Since I'm not in the States, electronics question regarding projectors

[AndrewR]

Are any of the electronics stores showing projectors for home use in place of TVs? I am not talking about rear projection TVs or anything like that, I mean honest-to-goodness projectors like the ones used for presentations.

They seem to be fairly popular here in Japan, and I'm considering buying one since they have an amazing picture that be absolutely huge for only a portion of the cost of a monster TV set. One I priced was about $3,000.

 

[sohcrates]

many high end A/V stores sell projectors. not gonna find much of anything in a best buy or circuit city or what not...

 

[Amused]

Yeah, FPs are the domain of A/V specialty shops.

What models have you been looking at? DLP is where it's at these days.

 

[Wolverine27]

I'd love to get a projector for my HT setup in my basement once it's complete. The idea of not having to lug a huge projection tv down there is so appealing to me.

What's the average life of the bulbs they use? And how much is it to replace each time?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Wolverine27
I'd love to get a projector for my HT setup in my basement once it's complete. The idea of not having to lug a huge projection tv down there is so appealing to me.

What's the average life of the bulbs they use? And how much is it to replace each time?

They claim 2000 hours, but in reality it's 1000 or less. Bulbs range from 300 to 500 dollars to replace.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Amused
Yeah, FPs are the domain of A/V specialty shops.

What models have you been looking at? DLP is where it's at these days.

Actually, I don't remember. I think it may have been a Sony or Hitachi, but I really have no idea. Since I can't read any of the literature they have with it, I have no idea about features or anything like that. I have seen a few commercials on TV for them, but again, I can't understand anything they're saying.