Newbie to projector world/ need some guidance

64met

64met

Audioholic
Hey Guys; here is the deal.... we are house shopping and came across a great home with a BOMB media room! It is a brand new home; so the MR is plain... no seats, projector, screen, etc. So; the good news is I can do what ever I want to make it right!

My question is... I have never purchased a projector/screen b4 and need some help... If all goes well; and we move into this house... I probably will have $5-6K to get started and will be looking for a FULL 1080p projector with a screen size of 100 inches at minimum... will 5-6k cover this; I will need it installed as well. Room size is 18X21.So; based on room size is 100' too big? What r my options; if any? Or is this all just a pipe dream to get a 1080p/ screen and installed for no more than 6k??

Thxs in advance!
 
D

Davidt1

Full Audioholic
A 100'' screen would be too small for that room. Is the 5K budget just for a projector and a screen? These days you can get a 1080p projector and a screen for about 2k.
 
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J

Johnd

Audioholic Samurai
You can now get a very decent 1080p pj for under 2k or 3k. If it were my first foray into the pj market, that's what I would do, as led/laser pjs will be coming out in the not too distant future. At the very least, in 2-3 years you could upgrade to a 1080p pj that is now about 10k for about 2k. It is an exciting time for projectors. Brightmess, contracst ratios and pixel count is going through the roof. If you don't have an abundance of disposable income, I would get one of the sub 3K pjs now.
 
T

tricube

Enthusiast
screen size and choices

Screen size is almost always determined by where the seating position is in relationship to the screen. go to the major manufactures websites, Draper, Dalite, etc and the formulas are there.

Also, remember that projectors are chosen based on available light and mounting position. if the room is dark or you can control the light easily, you will be able to get a 1080p projector pretty cheap. the Mitsubishi HC4900 is running a rebate of $500.00 through end of February 2008. makes it 1995.00.

Screens can be had for $399.00 for a decent on at 92 or 100 inches. if you want veltex around the frame, alittle more.
 
D

Dezoris

Audioholic
The short answer is yes you can do it under 6000, for a screen and 1080p projector. But when you add everything else you will hit $6000 but could stay under scaling back a few things.

Projector:
The Panasonic AE2000 is the only one in the 2000-3000 range that does 1080p/24 properly. So that is your only choice in my opinion.

Right now audioholics is the cheapest place to get that projector with their coupon codes right now.

For that room size you are looking at around a 120-130" fixed screen and that would cost you around $500-800 depending on what you want.
This room would have to be almost completely black when watching the projector at that screen size.

Putting you at:
$3200 Projector and screen (Carada Fixed Screen, Ae2000U)
$800 Receiver (Yamaha RXV1800)
$400 Blu-Ray (PS3)
$220 Upscaling DVD (Oppo 981)
$1400 5.1 speaker setup (LMP from audioholics)
$150 Cables (Monoprice, BlueJeans Audioholics)
$500? Install

Total $6200
 
64met

64met

Audioholic
Thanks everyone for your replies! I am taking my HT guy to the house today for him to have a look.. want him to see the room before proceeding. The good news is I am already good to go with the other gear... if everything else works out (house stuff) I will be back in touch with you guys moving forward for final projector/screen selections!
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
Let's be honest - for that much money things will be close if you aren't doing the work yourself. If a person is installing for you, then they likely will want to be providing the projector and screen to you (which makes sense) and they will have a fair bit of labor (20+ hours) to run 5.1 or 7.1 retrofit wiring through the walls and ceiling for the projector along with the easier tasks of actual projector mounting and screen hanging.

The absolute hardest part of all of this is the wire runs, and you can look to spend about $1,500+ on the labor for that portion.

Then you have a DECENT 1080p projector, such as the aforementioned Panasonic, though the 1080p/24 comment was incorrect as the Espson 1080UB handles this as well (with 2:2 pulldown) and several other similarly priced projectors do a fair job as well. The Epson is one of the more highly rated models for sure.

The screen... Well, most installers lean towards Dalite and Draper which will run about $1,500 - $2,000 for an appropriate size.

Now, if you were to go online and go with a Carada screen then your pricing and mileage may very dramatically - but most installers aren't out to give up their profit from sales to the Internet and you may run into a person who will raise labor rates, or walk away if you start doing this. I know, that is the point I am at when dealing with customers, as Internet pricing is great for the DIY guy, but completely unrealistic for those who want professionals to specify and install everything for them... and go cheap.

