Help me find a projector

[obiwopkenobi62]

Hi all,
I've had great luck with everyone on here finding equipment. Had help with Receiver and speakers. Now I'm looking for a projector.
Let me start off by telling you what I'm looking for. This will be for outdoor use during the spring and summer. I will be using an inflatable screen. I'm not looking for top of the line. If it has HDMI input fine but it can be component(RGB). I will be running some Blu-ray and reg DVD's.
I found a couple so far but I'm still looking. I would like something in the 500.00-600.00 dollar range or less. Kind of prefer new as well. I would be willing to go used if it were decent.
I appreciate any assistance.
Thanks.

[Blu Man]

Not gonna find anything that's any good for 500-600 dollars. Since your looking to do outdoor stuff I would suggest the one I have. It displays at 720p nad the pq is great. Plus it has built in speakers and DVD player which makes it very portable. Epson Moviemate 72. If you click on my HT then you'll see a picture of it. But it's cost is around 1,200- 1,500 dollars. If you want a good HD projector you need to be able to pay around that amount.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Blu Man

Not gonna find anything that's any good for 500-600 dollars. Since your looking to do outdoor stuff I would suggest the one I have. It displays at 720p nad the pq is great. Plus it has built in speakers and DVD player which makes it very portable. Epson Moviemate 72. If you click on my HT then you'll see a picture of it. But it's cost is around 1,200- 1,500 dollars. If you want a good HD projector you need to be able to pay around that amount.

Thanks. I found that one you have for between 5 and 600.00 bucks at a couple of places. I may go with that one.
Thanks again.

[phansson]

A 500-600 price range is going to be tough for a new projector. I would suggest watching the classifieds over at AVSforum and see if anything good pops up. I purchased a used Sony Black Pearl w/150hrs for about half price on the classifieds last October.

There is an Infocuse IN78 over there right now for $925.

Anyway, I would try to find a good, low hours used unit. You will get a much better piece of equipment.

[Beta Man]

Many best-buys (I found one locally) still have the Mitsubishi HC1500 for $599 new......


It's a great deal if you can find it...... they won't list it online, and won't tell you they have them if you just call..... gotta stop in a few BBs and ask.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Many best-buys (I found one locally) still have the Mitsubishi HC1500 for $599 new......


It's a great deal if you can find it...... they won't list it online, and won't tell you they have them if you just call..... gotta stop in a few BBs and ask.

I'll have to check my Best Buy. Thanks for the info.
Right now I'm leaning towards the Epson Moviemate 55. Found it at my local Sams Club for 578.00. has pretty much everything I'm looking for for my price range.

[Beta Man]

Yeah, but if you can find the Mitsubishi for $599 jump on it...... you'll want the 1080i image!!!!! (and it's not "Junk" despite the price)

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Yeah, but if you can find the Mitsubishi for $599 jump on it...... you'll want the 1080i image!!!!! (and it's not "Junk" despite the price)

I'm def gonna check my Best Buy for that one.
Here are the specs for the Epson Moviemate.


Specifications
Projection System
3LCD technology 3-chip optical engine
Poly-silicon TFT active matrix
Projection Lens
F-number
1.44
Focal Length
16.6 mm
Lamp
120 W UHE (Ultra High Efficiency)
Up to 3000 hours lamp life1
Screen Size: (Projected Distance)
30" – 150" wide: 2.9' – 14.7' (16:9 image)
Keystone Correction
Vertical ±15 degrees
Brightness: (typical)
Up to 1200 lumens2
Contrast Ratio
Up to 300:1
Sound Output
Integrated 2 x 8W stereo speakers
Dolby 5.1 Digital DTS
Video I/O
Terminal Inputs
1 RCA (composite)
1 RCA (component)
2 RCA (audio L/R) stereo
1 VGA (analog RGB/component video) D-sub 15 pin
USB
Video Input Signals
DVD Region Code 1
NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, M-PAL, N-PAL, PAL60, SECAM, HDTV (720P, 1080i), SDTV (525i / 525p / 625i / 625p)
HD-DVD and Blu-ray (external source only)
DVD Unit
Digital Direct Progressive Scan system
Audio
Dolby 5.1 Digital DTS
Media and Format
DVD Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+ R/RW, DVD-ROM, DVD Audio, CD-R/RW, CD-ROM, DVD-VR (without CPRM) Video CD, Super Video CD, Audio CD, MP3 (CD/DVD), WMA (CD/DVD), JPEG, DivX® (CD/DVD), DivX Ultra (CD/DVD), Dual Disk
Terminal Outputs
1 headphone stereo jack
1 digital coaxial audio out
Dimension
12.6" x 9.1" x 5" (excluding feet)
Weight
8.3 lb
Fan Noise
29 - 35 dB

This seems good to me for the backyard because it's all in one and I can still hook up other players to it if I want, but I'm still gonna look for that Mits.

