Rear Projector, Projection TV, Plasma, or LCD?

[mindmaniac]

I would like to build a home theater, still in college so nothing super extravagant. I currently only have a 27" tv and would like to get something I could watch most of TV on but that would also be great for watching movies and playing PS2 and XBox on. I was thinking a projector but I worry about the short bulb life.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Rear Projector = front projection?

(which one is the option for a "projector"?)

Projection TV and Rear Projection mean the same thing I think...

EDIT: also
What's you budget?
What sort of image size are you looking for?
What are lighting conditions going to be like?

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Rear Projector = front projection?

(which one is the option for a "projector"?)

Projection TV and Rear Projection mean the same thing I think...

I'm not quite sure, I mean to say projector. I thought that was the term for that type of thing though, pretty new to this. After living with 27" for so long you become entrenched in the past.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Rear Projector = front projection?

(which one is the option for a "projector"?)

Projection TV and Rear Projection mean the same thing I think...

I'm not quite sure, I mean to say projector. I thought that was the term for that type of thing though, pretty new to this. After living with 27" for so long you become entrenched in the past.

Projectors can be used in either mode, you're most likely going to be looking at front projection. With front projection you're viewing reflected light, with rear projection you're looking down the barrel of the projector (not directly of course, you use a rear projection screen). Similarly rear projection TV's project onto the back of the screen.

A projector is a great option if you have full control over your lighting. Also great for limited space, as long as you have a blank wall & a reasonable throw length you're golden.

Bulb life is pretty long, but you'd have to do the math as to what it would cost you.

Viper GTS

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: mindmaniac

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Rear Projector = front projection?

(which one is the option for a "projector"?)

Projection TV and Rear Projection mean the same thing I think...

I'm not quite sure, I mean to say projector. I thought that was the term for that type of thing though, pretty new to this. After living with 27" for so long you become entrenched in the past.

Projectors can be used in either mode, you're most likely going to be looking at front projection. With front projection you're viewing reflected light, with rear projection you're looking down the barrel of the projector (not directly of course, you use a rear projection screen). Similarly rear projection TV's project onto the back of the screen.

A projector is a great option if you have full control over your lighting. Also great for limited space, as long as you have a blank wall & a reasonable throw length you're golden.

Bulb life is pretty long, but you'd have to do the math as to what it would cost you.

Viper GTS

Oh yeah, forgot that you could have the projector behind the screen, but you'd have to be in a pretty strange situation I'd think to make that a good idea

 

[suse920]

what about dlp?

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: mindmaniac

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Rear Projector = front projection?

(which one is the option for a "projector"?)

Projection TV and Rear Projection mean the same thing I think...

I'm not quite sure, I mean to say projector. I thought that was the term for that type of thing though, pretty new to this. After living with 27" for so long you become entrenched in the past.

Projectors can be used in either mode, you're most likely going to be looking at front projection. With front projection you're viewing reflected light, with rear projection you're looking down the barrel of the projector (not directly of course, you use a rear projection screen). Similarly rear projection TV's project onto the back of the screen.

A projector is a great option if you have full control over your lighting. Also great for limited space, as long as you have a blank wall & a reasonable throw length you're golden.

Bulb life is pretty long, but you'd have to do the math as to what it would cost you.

Viper GTS

Oh yeah, forgot that you could have the projector behind the screen, but you'd have to be in a pretty strange situation I'd think to make that a good idea

It does have a lot of advantages, typically you'd only see that in a permanent installation - A classroom, presentation room, etc. might have a small room behind the screen with mirrors to artificially increase the throw distance.

A proper RP setup should be brighter than an equivalent output (lumens) FP setup, plus you don't have to deal with things blocking your projection path, etc.

Viper GTS

 

[mindmaniac]

What is the bulb life on a reasonably priced projector? I don't need anything super pricey, I am in college. I would just like something to impress friends when they come over to watch a movie. I'm going to have the theater in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem controlling the lighting. I'm just wondering if a projection tv would be better for everyday use.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: suse920
what about dlp?

DLP is just an image formation technology, it can be used in projectors or TV's.

If he ends up with a projector it will almost certainly be DLP.

Viper GTS

 

[mindmaniac]

Yeah, I would just consider that in the projection tv category. If I did get one I would look into that or lcd projection tv's.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
What is the bulb life on a reasonably priced projector? I don't need anything super pricey, I am in college. I would just like something to impress friends when they come over to watch a movie. I'm going to have the theater in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem controlling the lighting. I'm just wondering if a projection tv would be better for everyday use.

Bulb life on my 4805 (got it for $999 including a 76" screen) is about 3000 hours.

EDIT: bulb replacement cost is $333 from infocus. Works out to 11 cents per hour is you get the mtbf out of it.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Infocus 4805! (back to playing NCAA football 2006 on this 100" screen )

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
What is the bulb life on a reasonably priced projector? I don't need anything super pricey, I am in college. I would just like something to impress friends when they come over to watch a movie. I'm going to have the theater in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem controlling the lighting. I'm just wondering if a projection tv would be better for everyday use.

