Advice for first Projector

[sneader]

Hi guys. Due to a remodel at our house, we now have a room that will be used for "home theatre". I have an HDMI cable run to the ceiling (about 15 feet away from the future wall that will be used for the screen) as well as a "smurf tube" that I can use to pull anything else I might need. And a power outlet, of course.

This will be used for our family to watch occasional movies. We are not home theater experts (no Blu-Ray players in our house yet, and only one 47-inch HDTV), so this does not have to be movie theater quality.

I am cringing at the thought of spending $2k on a projector, but if I'd just get junk spending less, then so be it.

Thoughts, suggestions, etc... please!!

- Scott

 

[dfergie]

I started out with a X1 which was supposed to be a business projector but ended up being a phenomenon for the pre HD world (and it delivered HD very well also)I've been with the Mitsubishi line since with 2 - 720p FPTV's and a 1080p HC3800, the successor to that the HC4000 would rock as would the 720p's available (just watched a movie from a 720p Mits HC1500 in my HT room)there are several brands that rock. Optima, Mitsubishi off the top of my head. 720p rocks and you can do a diy screen for not that much that helps for the costs...

 

[jayn_j]

$1k these days buys you a competent 1080p projector from Mitsubishi, Epson or Optima. In addition to the ones Dfergie mentioned, you should add the Epson 8350 which is sellng just above $1k these days. I own the Epson and like it a lot.

You probably should also consider it time to add a BluRay player. It does make a difference at these sizes. I saw competent players at Costco yesterday in the $70 range, and disc prices are now pushing the $10 point for catalog titles. Best Buy now has a $7.99 bin, and I'm sure you could find similar items at other stores.

There is a lot of good DIY screen information over at AVS Forum. The popular choices seem to be painting a screen wall, laminate and blackout cloth stretched over a frame. If you don't want to work that hard, commercial frames are available at reasonable prices from Jamestown Screens, the Elite Screens Sableframe line and the Visual Apex screen. I have the Elite Sableframe 120" and am quite happy with it.

 

[mike123abc]

You can also watch places like Tiger Direct for closeout on last year's model at big discount prices (I bought one of my projecters there for $650, MSRP was 3k originally).

I use elite screens Elite Screens | Your Projection Screen Company they have some very inexpensive frames that you put together and hang.

 

[Ilya]

I highly recommend Epson 8350. The picture quality is outstanding, installation is easy and the price is hard to match.

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