Too lazy....Projector and screen $1000

[chadd]

is the Epson - PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 Projector worth 500 more than the optoma hd20?

 

[kermit_xc]

Im to lllazy to search and I have to hurry to bed because my wife is yelling at me.
Im looking for a projector and screen combination for my living room. My budget is $1000. I want to play my ps3 and watch movies on it.

try to spot a good deal on eBay - I got a Mitsubishi HC1500 for $450 brand new. It is a 720p projector - but IMHO if you're not going with a screen larger than 100" and have a seating position at about 12'+ you'll be fine ...

but if you are serious about the lazy part ... it will cost you.

 

[chadd]

okay

I decided to expand my budget a bit. Im most likely going to get the projector from best buy, unless I can find a smoking deal from somewhere else. So if anyone has a suggestion other than the optoma hd20 please chime in. I am going to ceiling mount, I have vaulted ceilings and can put the projector any distance away from the screen but need a mount that can extend down to different heights. My seating distance is about 15 ft away and I want an electric screen. I am really lost on what to get, can someone please point me to the right one. Thanks again....

 

[chadd]

Looking for you BMXTRIX

Where Are You At Buddy!?

 

[jinjuku]

Hi Chadd,

I am currently just a little ahead of the curve than you in that I have my PJ purchased and I am doing a DIY screen (that means I have most the paint together).

This week I will be putting a frame together to mount the tempered hardboard and then glue my substrate to that.

In a nutshell:

I picked up a Sanyo PLV-z60 for $659 shipped at Amazon. While it is a 720p projector please remember that resolution isn't everything. This unit has good color balance, saturation, contrast, and solid black levels.

I will be able to do my screen for $200 and have paint left over. AVSForum.com has some really good information on DIY screen paints (so does Hometheatershack.com).

There are a few camps in screen paint:

Silver Fire
Black Widow
NG

These are the main ones that I have found. Let me know what I can help with and please remember that I am on the same learning curve that you are but maybe only a chapter ahead or so

 

[chadd]

Hi Chadd,

I am currently just a little ahead of the curve than you in that I have my PJ purchased and I am doing a DIY screen (that means I have most the paint together).

This week I will be putting a frame together to mount the tempered hardboard and then glue my substrate to that.

In a nutshell:

I picked up a Sanyo PLV-z60 for $659 shipped at Amazon. While it is a 720p projector please remember that resolution isn't everything. This unit has good color balance, saturation, contrast, and solid black levels.

I will be able to do my screen for $200 and have paint left over. AVSForum.com has some really good information on DIY screen paints (so does Hometheatershack.com).

There are a few camps in screen paint:

Silver Fire
Black Widow
NG

These are the main ones that I have found. Let me know what I can help with and please remember that I am on the same learning curve that you are but maybe only a chapter ahead or so

Thank you for your insight. I cant do a diy screen, I need to have it retractable as it is in front of my plasma.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The projector is an iffy item.

The Optoma is nice for the money, it has minimal placement flexibility and should be available from BB as is the Epson models (for sure) and I believe the Panasonic.

The Epson is a step up from the Optoma IMO, with a bit more brightness capability, deeper blacks, and most of all... phenomenal placement flexibility.

With 100" you can take it back as much as 20' without issue which may help with your vaulted ceiling issue.

You mentioned a mount you can raise/lower. This could mean...

1. You want to be able to raise and lower the projector at will and need a telescoping mount.

2. You want to get a pole the right length and intend to leave the projector where you place it after it is setup, but don't want a mount with a pole that can't be adjusted/switched.

I'm assuming #2 there, in which case the Chief RPA mounts (RPA-U) will work as will the Peerless Mounts. Even the htdepot.com mount will work as it also uses standard 1.5" pipe. This is 1.5" steel pipe you can buy at your local hardware store and they can cut to any length and thread the pipe in the store.

If budget allowed I would get:
Epson 8500UB
Panasonic AE4000U
Epson 8100
Optoma HD20
Vivitek 1080 model
BenQ 1080 model

The Vivitek is actually pretty interesting because it has more offset than most so it would be higher in the room - about 14.7" above the screen and you get a range of 11'7" to 13'11" for a 100" diagonal screen. I just haven't read a ton about the Vivitek to this point personally.

Your screen will be a completely different and interesting issue. HTDepot has some high budget items, but I've never used their electric models.

 

[chadd]

So I think Im almost ready to pull the trigger on this deal from projector guys. Its funny how my budget went form 1000 to 2418 shipped.
the deal is as follows
# SC-E120D169 Mustang Electric Screen 120" Diagonal in 16:9 format with Wireless Remote Kit - 1 piece
# PG-COMP-25 25' 3-RCA Component Video Cable (RG-59/u) - 1 piece
# PG-HDMI-25 25' HDMI Gold Plated Copper Cable - 1 piece
# MV-PROJSP-FLATW Mustang Universal Flush Ceiling Mount (White) - 1 piece
# V11H337020 NEW! Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8500UB Projector

What do you guys think about this deal?

 

[BMXTRIX]

That's a really good price if that is before rebates. Still pretty good if you have to have the electric screen. The screen itself is a cheap version electric model vs. a similar cheap version manual retractable, so you don't get much quality there compared to a cheaper manual, but for the price, worth it IMO.

The mount should work okay, but as sold, it is not adjustable height. You would need a 1.5" adapter piece - read this:
http://www.mustangav.com/images/pdfs/MV-projsp-flat.pdf

Cables are cables and should be fine, especially nice for you if they are the right length for your setup.

Really, the price is phenomenal if it is BEFORE rebates. It's still okay if it is after rebates. The Epson 8500UB sells at most sites for $2,500 before rebates by itself.

 

[chadd]

Thanks. I real close to buying this setup.

That price is after all the rebates. So i have to collect $350 in rebates to get that price. Its the cheapest I found. I know the screen sucks but like you said I will probably treat it as a disposable and get a new one in a year of two.


Have you heard of anyone having any problems with the epson 8500ub while gaming?

 

[BMXTRIX]

I don't track gaming with projectors. I wish the reviewers did some testing with it and I hate recommending people to look at AVS Forum, but that's a technical enough question that you might get a better answer on that specific question from them.

 

[chadd]

just to give you guys a heads up

I just picked up the epson 8500ub for 2198.99 shipped before the rebate. So once i get the money back for the rebate it will be 1998.99 shipped! This was from electronicexpo.com. I just called up and told them I had the coupon code LS0145G which is 15% off of projectors and the guy actually gave me a better promotion.

 

[davetheman]

go with the 705HD

The Sanyo PLV-z60 goes for 670 from ebay and the Epson 705HD goes for around 550. Both are a much better options than the XVGA listed.

the Sanyo would be my choice with it's 3 year warrranty and very high reliability. Though the Epson has a 4000 hour bulb and would be fantastic for a dual purpose projector. Especially in ambient light. Given Epson projectors are rarely resold. I'd say you couldn't go wrong that way.

Still if I had 670 to spend it would be on the PLV-z60. I may actually need to replace my projector soon and am considering one simply for the placement flexibility alone. Not to mention the quietness.

I recently bough the 705HD and I am very satisfied. The colors are great doesn't emit any noise to talk about. Can't do anything else but recommend it.

I noticed it has a whopping 93% average score at testseek also, with two best in test awards

cheers

dave

 

[finishers]

The setup, which should be far from light controlled. So with the games during the day, The Epsons beats even the JVC for high lumen count. Yes the colours etc. are not perfect, but very very watchable. Also allows u to watch daytime tv whilst it uses the HQV chip for processing.