Looking at a DLP projector

[hrtbeat2]

I'm very new to this audio/video stuff, but was looking at buying one. The question I have is this. First I sit about 12-13 feet away from the front wall. Second If I went with this I would project it on my wall above my T.V. 3rd is that the area I would use (wall) is about 12 1/2-13 feet off the ground. So I would be watching the projection from about 7 1/2 feet up to the top of the wall 12 1/2 to 13 feet. I'm woundering if this is to high from the seating distance? I was also woundering if I could buy a stand that would go up to about 10 feet and then hang a screen down from there. My walls are painted in a very very light brown/tan color with a very good paint. Any help would be great, also any input on what kind of DLP projector are good for a 1,000-1,200 budget.

 

[jaxvon]

Are you thinking of getting a pulldown screen or an on-wall one?

Also, to calculate distances, sizes, angles, etc, check out these links:

http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/viewingdistancecalculator.html


In that range, the most highly rated DLP projectors are the Optoma H31 and the InFocus 4805. I know that Visual Apex has the Optoma for $1029 shipped with an extra bulb.

 

[brian32672]

In that range, the most highly rated DLP projectors are the Optoma H31 and the InFocus 4805. I know that Visual Apex has the Optoma for $1029 shipped with an extra bulb.

I don't think they are doing the free extra bulb thing anymore. I may be wrong.
The last time I checked they are giving away free shipping and a full 3 year warranty.

 

[BMXTRIX]

1. You have to decide if the height is to high. My opinion is that it is. You can do a manual screen that drops down in front of your TV that would put the image at a better height.

2. There are also electric screens that can accomplish this that you can mount directly to your ceiling, or recess mount INTO your ceiling so you don't see them. You need power for them though.

3. The Optoma H31 is the way I would go at your very low budget. A better thought would be the Sanyo PLV-Z3 or Panasonic AE-700 which are both closer to $1,800.00 and give you about 100% more resolution.

4. I would not make the screen any WIDER than about .5x your seating distance with the H31. So, if you sit 12 feet from it, don't make it wider than 6 feet. With the AE-700 or Z3 you can go with .66x seating distance or an 8 foot wide screen.

 

[hrtbeat2]

Thanks for all the post. If I put the screen in front off my T.V it will muffle the center channnel. I could see if I could place it on the floor shooting up some? And do these projector need to be straight on? Behind you or in front? I've seen them several ways. I will not be leaving this out only to watch a movie on the screen when I want. Thanks again

 

[brian32672]

Thanks for all the post. If I put the screen in front off my T.V it will muffle the center channnel. I could see if I could place it on the floor shooting up some? And do these projector need to be straight on? Behind you or in front? I've seen them several ways. I will not be leaving this out only to watch a movie on the screen when I want. Thanks again

Projectors do not need to be straight on. But try to get it in the center of screen at top (ceiling mounted) or bottom (table top). A little to the left or can be corrected with keystone correction.

But when mounting, it is best to try and get lens centererd as much as possible. To avoid massive keystoning...

 

[majorloser]

I know it's temping to go for bigger screens, but sometimes you have to worry about room lighting when you drive a weaker projector. The dimensions of my room are not far off from yours and I'm driving a 100" 16:9 screen (8ft wide). I have no ambient light to worry about since it's a dedicated room. If you can get away with bigger, go for it if you can control lighting.

A powered drop-down screen would be ideal and if your worry about the center channel you can either move it of buy a perf screen. The problem with a perf screen is you lose image intensity through the same holes sound passes through. A trade off.

 

[brian32672]

The dimensions of my room are not far off from yours and I'm driving a 100" 16:9 screen (8ft wide). I have no ambient light to worry about since it's a dedicated room. If you can get away with bigger, go for it if you can control lighting.

If you can get a PJ with a high lumen, then light control is not really a issue. majorloser has seen pics of my set-up in the daytime with a mass amount of ambient light. And the screen is quite enjoyable during the day...

