OT--buying a tv projector
I'm moving into a new condo, and there is a giant giant white wall, and it is screaming at me to install a projector and project onto it.
My question is, does anyone know how much quality difference I'm going to have if I buy one of these $60-$120 HD projectors off amazon/ebay vs. buying a $400 one? Is it resolution, size, or size and resolution?
Edit: thanks for all the input! In hindsight, I suppose this blog isn't the best source of info for "fake" people (students) as most of you have more experience using projectors for legitimate home theaters. After giving it some more thought, I'm going to use my nice 42 inch tv on a short tv stand, and then get a $250 projector from amazon for use exclusively at night time. I unfortunately don't have more to spend on it, so if it looks stupid I'll return it.When chosing a projector:
How loud is it? It matters alot for someone who cares about sound. I dont want to hear the fan when somebody is whispering in the movie.
How bright is the room? A screen will run you $500. Grey screens which will keep darks darker can help if you have uncontrolled light in the room. Lumens, lumens, lumens. Also getting a new bulb would be required if you dont get an LED light engine (which I have in the back of my 56" dlp tv).
How are you going to wire it? I wired through the ceiling because I built in a cabinet in the back wall. The joists were running the right way for me to do this. I dont like wires and neither should you.
10 years ago when I did the theater in my parents basement (for a christmas present for my pops) a projector was a reasonable choice. They had a nice fireplace which they use which meant there was big payback for having an electric rolldown screen.
Currently, my small office of 10 people is moving upstairs and ditching our projector for an 80" TV. Looking and taking notes and having windows in the conference room means there will be alot of light. Also the benefit of basic speakers on the system is an upside for us there.
I would get a TV.
I've had now 2 projectors. You can plow as much money in there as you want! thousands! :)
It is great on a wall. especially for games
things to think about:
how much light is in the room versus lumens in your bulb; if you have like you need like 3000 lumens to handle it
replacement cost of bulb; look that up 2-3 years later
the "throw" of your picture. how far away will your projector be? The cheap ones have a short throw of mayb 8-10 feet. Cinema projectors throw like 75 feet baby!
sound system. you have to have seperate speakers by infrared or digital
also HDMI ports. how many ports does the projector have? Can you get a GOOD HDMI splitter. If you want to hook up a bunch of items to the projector. I constantly deal with this issue
I have a 115" diagnol screen and a DA-LIGHT screen. HUGE! Like I am there. It's dizzing really!
Having used various projectors in different rooms and settings, I can tell you that shining any projector onto a bare wall gives a substandard picture. When I didn't have a screen to use, I would sometimes use a queen sized flat sheet (this works fairly well when playing the NES in a church basement... if you have never played Super Mario Bros. w/ a 6 foot tall Mario, you have not yet lived.)