Looking for advice for new purchases

[browe]

I am in need of advice for some electronics purchases. We are moving into a new house soon that is wired for everything possible. The house will be wired for DirecTV with the HD package. I plan on using the HR10-250 HD receivers. I need to purchase the following items:

Projector and fixed screen -basement media area
50" Plasma - Living room
32"+ LCD or Plasma - Master bedroom

I've been considering the Infocus 7210 based on some recommendations of some friends of mine but based on remarks in the forum and other reviews, I am starting to lean towards the Panasonic. The Panasonic is significantly cheaper than the Infocus product. I'd like a screen that is between 100 and 133". The room this is going into is 21 wide by 19 deep. The fixed screen will eventually be flanked with a 37" LCD/Plasma on each side. This is more of a sports room than a theater. I've found the Panasonic for $1250 and cannot find the Infocus for under $4000. Is the Infocus that much better?

For the screen, the room has a lot of light in it coming in from the sides. We will put some form of room darkening blinds on the windows. I'm thinking about a Draper Clarion M2500 screen. Any thoughts on these?

For the living room, I was planning on the Panasonic TH-50PX60U @ $2499 (delivered) until I started reading more about the 50" Vizio. Is the Vizio worth the $300 savings? Every review of the Panasonic is glowing with positive comments but the same cannot be said for the Vizio products. With that said there seem to be several satisfied customers of the Vizio products here.

Lastly for our master bedroom, our bedroom is 14' wide. Is a 42" screen too big?

Thanks!
Brian

 

[BMXTRIX]

I like the AE900, but you will get more real (after calibration) output from another projector. The NEW InFocus projectors (IN76) will give you a much higher calibrated lumen output and will come in closer to $2K instead of $4K+ for the 7210. It is worth that much more than the AE900 IMO.

If you have ANY ambient light, including additional displays, in the sports room, then you will want to consider a high contrast and perhaps higher gain screen in that location along with limiting your screen size to get the most out of the lumens you will be putting up on screen.

For a plasma - I would go with the Panny. Yes, the Vizio looks good, but going with a well established product for a fairly major purchase is a much better way to go typically.

Finally - 42" is about right. Actually, from 14' viewing (in bed) a 42" EDTV is typically plenty of resolution for most people. Go look at HD content on 42" displays at 14' at your local store. Look at the ED model and the HD model 42" display with the SAME material playing on both and then decide if spending more on the 'HD' model makes sense.

 

[frankf]

Infocus

I have a Infocus 7205 projector now for a year and a half. I am very satisfied with the color, contrast, and the blacks and whites that I have seen people having issues with.
I have a friend that just purchased the in76. What a piece of .......outstanding workmanship. The contrast is higher than the 7205 and the chips used are different, but it displays a beautiful picture. Price wise he picked it up at for $2699.00. Not bad!! In fact that is an outstanding price for the qualitity of picture he is getting.

How about servive, you say!!
Let me tell you a little story.
I had purchased the Infocus 7200 projector about six months after it hit the shelves. Within another six monthe the bulb burnt out. I know, unbelieveable....That's what my wife said.
I spent two years researching projectors for quality and price but also customer satisfaction and look what happens.
I shipped the 7200 to Infocus thru them not paying a dime for shipping either way. They tested the 7200 for any problems and returned it to me in two weeks.
In another two months the damn thing went down again. I felt like shooting myself but my wife insisted for me to let her do it.
I called Infocus.
The happy ending of the story was that Infocus updated me with the 7205 that was used in one of there promotionals for about eight hours. Not only that but they gave me a brand knew bulb along with the one that came with the projector.

Now, do not get me wrong I was pissed with the trouble I had with the 7200 (twice) but the service experience that I had with Infocus was one of the main reasons that I told my good friend to buy from them.

Infocus had told me that the 7200 had bulb problems with inferior construction and application of the bulb that was made from an outside company.
The 7205 is fantastic. If you deceide to buy the in76 you won;t go wrong with the product or the company.


rubbersoul

 

[browe]

I like the AE900, but you will get more real (after calibration) output from another projector. The NEW InFocus projectors (IN76) will give you a much higher calibrated lumen output and will come in closer to $2K instead of $4K+ for the 7210. It is worth that much more than the AE900 IMO.

If you have ANY ambient light, including additional displays, in the sports room, then you will want to consider a high contrast and perhaps higher gain screen in that location along with limiting your screen size to get the most out of the lumens you will be putting up on screen.

For a plasma - I would go with the Panny. Yes, the Vizio looks good, but going with a well established product for a fairly major purchase is a much better way to go typically.

Finally - 42" is about right. Actually, from 14' viewing (in bed) a 42" EDTV is typically plenty of resolution for most people. Go look at HD content on 42" displays at 14' at your local store. Look at the ED model and the HD model 42" display with the SAME material playing on both and then decide if spending more on the 'HD' model makes sense.

BMX...thanks for the reply. Your response has given me more questions.

1. Screen size. How do you best determine screen size? You mention "limiting screen size". The way the room will be configured, there will be a "home theater group" of reclining furniture for 6 people approximately 18' from the screen. It will be slightly curved/angled left to right. There will be a row of 4 approximately 3 1/2 feet in front of the back row with a smaller angle. I might elevate the back row on a platform by 6 inches depending on how high we put the screen on the wall. If we go with a smaller screen, will everyone be able to see it better and clearer? What is the formula to determine screen size?

2. High contrast/Screen gain. If we go with a higher gain screen, won't that reduce the viewing angles for the room? On game days, there will eventually be multiple displays running in the same room (the flanked LCD or Plasma screens). There is also a chance that the curtains will not be closed. When watching movies, the room will be completely dark with no other screens running.

For the bedroom, what are your thoughts on LCD vs Plasma?

Thanks,
Brian