it's sharp with the DLP projectors out there.

 

[DrCool]

well, most projectors are still exteremly limited as far as resolution / brightness.

you'll also have to have a large enough space to mount it, and a screen to project onto.

A TV on the other hand is very easy to use (in comparison) and you generally don't have to worry about brightness.

 

[dkozloski]

Some other downsides: The high powered lamps required don't last long and generate a lot of heat. The examples I saw did not have that good of picture quality. I bought a Gateway 42" Ultrabright Plasma and turned down the brightness to make the plasma screen last longer. After a year I am very satisfied.

 

[Caveman]

I just bought a DLP PJ and I was in the same boat as you. I'm an engineer and was "sold" after about 40 hours of research on avsforum.com. See thread link here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...s=&threadid=414103

Thread is 235 pages long...

I Got the Infocus 4805 from Costco for $1400 and am completely enthralled with this thing. I now have a 72" screen that is beautiful to behold. If you have a room that has a bunch of windows with no curtains and your vieing screen has sunlight on it then forget about daytime viewing (until sony releases their "blackscreen" tech which will allow easy viewing under high ambient lighting. Do a search for this on yahoo, etc... If you have no light control in your room...

At any rate, I'm shining on a white painted wall (no "special screen") and the results are amazing. The color depth and clarity of the picture are incredible. For the same size/quality of image you'd have to spend about 12K for a plasma solution. In may ways the picture is even better though as there's no glass causing reflections...

PJ supports 480P but resolutiuon is but a small part of the story, infact, when compared to may 5-7K HD PJs plasmas, or other HD solutions, most "experts" prefer the picture that the 4805 puts out.

Putting up a pj requires more work and research and take your time, the results are well worth it... This is why most folks opt for other "easy" solutions albeit technically inferior...

Now... I really do have a home theater : ) It really is amazing... Did I mention HD signals from Dish look fantastic?

 

[ponyo]

Infocus 4805. Nice. :thumbsup: I wanted to get that projector but it wasn't out at the time. So I got the X1 instead since I was new to the home theater scene and wanted something proven to play with. Paid little over $800, and I'm totally thrilled with it. Movies and games have never been better!

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: Caveman
I just bought a DLP PJ and I was in the same boat as you. I'm an engineer and was "sold" after about 40 hours of research on avsforum.com. See thread link here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...s=&threadid=414103

Thread is 235 pages long...

I Got the Infocus 4805 from Costco for $1400 and am completely enthralled with this thing. I now have a 72" screen that is beautiful to behold. If you have a room that has a bunch of windows with no curtains and your vieing screen has sunlight on it then forget about daytime viewing (until sony releases their "blackscreen" tech which will allow easy viewing under high ambient lighting. Do a search for this on yahoo, etc... If you have no light control in your room...

At any rate, I'm shining on a white painted wall (no "special screen") and the results are amazing. The color depth and clarity of the picture are incredible. For the same size/quality of image you'd have to spend about 12K for a plasma solution. In may ways the picture is even better though as there's no glass causing reflections...

PJ supports 480P but resolutiuon is but a small part of the story, infact, when compared to may 5-7K HD PJs plasmas, or other HD solutions, most "experts" prefer the picture that the 4805 puts out.

Putting up a pj requires more work and research and take your time, the results are well worth it... This is why most folks opt for other "easy" solutions albeit technically inferior...

Now... I really do have a home theater : ) It really is amazing... Did I mention HD signals from Dish look fantastic?

Nice Caveman. I've got the same one. from Projector Superstore for $1250 before Infocus cracked down on them.

I agree in that you need a darkened room to view but it still works well in ambient lighting conditions. There is a huge wow factor with FPJs though. Everyone who has seen my PJ is dumbstruck by it. I just project against a white wall but everyone says it looks like the wall is glowing from behind.

Space wise, it is very unintrusive. I wanted to leave the kid's room where I use it uncluttered as possible and an LCD or plasma would be a sitting target for the kids. The PJ is mounted on the ceiling on a short mount and completely out of the way.

My untech savvy wife thinks its the best tech gadget we've bought.

 

[sharkeeper]

132" screen here...

Once you see it, there is no going back.

It's fun playing computer games as long as YOU are the one playing. Watching someone else play is a great ticket for an instant replay of your last meal in short order. At least it is for me...

Forget about it in your living room unless you're single. My wife is a movie junkie though and probably would have been willing to sacrifice one of the better rooms in the house but we installed it in a panic room that is secure.

At least if there's a domestic crisis, might as well enjoy the time!

Cheers!

