IYO, best projector for home theater?
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IYO, best projector for home theater?
In your opinion, which Projector around $2000 is the best for home theater? This includes DVD viewing, HDTV, and video games? Must be atleast a 780p capable projector. That is all.
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In that price range it pretty much comes to these two units:
Panasonic AE900
Sanyo Z4
However, neither is 780p, because no such digital projector exists. They are both 720p units, but I definitely hesitate to call them the best of the digital projectors in the price range. They are the best of the $2,000 and under 720p units though.
InFocus has a 1024x576p DLP coming out that I believe will be better overall than both the AE900 or Z4, despite the lower resolution. Resolution is not the only thing that helps makes a great image, but since you're looking for 720p those are the two units to consider. I'd personally go with the AE900. Better colors out of the box and no screen door effect.
Panasonic AE900
Sanyo Z4
However, neither is 780p, because no such digital projector exists. They are both 720p units, but I definitely hesitate to call them the best of the digital projectors in the price range. They are the best of the $2,000 and under 720p units though.
InFocus has a 1024x576p DLP coming out that I believe will be better overall than both the AE900 or Z4, despite the lower resolution. Resolution is not the only thing that helps makes a great image, but since you're looking for 720p those are the two units to consider. I'd personally go with the AE900. Better colors out of the box and no screen door effect.
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It there a nation wide chain store that is well known for deming projectors? Sure Best Buy gave me a quick demo of their $3000 sharp projector in their main lighted store. But I'm talkin about a full dark room with demos of multiple projectors. I have a fry's electronics near me that has a dark room, but I'm not sure they demo them or not.
Is there a store that is well known for demoing projectors?
Is there a store that is well known for demoing projectors?
#5
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Originally Posted by Teremei
It there a nation wide chain store that is well known for deming projectors? Sure Best Buy gave me a quick demo of their $3000 sharp projector in their main lighted store. But I'm talkin about a full dark room with demos of multiple projectors. I have a fry's electronics near me that has a dark room, but I'm not sure they demo them or not.
Is there a store that is well known for demoing projectors?
Is there a store that is well known for demoing projectors?
#6
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Originally Posted by Slayer2005
In that price range it pretty much comes to these two units:
Panasonic AE900
Sanyo Z4
However, neither is 780p, because no such digital projector exists. They are both 720p units, but I definitely hesitate to call them the best of the digital projectors in the price range. They are the best of the $2,000 and under 720p units though.
InFocus has a 1024x576p DLP coming out that I believe will be better overall than both the AE900 or Z4, despite the lower resolution. Resolution is not the only thing that helps makes a great image, but since you're looking for 720p those are the two units to consider. I'd personally go with the AE900. Better colors out of the box and no screen door effect.
Panasonic AE900
Sanyo Z4
However, neither is 780p, because no such digital projector exists. They are both 720p units, but I definitely hesitate to call them the best of the digital projectors in the price range. They are the best of the $2,000 and under 720p units though.
InFocus has a 1024x576p DLP coming out that I believe will be better overall than both the AE900 or Z4, despite the lower resolution. Resolution is not the only thing that helps makes a great image, but since you're looking for 720p those are the two units to consider. I'd personally go with the AE900. Better colors out of the box and no screen door effect.
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What are the bulb lifes in a projector like the V4 and panny compared to a plasma or Lcos TV? Much much lower? And what is the replacement cost of such bulbs? This is a good question considering the projector would take over every day viewing.
#8
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Originally Posted by Teremei
What are the bulb lifes in a projector like the V4 and panny compared to a plasma or Lcos TV? Much much lower? And what is the replacement cost of such bulbs? This is a good question considering the projector would take over every day viewing.
Say 3500 hours at 5 hours per day every single day, gets you nearly 2 years.
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Yeah but my TV gets about 12 hours per day. So it is a concern, we have alot of people who watch news, or have the TV on all day.
What is the bulb life in Lcos does anyone know? Are they alot longer life than Projectors?
What is the bulb life in Lcos does anyone know? Are they alot longer life than Projectors?
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Actually, it'd probably be best to leave it on more hours each time you turn it on. Too many lamp strikes (turning on and off a lot rather than leaving it on for long stretches) will be worse for it.
One guy on AVSForum left his on for 18 hours a day and got over 8,000 hours on his 4,000 hour lamp.
