Popular IT channel Linus Tech Tip on 3D

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Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

On projectors, I have noticed that they do not really hold their value on the used market, so buying 2 decent projectors for a few hundred bucks total is doable.

For example, I needed a Full HD 3D projector that I could travel with, and after a few weeks casually looking on eBay I landed one for under $200. In the $300 to $400 range you could likely buy it now, since factory refurbs seem to be from $350 to $500, which puts a relatively solid price ceiling onto used projectors

With some patience, 2 Full HD 3D projectors and a polarized screen could be done for around $1,000, more if you buy a rig to align them. That's a somewhat serious sum, though it is about twice what Sony sold that PS 3D TV for, which Linus considered to be terrible, and it is 1/16th of what he said his cream of the crop 3D TV retailed for.

I think we’re pretty much in a agreement here, but if any prospective projector buyers read this thread, I would like to say that you will likely be sacrificing a LOT of quality to get those 2 projectors for a polarized rig, versus spending the same money on a single projector with active glasses. I’ve been running PJ’s for around 15 years, and recommend spending the top end of your budget on one high-quality unit. If your budget is $1000 (or any other arbitrary number) you’ll get much better performance, brightness, contrast, and black levels by spending that money on a $950 projector and $50 active glasses, rather than 2 projectors and the polarizer. There is such a huge jump from Home Theater projectors in the $300-$500 range, to the $1000 range, to the $3000-$5000 range. I fully agree with the rest of your post that for individual buyers, active glasses are convenient and easy to use. Unless you have an unlimited budget or plan on regularly doing showings for more than 4 people at a time, the best use of your budget is going to be on a higher quality single projector.