 

[imported_amx]

i have both a projector and a 50" Philips HD plasma. One huge disadvantage of a projector is that you can only get a good sharp and bright picture during night time or very little light. During day time its hard to watch a movie unles you spend $7000+ on a extremly bright projector. I usually use the projector when i have lot of people and its fun no doubt. I preffer to watch hd and generally anything on my plasma since the picture is definately much better and sharper. Nothing can beat the bright image on a plasma as i have seen.

 

[KeithP]

I just bought my first projector, a Benq 7800. Got a good deal through the avsforum.

As others have mentioned, your viewing environment will be key to getting the best possible picture out of a FP system. Ideally, you would have a completely dark room with dark colored ceiling and walls. If this is something you can do, or at least come close to, it would be well worth your time to check out a FP system.

Currently, I am just projecting onto a white wall. Once I get my projector mounted in its final position I will get a screen. I am using my projector in a 1 bedroom apartment with all white walls and ceiling. In addition, I have some pretty thin curtains covering very large windows (w/sliding glass door) that opens to my balcony. Even at night I get some light through the windows. Even under these conditions, the picture is amazing.

Definitely do some research. There is a lot to know about the different technologies involved and pros/cons of each. The Avsforum is probably the best place to start.

-Keith

 

[BentValve]

Originally posted by: amx
i have both a projector and a 50" Philips HD plasma. One huge disadvantage of a projector is that you can only get a good sharp and bright picture during night time or very little light. During day time its hard to watch a movie unles you spend $7000+ on a extremly bright projector. I usually use the projector when i have lot of people and its fun no doubt. I preffer to watch hd and generally anything on my plasma since the picture is definately much better and sharper. Nothing can beat the bright image on a plasma as i have seen.

Yep , I agree...after many years of projector ownership I am growing tired of it for the bulk of my tv viewing which is straight poor quality Directv...a good 40-50" Plasma would be perfect for this though.


Having both is a great way to go...get a cheap projector for those night time movies and get a Plasma or LCD for everything else.

 

[madthumbs]

Projectors have the same flaws that lcd does. Unless you get the lower pixel refresh rates, motions are gonna get botchy. Dead pixels will stand out more when enlarged. A good reflective surface will cost a bit, and replacement bulbs are outrageously priced. I am considering building something like the DIY projector seen on Tom's simply because I may be able to do it for next to nothing.

I favor rear projections atm. No need to darken the room (which I don't like), no dead pixels, no motion blur, affordable, no bulbs burning out, etc. I've learned how to adjust convergence after being dissappointed with a professional's adjusgin and am delighted with what I've got.

Atm, plasma is a joke, at least to me.

 

[sharkeeper]

DLP tech does not succumb to the limitations of LCD technology. Some units may produce noticeable rainbows that appear at random but this effect really depends on the vision of the viewer. Some people can really see them frequently while others never notice.

The bulbs are expensive, but you should not be running it 24/7. That's what a TV is for. Ditto for the comment about not wanting the room dim. My theater is totally dark with the exception of reflected light from the screen and a tritium powered exit sign over the door at the end of the room. Most people will comment that's it's just like being in the movies which it is - minus the cellphones, people yapping, etc.

Putting a PJ in the typical living room is a waste as there is no way to control the light and acoustics as one can in a dedicated room.

Cheers!

 

[Dug]

If you haven't seen the Infocus 4805, do yourself a favor and check it out. Once you see it, you won't recommend anything else. There is nothing like playing game or watching movies on a 100"+ screen.
A screen can cost as little as $20 when shooting on a sheet of doable or blackout cloth. Bulbs after the 2-3000hrs will probably be $150. (Hint- don't buy the bulbs when the projector first comes out.) And if you think the bulbs don't need to be replaced in a rear projection system, you're kiddding yourself.

Bentvalve is right though. It's best to have two options if you do a lot of regular tv viewing. Although I recommend a good tubetv for regular viewing.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
DLP tech does not succumb to the limitations of LCD technology. Some units may produce noticeable rainbows that appear at random but this effect really depends on the vision of the viewer. Some people can really see them frequently while others never notice.

The bulbs are expensive, but you should not be running it 24/7. That's what a TV is for. Ditto for the comment about not wanting the room dim. My theater is totally dark with the exception of reflected light from the screen and a tritium powered exit sign over the door at the end of the room. Most people will comment that's it's just like being in the movies which it is - minus the cellphones, people yapping, etc.

Putting a PJ in the typical living room is a waste as there is no way to control the light and acoustics as one can in a dedicated room.

Cheers!

The newer DLP's really have for the most part cured that with the 7 segment color wheel. I never saw the rainbow effect myself with the older DLP's. But I do sell them, and I did get a few complaints here and there about it before. Since the newer DLP TVs have come out, I have yet to get a complaint.