Best projector for sports & movies

[Pwaynez]

Alright, so I am quite new here and have had some great feedback from the community. I *thought* I was sold 100% on a 4k PJ but I just cant justify $1500 for the BenQ 3550 when I read all the stellar reviews on other 1080p PJs. Viewing distance will be from 6'-12' (very often the 12' will be utilized, which I have read 1080p vs 4K is hard to even notice a difference at the later distance viewing) only shorter when guests/family are over for sporting events. I have been reading and see great quality for the BenQ 2050a ($680) as far as movie quality goes, but read the tk800 ($1100) is much better for sports - I assume because of HDR and brighter lamp. I have very very little ambient light (which can be controlled almost 100%). I primarily care about movie and sports viewing. Any recommendations as far as a 1080p or 4K, with great quality provided for sports AND movies?

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think I got your answer covered in the Projectors section of the forums. It's a great question, and I think that 4K is being overly touted for those just getting into it who are on more of a tight budget. The HT2050a will make many people VERY happy.

Make sure you learn about where you MUST put the projector. About one for for every ten inches of diagonal is where the front of the lens will be, and it will be about 3" above the top of the screen if ceiling mounted or 3" below the bottom edge of the screen if table mounted. This is typically very good for many people.

Plus, you may see a resale value of about half that price in a few years if it is still in good operation, which is nice if you want to upgrade to a serious 4K model and you get really serious about the room. Remember... theaters have NO lights, are painted dark with dark ceilings, walls, carpet, and furniture. So, if your room is typical white walls, white ceiling, beige carpet, you will take away from any experience, no matter the projector resolution. So, consider a coat of paint.

 

[Pwaynez]

BMXTRIX I must say, I am very thankful for all your input and contribution here. I am learning things I thought I knew already such as the HDR not being as beneficial as I thought. Currently our basement has ugly drop ceiling white tiles - hoping to change them dark if my fiance lets me, and the upper half of the walls are yellow which she has already agreed to let me paint. I have read that the reflections and such arent good for PJs but lets say floor (which already is dark), walls are dark (talking about painting burgundy, gray or darker blue) but the ceiling stayed white? Is this a deal breaker for PJ in YOUR opinion? I personally would like to change this - but not sure if the fiance will go for it. My other option is going to be a 70-75" 4K TV as I have mentioned prior somewhere around here within the past few weeks. The thing is, the PJ BenQ HT2050a and screen are both on amazon prime, so worst case I can set it up and say "this looks fantastic ill keep it" or "this is awful quality" return it and just do a 4k tv... so I feel like I may at least "try" it.

 

[BMXTRIX]

It isn't a deal breaker. It's a compromise.

Drop ceiling tiles are very 'standard' though, and if you can't paint them all, perhaps a deal to just do the first 2-3 rows of tiles, then leave the rest white. Kind of like sound reflections, this will mitigate the front light reflections into the room and back onto the screen.

Thanks for the props - I appreciate it and like to help out where and when I can.

My own home theater is VERY weak right now. Something I'm well aware of. My final home theater won't be great for audio because it will retain an 'open' design into other rooms in the basement. I accept the word 'compromise' as part of the home theater experience.

Since I'm designing and finishing my basement myself, I do get the benefit of sectioning off the spaces and allowing for conduit runs and to have the theater space itself MUCH darker than the pool table area and the gaming area and (maybe) bar area. An already finished space can be more difficult if it wasn't purposely designed to handle front projection. There are videos on people painting ceiling tiles flat black online and other ideas out there, but you do want to work within the happy factor of SWMBO.

 

[Pwaynez]

It isn't a deal breaker. It's a compromise.

Drop ceiling tiles are very 'standard' though, and if you can't paint them all, perhaps a deal to just do the first 2-3 rows of tiles, then leave the rest white. Kind of like sound reflections, this will mitigate the front light reflections into the room and back onto the screen.

Thanks for the props - I appreciate it and like to help out where and when I can.

