Projector and Screen

swb502

Hello Club Polk,

I once again seek advice on what to purchase for my home theater project. I’m looking at getting a projector and I’m leaning toward the Epson powerlight 8100and a Focupix 105” High Contrast Grey Screen. It comes out to about $1600 w/ shipping. That seems like the best way to go in that price range.

Are there other combos I should be looking at? Is grey the right color screen or should I get white? I’m setting this all up in a basement with very little ambient light.

Thanks and for the help.

Sherardp

You won't need a grey screen unless you have ambient light coming into the room. I recommend you go with white matte screen and you should be fine with that. The Epson is a great PJ for the budget. If you can stretch it ,things get alot better and way more interesting. By that I mean the Epson 8500 or the Panny 4000U, in which the Panny excels due to less problems with panels. If your budget is to keep things on the low end, then you will happy with more money in your pocket. If you don't mind splurging then pull the trigger on a higher model. If you can spend the 2k on a PJ then check out AVS forum for a JVC RS10 on clearance that will smoke anything out there up to the 4k price range.

cstmar01

agreed with the screen. You really do not need a gray screen unless you have a lot of outside light coming in that will affect the picture (and from what you said you don't). I would choose a white screen personally. There are tons of great deals on screens out there depending on what your looking for. I got mine for about 400 bucks shipped to my door and it was easy to put together and hang and I've had no problems with it. Also that is a good PJ but as stated if you would push your budget a bit more you could get an even better PJ. Regardless I'm sure you will be happy with the epson you have picked out already if you can't go higher, it really is a good PJ for the money.

PSOVLSK

I have the Epson 6100 with an Elite Screen (white matte). Not sure how the Focupix compares price or performance wise, but I'm very happy with my combo.

hockeyboy

Carada screens were recommended to me on this forum many years ago when I was building my HT. I have been very satisfied and found them to be a value well above and beyond the price paid. They also have excellent customer service so don't hesitate to email them with questions before you buy.

http://www.carada.com/default.aspx?gclid=CJ7wu_uv1aICFQK8sgodrVWDwA


I have also found this site very useful when looking at projectors. I ended up buying a demo model from links found on this website.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/home-theater-multimedia-projectors.htm

polkfarmboy

You will need a grey screen for improving the blacks on an LCD projector with a contrast of less than 50,000 to 1

I would not dare go with a focupix when an elite High Def grey silver frame can be shipped out free for $250 and thats the 120 inch version . Art from projectorreviews highly recommends this for use with low contrast pj's

If black level and three dimensionality isnt as important as color accuracy then go with a white screen

kuntasensei

If you've got a dark room, don't get a gray screen. I'm using an Elite Matte White 100" with my Epson 8500UB, and in my light controlled room, blacks are fantastic. Even with some ambient light on in adjoining rooms, it's VERY watchable. Gray screens were far more important for older LCD projectors with lower contrast ratios, but you shouldn't need that for most new models.

swb502

The Elite Screen is just a hair cheaper than the Focupix for 5” bigger on http://www.projectorzone.com/Elite-SableFrame-110-HDTV. Is that where most people buy?

I looked at the Carada and they weight in at almost triple the cost. I don’t think I can justify that extra cash. (It is a budget HT room).

The jump in projector powers from the extra $750 seem like allot but the refurbished Onkyo TX-NR1007 is also $800. If I spend it on the projector I can’t move up from the old Yamaha I have with no HDMI inputs. I’ve been getting around it with the dual out-put via the optical cable on the PS3 but I’d really love to move to the 7.2.

