Okay, so I am going to stop piggy backing in Traps Movie thread. I have had a projector in one form or another since around 1999. My first projector was a 768x1366 Sony LCD - It cost $5300. It had expensive up scaling tech that took 480i and projected it in full resolution. I put a red filter on it, adjusted color with a makeshift Photo-sensor and loved the hell out of it. Compared to what is available now, its picture sucked. Nothing compares to watching your movies at home on a truly big screen. It really changes how you perceive them, and really anything you watch - be it just TV or video games. Its better when its bigger. - and really good projectors are now available for less than a so-called "big screen" LCD or Plasma.
Also you need one so you can actually take advantage of HD formats. if you are watching blue ray on a 65 inch screen, you probably aren't seeing the full detail . A human eye can only resolve that detail between 2-3 times the screen height ( 1080p 16:9aspect ) away - so for a 65 inch screen for most people to resolve the detail, they would need to sit between 6-8 feet away, and that 65 inch screen is going to cost you as much as a projector would.. and yes, LCDs are getting pretty large now - some over 100 inches if you want to spend $5K on them..
Since most living rooms have a much larger distance between the screen and the couch ( usually 8-12 feet) You aren't really watching HD unless you have a big screen really 1080p HD only really works on projectors in most home environments
Yes there are cons.. The first and foremost being Light control. You need to be able to darken your room. It does not need to be pitch black, but the darker your room, the better your black levels will be - because no other light is hitting your screen , but a easily watchable picture can be produced now with quite a bit of ambient light
Second con is bulb replacement. The projector is not your turn it on and leave it on all day device. If you want to watch news all day or have something else in the background, you want a LCD TV. However, if you are the sort that sits down to watch something, then the bulb replacement isn't that big of a deal. Bulbs run between $200-$500 depending on brand, and last from between 2000 hours and 5000 hours. I have only ever replaced one bulb in my lifetime. I have either bought a new projector (because I wanted one - I haven't had one "die") or I move leaving the theater in place. 2000 hours (on the very low end right now) is over 1000 movies. If you watch 3 movies a week - that will last you 6 Years. Anyone want to take bets on your big screen LCD lasting that long?
Third con is "you need a screen" - I say that in quotes because you don't. Yes, its a better picture if you have a screen, but in reality, once you start watching, you really do not notice it. We watched all of LOTR extended editions on the wall two years ago- and at something like 150 Inch diagonal- and was never bothered by the fact that it was being projected on the light switch , or the wall texture, or any of that crap. You brain just edits it. SO IMO a screen is a nice to have..
I usually read the reviews over at
projector-central when I am projector shopping, and I, so far, have never felt they steered me wrong. The projector I use in my theater is a Epson Home Cinema 8350 - it was the 2010 Editors choice there, and its still on the list of the 10 most popular (under $1500) projectors sold. It currently can be had for about $900.
However I ran across a deal at New Egg today, that might interest those of you you you might like a good "utility" projector.
It was a 2014 "highly rated" model at projector central and
new egg has it for $400 Its not a prefect projector by any means and compromises need to be made. It is DLP - with a color wheel.
If you can easily see the flicker of florescent lights - this is NOT a good solution for you. Also the zoom is rather limited - and allows you to only adjust the diagonal by a few inches at any given distance from the viewing surface. But if you have flexible placement options, and/or you are willing to watch the picture at whatever size it works out to be given a certain distance (100 inches is at around 4 meters) then iits a pretty good deal. It is not 1080p capable - just 720p. If you watch DVDs (480p) it won't matter, but a good upscaling DVD player ( one capable of producing a 720p signal from a DVD) will improve the picture dramatically. Blueray will still look great ( my previous projector was 720p and I watched blue rays on it all of the time) but just not as great as it COULD look.. .
Bulb replacements are under $250 and the bulbs are rated for 5000 hours, or a 2 hour movie EVERY DAY for almost 8 years, or about 5 cents an hour.
It has a small built-in mono speaker too, so while its not ideal, you can just carry this and your phone outside and watch a movie on the side of the house if you have a mind to.
So there you are. $400 and you have big screen entertainment and an easily portable big screen device that can be brought out and set on a coffee table at the next super bowl party or sleep-over movie night for the kids.