[Beta Man]

ahhh I was reading the Moviemate, and thought it was just 480p

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

ahhh I was reading the Moviemate, and thought it was just 480p

So do you think the epson is worth the 578.00 price tag? My wife says I should get it. What do you think?
Thanks.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Here is the screen I'm going to get for the backyard theater.

http://www.target.com/Airblown-Infla...0screen&page=1

Easy to setup, easy to store for a good price.

[Beta Man]

I'd say the Moviemate wouldn't let you down for the price......


BUUUUUT


I'd try to set up a "Tension" based screen, rather than one of those blow-up ones.... There's an entire forum (backyardtheater.com or something like that) dedicated to these types of things..... might even cost less than a blow-up.....

Either way, I don't think you can go wrong for the price.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I'd say the Moviemate wouldn't let you down for the price......


BUUUUUT


I'd try to set up a "Tension" based screen, rather than one of those blow-up ones.... There's an entire forum (backyardtheater.com or something like that) dedicated to these types of things..... might even cost less than a blow-up.....

Either way, I don't think you can go wrong for the price.

I was thinking about that too. I still have a screen I used with my old Sharpvision projector that's still in great shape. It's a manual pulldown measuring 9' wide by 7' high. I think that would do the trick. Plus it would save me a couple of hundred bucks. My wife likes the blowup one but she would be happier if I used the existing screen and saved the money.
I think I'll be picking the Epson up this week at Sams Club.
I really appreciate the input.

[Blu Man]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

ahhh I was reading the Moviemate, and thought it was just 480p

Nope. It's 720p and looks fantastic. I would definetly recommend it. And the peice of information that you listed about lamp hours is incorrort. 3000 is when it's on dim, you only get about 2,000 when it's on the standard brightness. The replacement lamps cost 157 dollars if you had any curiosity about that. If you get it enjoy it, if not enjoy what ever you decide to go with. But the moviemate sounds perfect for uses. Works for my HT nicely. However, mine stay's in one place, I've never used it anywhere else but in my HT.

[Blu Man]

Couldn't find this anywhere, does anyone know if the movie mate is 24fp?

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Blu Man

Nope. It's 720p and looks fantastic. I would definetly recommend it. And the peice of information that you listed about lamp hours is incorrort. 3000 is when it's on dim, you only get about 2,000 when it's on the standard brightness. The replacement lamps cost 157 dollars if you had any curiosity about that. If you get it enjoy it, if not enjoy what ever you decide to go with. But the moviemate sounds perfect for uses. Works for my HT nicely. However, mine stay's in one place, I've never used it anywhere else but in my HT.

nice setup. looks like you got the moviemate72, i'm going with the 55. After finding it for a great price, you convinced me. Thanks again for all the input.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I'd say the Moviemate wouldn't let you down for the price......


BUUUUUT


I'd try to set up a "Tension" based screen, rather than one of those blow-up ones.... There's an entire forum (backyardtheater.com or something like that) dedicated to these types of things..... might even cost less than a blow-up.....

Either way, I don't think you can go wrong for the price.

beta man, awesome job on your home theater. Keep up the great work.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Well I went by Sams club and looked at the Epson Moviemate 55. Nice projector. I'll be picking it up later this week. I also ordered the giant inflatable screen for outdoor, and I will use my existing pulldown one for indoor.

[Disky76]

I am in the same situation - I am setting up a Cinema room, and was looking for a projector.

I read about the Mitsubishi HC1600 - it's about $800. It's 720p - not 1080, but I read a lot of the consumer reviews, and most were positive and really praised the picture, so I think that's what I am going to purchase.

Since this is my first projector, I am not going to plunk down thousands until I have made the ultimate decision that the projector life is for me!

Hope that helps!

[Brain Sturgeon]

Originally Posted by Disky76

I am in the same situation - I am setting up a Cinema room, and was looking for a projector.

I read about the Mitsubishi HC1600 - it's about $800. It's 720p - not 1080, but I read a lot of the consumer reviews, and most were positive and really praised the picture, so I think that's what I am going to purchase.

Since this is my first projector, I am not going to plunk down thousands until I have made the ultimate decision that the projector life is for me!

Hope that helps!

Beta Man and others here own that projector, and love it. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Believe me, once you've done a good front projection system, you will not want to go back to direct view sets until they reach screen sizes of 100" wide (115" diagonal) at reasonable prices.