Projectors vs TVs

[Goldfinger]

How do 1080p projectors ($4,000 and below) compare to tv's...let's say for instance the sony 52" xbr4?

[BLUFANIK]

I have a 100" 720p front projector/screen in a dedicated, light controlled room.
I also have a 46" rear projection HDTV in an room with lots of windows.
My experience with the Sony 52" is with display units at stores. So with those qualifications I can state the following:

1. Front Projectors usually need a light controlled room. LCDs don't.
2. Size!. Projectors are mostly good for 80" to 120" or larger screens. The Sony 52" LCD is one size: small compared to a projector.
3. Cost. A good projector setup requires a dedicated room, a separate screen, mounting hardware and of course spreakers. Also the bulbs in projectors dim over time. Need replacement by 1500- 2000 hours. Bulbs are costly, around $350. The Sony LCD can be placed almost anywhere.
4. Features. The Sony LCD has a tuner and speakers. Projectors are just monitors.
5. Projectors need to be a certain distance from the screem for optimal light output, each projector is different. Also each projector has different strengths and weaknesses for setup and picture size/quality. The Sony LCD is self-contained.
6. Projectors/screens should be professionally installed for optimal performance.

There are probably many other considerations. Those just come to mind.

[Goldfinger]

Yeah, I guess what I'm trying to find out is image quality. Under the assumption that the projector is installed correctly with a good screen and a dark room...will it look clear and crisp for 1080p blu ray, as a sony or samsung LCD? Or will it be pixelated with all kinds of ugly lines.


My friend has a blu ray and a sony lcd...and the image looks as close to actual film as anything I have ever seen. I watched Blade Runner on it the other night and it was breathtakingly beautiful. I want that same quality in a projector. Is it possible without spending thirty thousand dollars? I'd like to stay around the 4 to 5 thousand dollar range for the projector. Not sure how much screens cost...but I'm intrigued by the stewart curved screen. Just starting my research though.

[bgccdx]

I'm a big projector fan. The size is the main reason. Quality from my Mitsubishi HC5000 is superb. My setup is much better than anything I have seen in a cinema. My room isn't very well light proofed. I have black blinds but my apartment faces the river and has full length, full width windows. During the day, the image is acceptable, but I do most of my viewing at night when it's fantastic. I don't think I would ever go back to a TV screen. I really like the whole idea of projection probably because it's more of a cnematic experience than watching a TV screen. BTW, the life expectancy of the lamp in my projector is 5,000 hours, so it isn't a consideration really.

[Tee]

If you have the right conditions for a pj, then there is no contest in my mind. When it comes to pj's bigger is better, and todays pj's are like those Virginia Slim cigs "There have come a long way baby!" Once you go front projection there is no going back to anythng else for movies & sporting events. Also i would like to add the main thing that kills bulb life is, the constent turning off and on more so than hours being run. You want to avoid unnecessary strikes on the bulb if you can, turning off and on all day like a tv is not good. I have good results with bulbs lasting past their stated life cycle, although some have not been do lucky.

[Hypnopooper]

I'm in the same boat as you goldfinger. I am thinking about replacing my rp 53inch 1080i TV with a projector. All of my research has indicated that with a good quality screen and some basic light control a PJ should be ok. Keep in mind that a quality screen will cost you an additional 1K min. on top of the PJ price.

I myself am currently debating between a 60" Plasma Panasonic or Pioneer and the Epson 1080UB PJ. I can deal with buying replacement bulbs every 3000 or so hours, and I do most of my watching in the evenings. My only concern is "are my blinds on the windows enough to create an acceptable image since I do not have a dedicated room?"

The best advice I can give you is to buy from a reputable PJ sales store. I know projectorpeople.com has an excellent return policy of a full refund if you buy from them and decide that a PJ is not for you. Their only stipulation is it must have less than 4 hours on the bulb. That should be enough time to figure out if a projector is suitable to your needs and expectations.

As for screens, you can get samples from some sellers for free I think. I've heard of carada.com providing screen samples as well as some getting examples from stewart screens. Goodluck.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by BLUFANIK

I have a 100" 720p front projector/screen in a dedicated, light controlled room.
I also have a 46" rear projection HDTV in an room with lots of windows.
My experience with the Sony 52" is with display units at stores. So with those qualifications I can state the following:

1. Front Projectors usually need a light controlled room. LCDs don't.
2. Size!. Projectors are mostly good for 80" to 120" or larger screens. The Sony 52" LCD is one size: small compared to a projector.
3. Cost. A good projector setup requires a dedicated room, a separate screen, mounting hardware and of course spreakers. Also the bulbs in projectors dim over time. Need replacement by 1500- 2000 hours. Bulbs are costly, around $350. The Sony LCD can be placed almost anywhere.
4. Features. The Sony LCD has a tuner and speakers. Projectors are just monitors.
5. Projectors need to be a certain distance from the screem for optimal light output, each projector is different. Also each projector has different strengths and weaknesses for setup and picture size/quality. The Sony LCD is self-contained.
6. Projectors/screens should be professionally installed for optimal performance.

There are probably many other considerations. Those just come to mind.

Great post.

I'd love to have a projection setup, but I don't have the light control or the space. My Pioneer 5010FD is a spectacular set. So, it would take a great room for projection to rival it.

But, I very much expect to one day have a dedicated HT room that will stun my friends and my bank account.

Gary

[FIDDYPOP]

I have seen projectors look beautiful if you can dedicate a room to just that. I do however have a 52'' sony bravia xbr 4 and it is badass.

