Replacement Projector Sub 1k

[manimal]

Well my trusty Sanyo PLV1080HD lcd projo after almost 9 of years of service has started to degrage badly. I cleaned it and did a full reset and reinputted the calibration numbers with a replacement bulb and the effect is still there. I will keep the unit and place it on a shelf in the kids play room and project onto a wall but that leaves our basement theater in need.

I have looked at the HD26 the HT1070, HT1075 among a few others and I just cant decide what I want. 3d isnt really a need but since most in that price range have it the kids should enjoy it. The basement projo gets used a TON so I need something quiet with LONG life and great cooling since the kids seem to love to game thee most. I ahem also like to game there so fast will be a big bonus.

Accuracy is important to me and the color wheel effects in the past bothered me. I liked the Sanyo because it was bright for its day and calibrated looked as good as much more expensive projectors then.

I have been intrugued buy those 700 dollar LG LED projectors with their 20k life bulbs but their performance seemed less than desirable though we are used to a 10 year old design so really anything above 500 bucks will be an improvement.

I was holding out for 4k sub 1k units but isnt a reality this season.

Using the unit in sig 120 inch 1.4 gain Elite Screens fixed that has served me very well.

Do you guys have any ideas on what I should get? None seem to really jump out as the best value. The HT1070 on sale has seemed the closest.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I have nothing to recommend. I'm six years into my B-stock JVC RS20 and it is still running like a champ (fingers crossed). I think the home theater world lost most of momentum by 2010-11 and I am just not seeing the local enthusiasm that I once did around 2000-2007. BTW, I am using an acoustic 2.35 120" wide screen that I think has neutral gain, but that is a completely different environment than what you need.

My concern for you is what is being made today on the inexpensive end might be of a short-lasting variety.

 

[Kaido]

720p LED for $649:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1088492-REG/viewsonic_pled_w800_wxga_led_1280x800_800.html

1080p 3D for $799:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/913362-REG/benq_w1070_2000_lumens_xga.html

The LED projector is nice because it will last you over 10 years (permanent bulb) & has AMAZING contrast. Like television-quality contrast. The downside is no 3D & it's only 720p. My justification for 720p is that we watch DVD movies (480p), old SDTV shows on Netflix, and Youtube stuff, so the resolution is a better match for upscaling than going all the way up to 1080p. The downside is that it's not very bright, although 800 lumens is fine for a dark room (LED brightness is brighter than regular bulbs too). It does okay in a semi-lit room as well:

The BenQ is only $150 more but is a light cannon (2000 lumens), is Full HD (1080p), and can do 3D if you want to use that option in the future. It also has basic lens shift & zoom, which the LED model does not (LED model only has a focus ring). So it kind of depends on what you want to do. Personally, I don't think I could ever go back to a regular bulb-based projector (after having owned a couple); the LED system is just too good. It's small, it's reasonably quite, I can take it anywhere, turns on instantly, doesn't heat up the room, no bulb to replace ever, incredible picture, etc. I've shot it side-by-side with some $2,000, $3,000, and $4,000 projectors and in the dark, at the same size screen, it's just as good as the super expensive models.

The Viewsonic is the model I recommend for LED projectors above all others. The only other one I would recommend is the Optoma ML750 if you absolutely need a ridiculously tiny projector for some reason (I have a few users who use them for travel projectors because they are only 4" x 4"). But the Viewsonic is pretty small too, especially compared to lamp-based projectors.

 

[funboy6942]

Here you go. Super small foot print, 150K contrast, 30K lamp life, 1400 lumens, and only $949 shipped......its what Im buying at tax time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127970-REG/lg_pf1500_dlp_projector.html

 

[Kaido]

Here you go. Super small foot print, 150K contrast, 30K lamp life, 1400 lumens, and only $949 shipped......its what Im buying at tax time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127970-REG/lg_pf1500_dlp_projector.html

Wow, thanks for posting that! Looks awesome!!

