OK projector people....question

kevhed72

I am kicking around the idea of re-locating my HT to the basement....so, what is the smallest screen size you projector people would recommend with a projector.

The maximum size I can fit in the room would be 80" length...also, what are some good build and picture quality you would recommend...alot of bells and whistles are not required by any means. Budget would be 1600ish for the projector, + I would need a pull-down screen. I wanted to start my research here due the AVS Forum tends to give me a headache with info. overload...

Sherardp

Screen size depends on where your going to sit. How big is the room? For projector in your price range if you have the funds right now I would jump on this Epson ASAP. Not sure what you mean by 80 inches in length. I need to know room dimensions. As for pull down, since you will save some coin, just go electric which looks much better.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp?itemid=26204&itmname=Epson+Home+Cinema+6100+B%2DStock

The 8350 is the newest model out, same PJ with a tad more output but I would go for cost savings in this case but here it is.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp?itemid=26114&itmname=Epson+Home+Cinema+8350

For screen

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Flexio_16_9_Electric_Motorized_Screen_96_p/fxo169a-92-bk.htm

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Flexio_16_9_Electric_Motorized_Screen_103_p/fxo169a-100-bk.htm

Prepare yourself to join the "Bigger Screen" club. You won't regret it in the end.

Zeros

I was about to reply, but thought, "Naa, Sherardp will take care of it." Hahah

Sherardp

Zeros wrote: »

I was about to reply, but thought, "Naa, Sherardp will take care of it." Hahah

LMAO. Funny. By all means, please do. I'm not the know it all projector/screen guy by any means. Just sharing what I do know.

PSOVLSK

My local Best Buy has an Epson on clearance for $899 also. I think it's the 6100 that Sherardp referenced, but I could be wrong. Projector People could still be cheaper with no sales tax though. I bought a PJ from them and they are top notch.

kevhed72

Sherardp wrote: »

Screen size depends on where your going to sit. How big is the room? For projector in your price range if you have the funds right now I would jump on this Epson ASAP. Not sure what you mean by 80 inches in length. I need to know room dimensions. As for pull down, since you will save some coin, just go electric which looks much better.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp?itemid=26204&itmname=Epson+Home+Cinema+6100+B%2DStock

The 8350 is the newest model out, same PJ with a tad more output but I would go for cost savings in this case but here it is.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp?itemid=26114&itmname=Epson+Home+Cinema+8350

For screen

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Flexio_16_9_Electric_Motorized_Screen_96_p/fxo169a-92-bk.htm

http://www.htdepot.com/Focupix_Flexio_16_9_Electric_Motorized_Screen_103_p/fxo169a-100-bk.htm

Prepare yourself to join the "Bigger Screen" club. You won't regret it in the end.

The maximum length the screen can be is 80" accross to fit in the room. The room is 16' (ft) deep X 12' (ft) wide. The screen would sit on the 12' wall. Unfortunately, the seating distance would be around 11' (ft) (perhaps a bit close for the screen size).

Zeros

To give you an idea, my room is 22 deep and 12 ft wide and I use a 108" diagonal screen. Please keep in mind I needed room on each side of the screen for my L/R speakers.

I use a Monoprice motorized screen that I mounted in the ceiling. I know it is not the greatest but it was reasonably priced and easily installed. I think it is about 8.5 ft long.

kevhed72

The projector people also carry this next tier Epson:
http://www.projectorpeople.com/projectors/projdtls.asp?itemid=26118&itmname=Epson+Home+Cinema+8700+UB

wonder if the increase in contrast ratio and extra bulb may be worth the extra $...

kevhed72

Zeros wrote: »

To give you an idea, my room is 22 deep and 12 ft wide and I use a 108" diagonal screen. Please keep in mind I needed room on each side of the screen for my L/R speakers.

I use a Monoprice motorized screen that I mounted in the ceiling. I know it is not the greatest but it was reasonably priced and easily installed. I think it is about 8.5 ft long.

Thanks....approx. what is your seating distance with the 108" screen?

Zeros

It is about 13 feet to the front row and about 15 to the bar seating area.

eclimax13

kevhed72 wrote: »

The maximum length the screen can be is 80" accross to fit in the room. The room is 16' (ft) deep X 12' (ft) wide. The screen would sit on the 12' wall. Unfortunately, the seating distance would be around 11' (ft) (perhaps a bit close for the screen size).

i sit 10 feet from my 120" screen....so i dont think you'd be to close..also if you have an ultimate electronics around they have the epson 8500ub on clearance for $1300...just got mine and its a great performer

kuntasensei

I sit 10' back from a 100" screen, using the Epson 8500UB and a cheapo Elite Screen matte white pulldown. Could not be more pleased with the picture! The 8500UB's black levels are outstanding compared to my past two Sanyos, and if you set advanced sharpness to 5, 5, -1, -1, it can display a single-pixel resolution pattern. It's also blindingly bright, even with the bulb on Eco mode, which is nice (and with 1,100 hours on the bulb, it hasn't faded enough for me to notice). Hit my gallery for some shots of mine in action.