Likely:
$3,000(ish) for projector
$1,500(ish) for screen (of quality)
$1,500(ish) for labor

Plan to add several hundred dollars (minimum) for parts including speaker wire runs, projector wire runs, and misc. items such as back boxes and mounting hardware.

Likely will be more in the $7,000 range when all is said and done for 1080p from most installers... at the very least.

I know my pricing would put it right around $6,000 - but that would almost be a cheapest possible price getting you everything, so I'm not sure if you are likely to find something much less unless you luck out with a guy who tells you to buy everything online and does the labor for cheap. Not always the case, and often an indicator of an installer that may not know what the heck he is talking about.

A good installer will talk to you about lighting, painting, seating distance, screen size, screen color, projection placement, equipment placement, remote controls, existing equipment, future compatibility, proper wiring, conduit, patching, electrical, lighting control, universal remotes, etc. If they aren't discussing this with you, then they aren't experts leading you to a solution, but are order takers.
 
D

Dezoris

Audioholic
Then you have a DECENT 1080p projector, such as the aforementioned Panasonic, though the 1080p/24 comment was incorrect as the Espson 1080UB handles this as well (with 2:2 pulldown) and several other similarly priced projectors do a fair job as well. The Epson is one of the more highly rated models for sure.

I thought that unit was 3500, thanks for that info. For 3000 its another good option.
 
64met

64met

Audioholic
WOW! Thanks for the detail...

Let's be honest - for that much money things will be close if you aren't doing the work yourself. If a person is installing for you, then they likely will want to be providing the projector and screen to you (which makes sense) and they will have a fair bit of labor (20+ hours) to run 5.1 or 7.1 retrofit wiring through the walls and ceiling for the projector along with the easier tasks of actual projector mounting and screen hanging.

The absolute hardest part of all of this is the wire runs, and you can look to spend about $1,500+ on the labor for that portion.

Then you have a DECENT 1080p projector, such as the aforementioned Panasonic, though the 1080p/24 comment was incorrect as the Espson 1080UB handles this as well (with 2:2 pulldown) and several other similarly priced projectors do a fair job as well. The Epson is one of the more highly rated models for sure.

The screen... Well, most installers lean towards Dalite and Draper which will run about $1,500 - $2,000 for an appropriate size.

Now, if you were to go online and go with a Carada screen then your pricing and mileage may very dramatically - but most installers aren't out to give up their profit from sales to the Internet and you may run into a person who will raise labor rates, or walk away if you start doing this. I know, that is the point I am at when dealing with customers, as Internet pricing is great for the DIY guy, but completely unrealistic for those who want professionals to specify and install everything for them... and go cheap.

Likely:
$3,000(ish) for projector
$1,500(ish) for screen (of quality)
$1,500(ish) for labor

Plan to add several hundred dollars (minimum) for parts including speaker wire runs, projector wire runs, and misc. items such as back boxes and mounting hardware.

Likely will be more in the $7,000 range when all is said and done for 1080p from most installers... at the very least.

I know my pricing would put it right around $6,000 - but that would almost be a cheapest possible price getting you everything, so I'm not sure if you are likely to find something much less unless you luck out with a guy who tells you to buy everything online and does the labor for cheap. Not always the case, and often an indicator of an installer that may not know what the heck he is talking about.

A good installer will talk to you about lighting, painting, seating distance, screen size, screen color, projection placement, equipment placement, remote controls, existing equipment, future compatibility, proper wiring, conduit, patching, electrical, lighting control, universal remotes, etc. If they aren't discussing this with you, then they aren't experts leading you to a solution, but are order takers.
 
C

chadnliz

Senior Audioholic
It is ashame you or friends cant get everything done on your own, far too many installers charge way too much for what is actually involved. I am in a 14x24 room and run 90in screen 11-12ft away and it works great.....I find it hard to beleieve 100in would be too small, also consider clearence under screen for equipment or center channel. One other note ov screen size is that if you plan to use a second row of seating then the distance from floor is also a concern as the back row wont be able to see bottom of screen.
I would have went larger but to get proper speaker placement for both music and movies and the distance to floor and second row issues, the size I chose works best for me. Just something to keep in mind, cheers
 
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