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Hi - looking for some advice on a projector if there are any clued up folk out there.
Looking for a simple set up that will project onto a 80-95” screen, likely pull up, but maybe pull down if don’t go portable.
I don’t want to mess with loads of wires and relocating things so the majority of the time I’m looking to use apps and/or an Xbox to give me live and catch up tv, media streaming, gaming and dvd options. Sound either via built in speakers or a wireless speaker/sound bar.
The space I have is pretty dark during the day but I’ll only have 2.5m to work with in front of the screen as the projector will go between the seating or direct behind and above on a beam.
Budget around £1000. Main use will be movies and live sport like Moto GP and the road cycling. If portable I may occasionally let my kids use it in their rooms or garden with a pull up screen. This last point is not a deal breaker as if better with a non portable option I’ll go for that.
Been looking at an Epson EF12 all in one job at £800, which comes out just under £1k with a Sapphire screen. But thought might be a better set up available using a stand alone projector, wireless speakers and some kind of media streamer?
Any help much appreciated.
Heard good things about the (Anker) Nebula Cosmos ones. Android based so run all the streaming apps. 2.5m throw will give 95ish inches. Quiet, decent speakers built in although obviously you could run through a normal home cinema amp anyway.
Been looking at similar for home, rather than a new big TV just keep the old small TV for kids cbeebies, etc and hide away a projector screen for movie nights.
My Epsom has been excellent. Don’t skimp on screen. I have a beamax 208” and it’s excellent. F1 in car is life size. I send hdmi via a receiver and surround sound system. If I wanted all that in one, or more compact, I’d go Sonos beam and a standalone projector instead. I would not go for a single projector/sound. Something will likely fail for not be future proof.
Sound from a projector will be pretty poor generally - better if you can play it through something else.
Placement of the projector may also be an issue - there is usually some adjustment for how far away fro the screen it can be placed, and how far vertically from the top or bottom of the screen, but not much. Work checking this carefully else you'll have too big or too small an image. Also note that the fans in cheaper projectors are pretty loud, so if it is by your head it will get annoying.
We got a Vankyo for a village hall event, does 1080p very well at very large size (like 20ft X 12ft) in a darkened room. It's ended up in my son's room hooked up to the Switch and projected against his wall about 5ft X 4 ft, it's great for Mario Kart. Well under your £1000 budget, was about £200. Fan is quite loud but apparently can be changed quite easily.
Although I'm only up to the cuticle of my hallux in the world of projectors (sub £100 Vankyo)...you are welcome to my slither of experience...
I'm very pleased (VFM-wise) with the 'throw', the 'brightness' and the ability to 'keystone correct'.
The only slight annoyance is the focal length (if that is the right term?). If much off perpendicular on a 150inch (3.8m ffs its 2021!) and the focus at either side of the screen is compromised to an extent. [I totally understand the physics of it] and possibly items costing multiples of my 'toe in the water' budget can overcome this, but still a bit of an unwanted suprise. It didn't prevent my wife and son enjoying the In-ger-land game outside on Sunday though. Possibly more a problem for my age Vs eysight that theirs! (lol)
Although most projectors have some form of 'keystone correction' mode, this will reduce picture quality and possibly cause focus issues on cheaper models. They are all really designed to be directly in front of the screen, and either level with the top or bottom of it (some can do both, and some require the projector to be upside down for top - so mounted to a ceiling for example).
BTW ceiling mounting is pretty straightforward - either buy a mount, or make one from an offcut of MDF or similar cut to shape, so bolts to fit the projector mounting holes and a cheap ball joint from Amazon to fit between the ceiling and the DIY mount. If you access to the ceiling space this means wires can be hidden as well.