Also, hit projectorcentral.com for screen size calculators for any model projector you're looking out. You want to make sure the distance you plan to put one is going to work for the screen size you have in mind.

polkfarmboy

eclimax13 wrote: »

i sit 10 feet from my 120" screen....so i dont think you'd be to close..also if you have an ultimate electronics around they have the epson 8500ub on clearance for $1300...just got mine and its a great performer

You must be mistaken...... dont you mean the epson 8100?

Sherardp

If you can only fit the 80" screen length then the 96" screen is a perfect fit as it is exactly that length. It would pair up nicely with the Epson. Check the flea market, I have a JVC projector that is top notch in comparison if you really want an awesome image.

eclimax13

polkfarmboy wrote: »

You must be mistaken...... dont you mean the epson 8100?

kinda hard to mistake the model number when its sitting in my room ...but hold on let me go check and see if the 5 mysteriously changed to a 1 without me knowing

eclimax13

good news...the 5 is still there....phew...you had me worried

Ricardo

Go for the projector!!!

I sit at 12ish feet and have a 104" screen. It's perfect.

TECHNOKID

Zeros wrote: »

It is about 13 feet to the front row and about 15 to the bar seating area.

Ricardo wrote: »

Go for the projector!!!

I sit at 12ish feet and have a 104" screen. It's perfect.

Roughly same distance here at 13' first row and roughly 15' for the second row using 102" or 104" diagonal I believe.

kuntasensei

Maybe this will push you over the edge:


That's off my screen, shot with a Canon SX210 IS camera using my tweaked for 6500k and color gamut settings, and is a pretty accurate representation of what I see in my room. The 8500UB is a damn fine unit.

Sherardp

My 1st row of seating is right at 12.5 feet from my 126" screen. The image is perfect, you really feel the immersion of the game/movie in the room. Even though there are standards it's really a matter of what you feel comfortable with. I can sit that close and not have the old head moving side to side. As said before, go for the PJ/screen and don't look back.

kevhed72

Well, you all have put my seating distance fears to rest (distance roughly 2X the screen size) and I have it narrowed down between the Epsons mentioned in this thread - the 8500UB, the 8350, and possibly the 8700UB, with a 96" motorized screen. Now I can start obsessing about speaker placement and chopping up the drywall to run wires. With that said, I may as well upgrade to a 6.1 or 7.1 setup.

cstmar01

go for it! I sit about 10ft back from a 100" screen and love it. For games there is nothing better than having a big ol' scope to shoot from when playing call of duty, and for movies it gets my blood pumping during them. The projectors you have listed off are great, and honestly very easy to set up and get dialed in (not like the old days of the CRTs!) best of luck and if you want to tweak a bit more get a cali disc to help dial in your set up!

ysss

eclimax13 wrote: »

...also if you have an ultimate electronics around they have the epson 8500ub on clearance for $1300...just got mine and its a great performer

Holy crap, that is an insanely good price!
Even the refurbished one from Epson goes for $1700:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&sku=V11H337020-N

eclimax13

I was looking at it and he says...oh by the way..its on sale for 1300.. I said wrap it up

kevhed72

eclimax13 wrote: »

I was looking at it and he says...oh by the way..its on sale for 1300.. I said wrap it up

Is this place strictly a brick and mortar outfit - Ultimate Electronics? There are none in the ATL area....

I was checking their website but the site was having issues....

ysss

For those considering the Epson 8700 UB ($2199 street price), the best price I've found online for it is at electronicexpo.com where you can use a $192 OFF coupon (LSDA1105). It's legit, I just picked one up.

There's also an ongoing mail-in 'free bulb' promo for this model.. so for $2036 (shipped), you get an Epson 8700UB + Free bulb ($300 worth). Not too shabby for a brand spankin new model...

I think that coupon may be applicable to the 8350 too.

ref: http://www.offers.com/offer/159413/

fatpiggy

I would highly recommend the Epson as well, They are excellent projectors, I have clocked up over 3000 hrs on my first bulb picture is still sharp as the day I bought it.I have a fixed 120" screen 10 ft setting distance.

Go a fixed screen if you can the roll up screens go to crap after awhile.I thought 120" would be too big , but after awhile you will love it.120" at 10 feet seating distance works very well for me,I have the bottom of screen at a height of 22" and the floor .Once you go with a projector and a blue ray player you will never go back to a LCD.

Fatpiggy

kevhed72

I think I'm sold on the projector idea and thus, another project begins....
Any opinions on Acoustically Transparent screens to hide my center behind...does this "AT" material have any trade-offs in SQ or PQ?

Sherardp

kevhed72 wrote: »

I think I'm sold on the projector idea and thus, another project begins....
Any opinions on Acoustically Transparent screens to hide my center behind...does this "AT" material have any trade-offs in SQ or PQ?

AT screens are going to cost you some coin. I would just put the center under the screen and enjoy.

dpowell

Amazing how projector prices continue to fall so dramatically! 1080p under $1,000 was unheard of 3 years ago. That B-stock Epson is really tempting.....

My screen in 110". Projector is mounted 14' back. Seating is 19' back.

pitdogg2

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