[BLUFANIK]

I agree. If set-up correctly, with the right combination of screen/projector, the projector movie experience can't be beat. The detail and color is on a parr with the best LCDs. And the experience is much more like a theater. I think a top quality projector/screen can be had for less than $4,000. The problem is with projectors you need to rely on reviews, as the box stores usually have a very limited choices on display. The selection from an online projector store is much better than the typical box store. Sony makes a fine line of projectors. You may find a local installer that specializes in them and has various models on display.

[FIDDYPOP]

If you live in illinois check out the little guys, or music in motion. They are awesome as far as home theatre.

[ryoohki]

Yeah currently very good 1080p Projector going on

Mitsubichi 4900 at 1999$ is the cheapest
Sanyo Z2000 at 2395$ follow it
Panasonic AE2000 at 2699$
Epson 1080ub at 2899$
Sony VW40 at 2999$

Most have 200-600 Mail In Rebate going on right now. Sanyo has one 600$ in the US until tomorow, don't know what they'll do after that but i hope they drop the MSRP..

A good fixed screen cost about 650$.... ceiling mounted screen cost less (more if you want electrical)

[Goldfinger]

You guys have been most helpful.


Does anyone have an anamorphic lens? If so, are they worth it and how complicated are they to attach? Do all projectors accept them or just a select few?

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

...
A good fixed screen cost about 650$.... ceiling mounted screen cost less (more if you want electrical)

If you go D.I.Y. you can get away for much less

I got a 2.40 cm wide screen material for 99 Euros. It got good reviews (even compared to Stewarts Firehawk).

[Goldfinger]

How much are Stewart screens? Because I don't see prices on their website.

[m_tyson]

I have a Sharp 52" Slim line (52D64U) wall-mounted, and a 106" Da-lite High Power screen that pulls down in front of the Sharp for projector viewing with the Panasonic AE2000U. I'll take the 1080p projector over the 52" any time (including daytime, thanks to the High power screen). The Sharp is really just there for my wife to use.

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

How do 1080p projectors ($4,000 and below) compare to tv's...let's say for instance the sony 52" xbr4?

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by HDJK

If you go D.I.Y. you can get away for much less

I got a 2.40 cm wide screen material for 99 Euros. It got good reviews (even compared to Stewarts Firehawk).

Yeah sure.. but i suck for construction. I have the same ability as Homer Simpson for constructing stuff....

[gulle]

There is no such thing as an anamorphic lens in combination with a HD capable PJ. Anamorphic lenses are from the SD age, where the standard resolution was 720*576 (pal europe) and 720*480(NTSC) Both in a non square pixel format, and both delivering a 3 by 4 aspect.
With wide aspect images 2 options were available: 1: less horizontal lines, letterboxed, 2:the original amount of lines but a compressed so called anamorphic image.
The PJ could than hide the black bars (blowing up the image) or expand the width if it was a 16/9 type. For the last option you need theoretically a resolution of 480* 720 with very rectangular pixels. PJ's are however always equipped with square pixels and hence need more horizontal pixels to get the aspect right.
These pixels do not contribute to the definition. Hence the solution with the anamorphic lens. With HD these ideas do not exist. PJ's as well as image are allways square pixel, and always 16/9 too.
You just need a wide zoom range so that 2.3:1 images can be blowed up, to some standard hight, thereby delivering a wider image, but loosing some vertical resolution.

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

SIMPLY SAID:

PROJECTORS and PROJO TV's

YOU GET BIGGER SIZE, FOR A BETTER PRICE,

BUT NOT THE QUALITY OF A PLASMA/LCD....The Best PROJECTOR IVE SEEN IS THE SONY VSA8000 which is round 15K

[m_tyson]

Sure there is. http://panamorph.com/

Originally Posted by gulle

There is no such thing as an anamorphic lens in combination with a HD capable PJ. Anamorphic lenses are from the SD age, where the standard resolution was 720*576 (pal europe) and 720*480(NTSC) Both in a non square pixel format, and both delivering a 3 by 4 aspect.
With wide aspect images 2 options were available: 1: less horizontal lines, letterboxed, 2:the original amount of lines but a compressed so called anamorphic image.
The PJ could than hide the black bars (blowing up the image) or expand the width if it was a 16/9 type. For the last option you need theoretically a resolution of 480* 720 with very rectangular pixels. PJ's are however always equipped with square pixels and hence need more horizontal pixels to get the aspect right.
These pixels do not contribute to the definition. Hence the solution with the anamorphic lens. With HD these ideas do not exist. PJ's as well as image are allways square pixel, and always 16/9 too.
You just need a wide zoom range so that 2.3:1 images can be blowed up, to some standard hight, thereby delivering a wider image, but loosing some vertical resolution.

[AlaskaDon]

Anyone just thinking about getting into the projector game should really take a look at this easy to follow plan for a great DIY screen.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/diy_screen.htm

I built one of these with a slight variation. Rather than using the rolled paper that the plan calls for, I used something called blackout cloth for the screen material. You get this from any fabric store as it's the material that is commonly used to line drapes. It comes in several shades, but you want to use plain white. The blackout cloth actually reduced the cost of the project to around $80 and it's easier to work with. You just stretch it on the back of the projector frame like doing a painting canvas and staple it in place.

Tool requirements are minimal and I think you can have the 45's cut by Lowes, Home Depot etc. if you don't have access to a miter saw. The finished project looks very professional and picture quality is great