Projector or colossal TV?

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Discussion

PhilboSE

Original Poster:

4,322 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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I'm in the position of designing a new house build, and we'd like somewhere to watch films with the "big screen" experience. We probably won't want to have a dedicated "home cinema" room, but we are considering a dual-purpose room, maybe one that can be used for casual TV watching/video games etc., and then be used for a more cinematic experience.

One option (the one I assumed we would go for) is to have a projector and a drop-down screen, maybe coming down in front of a normal TV so that the furniture arrangement is multi-purpose.

However there are now some pretty large TVs available (78", 88" and 95" though the price is exponentially related to the size) and I was just wondering what thoughts are around just having a single very large TV rather than say a 46" TV for normal purposes and then a 3m+ screen/projector arrangement?

Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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I'd say go for a projector BUT with caveats. How much TV are you planning to watch on it? Will it be your full time TV? If so then I don't think a projector is suitable for watching 4-5 hours of TV a day as you'll burn through the bulbs at a quick rate (they aren't cheap) and it will also lessen the experience IMO.

However if you only plan on using it for gaming, occasional TV use and films then I don't think a TV can beat the projector as it just makes it a much better experience IMO.

I currently have a 100" electric screen and a Sony 1080p projector. A projector needs a bit more thought. Where will you mount the screen? The projector? How will you control the light? Where will the sound come from etc but once it's in it's so worth it. I regularly game on mine, playing Battlefield or FIFA on a 100" screen has to be seen to be believed and movie nights have become more of an event rather than just sitting down in front of the TV. One of the best purchase I've ever made and highly recommended. A ceiling mounted projector and drop down screen doesn't need to be intrusive at all so the room can be used for other things, just don't expect it to replace your regular TV and you won't look back.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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PhilboSE said:
One option (the one I assumed we would go for) is to have a projector and a drop-down screen, maybe coming down in front of a normal TV so that the furniture arrangement is multi-purpose.
This is exactly what I do. Use the projector for films and PS4 games, and the TV for everything else. No desire to have a huge tv on the wall - it doesn't really help the decor, and I don't need to watch most of the dross on TV on a zillion inch screen.

NorthDave

2,355 posts

231 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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We always say up to 100" go TV and above that go projector.

That is for a home cinema room though - I wouldn't want to watch the news day to day on a 3m projector screen from a comfort point of view. You might also want a TV if you would need to darken the room to properly view a projector.

Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
quotequote all
NorthDave said:
We always say up to 100" go TV and above that go projector.

That is for a home cinema room though - I wouldn't want to watch the news day to day on a 3m projector screen from a comfort point of view. You might also want a TV if you would need to darken the room to properly view a projector.
Can you even get a 100" telly and if so how much does it cost?

I have a 100" inch screen\projector combo and I find it plenty, in fact I'd go as far as to say it looks absolutely huge and unless you live in a massive house, I'd say it's more than adequate.

PhilboSE

Original Poster:

4,322 posts

225 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
quotequote all
Guvernator said:
Can you even get a 100" telly and if so how much does it cost?
http://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-98UB980V £20,000. I did say the costs went exponential! I must admit that my first choice was a projector and not a mahoosive TV, this thread seems to be coming in behind that.


Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
quotequote all
PhilboSE said:
http://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-98UB980V £20,000. I did say the costs went exponential! I must admit that my first choice was a projector and not a mahoosive TV, this thread seems to be coming in behind that.
Err yeah, my projector, soundbar, electric upy\downy 100" screen plus getting someone to come and install it all came to less than £4k all in. OK it's not as every day usable as a telly but that is some saving. Having a few mates round for FIFA and beers (they ALWAYS want to come to my house now) or sitting down with some popcorn to watch a film is now epic.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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Some folks I know who have bottomless pockets who have spent very scary amounts on this stuff.
(Sample size >14 and < 20 )

After 6 months - It ends up that none of them use it.

They use the TV in the living room. 99% of the time.


So... make of that what you will.