 

[manimal]

720p LED for $649:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1088492-REG/viewsonic_pled_w800_wxga_led_1280x800_800.html

1080p 3D for $799:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/913362-REG/benq_w1070_2000_lumens_xga.html

The LED projector is nice because it will last you over 10 years (permanent bulb) & has AMAZING contrast. Like television-quality contrast. The downside is no 3D & it's only 720p. My justification for 720p is that we watch DVD movies (480p), old SDTV shows on Netflix, and Youtube stuff, so the resolution is a better match for upscaling than going all the way up to 1080p. The downside is that it's not very bright, although 800 lumens is fine for a dark room (LED brightness is brighter than regular bulbs too). It does okay in a semi-lit room as well:

The BenQ is only $150 more but is a light cannon (2000 lumens), is Full HD (1080p), and can do 3D if you want to use that option in the future. It also has basic lens shift & zoom, which the LED model does not (LED model only has a focus ring). So it kind of depends on what you want to do. Personally, I don't think I could ever go back to a regular bulb-based projector (after having owned a couple); the LED system is just too good. It's small, it's reasonably quite, I can take it anywhere, turns on instantly, doesn't heat up the room, no bulb to replace ever, incredible picture, etc. I've shot it side-by-side with some $2,000, $3,000, and $4,000 projectors and in the dark, at the same size screen, it's just as good as the super expensive models.

The Viewsonic is the model I recommend for LED projectors above all others. The only other one I would recommend is the Optoma ML750 if you absolutely need a ridiculously tiny projector for some reason (I have a few users who use them for travel projectors because they are only 4" x 4"). But the Viewsonic is pretty small too, especially compared to lamp-based projectors.

Ya the w1070 is really close to what I want though these LED projos intrigue me.

 

[manimal]

I have nothing to recommend. I'm six years into my B-stock JVC RS20 and it is still running like a champ (fingers crossed). I think the home theater world lost most of momentum by 2010-11 and I am just not seeing the local enthusiasm that I once did around 2000-2007. BTW, I am using an acoustic 2.35 120" wide screen that I think has neutral gain, but that is a completely different environment than what you need.

My concern for you is what is being made today on the inexpensive end might be of a short-lasting variety.

Ya I am looking for something that will last me another 5-8 years though if we move I may leave the entire setup with the house and include it as a selling bonus allowing me to buy all new again when we move.

It does seem with TVs getting so large that projos seem more trouble than they are worth for most simple folks but till I can have a 120 ind OLED I think that projos will do just fine for me

 

[manimal]

Here you go. Super small foot print, 150K contrast, 30K lamp life, 1400 lumens, and only $949 shipped......its what Im buying at tax time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127970-REG/lg_pf1500_dlp_projector.html

Looks awesome. Trying to figure out if that works with my throw. Trying to find a good review and about to read up on it at AVS.

Thx guys

I wouldnt mind it being bigger really the portability for me means nothing as I have a hard cieling mount with seating in a entirely dark HT room.


With almost six year old triplets the 3d may really swing the decision away from LED. I have no problem with bulbs. Every projo I have ever had had cheap bulbs available by the time I needed one. I can get 15 dollar bulbs for my sanyo and have 4 left ><

 

[funboy6942]

If you want 3d, then you will have to pony up $400 more, lose 50K more contrast, and 500 more lumens and get this one then....still though has the 30K bulb life span.

http://www.amazon.com/PF87K-Portable-Projector-Mini-beam-Master/dp/B00QA218SA

 

[funboy6942]

Here is a review on the little one though without 3d....

http://www.projectorcentral.com/lg-pf1500-projector-review.htm

 

[funboy6942]

About $20 cheaper if you go to ebay....and that one is new at $890 OBO and comes with free HDMI cables too

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-PF1500-M...080p-1920x1080-Free-HDMI-cables-/201369315184