halobeast
I want to get a good projector without spending alot of $. What are some good kinds?
Answer
Cheap and high quality are incompatible. You won't get a reasonable projector for much under $500-$600 and an HD model with good contrast ratio suitable for home theatre use is going to be $1000 or more. 1080p models cost $2000 and up.
As long as you are aware that projectors require occasional lamp replacement ($300-$500) ... about every 2-3 years ... and work best in a dim/dark room, they are a great choice for seeing movies or HDTV or playing games on a big screen.
Some reputable brands include: Epson, Optoma, Panasonic, Sanyo, Benq, Sony, InFocus, Mitsubishi.
See the links for reviews and recommendations.
Cheap and high quality are incompatible. You won't get a reasonable projector for much under $500-$600 and an HD model with good contrast ratio suitable for home theatre use is going to be $1000 or more. 1080p models cost $2000 and up.
As long as you are aware that projectors require occasional lamp replacement ($300-$500) ... about every 2-3 years ... and work best in a dim/dark room, they are a great choice for seeing movies or HDTV or playing games on a big screen.
Some reputable brands include: Epson, Optoma, Panasonic, Sanyo, Benq, Sony, InFocus, Mitsubishi.
See the links for reviews and recommendations.
Large screen HD lcd tv or high quality projector?
Frankie
I know plasmas are bad because of burn in and dlps have problems tracking fast moving scenes, but high quality projectors are supposed to be able to handle HD. I would want to use it for videogames too. Which is the better option?
Answer
Modern plasma HDTVs are no longer as prone to burn-in, but they do use more electricity than other options and turn out more heat. That said, they arguably provide the best picture ... but only from very high end and expensive models ($5000 up).
LCD can give a good picture, but they are expensive at large screen sizes. It's actually LCD (not DLP) that may have problems with fast images. That said, some LCD panel technology is better than others ... although fast response times tend to be associated with more expensive panels.
Rear projection HDTVs are not as bulky as they used to be, and screen size to dollar ratio is favourable relative to LCD and plasma flatscreens, but the best viewing angle is somewhat narrow. Basically, there is no advantage over a front projector (in my view) and several disadvantages.
A front projector is the best way to get a BIG picture (100"+ is easily achievable), and since the screen can be as simple as a blank white wall (although not if you want a really good picture) or can be rolled up when not in use, unlike even a flatscreen TV it doesn't have to take over the room (The projector itself is usually quite small).
Projectors are available at three resolution levels: 480p (from $500), 720p (~$1000 up), and 1080p (~$2200 up). In other words, you can have a 1080p 120" display for about the same price as a 50"-60" flatscreen.
As with any HDTV, projectors give the best picture when there is little ambient light. They are not a good choice for a bright room.
The big downside of front projectors (and rear projectors) is that the lamps need to be replaced every 2-4000 hrs, and replacements cost ~$300-500. But, put that in perspective -- lamp costs amortize out to about $0.25/hr.
So for watching movies or HDTV for 2-3 hrs/day projectors are a great choice ... big, gorgeous picture and, with a good sound system -- just like being at the movies! They can be a good choice for games too, but replacing a lamp every 8-12 months may be the price of the big picture.
See the links for further info.
Modern plasma HDTVs are no longer as prone to burn-in, but they do use more electricity than other options and turn out more heat. That said, they arguably provide the best picture ... but only from very high end and expensive models ($5000 up).
LCD can give a good picture, but they are expensive at large screen sizes. It's actually LCD (not DLP) that may have problems with fast images. That said, some LCD panel technology is better than others ... although fast response times tend to be associated with more expensive panels.
Rear projection HDTVs are not as bulky as they used to be, and screen size to dollar ratio is favourable relative to LCD and plasma flatscreens, but the best viewing angle is somewhat narrow. Basically, there is no advantage over a front projector (in my view) and several disadvantages.
A front projector is the best way to get a BIG picture (100"+ is easily achievable), and since the screen can be as simple as a blank white wall (although not if you want a really good picture) or can be rolled up when not in use, unlike even a flatscreen TV it doesn't have to take over the room (The projector itself is usually quite small).
Projectors are available at three resolution levels: 480p (from $500), 720p (~$1000 up), and 1080p (~$2200 up). In other words, you can have a 1080p 120" display for about the same price as a 50"-60" flatscreen.
As with any HDTV, projectors give the best picture when there is little ambient light. They are not a good choice for a bright room.
The big downside of front projectors (and rear projectors) is that the lamps need to be replaced every 2-4000 hrs, and replacements cost ~$300-500. But, put that in perspective -- lamp costs amortize out to about $0.25/hr.
So for watching movies or HDTV for 2-3 hrs/day projectors are a great choice ... big, gorgeous picture and, with a good sound system -- just like being at the movies! They can be a good choice for games too, but replacing a lamp every 8-12 months may be the price of the big picture.
See the links for further info.
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