You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've got an idea that we might get rid of our tv and switch to a projector. Partially this is to "recover" the space in the living room and partially to discourage casual TV watching (mostly me to be honest) so there's a bit more time for other stuff. Looking around I understand the difference between DLP and LCD but that doesn't get me closer to figuring out what's worth buying.
So, recommend me a projector I can use for home cinema, gaming and a bit of TV. Needs to be 720 or 1080, cost around £500 and bright enough so we don't have to black out the room to watch something.
I don't think there are many non-dlp units around that price.
Mainly one-off deals if any from mitsubishi or epson, etc.
So for new dlps (demo one for an extended time to see if you get headaches).
There are a few optoma units around which seem well liked including a new one on the way with very short throw and 3D built in (if you care about that). It's the GT750 I believe.
Or there's the Optoma HD67N
The Optoma HD200X is a little dearer (650GBP I think)
If you were buying second hand, there are lots of good ones, but the bulbs can be 2-300GBP if you are unlucky with the lifespan.
I would say get a second hand JVC HD1. I've been through 2 bulbs, and it still looks superb. The dust sealing is particularly good on the JVCs.
I forgot the simple advice.
At this price, don't be tempted by business presentation projectors. Get a dedicated home cinema one.
Also - make sure you can darken the room. To get anything like good results for films, you'll either have to block out 98% of light or wait until dark 🙂
The darker the environment (as in dark paint/furnishings/non-reflective floor/etc) the better.
Don't choose a projector yet ... choose a screen size and position first and work out what you need from the projector to make it work. Alot of the cheap dlp projectors don't have proper keystone adjustment so are sometimes very limited for mounting options. I use a Optoma HD200X with a white 1.1 gain 120" electric roll down screen. Projector is celing mounted about 15ft from screen with seating at 12ft. Any project isn't going to work that well with the lights on, especially cheap ones. The HD200X is pretty darn good for the price but you do have to watch in the proper dark for maximum effect. Also, remember to budget for celing mount, a long hdmi cable, screen and a good sound system. I use a Onkyo amp with Tannoy speakers which seam good for £300 ish. It does start getting expensive when you add it all up. You will also start hating standard definition tv.
Seconding GeForce - sort out your screen size and position and where you're going to sit first then choose an appropriate projector.
But in principle I don't think it's a move you'll regret unless you watch a lot of afternoon TV, in which case the neighbours will be wondering why you keep shutting the curtains.
Having had a projector we couldn't go back to a telly, and ours isn't even HD, just a widescreen Panasonic LCD from years ago.
Am in no rush to buy so thanks for the suggestions. The goal is definitely less TV overall so not having the best viewing during the day without closing the curtains isn't a big deal.
I use an Infocus IN76, an older design now but we've used it to replace the TV for 3 years. Bulbs are circa £200 and last 3000hrs approx. ours is still only at 1400hrs after 3 years and working as good as the day we 1st fired it up.
i've recently replaced an old 800x600 dlp projector (InFocus X2) with the Optoma HD200 mentioned above. the difference is amazing. its brighter, MUCH quieter and the image quality is fantastic. you certainly wouldn't regret buying one. not sure i'd be in any great rush to get rid of the TV unless you ONLY watch films, topgear and big budget natural history documentary's
If the goal is less TV, then projectors do a great job of this. Especially with children. I've had projectors-only since 2000 and my boys have both grown up without a TV to access. It's only used for 'family' TV events like the Tour De France, Bang Goes the Theory, Life, etc.
For us, we tend to just watch films and high quality dramas like Game of Thrones/The Wire/Dexter/etc.