Have you considered using a small tv for some less serious viewing? Like news watching. No way I'd waste my bulb hours watching the news.
One guy on AVSForum left his on for 18 hours a day and got over 8,000 hours on his 4,000 hour lamp.
Have you considered using a small tv for some less serious viewing? Like news watching. No way I'd waste my bulb hours watching the news.
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Originally Posted by Sdallnct
While I have seen neither of these, I would agree these are two of the most popular and overall well reviewed sets around. I have started (just looking mind you) on what I might replace my X1 with. I only have a 1000 on the bulb and I'm trying to keep myself to the self imposed rule of no serious looking before I get to at least 2000 hours. However, I just love the HD signal I put thru my X1. And since the X1 is no where near HD, I can only imagine was a 720p PJ would look like. And in every search I do, every mention of this price range these two PJ's come up...
For one, you're not only missing resolution with the X1. You're missing other just as important parts of image quality (contrast, black level, color saturation and color accuracy). So, when you upgrade you'll see multiple improvements. Heck, if you upgraded to one of today's good 480p (like the InFocus 4805) units you'd see multiple large improvemnts in all the categories I mentioned above. The X1 was my first projector and I loved it, but there is much better available at about the same 16:9 resolution, therefor there is MUCH MUCH better available with 720p units.
I had already upgraded my X1 to a CRT projector (which was a jaw dropping improvement in all of those areas I mentioned) before I got my 4805, so the 4805's improvements over the X1 weren't quite as jaw dropping as they would've been had I not gotten the CRT first, but they were still very big improvements though.
You have a lot to look forward to. Just hope the X1 lamp doesn't die early. As soon as I knew I wanted to upgrade it I only used it one more time to take screenshots.. I sold it for nearly as much as I paid for the much better InFocus 4805 unit too.
#12
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Originally Posted by Teremei
Yeah but my TV gets about 12 hours per day. So it is a concern, we have alot of people who watch news, or have the TV on all day.
#13
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Originally Posted by Josh Z
You're wasting your projector if you use it for that kind of watching. You should just buy an RPTV or plasma. A projector needs to be viewed in a darkened room with little or no ambient light. They do not make practical daily-use TV screens.
And for the record you do not want to watch a PJ (or any other display I know of) in total darkness. Too much strain on your eye's and in the case of my PJ, you lose depth. I have a strand of rope lights under my riser and a stand above a build in bookcase. I have both on dimmers and about 50% is just right. There is enough light to easly walk around, see where the remote it, get a drink whatever. You want light you can control, but not total darkness.
But the OP mentioned 12 hours a day?? WOW?? No I really don't see the point of watching ESPN for the 10th time that day on a 100" screen. Or Soaps (maybe if they are in HD but don't know). But this is just my experience on my PJ. My PJ does not do particularly well with SD my Dishnetwork SD. So for the most part it is DVDp or HD or nothing. Some PJ's evidently do a better job with SD, you would want to buy accordingly.
Now if you are avid DVD watchers, where you like to sit and watch all three LOR's in a row, then I think a PJ would be fine. You are leaving it on more, you are seeing the benefit of the PJ, you just want to budget and save your loose change for a bulb every now and again. I built my theater room to use and easy clean up. Now (especially with the HD receiver) when we have dinner at 6:00pm or so, we often eat in the media room and watch whatever is on. Then when the kids go do their homework, I watch CSI, Vegas, whatever. And when I go do something else unless I'm 100% sure I'm done for the night, I leave it on, coming back for the news and Leno or Letterman.
#14
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Originally Posted by Slayer2005
When you get one it will blow you away.
For one, you're not only missing resolution with the X1. You're missing other just as important parts of image quality (contrast, black level, color saturation and color accuracy). So, when you upgrade you'll see multiple improvements. Heck, if you upgraded to one of today's good 480p (like the InFocus 4805) units you'd see multiple large improvemnts in all the categories I mentioned above. The X1 was my first projector and I loved it, but there is much better available at about the same 16:9 resolution, therefor there is MUCH MUCH better available with 720p units.
I had already upgraded my X1 to a CRT projector (which was a jaw dropping improvement in all of those areas I mentioned) before I got my 4805, so the 4805's improvements over the X1 weren't quite as jaw dropping as they would've been had I not gotten the CRT first, but they were still very big improvements though.