Figure about $0.10-0.15 an hour for projector bulbs.

Also keep in mind that most have a low output option if you have full control & can make it pitch black you can greatly increase your bulb life.

Viper GTS

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
What is the bulb life on a reasonably priced projector? I don't need anything super pricey, I am in college. I would just like something to impress friends when they come over to watch a movie. I'm going to have the theater in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem controlling the lighting. I'm just wondering if a projection tv would be better for everyday use.

Figure about $0.10-0.15 an hour for projector bulbs.

Also keep in mind that most have a low output option if you have full control & can make it pitch black you can greatly increase your bulb life.

Viper GTS

I have my 4805 on eco-mode and it's still bright enough to make my squint in a bright scene once my eyes have adjusted a little.

I don't know if that's a good test or not, but I tried both regular mode and eco mode and both were plenty bright for me

 

[Raiden256]

Don't forget the speaks!

YoYo knows what kind.

 

[Excelsior]

LCOS.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
LCOS.

It dropped off Intel's roadmap, who picked it up?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Depends on budget, and where it's gonna go ...

I'd say, small room, LCD,
Big room Rear Projection CRT or DLP
Basement, Projector

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Raiden256
Don't forget the speaks!

YoYo knows what kind.

Let's wait to spring the speaker question until he has a display in mind, don't want to overwhelm him

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
Depends on budget, and where it's gonna go ...

I'd say, small room, LCD,
Big room Rear Projection CRT or DLP
Basement, Projector

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
What is the bulb life on a reasonably priced projector? I don't need anything super pricey, I am in college. I would just like something to impress friends when they come over to watch a movie. I'm going to have the theater in a basement so it shouldn't be a problem controlling the lighting. I'm just wondering if a projection tv would be better for everyday use.

Winnar!

 

[Auryg]

I love my Infocus X1 for pure portability alone, but I also feel the image quality+size to money ratio can't be beat by anything.

Granted, our 36" Sony HDTV upstairs has better image quality, but that thing's nearly 200 pounds, cost more..and is only 36 inches

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz

Originally posted by: Excelsior
LCOS.

It dropped off Intel's roadmap, who picked it up?

JVC is using it, or at least I thought. They call it "HD-ILA" but it is basically the exact same tech as LCOS. I saw some of the sets at HH-gregg and was very impressed. Seems they are dropping in price fairly rapidly too.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: LordSnailz

Originally posted by: Excelsior
LCOS.

It dropped off Intel's roadmap, who picked it up?

JVC is using it, or at least I thought. They call it "HD-ILA" but it is basically the exact same tech as LCOS. I saw some of the sets at HH-gregg and was very impressed. Seems they are dropping in price fairly rapidly too.

I was all over LCOS when I heard what it was.

But it seems current LCOS projectors are lower contrast and brightness than LCD or DLP projectors (400:1 for this $20,000 JVC 1080p projector!)

I'd say get something like a Infocus SP4805 or a Sanyo PLV Z3 depending on the money you want to spend and what the primary purpose is.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
I would like to build a home theater, still in college so nothing super extravagant. I currently only have a 27" tv and would like to get something I could watch most of TV on but that would also be great for watching movies and playing PS2 and XBox on. I was thinking a projector but I worry about the short bulb life.

This should automatically rule out plasma panels and any CRT based projection system.

So you are limited to (excluding direct view CRT sets assuming you want larger than 36") LCD flat panels, or front or rear projection using LCD or DLP.

I ruled out LCD flat panels due to size constraints, contrast limitations, and ghosting. Note: the ghosting problem does not apply so much to LCD projectors, because the panels are so small, that the signal propagation, inter-pixel connector lengths, and amount of LCD polymer per pixel that must change rapidly are much much smaller scale than a large flat panel of the same resolution; so response time on a projector LCD panel is much more rapid.

The advantage of front projection is that you get the purest and sharpest image of any display technology because you see the image the projector makes without it being distorted by grills, polarizers, lenticular screens, filters, etc.

The trade off is of course light control, but you stated this wouldn't be a problem at all.

Lamp life shouldn't be a factor because regardless of getting a rear projection TV that you just plug in and watch, or setting up a front projector, you'll have bulbs to replace sooner or later.

The final factor would be your budget; you can get a much bigger display with a better image with a projector for 1/3 the cost of a rear projection TV with only 1/4th the screen area. ie: $1500 HDTV projector delivers better 100" picture than a $4000 50" rear projection HDTV.

 

[jammur21]

My parents have a JVC HD-ILA 52'', to be honest I have been mostly unimpressed with it. The lack of connectivity on the 1st gen sets sucks, this may have been improved.

I bought an Infocus X1 while in my last year in school, it friggin rocks. Don't be worried about bulb life, its not a big deal. Look for one that has the Foujourda (sp) de-interlacer so you can still watch regular TV.