Granted my pj is rated at 3000 lumens. But it is actually pushing about a true 1980 to 2100 lumens

 

[majorloser]

If you can get a PJ with a high lumen, then light control is not really a issue. majorloser has seen pics of my set-up in the daytime with a mass amount of ambient light. And the screen is quite enjoyable during the day...

Granted my pj is rated at 3000 lumens. But it is actually pushing about a true 1980 to 2100 lumens

Well, I've only seen it by e-mail. (He won't let me over, says I drink up all his beer.)

 

[brian32672]

Well, I've only seen it by e-mail. (He won't let me over, says I drink up all his beer.)

Well not all my beer. LOL
But I know you just got the H78DC3, so a small opinion (or review) posted on it would be nice. Specially over your $10K Yamaha DPX-1

 

[godless]

i was looking at the BenQ PB6200 i found it for about $900

i need it to be $1000 or under and be hd

i can turn the lights off cuz its going in a basement so it doesnt need to be really bright

is this one good? is there one for less that is almost as good?

 

[BMXTRIX]

The PB6200 is not HD and is clearly a commercial designed projector.

Try this:
http://www.projectorpeople.com/hometheater/projdtls.asp?itemid=9125&itmname=Sanyo+PLV-Z2

1280x720 projector, true HD, and $1050.00 - Can you swing the extra 50 bucks for a real HD home theater projector?

 

[godless]

the benq one is higher res than hd it can downconvert it, but i hate lcd projectors so i dont think that sanyo one is a good idea, lcd gets all ****ed up with fast motion

 

[BMXTRIX]

the benq one is higher res than hd it can downconvert it, but i hate lcd projectors so i dont think that sanyo one is a good idea, lcd gets all ****ed up with fast motion

To be HD it must have at least 720 lines of resolution AND be 16:9 in format. At 16:9, the BenQ uses 576 lines, which does not qualify it for HD.

LCD projectors do not have the same issues that LCD flat panel displays have, the bigger issue with fast motion is compression artifacts and issues, which will be the LEAST of someones worries with a sub $1,000 business class DLP. Personal preference aside, as I think DLP looks better as well... home theater projectors do a superior job of providing higher quality video than business class projectors do pretty much any day of the week.

To suggest that someone should buy a business projector doesn't make sense.

Ten things that separate business from HT projectors:

1. Color is generally better on HT projectors

2. Contrast ratio is very important, but it requires even contrast matched with good shadow detail. HT projectors give good details in the shadows (like in a dark scene from Pirates of the Carribean).

3. Since true black is only achievable in a totally dark room, a bright business projector is FAR to bright for the conditions and can cause eyestrain and headaches.

4. Business projectors don't typically have the ability to process motion the way HT projectors do. They are designed for PowerPoint, not HDTV or DVD.

5. DLP business projectors almost ALL only use 2x color wheels which many people can see rainbow effects from. Almost the minimum, these days, for HT projectors is a 4x color wheel.

6. Most business projectors are native 4:3, not 16:9, so you don't have a projector designed around HD viewing or to optimize widescreen DVD viewing.

7. Since business projectors are usually brighter they are also typically LOUDER. Much louder! This is very distracting during quiet passages in a movie and becomes a nuisance.

8. Business projectors quite often do not have enough inputs, or the correct inputs to handle the different video formats you will be putting to it. Especially digital connections (HDMI/DVI) WITH HDCP decryption on those connectors. Some do, most do not - even the ones with digital connections may not be able to show HD material!

9. Because HT projectors don't project as bright, many have bulbs that will actually last longer than business projectors. This is always a good thing.

10. The optics (lenses) of a business class projector are often inferior quality than those of HT projectors since there will not be as much critical viewing of the material. This is especially true in the smaller, more lightweight projectors.

 

[godless]

the ones that are 800x600 resolution do they look good with downconverted 720p? i know its not 720 lines of horizontal resolution but 600 is a lot closer than 480

 

[BMXTRIX]

the ones that are 800x600 resolution do they look good with downconverted 720p? i know its not 720 lines of horizontal resolution but 600 is a lot closer than 480

Actually, it would use 800 pixels wide, then use less than 480 pixels tall for the image, and you are NOT going to find much in the way of a home theater projector in the 800x600 resolution arena.