I’m thinking its better to go with the cheaper 8100 and upgrade my sound.

kuntasensei

Yeah... the TX-NR1007 is very nice. So nice, in fact, that I think I'll keep using mine!

swb502

kuntasensei,

I didn't notice till just now, but I'm going try to get a poor mans version of your set up <.<

polkfarmboy

I dont want to discourage the op from his purchase but my friend has the 8100 and I saw a movie at his house on a white elite screen and the room was fully darkened . The blacks were washed out looking on the 235 bars so we took it over to my place and noticed a 20% improvement on my high def grey screen

If you could get the extra cash then you could buy a panasonic 4000

Sherardp

polkfarmboy wrote: »

You will need a grey screen for improving the blacks on an LCD projector with a contrast of less than 50,000 to 1

I would not dare go with a focupix when an elite High Def grey silver frame can be shipped out free for $250 and thats the 120 inch version . Art from projectorreviews highly recommends this for use with low contrast pj's

If black level and three dimensionality isnt as important as color accuracy then go with a white screen

This is bad advice. Most projectors today are very capable of excellent blacks without the use of a grey screen. OP will be fine with white screen and the 8100. Focupix is an excellent budget screen as is the Elite screens if funds allow.

polkfarmboy

Sherardp wrote: »

This is bad advice. Most projectors today are very capable of excellent blacks without the use of a grey screen. OP will be fine with white screen and the 8100. Focupix is an excellent budget screen as is the Elite screens if funds allow.

Its fact ! not bad advice ?

I'm not talking about most projecters I'm talking about lcd projectors specifically the 8100 that I have spent time with in my own home for scientific testing

As I mentioned to the op .... If blacks are important go with a grey screen and if color accuracy is important then go with a white

Sherardp

Most LCD PJs will perform very well without the use of a grey screen. If we were talking back 7 yrs or more then I would understand your suggestion. OP has no light issue so a white screen would be fine. The 8100 is bright, so a neutral gain screen would work well.

If black level is your thing, then you should have a 8500 or JVC PJ in your setup.

Ric5811

+1, I have an Epson, and have zero problems with blacks. And I use a white screen. Even during the day with some light seepage from our old setup wasn't really a problem,and that was natural light.
If you are going to be using a dedicated HT room with good control of light, I see no problem.

PSOVLSK

swb502 wrote: »

The Elite Screen is just a hair cheaper than the Focupix for 5” bigger on http://www.projectorzone.com/Elite-SableFrame-110-HDTV. Is that where most people buy?

I’m thinking its better to go with the cheaper 8100 and upgrade my sound.

I got mine on Amazon, but that looks like a great price at projectorzone.

I agree with going with the 8100 and upgrading the sound.

swb502

O no, there appears to be dissension among the ranks! I have no experience with projectors so I don’t really know if colors are more important than blacks or not? While this is a home theater set up its primary purpose is likely going to be playing PS3. Does that make a difference?

Also what is “op” I can gather its my question, but what’s op stand for? Original Post?

cstmar01

swb502 wrote: »

O no, there appears to be dissension among the ranks! I have no experience with projectors so I don’t really know if colors are more important than blacks or not? While this is a home theater set up its primary purpose is likely going to be playing PS3. Does that make a difference?

Also what is “op” I can gather its my question, but what’s op stand for? Original Post?

yes OP means Original Post or Original Poster.

do you have a chance to view this projector before buying at all? I know our local best buy by me has this projector however it is not on display for viewing. The epson should have decent blacks, and from what I've seen of this PJ it does just fine. Also make sure you see different source material on a PJ and make sure it is calibrated correctly, it can make a HUGE difference.

For example Leroyjr and I went and saw a JVC at a shop in Milwaukee, WI. The JVC was I think the RS25 (Lee correct me if I'm wrong) and normally has a stunning picture to it. The movie that was being played looked IMO terrible. The blacks were washed out, the color didn't pop off the screen. Personally I would have tried different material on it to see what would happen. Normally the JVC is amazing for the picture quality so make sure things are set up properly and you have good source material to view because it can make a difference.

Sherardp

No it does not matter, I just helped a friend setup a 8100 and it performed excellent with his 92" screen. With today's projectors a white screen is an excellent choice, especially if you have light control. And yes you are correct in definition of "OP".