Projector Vs 4K TVs Vs Time Itself
Discussion
So... I've got some money burning a hole in my pocket and I was thinking about a projector.
Thing is, I've got a 50" Plasma sitting in my spare room for games and films. The room is quite small, so the projected image would only be slightly bigger (but I can justify that, as it'll likely be 3D, too)
But what's putting me off is knowing 4k is kind of around the corner. Not RIGHT around the corner, but getting there. So if I sink close-as-damn-it a grand into setting up a 1080 3D projector, will I be eyeing up 4K TVs in only 12 month time?
I dont often have money to spare so really need to think long term.
Any advice appreciated.
Thing is, I've got a 50" Plasma sitting in my spare room for games and films. The room is quite small, so the projected image would only be slightly bigger (but I can justify that, as it'll likely be 3D, too)
But what's putting me off is knowing 4k is kind of around the corner. Not RIGHT around the corner, but getting there. So if I sink close-as-damn-it a grand into setting up a 1080 3D projector, will I be eyeing up 4K TVs in only 12 month time?
I dont often have money to spare so really need to think long term.
Any advice appreciated.
There are a few things to bear in mind, in terms of the current consumer market:
Native 4K projectors, whilst currently available, aren't that affordable to most consumers. The cheapest native 4K PJ is the Sony VW500 which retails at around £8500. JVC offers a similar unit but with a 1080p panel, but this year's models upscaling (optical) tech can take native a 4K content feed and the result is outstanding (having seen a couple of demos). This is the X500 which sits at around £4700 - at this moment in time, if you wanted to early adopt to a 4K PJ, I'd go that route - the quality of picture when fed native 4K (via a Redray, which isn't available to the consumer - another problem), is stunning.
Regarding 4K itself, whilst the sets are available, for the most part, available 4K content is all zebras, flowers and kingfishers - it's all very pretty, but we're some way off having actual TV and film content. Netflix et al are moving into 4K streaming, but you'll need circa 20mb internet for it to be viable. We're a year or two away from a 4K Blu-Ray. Bear in mind that these streaming services tend to be tied in to the TV manufacturer - no such agreement exists with the PJ firms.
Given that you wouldn't be able to go a whole lot bigger in terms of screen size, at the moment I'd recommend holding fire and going the 4K OLED TV route around this time next year, the reason being two fold:
1) It's the successor to Pioneer & Panny plasma's in terms of performance, they really are staggeringly good.
2) 4K might have a sensible content delivery system by then.
The underlying issue with 4K, which the likes of Currys, John Lewis etc wont tell consumers, is that visual acuity is a factor, and generally speaking, the benefit of 4K in a 'regular' size TV, at a normal viewing distance, is minimal - meaning you wouldn't really be blown away by the increase in picture quality. For this reason, a projector is the most effective way of benefiting from the extra resolution, but by the sound of it, your room environment might not allow an image big enough to make it worth the outlay (something around an 80" diagonal is a sensible start point for 4K).
Sorry for all the waffle...
Native 4K projectors, whilst currently available, aren't that affordable to most consumers. The cheapest native 4K PJ is the Sony VW500 which retails at around £8500. JVC offers a similar unit but with a 1080p panel, but this year's models upscaling (optical) tech can take native a 4K content feed and the result is outstanding (having seen a couple of demos). This is the X500 which sits at around £4700 - at this moment in time, if you wanted to early adopt to a 4K PJ, I'd go that route - the quality of picture when fed native 4K (via a Redray, which isn't available to the consumer - another problem), is stunning.
Regarding 4K itself, whilst the sets are available, for the most part, available 4K content is all zebras, flowers and kingfishers - it's all very pretty, but we're some way off having actual TV and film content. Netflix et al are moving into 4K streaming, but you'll need circa 20mb internet for it to be viable. We're a year or two away from a 4K Blu-Ray. Bear in mind that these streaming services tend to be tied in to the TV manufacturer - no such agreement exists with the PJ firms.
Given that you wouldn't be able to go a whole lot bigger in terms of screen size, at the moment I'd recommend holding fire and going the 4K OLED TV route around this time next year, the reason being two fold:
1) It's the successor to Pioneer & Panny plasma's in terms of performance, they really are staggeringly good.
2) 4K might have a sensible content delivery system by then.
The underlying issue with 4K, which the likes of Currys, John Lewis etc wont tell consumers, is that visual acuity is a factor, and generally speaking, the benefit of 4K in a 'regular' size TV, at a normal viewing distance, is minimal - meaning you wouldn't really be blown away by the increase in picture quality. For this reason, a projector is the most effective way of benefiting from the extra resolution, but by the sound of it, your room environment might not allow an image big enough to make it worth the outlay (something around an 80" diagonal is a sensible start point for 4K).
Sorry for all the waffle...
Edited by fuelracer496 on Thursday 13th March 20:29
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