You have a lot to look forward to. Just hope the X1 lamp doesn't die early. As soon as I knew I wanted to upgrade it I only used it one more time to take screenshots.. I sold it for nearly as much as I paid for the much better InFocus 4805 unit too.
For one, you're not only missing resolution with the X1. You're missing other just as important parts of image quality (contrast, black level, color saturation and color accuracy). So, when you upgrade you'll see multiple improvements. Heck, if you upgraded to one of today's good 480p (like the InFocus 4805) units you'd see multiple large improvemnts in all the categories I mentioned above. The X1 was my first projector and I loved it, but there is much better available at about the same 16:9 resolution, therefor there is MUCH MUCH better available with 720p units.
I had already upgraded my X1 to a CRT projector (which was a jaw dropping improvement in all of those areas I mentioned) before I got my 4805, so the 4805's improvements over the X1 weren't quite as jaw dropping as they would've been had I not gotten the CRT first, but they were still very big improvements though.
You have a lot to look forward to. Just hope the X1 lamp doesn't die early. As soon as I knew I wanted to upgrade it I only used it one more time to take screenshots.. I sold it for nearly as much as I paid for the much better InFocus 4805 unit too.
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Originally Posted by Sdallnct
And for the record you do not want to watch a PJ (or any other display I know of) in total darkness. Too much strain on your eye's and in the case of my PJ, you lose depth. I have a strand of rope lights under my riser and a stand above a build in bookcase. I have both on dimmers and about 50% is just right. There is enough light to easly walk around, see where the remote it, get a drink whatever. You want light you can control, but not total darkness.
And I'm sure that this will not apply for some. Just like certain artifacts bother some people more than others. But for most people it should be true.
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Another vote for "you should be in total darkness". I pretty much have to do this on my LCD projector, so that I can reduce the bulb to it's lowest setting AND close down my iris a bit. The low bulb settings means the fan is on it's quietest setting, and the iris closed down a bit to get the contrast up. I never have any strain problems, except for the fact that I'm looking at a 120" diagonal about 12 feet away... there are a couple of movies that make my eyes hurt, like the first ten minutes of Irreversible... just due to the vertigo you get from your FOV being filled with motion.
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I prefer total darkness myself, at least for my CRT projector anyway since it has such a huge black level advantage over digitals. For the CRT I'd like to have dark walls as well if I could. I'm a contrast/black level nut though.
I don't mind occassionally using my 4805 and silver torus for some non serious ambient light viewing (say while eating or conversing with friends/family) since it's great in ambient light with the 4805, but for serious viewing I want the best picture quality I can get out of my display (especially with the CRT) and I want to be sucked into what I'm watching. The best way to do that is in total darkness (other than the picture on the screen).
I don't have any eye strain problems though.
I don't mind occassionally using my 4805 and silver torus for some non serious ambient light viewing (say while eating or conversing with friends/family) since it's great in ambient light with the 4805, but for serious viewing I want the best picture quality I can get out of my display (especially with the CRT) and I want to be sucked into what I'm watching. The best way to do that is in total darkness (other than the picture on the screen).
I don't have any eye strain problems though.
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Originally Posted by Sdallnct
Yea, I know. And what is hard is after the Superbowl party where we had about seven or eight people over and everyone was amazed, my wife mentioned how impressed she was with how well the media room turned out and "any time" I wanted to upgrade, it was fine by her! So trust me, it is hard to hold back...and to be honest, I thought about picking up a 4805 on one of those smoking deals as a "stop gap" till I did "true" HD...but didn't know if the difference was worth it.
For the price of the upgrade it's definitely worth it. One of the newer XGA DLPs like the XR-10 would be worth the upgrade as well (especially for HD watching).
#19
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Originally Posted by Sdallnct
And for the record you do not want to watch a PJ (or any other display I know of) in total darkness. Too much strain on your eye's and in the case of my PJ, you lose depth. I have a strand of rope lights under my riser and a stand above a build in bookcase. I have both on dimmers and about 50% is just right. There is enough light to easly walk around, see where the remote it, get a drink whatever. You want light you can control, but not total darkness.
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I'll be a bit contrary here, althought I do agree with about 1/2, maybe more, of whats been said, mainly, "Whatever works for you works for you." Also, it's the on-off that kills the PJ bulbs.
But, I'd tell anyone who is currently happy with their X1 to wait. I think the better PJs that really make a difference, like CRT, are either too expensive right now and/or too much trouble. Good, and cheap, and better, ones are coming. And, the X1 is a classic that will go down in tech history.
