Projectors - talk to me...
Discussion
Recently moved into a new flat and have a wall that is perfect for using with a projector. Would probably just use it for Movies and the odd bit of Xbox.
What I am wondering is:
-How good is the picture quality - 1080p + and Xbox on a (say) 100-150 inch size screen - does it look horrible, or is the massive screen worth the trade off in quality? Very vague question, I know - but is it possible to read your laptimes in Forza for example
-Is it worth looking at a screen too? The wall is white and flat enough, but is it worth getting a screen, or is the increase in paraphernalia just not worth it?
-How do you do sound? HDMI into projector and then output to sound system? Or is there a way of separating the audio out early (mainly talking about Xbox here, the Blu-ray already has a dedicated line out)?
-Is it worth splashing out? Would spend up to 1000, but is the increase in quality over a 150 quid ebay special HD one worth it in anything less than optimal conditions (i.e. 99% of the time it will be used - no screen, daylight streaming in etc.)
Apologies for the total n00b questions, I guess I should really go and try one out - but I'm kind of looking for a real world opinion, not a showroom where the set up is perfect.
What I am wondering is:
-How good is the picture quality - 1080p + and Xbox on a (say) 100-150 inch size screen - does it look horrible, or is the massive screen worth the trade off in quality? Very vague question, I know - but is it possible to read your laptimes in Forza for example
-Is it worth looking at a screen too? The wall is white and flat enough, but is it worth getting a screen, or is the increase in paraphernalia just not worth it?
-How do you do sound? HDMI into projector and then output to sound system? Or is there a way of separating the audio out early (mainly talking about Xbox here, the Blu-ray already has a dedicated line out)?
-Is it worth splashing out? Would spend up to 1000, but is the increase in quality over a 150 quid ebay special HD one worth it in anything less than optimal conditions (i.e. 99% of the time it will be used - no screen, daylight streaming in etc.)
Apologies for the total n00b questions, I guess I should really go and try one out - but I'm kind of looking for a real world opinion, not a showroom where the set up is perfect.
Buy the Optoma HD200x.
I got a second hand one for £400 on AVForums just before Christmas, you should be able to get a new one for around £600 if you shop around.
The picture on that size screen is excellent even on SD content. 1080p is superb.
I always watch in the evening on economy mode and it's quiet.
I had a cheap one previously and although fairly decent, suffered from motion blur and not such a crisp picture. Cheaper ones are noisy too.
I got a second hand one for £400 on AVForums just before Christmas, you should be able to get a new one for around £600 if you shop around.
The picture on that size screen is excellent even on SD content. 1080p is superb.
I always watch in the evening on economy mode and it's quiet.
I had a cheap one previously and although fairly decent, suffered from motion blur and not such a crisp picture. Cheaper ones are noisy too.
I've had various 1080p projectors for over 4 years; no issue with picture quality in terms of sharpness, colours, etc. After I'd got my first one my OH said that she thought it would look blury and was surprised at how clear everything looked (this was only upscaling DVDs at this time too), so a non AV geek's opinion if you like. We recently watched 'Ben Hur' which she has only ever seen on TV and she kept saying about how there were details she'd never even noticed before and how much better the Chariot race looked on a big screen...some films really do deserve a large screen rather than just a TV IMHO.
FWIW my screen is 112" wide 2.35:1 so equal to a 128" TV. I might have to try my Son's new XBox on it at some point.
FWIW my screen is 112" wide 2.35:1 so equal to a 128" TV. I might have to try my Son's new XBox on it at some point.
I bought a Phillips projector about 12 to 14 years ago. The specification must be terrible compared with what is available now. But the effect that you can achieve is fantastic . With a decent amp and speakers it really is home cinema.
Games consoles on them are also good. See if you can get a demo somewhere if you need convincing. Maybe check out some av forums but they can be a little over critical
Games consoles on them are also good. See if you can get a demo somewhere if you need convincing. Maybe check out some av forums but they can be a little over critical
I grabbed £300 optoma Hd67 720p, displayed at about 115inches.
See thread below, pics further down page.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/members-home-cinema...