At $1,000(ish) there are 3 very well established choices for home theater, and perhaps a few lesser known ones.

The 3 are:
Optoma H31
InFocus SP4805
Sanyo PLV-Z2

They are all right at or near $1,000 and all are designed for home theater.

If you are building a home theater - if that is your goal - I would re-read that list I just put above and only look at home theater projectors. Stop wasting time on business projectors.

 

[godless]

its not for a specific theater rom its for the finished basement, ike i said b4 we already have another hdtv that was about $3400 but everyone crowds around it so this one is for me


the h31 is not hd so its out of the question

 

[BMXTRIX]

Then the Z2 sounds like what you are after if you want something native HD.

The H31 & SP4805 both are HD capable displays, even if they are not 'native'. They both also look awesome for the money. Superior to what you will find in any business line projector for sure.

Keep in mind:
1024x768 is NOT HD unless it ships with an anamorphic lens - very few do, none at a budget price.
800x600 is even less than 1024x768 - so that is even further from HD native.

I understand your requirements: Under $1,000 and HD...

There is NOTHING new that I am aware of that meets those requirements. The three projectors I listed are considered by most, to be the best home theater (home video/basement/whatever you call it) projectors on the market right now.

What you listed is a significant step down from the projectors listed.

But, it is your money and you can make your own decision if you don't care for what I am recommending.

 

[godless]

i do definitely care, i just really prefer dlp to lcd... ive been trying to find a native hd dlp projector at that price if i cant ill get the one you showed me

i appreciate all suggestions

 

[BMXTRIX]

...just really prefer dlp to lcd... ive been trying to find a native hd dlp projector at that price...

You are hardly alone in wishing that 720p DLP projectors would at least be the same price as 720p LCD projectors.

I gotta say that I just picked up a the Panasonic AE700U projector. I was in a fairly unique situation to be able to see that, the InFocus SP4805, and the InFocus SP7205.

The SP4805, while it looked great, showed way to much pixelization for me. Actual visible pixels at about 1.7x screen width. I felt the screen was getting to small for the distance it would actually be viewed from.

But, it also was a GREAT looking image despite that. It was showing HD video and DVD (I demoed both) and if I were stuck with a $1K budget, it would be a very, VERY tempting purchase.

I thought the 7205 was clearly the overall winner, but it simply ends up pricing itself out of the battle. This is your issue - you want the 7205 or something of that caliber, but you are more in the 4805 budget.

You could go used... But, then I would say you are up against this:
A projector like the Panasonic AE700 or the Sanyo Z3 gives you as much contrast as DLP projectors from a few years ago. They have very good motion handling and include (VERY IMPORTANT!) DVI/HDMI inputs with HDCP decryption. So, if the broadcast flag is raised, you aren't stuck with a projector that can't display that HD material. I would consider that a very important feature if I were about to drop a grand on a display device these days.

Now, the AE700 is about 1800 or so, the Z3 has dropped below 1500... Those are both current generation machines - yes, LCD, but if you haven't seen them, then do some reading over at projector central about them. TRY to find one to see. You may change your mind or decide that it is the best way for you to go at this point and time.

I would NEVER back up a product that I don't think is worth it. I personally think DLP is the spiders nipples as far as quality goes. But, the current crop of 720p LCD projectors... for the money, just can't be touched.

You also need to consider your actual setup and how that may impact you with an inexpensive DLP. Neither the 4805 nor the H31 have lens shift. So, you must place the projector exactly where it has to go. If it is to low, your screen is on the floor. To high, and your screen is against the ceiling. More often, it forces your screen to the floor... Or you are stuck using digital keystone correction which is seriously detrimental to your image quality.

Keep thinking about it, and if you ask about projectors for demo in your area, you may be able to find one or two you can actually look at first hand. This will definitely help you feel better about your decision.