need some help

[08op]

Hey all, looking for some suggestions for a pj. Really have no idea what to even start looking at, so , my room is 20x15 dedicated room i think i can fit a 110"screen. Looking for a budget setup, very budget. What brand or models should i be looking at? should i diy a screen or buy cheap fixed mount? would apperciate any and all suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Really depends on your budget, but there are really cheap models that are good at the $1,000 price point. Optoma HD20, Vivitek, and BenQ all have models for $1K.

Then if you can swing it, the Carada screen is great. The HTDepot.com screen (Focupix) is decent, and if you are handy and have the time and inclination, you can DIY and get good results.

110" may be small depending on your viewing distance.

 

[08op]

yeah i'm looking to spend around 1k or less. im guessing it would be worth getting 1080p over 720p?, this will be for movies and sometimes a football game. i will be sitting around 14' from screen give or take, and not sure difference in setup between a 16;9 or a 2.35. 110" i think is the biggest i can go in my room because its upatairs and it's not a rectangular room,the walls go up to 4' then slant in up to ceiling. i can post a pic if it would help. thanks, just starting to research this kind of setup.
and just to add my room is painted balck and dark red, will have lighting control and blackedout windows,

 

[just-some-guy]

no doubt = 1080p. paint a screen on the wall with "Kilz" primer (so i am told). this will get you "in the door" for your price. then, as you use your setup, learn, and save money for a real screen.

also note the "noise" the machine makes. as this may bother you. you may want the quietist you can afford. ymmv

 

[Sherardp]

At 14 feet I would certainly go larger. I sit 13 feet(1st row) from a 126" 16:9 screen and it has been great for gaming/movies,etc. As for the PJ not sure of your budget ,but you can get into 1080p for less than 1k as mentioned by others. If you can take it up a notch then of course you get more features, better image, etc. With a 1k budget perhaps the Optoma HD20 will suffice, you can use goo or paint for screen until you can save up the coin for screen. Should be fairly easy to get the screen later, Elite or Focupix should give some improved results at least aesthetically.

 

[08op]

yes i'm trying to stay around a grand, but i cant paint a screen because i have a window on that wall, and i think a 110" is about all that will fit without going to low. heres a crappy pic to show the wall i'm gonna use.http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss185/08op/mines.jpg

 

[just-some-guy]

where do you live ?

 

[BMXTRIX]

For under $1,000 you aren't going to end up with a good screen. Retractable screens REALLY need to be tab-tensioned for best results. You can go to a cheap manual screen, and that really is your only option...

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Widescreen_Manual_Projector_Screen_100_p/fm169ax-100.htm

But, eventually the screen WILL get waves in it.

If the window use isn't required, then put a fixed frame screen (do it yourself/buy) right up over the window! If you gotta retain the window for normal room use, then a cheap screen isn't ideal, but will get you going. But, looking forward you will want a tab-tensioned electric screen similar to (or better) than this:

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_TensionFlat_16_9_Electric_Screen_105_p/fxt169s-106.htm

That's about the price of your projector for a proper screen. A QUALITY motorized tab-tensioned screen is typically $2,000 or more pretty easily. I have a 161" version that's about $5,000 sitting in my basement... So, don't expect to get off to easily. But, you do have some options.

 

[08op]

thanks for the replies, i can do whatever i want,per wifey, in that room so blocking the window off is totaly an option. i have 9' across the top of the window till i hit the ceiling/wall, and 69" from top of window to the top of the heater. which is 124" w/out a boarder and 8 inches away from heater. how big is a boarder usually on a screen? and would being that close to the heater do anything bad to the screen? oh i'm in syracuse ny.

 

[BMXTRIX]

thanks for the replies, i can do whatever i want,per wifey, in that room so blocking the window off is totaly an option. i have 9' across the top of the window till i hit the ceiling/wall, and 69" from top of window to the top of the heater. which is 124" w/out a boarder and 8 inches away from heater. how big is a boarder usually on a screen? and would being that close to the heater do anything bad to the screen? oh i'm in syracuse ny.

3"-4" for a 'normal' border on most screens.

You can check www.carada.com for detailed information and specs on their better screens with some very exact sizes.

You can then go to a DIY blackout screen. About $100 for everything, make it yourself, or consider this model:
http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Widescreen_Fixed_Frame_Screen_105_White_p/ff169lt-100mw.htm

You do have options, but it will be a bit over $1,000 to accomplish while keeping with a 1080p projector.

I would personally go with the Focupix 100" and an Optoma HD20 and keep it as close to $1,000 as possible. Hit up www.monoprice.com for some cheap cables to go with it.

 

[autodevin]

For a budget pj

I would choose Optoma HD20 DLP Home Theater Projector - Grey


It is outstanding in my theater and the price is under 1K

 

[08op]

ok so i'm gonna have about 1200 to spend on pj and a screen, thinking i will buy material and make my own screen. room is 20'x13'x7'7" i will sit 12-13' and 15-17' for second row. need suggestions on what pj. is 1080 going to be better at that distance than 720?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Resolution is about size vs. distance, not just distance. At about 110" diagonal screen size, you will definitely see an improvement with 1080p, especially from the front row where you will just about be maxing out the improvement capability.

I would shoot for a screen size between 110" and 120" diagonal with your seating distances.

I would also second my recommendation for the Optoma HD20.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Optoma-HD20-projection-calculator-pro.htm

13' to about 15'8" for a 120" diagonal, with the center of lens 9.4" above the top edge of the screen. Your biggest issue will be screen height, but the screen should be about .1.5' off the floor, which should work nicely with 120" screen.

 

[08op]

thanks for the quick reply, one issue i have is with screen size and hieght. my room is oddly shaped and 9' is the most i have for width for the screen and 5' down from that point and still be about 1-1.5' off floor.i want the biggest screen i can but dont know min. it needs to be off floor and stuff.

 

[jostenmeat]

thanks for the quick reply, one issue i have is with screen size and hieght. my room is oddly shaped and 9' is the most i have for width for the screen and 5' down from that point and still be about 1-1.5' off floor.i want the biggest screen i can but dont know min. it needs to be off floor and stuff.

This is not a put-down to you at all when I say this, but what I'm about to say is probably the most redundant piece of advice I give for PJ setup. It is likely the most redundant, because of its importance for a first-timer like you or me.

Just get the PJ first. Fire the pic at the blank wall. Play for a few days with it. Use all of the sources that matter to you. (I have only used bluray so far, so that inherently lets me go bigger.)

I can understand any feeling of rush you have. I can understand completely. I fired the pic for a whole freakin' week. If I did it all over again, the design might be different (but involved, like AT, and stuff), but in any case this approach is super easy, and will give you the most peace of mind. Cheers.

oh, parting shot, you are at AH, so consider giving your center speaker some space to breath away from floor or ceiling. I mean, if you're sitting on the fence between two sizes, let the audio sway you.