Also, I agree that if you want to "lose" yourself, and I often do, dark is better. But, in order to maintain a life with others, some ambient light is required. It's a trade-off in contrast but worth it in terms of relationships, or, parenting.
And I agree that if you actually need 24 hr.news that a small TV is a better option but I really don't agree that anyone, other than a day-trader, really needs that. My advice, now that I'm preaching, is to quit smoking and quit TV. Both are very bad for you.
But, I'd tell anyone who is currently happy with their X1 to wait. I think the better PJs that really make a difference, like CRT, are either too expensive right now and/or too much trouble. Good, and cheap, and better, ones are coming. And, the X1 is a classic that will go down in tech history.
Also, I agree that if you want to "lose" yourself, and I often do, dark is better. But, in order to maintain a life with others, some ambient light is required. It's a trade-off in contrast but worth it in terms of relationships, or, parenting.
And I agree that if you actually need 24 hr.news that a small TV is a better option but I really don't agree that anyone, other than a day-trader, really needs that. My advice, now that I'm preaching, is to quit smoking and quit TV. Both are very bad for you.
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Originally Posted by Teremei
Is there a store that is well known for demoing projectors?
Here are some that may be near you:
CHICAGO
Tweeter
2828 North Clark St.
Chicago , IL 60657
Phone: 773-525-7005 Get Map Get Directions
CHICAGO - MICHIGAN AVE.
Tweeter
900 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago , IL 60611
Phone: 312-664-3100 Get Map Get Directions
#22
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http://www.magnoliaht.com/stores/default.asp
Best Buy Magnolia stores likely have the 4805 setup to demo also (probably using a $4000 screen though).
Best Buy Magnolia stores likely have the 4805 setup to demo also (probably using a $4000 screen though).
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Originally Posted by abintra
http://www.magnoliaht.com/stores/default.asp
Best Buy Magnolia stores likely have the 4805 setup to demo also (probably using a $4000 screen though).
Best Buy Magnolia stores likely have the 4805 setup to demo also (probably using a $4000 screen though).
I've only seen 4805 demos in small independent shops
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Ok I get it, if I want to set up a projector I should make sure anybod who want's some regular 'ol TV viewing, to do it in the downstairs TV.
Now, I don't have total darkness in the room planned for the projector. But even in daylight with the thick window curtains closed, it is very dim. I'm still considering it. I just need to find the right reciever that will beable to accept an HDMI signal and component to beable to hook the Sattelite/video game system/DVD player all to the projector at the same time.
If I want a projector that will beable to take full advantage of HDTV sports (which I THINK is in 720p. Is there anything cheaper than the panny and sanyo mentioned above? Or is that pretty much my lowest end option?
Thanks!
Now, I don't have total darkness in the room planned for the projector. But even in daylight with the thick window curtains closed, it is very dim. I'm still considering it. I just need to find the right reciever that will beable to accept an HDMI signal and component to beable to hook the Sattelite/video game system/DVD player all to the projector at the same time.
If I want a projector that will beable to take full advantage of HDTV sports (which I THINK is in 720p. Is there anything cheaper than the panny and sanyo mentioned above? Or is that pretty much my lowest end option?
Thanks!
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Originally Posted by Teremei
Ok I get it, if I want to set up a projector I should make sure anybod who want's some regular 'ol TV viewing, to do it in the downstairs TV.
Now, I don't have total darkness in the room planned for the projector. But even in daylight with the thick window curtains closed, it is very dim. I'm still considering it. I just need to find the right reciever that will beable to accept an HDMI signal and component to beable to hook the Sattelite/video game system/DVD player all to the projector at the same time.
If I want a projector that will beable to take full advantage of HDTV sports (which I THINK is in 720p. Is there anything cheaper than the panny and sanyo mentioned above? Or is that pretty much my lowest end option?
Thanks!
Now, I don't have total darkness in the room planned for the projector. But even in daylight with the thick window curtains closed, it is very dim. I'm still considering it. I just need to find the right reciever that will beable to accept an HDMI signal and component to beable to hook the Sattelite/video game system/DVD player all to the projector at the same time.
If I want a projector that will beable to take full advantage of HDTV sports (which I THINK is in 720p. Is there anything cheaper than the panny and sanyo mentioned above? Or is that pretty much my lowest end option?
Thanks!