Finding An Affordable Projector

[Damage Inc.]

OK, I know projectors are quite an expensive deal in general.
But, unless you can tell me how to remove terrible light-spots from a DLP-projector,
which apparently nobody every heard of, please help me out finding another one:

I have just a couple of general preferences though:
- I prefer the DLP-technology.
- It should of course be able to handle 16:9 and HD-signals.
BUT, I don't mind if it would only be able to use 720p for example.
Basically, as long as it can show any HD-image to show some quality is fine.
- Not too much noise, it would hang above the viewing area.
- That said, it should then be ceiling-mountable.
- Ansi-lumens and contrast-ratio both of at least around 2000.
I just say that because it works for me with my current projector.
Maybe that's too much to ask or maybe that's average for any model, I don't know.
- Should be able to cover a screen of about 50-55" (I think) WIDE, not diagonally cause I don't know that size.
But I guess that's quite simple for any projector too.
By the way, at a distance of about... I guess 10-15 feet.


Most of these things are probably a given, but just to give a general minimum.

So, what brands are most affordable to start with anyway?
And could you say any model I could look into?
I would just like to know the options and you probably know which are good ones.

My budget is say a couple of hundred Euros, just a couple really.
I would just first like to see what there is available in the sort of "cheapest" range.
Then I can see if I can just buy that, as my budget changes from now and the anyway.
Just depends on what I buy over time.

[Brain Sturgeon]

€200 is a very limited budget. I'm afraid you would be only able to find a used 720p DLP unit for that price, and even that might be a stretch.

If you've only got to light up a 50-55" screen then 2000 ANSI lumens is massive overkill. At that small screen size, even 300 lumens would give you 25 foot-Lamberts at unity gain. Pretty much any modern projectors should be able to light up that small a screen adequately. A 2000:1 sequential contrast ratio shouldn't be a big issue-- that's the native CR of many DLP units.

The throw you want is a little on the long side-- 10 feet would be okay for a throw ratio of a little above 2. 15 feet would be a long throw for that screen size at 3.3. You'll have to check the specs on your PJ to see if those distances are okay.

The brands that come to mind for entry level DLP would be Mitsubishi's HC1600, optoma's HD65 & HD71, InFocus's X9, and Sharp's DT-510. However, all of these MSRP way above your budget level-- You'd have to find one of these used. Otherwise, wait/save a bit longer to increase your budget. You'd probably have more choices getting up to €500 or so.

Good luck!

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by Brain Sturgeon

€200 is a very limited budget. I'm afraid you would be only able to find a used 720p DLP unit for that price, and even that might be a stretch.

Yeah, 200-300, something like that. Like I said, it varies, I don't really have a fixed budget.
And I don't care if it's used, as long as the image is good and I don't have to replace the lamp straight away.
Otherwise I might as well buy a new projector right.

If you've only got to light up a 50-55" screen then 2000 ANSI lumens is massive overkill. At that small screen size, even 300 lumens would give you 25 foot-Lamberts at unity gain. Pretty much any modern projectors should be able to light up that small a screen adequately. A 2000:1 sequential contrast ratio shouldn't be a big issue-- that's the native CR of many DLP units.

Oh, alright.
It's just that I thought I'd go for my current projector's specifications to not fall short you know.
But that one (Toshiba TDP-T9) is already called "really bright", so I guess it especially is on my screen-size.
However, I do set it to the "low" lamp-setting to make the fan go slower.
Even then it's still kind of annoying, but it doesn't go any slower.
So it's dimmed but it even sets a better black and "darkness" as it were, it's still bright.
But I do get the feeling that the image is a bit "thin" or "transparent", maybe that's the overkill showing...
I was just afraid if I'd use something WAY lower, like even 300L, it would be too dim.
But if you say so, it should be good enough.
Note that I don't think I have a screen with any "gain" or anything, but OK.

Remember it's the width's measurement I only remembered though.
So diagonally it might be some more, say 60-65" perhaps.
I forgot to say, I occasionally play 4:3-DVDs in 4:3 mode, so that's a lot more surface.
And I guess they pretty much all have both 16:9 and 4:3 capability?

The throw you want is a little on the long side-- 10 feet would be okay for a throw ratio of a little above 2. 15 feet would be a long throw for that screen size at 3.3. You'll have to check the specs on your PJ to see if those distances are okay.

Hm yeah, I wondered if it varies a lot per projector.
For example with mine, it can't go any closer cause the projection couldn't be as "big".
It's already kind of crammed onto the small wall (angled roof issue),
I had to move it back about 2 feet to gain a couple of inches to the projection.

I'm not sure if I calculated the amount of feet right.
But the receiver's center-speaker-distance is set to about 3.5-4M I believe.
And the projector currently hangs exactly above the viewing-position.
So it would be about the exact same distance, as the center-speaker is also against the wall.

The brands that come to mind for entry level DLP would be Mitsubishi's HC1600, optoma's HD65 & HD71, InFocus's X9, and Sharp's DT-510. However, all of these MSRP way above your budget level-- You'd have to find one of these used. Otherwise, wait/save a bit longer to increase your budget. You'd probably have more choices getting up to €500 or so.

Good luck!

Thank you, I'll just have a look at those first.