My own home theater is VERY weak right now. Something I'm well aware of. My final home theater won't be great for audio because it will retain an 'open' design into other rooms in the basement. I accept the word 'compromise' as part of the home theater experience.

Since I'm designing and finishing my basement myself, I do get the benefit of sectioning off the spaces and allowing for conduit runs and to have the theater space itself MUCH darker than the pool table area and the gaming area and (maybe) bar area. An already finished space can be more difficult if it wasn't purposely designed to handle front projection. There are videos on people painting ceiling tiles flat black online and other ideas out there, but you do want to work within the happy factor of SWMBO.

So I am ready to pull the trigger on at least trying the PJ in my basement and see how the quality is. However another question came up of course. I see the newer version BenQ HT3050 compared to the 2050a has 100% rec compared to 96 percent. Also, the 3050 has MHL HDMI. From what I read the MHL allows more devices to plug in for use on the PJ? Is this correct? These are the two major differences I found when looking other than 'looks' and is about $120 difference. Are you able to explain a bit more on the MHL and if the 4% rec matters?

This is the PJ screen I am most likely buying as well.

https://www.amazon.com/STR-16992-Silver-Ticket-Cinema-Projector/dp/B00DGVHZSA/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=projector+screen&qid=1562074892&refinements=p_85:2470955011,p_72:2661618011,p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin:3766078011,p_36:1253506011&rnid=386442011&rps=1&s=tv&sr=1-2&th=1

Would the gray material vs white material help with reflection at all on surrounding walls if I am not able to paint completely dark all around the room (ceiling and walls)? Also, my fiance doesnt seem to be on board with painting both ceiling AND walls dark but is on board for one of the two. Would it be better to do the ceiling dark or walls IF YOU had a choice and why?

 

[Darenwh]

Ask her how a dark purple room would look? It's not so much the dark she is likely rebelling against but rather the thought of it looking like a cave. You likely need to find an aesthetically pleasing compromise to bring her around. A dark grey or black cave is rarely well received. Burgundy could also work well as can some team color combinations. Is she a Packers fan? Green walls and carpet with gold theater seating just might work. An Atlanta United fan? Darker red with black furniture might just win her over.

 

[Pwaynez]

Yeah we're packer fans, red bull f1 fans, and the like. She doesnt seem too worried about one of them dark she just doesnt want both dark really. I do agree part of that is due to the cave look. I have already mentioned burgundy walls and she is okay with that and even black ceiling tiles - just not both...

 

[BMXTRIX]

Theaters look like caves, that's part of what makes the image good. It's fine not to paint anything, but it is the compromise that you know you are giving up some image quality in favor of room aesthetics. I always ask the question 'what is the room for'. If the room is very much for watching things on the projector, then the question becomes, "Then why are we treating it like another family room?". This is a tough one with women especially who think that every single room should be a bright cheerful family room-style room.

Haven't you ever noticed how relaxing theaters are with their darker colors and lack of light? How it helps you notice less of what is around you in favor of what is in front of you?

Anyway, to your real question...
96% of REC vs 100% is a ridiculous nothing. You won't ever notice it, or miss it, and unless you pay $500+ for professional calibration, you won't even be able to get that 4% no matter what. It also asks that your room be fully treated, which you already said won't be the case.

MHL is a mobile phone connectivity standard. Not sure how much content you intend to play back from your phone, with it wired directly to the projector (where does the audio go???). The reality is that mobile phones often have HDMI breakout cables. My iPhone has one for sure. I picked up a Dock to HDMI adapter and I can project my phone or iPad using ANY HDMI standard device. From a computer monitor to my projector to my TV. MHL is an added gizmo, but typically for viewing you should be using your cable box through an A/V receiver or a smart device (Roku/AppleTV/Chromecast) through your A/V receiver, or a game system through your A/V receiver.
Notice the trend? Everything connects to your A/V receiver, then to the speakers and the projector. If the A/V receiver is MHL compatible, you are good to go regardless of whether or not the projector is.