To all projector gurus out there...

Grimster74
Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
edited February 2005 in Electronics
As many may already know about the new project I'm about to begin, if not, see here...http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25726 Anyway, after a long and drawn out discussion with the wife last night I'm pretty sure I have her convinced into letting me buy a projector for the new room. That and beings I'm working back at BB part-time, the discount helps also.

Anyway, like I said before, I really don't know alot about projectors. For example, I know BB carries two types of projectors, LCD and DLP. Can anyone out there explain the difference in the two, which is better, which is worse. Also, can someone tell me what to look for when buying a projector, feature, lamp wattage, etc. When you hook up a projector, is watching tv broadcast just as clear and vivid as watching a dvd. I have tons of questions, I figured I'd just start with the bare bones for now.

Next question, screens. I see that the screens are expensive also. Is it possible to just make one out of 3/4" MDF finished off by painting it white. I don't know, thats why I'm asking. The reason I'm asking, I'd like to make a viewing screen in the ball park of 4'x8', which if need be I can adjust the size of the viewing area. Any help on this topic would be greatly appreciated guys.
Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited February 2005
    Here are some good links to read up on.

    http://www.projectorcentral.com/

    http://www.projectorpeople.com/

    AVS projector forum

    AVS DIY screen section
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    If you hustle, Costco is offering a 76" screen and the infocus 4805 for a cool $1K. All in all, not a bad way to start on the cheap. Ends Feb 6.

    Get your research on and head out. I doubt you'll do much better than that deal with you accomedations.

    If you are looking higher end, the optima H77 is being offered from projector people for $4.1K and will natively handle 720P.

    The infocus 7805 is also about to go through a major price drop to an MSRP of $5K which means its street price may go as low as $4K for un-authorized dealers.

    Just more stuff to think about.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    I was browsing the projector central website and found this...http://www.projectorcentral.com/specials.cfm The two I had in mind where these...http://www.projectorcenter.com/package_deal.asp?id=29 and http://www.projector.com/landing004.cfm on the Ben Q link, I thought the Ben Q PB8230 Package seemed like a pretty cool deal. Let me know what you guys think.
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2005
    Looks like the 8230 is a 4:3. I'm not sure if that matters in the FP world or not. Actually its probably preferable for watching both standard and HD.

    Good price, since extra lamp included, electric screen, etc.
    Never Forget
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    Thanks PolkThug, I read it and still didn't catch that. 16:9 is a must for me.
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    I have heard that the sony HS51 pj is very dim, but has good contrast. In other words you need a high gain screen and a light controlled room to get any size/clarity on the screen. It does offer excellnt contrast and black levels.

    As for what I'd recommend, if your screen size is going to be larger than about 90", go DLP unless you get headaches from those PJ's (Go to a store selling them and move your head back and forth, if you see rainbows, DLP might not be right for you). Get a minimum of WXGA (1280X720) pixels. These will natively handle 720P and will upscale other images. A PJ to handle 1080i or 1080P natively is going to be around 7K minimum
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    Here are two of the projectors that BB carries. I've been told I can order other projectors but these are the only two I see on there website.

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1096381703578&skuId=6914413&productCategoryId=pcmcat32200050014&type=product

    and

    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1099388906773&skuId=6980341&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat32200050014&cmp=++
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    Both of thos pj's are only 480P which if you are doing that, I would do the costco deal. The 4805 was cloned into one of the pj's you listed.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2005
    Could you post the model numbers, I can't see BB web site from work.

    Thanks,
    PT

    *nm, if they're only 480p native, forget it.
    Never Forget
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    Grim:

    What's your budget? I truly believe that you can find better bang-4-buck values not using the BB accomidations, or we can at least give you a ballpark of PJ's to compare against the ones you can order.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    I'm waiting for a quote from a authorized dealer on the Ben Q, PE8700. Here is a link to it.

    http://www.projectorcentral.com/BenQ-PE8700.htm
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    Oh yeah, I'm thinking I would not like to go over $3500, sorry about that jdhdiggs.
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    That's a rough budget cut. Lot of good pj's around $4K, but not a lot in the $2-$4 K region that offer up much over the <$2K pj's

    Remember to also look at the throw distance and brightness
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    Well, just got off the phone with Scott Hausman from Projector Solution. The price quote hey gave me on the BenQ PE8700+ was $3995 which included shipping. What do you guys think?
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2005
    Looks good on paper. I'd hop on avsforum.com and find any info you can from actual users before you pull the trigger.
    Never Forget
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  • Grimster74
    Grimster74 Posts: 2,576
    edited February 2005
    Not sure if this will work but I'm going to try it anyway. Here is something I did in AutoCAD to get a rough idea of what the wall will look like with the screen.
    Money Talks, Mine says Goodbye Rob!!!!
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    Not seeing the A-CAD That's a good price on that PJ. They were about $8K this summer.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited February 2005
    Originally posted by Grimster74
    ....BenQ PE8700+ was $3995 which included shipping. What do you guys think?
    Sounds like a freakin' great price!!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited February 2005
    projector.com also has it for $3999
    Never Forget
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  • jdhdiggs
    jdhdiggs Posts: 4,305
    edited February 2005
    Originally posted by Frank Z
    Sounds like a freakin' great price!!

    Yup, that's about where the next sweet spot is in price after the $1K mark. Check out also the Optimus H77 and infocus 7805

    You next need to start thinking of the room and making sure the brightness and throw distances are compatable with your planned setup.
    There is no genuine justice in any scheme of feeding and coddling the loafer whose only ponderable energies are devoted wholly to reproduction. Nine-tenths of the rights he bellows for are really privileges and he does nothing to deserve them. We not only acquired a vast population of morons, we have inculcated all morons, old or young, with the doctrine that the decent and industrious people of the country are bound to support them for all time.-Menkin
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