Edit.... For comparison - I have a 65 inch telly used each night.

The others have stuff 2-6 times the size.

page3

4,912 posts

250 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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Depends on what you watch.

I'd always go for a projector, as films just don't look right on a television. Much prefer reflected light to emitted - much kinder for the eyes.

Bulbs these days are cheap and can last 6000 hours, depending on model.

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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Guvernator said:
Can you even get a 100" telly and if so how much does it cost?
All I can say...

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/11/this-panasonic-15...

gary71

1,963 posts

178 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
quotequote all
As others have said, decent size TV + projector & drop down screen.

I run a 50" plasma and a 109" electric drop down screen. Great combination and the projector is still an event even after many many hours of use.

Picture just after installation, cables now hidden!


Screen down, projector on, and led strip lights adding a little ambience:



NorthDave

2,355 posts

231 months

Friday 27th May 2016
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Guvernator said:
Can you even get a 100" telly and if so how much does it cost?

I have a 100" inch screen\projector combo and I find it plenty, in fact I'd go as far as to say it looks absolutely huge and unless you live in a massive house, I'd say it's more than adequate.
Up to 100" - so below. You can get 85" Samsungs fairly reasonably.

It does look huge but we regularly do screens 4.5m width (180" ish) and they too look huge. You get used to it though and it creates a very immersive experience. You certainly dont watch it thinking I wish this was smaller.

As for people putting them in and not using them - all the ones we put in are in regular use, at least weekly and sometimes a lot more depending on size of family and ages of kids.

Guvernator

13,104 posts

164 months

Friday 27th May 2016
quotequote all
I've had mine in for over a year and still use it 3-4 evenings a week for gaming or films. We are planning on having a second kid so my cinema room may have to go at some point in the next 3-4 years and I'm already dreading it as I can't imagine being without it now. Luckily plans are afoot to create a man-cave in the garden or garage if that happens.

I suspect some of the people who put them in and don't use them have only put them in as the next gadget to have and they are now bored of it.

JEA1K

2,485 posts

222 months

Friday 27th May 2016
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Definitely go for both ... its what we've used for a few years now. TV for normal TV stuff and general daytime TV viewing and the PJ/screen when watching films or in my case F1 during the day.

Currently rebuilding the room although struggling to use my own installers as we're flat out! Going for a 50" - 60" TV and 2.4m recessed screen to give the best of both worlds.

matty g

231 posts

197 months

Saturday 28th May 2016
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gary71 said:
As others have said, decent size TV + projector & drop down screen.

I run a 50" plasma and a 109" electric drop down screen. Great combination and the projector is still an event even after many many hours of use.

Picture just after installation, cables now hidden!


Screen down, projector on, and led strip lights adding a little ambience:
My OCD has proper kicked in

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 28th May 2016
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matty g said:
My OCD has proper kicked in
Mine too yikes

gary71

1,963 posts

178 months

Monday 30th May 2016
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I know the TV isn't in the middle smile

Accepting that it can't be due to other bits of furniture and not wanting the LH speaker behind a sofa, and that the wallpaper choice was fixed do you:

a: line the wallpaper to the middle of the wall
b: line the wallpaper to the centre of the TV

Neither is the right answer smile I've learnt to cope with it, but it still makes me twitch occasionally.

vxsmithers

716 posts

199 months

Tuesday 31st May 2016
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gary71 said:
I know the TV isn't in the middle smile

Accepting that it can't be due to other bits of furniture and not wanting the LH speaker behind a sofa, and that the wallpaper choice was fixed do you:

a: line the wallpaper to the middle of the wall
b: line the wallpaper to the centre of the TV

Neither is the right answer smile I've learnt to cope with it, but it still makes me twitch occasionally.
I hadn't noticed. Life is too short to worry about that sort of thing! Now spoons in the fork drawer... furious

tdm34

7,365 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
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75 inch TV for £2499! and once fiddled with the picture quality is better than you'd believe possible for the price.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/tv---all/hisen...