See thread below, pics further down page.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/members-home-cinema...
£1000 will get you a great projector and a decent screen. The screen makes a big difference to pq. Light control is important too.
Oddly, and I dont understand why, but the picture looks fantastic and not at all fuzzy or pixelly. As long as it isn't a hassle to get a game or movie set up then you'll use it all the time.
Oddly, and I dont understand why, but the picture looks fantastic and not at all fuzzy or pixelly. As long as it isn't a hassle to get a game or movie set up then you'll use it all the time.
andyroo said:
£1000 will get you a great projector and a decent screen. The screen makes a big difference to pq. Light control is important too.
Oddly, and I dont understand why, but the picture looks fantastic and not at all fuzzy or pixelly. As long as it isn't a hassle to get a game or movie set up then you'll use it all the time.
This is going to be the killer - using some sort of HDMI switcher will minimise the faff, but with sky + Blu-Ray + Xbox could be a hassle to swap about every time you wan to use it. I'm tempted to go with an ebay special (or borrow one from work) and see how I get on with it before doing it properly later - can see it being a bit "breadmaker" with regards to setting it up each time I want to use it, so no point in going for the bells and whistles setup if it is going to sit unused.Oddly, and I dont understand why, but the picture looks fantastic and not at all fuzzy or pixelly. As long as it isn't a hassle to get a game or movie set up then you'll use it all the time.
It's not directly relevant considering your budget but I recently got a cheap but decent used projector from a school a few months ago, it was only about £40 but even so the picture quality is more than adequate. I don't watch much TV, only films really so I'd much rather have a bigger viewing area with a slight reduction in sharpness and not have to look at a massive telly all the time when it's not on. I'd imagine the high definition ones with the mega powerful lamps they have would be on a par with a telly though to be honest so no contest.
Parsnip said:
This is going to be the killer - using some sort of HDMI switcher will minimise the faff, but with sky + Blu-Ray + Xbox could be a hassle to swap about every time you wan to use it. I'm tempted to go with an ebay special (or borrow one from work) and see how I get on with it before doing it properly later - can see it being a bit "breadmaker" with regards to setting it up each time I want to use it, so no point in going for the bells and whistles setup if it is going to sit unused.
If you're too lazy to use a second setup you've answered your own question. You're already imagining the hassle of setting it all up.Many AV amps come with two HDMI outs, mine only has one so I don't know if you could configure a newer amp to switch to projector for bluray and gaming and leave the TV for TV? My ideal setup was going to be an LCD screen for my PC and general viewing and a pulldown screen in front with the PS3 wired into a projector for movies and gaming.
Bear in mind that if you use one for your sole display you could be going through a bulb every nine months or so!
I use a HDMI splitter so that any of my sources can go to either my TV, Projector or even to another TV in the nearby conservatory. Small issue is that one TV is only 1080i capable and only the projector accepts 24p, but as all the sources alos pass through a Lumagen video processor it's only a button press to sort that out, plus the Lumagen corrects the colours, etc for each display. The splitter wasn't expensive and mine has 4 outputs, plus a model with 2 would be even cheaper.
I agree with using the TV for day to day and saving the projector for sporting events/films as watching the news, soaps etc, on it would lessen the effect, so that films wouldn't feel 'special'.
I agree with using the TV for day to day and saving the projector for sporting events/films as watching the news, soaps etc, on it would lessen the effect, so that films wouldn't feel 'special'.
If you pick up a decent pj from avforums second hand you shouldn't lose anything if you decide to move it on.
Get it setup properly with a remote fold down screen and you'll love it. A programable remote that sets you up in one push of a button will make the pj infinity more enjoyable.
Oh, and as for bulb life, my last pj gave me a countdown of 4000 hours, enough to watch two hours of telly every day for nearly five and a half years!
Get it setup properly with a remote fold down screen and you'll love it. A programable remote that sets you up in one push of a button will make the pj infinity more enjoyable.
Oh, and as for bulb life, my last pj gave me a countdown of 4000 hours, enough to watch two hours of telly every day for nearly five and a half years!
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