A/V guys, help me pick out a projector & screen!

[WRXtranceformed]

Hey guys!

So I added a nonstandard outlet and TV wiring location in my new house to accomodate a projector and screen in the great room. I didn't have them mounted up high because I figured I could fish all of the wires down through the wall and cover up the hole with a coverplate. What I need is some advice on projector and screen choice. From what I've heard, the screen is just as important as the projector for picture quality.

Here's what I want.

1) 1080i or 1080p compatibility. I don't want to sacrifice decent HD just because I'm installing a projector. I'm sure that the price will be impacted significantly by this, but it might be worth it to me. If you guys think a 720p would work and still look good though, by all means shoot me some suggestions.

2) Relatively small. I'm probably going to make a small shelf or bracket for the projector to hang over my couch, but I don't want it to be a big ass unit.

3) I want it to have a bunch of high quality inputs (HDMI, HD component cables, etc.) for the 360, other DVD players if I ever get them, etc.)

4) A big screen. 110" or similar.

5) Ideally something that is easily visible, clear, and bright in a large semi bright room. This is the only downside to my setup, is the fact that that room has a bunch of windows and a patio door at the back of the room that will let in a decent amount of light. This might be unrealistic, but you guys may know of some brands that are brighter than others. If not, I will eventually have blinds but it will be nice to watch TV without having to close them.

6) I'd like it for as cheap as possible, but realistically I figure I'd have to spend at least $2000. I know you can spend into the tens of thousands on projector setups, but that's ridiculous to me unless I move into a house someday that has a dedicated movie room. I've started to look around on Craigslist but most of what I've seen is old or not HD compatible.

Any ideas? What setups do you guys have that you like? I don't even know where to begin.

[Apoc]

5) Ideally something that is easily visible, clear, and bright in a large semi bright room.

That's where I stopped reading. Our house came with a DLP projector in the main room and watching TV was impossible during the day. Our sliding door is pretty tall but even with vertical blinds shut tight there was WAY too much light. If you want to watch during the day you're really going to need to consider not only shades but black out shades.

Combine that with a "relatively" short life of the $200-300 bulbs and I nixxed the idea of using a projecter for daily viewing. At some point I'm doing to move the projector to the basement, I just gotta get my ass in gear. We've been in the house for 16 months and I haven't done shite except get my wife to paint the basement walls. That's the other thing... flat, dark color paint will also help reduce glare and lighting issues. Home theaters are in the basement with no windows and painted walls for a reason.

As far as screen brands, go for Draper.

Here's the layout of the room and positioning for comparison purposes.

[WRXtranceformed]

Thanks Chris, that's super helpful. I have black out blinds right now in my bedroom and they do a pretty damn good job, but I'm not sure I want those in my family room. Hmm, I've got some thinking to do!

I've already put 3 speaker prewires on that wall (2 @ 8' high, 1 center channel @ outlet level) and planned on pulling the wire myself for the other rear channels when I moved in. The plan was to have the screen in the middle of the 3 prewires. Right now there's no TV outlet on that wall either, but that's not the end of the world because there is a TV outlet just on the other side of the wall in my bedroom (where there will be a wall-mounted TV).

[HAULN-SS]

We had a 92" dlp projector in our living room in P-run. we put a blackout curtain over that bay window, and with the door closed, it was pretty visible. It wasn't too bad with the door open, but with the curtain off, it was pretty bad.

[WRXtranceformed]

Hrm, I wonder if I should reconsider the projector then. You guys saw the picture, that's a BIG space.


I wanted to mount the projector over where that weird bowl thing is, and cover all the window with blinds... but I wonder if it would make more sense to just get a larger wall-mounted version of the TV I have now. I don't think I would need to move the TV outlet or the speaker prewires, I could just fish component cables through the ceiling space to the opposite wall, or through the bedroom wall from a receiver.

[Apoc]

IMO you ruin the aesthetics of the room if you have curtains around the fireplace. I'd go for a wallmount, especially if you're talking about daily viewing, because the bulbs aren't cheap.

[white_2kgt]

Projects works BEST in a windowless dungen room, not a high ceiling room with glass all around. Just get a flat screen and be done with it, if you want good you are looking at ~1500 or more for a projector and you can get a nice Plasma/LCD for just a bit more.

[WRXtranceformed]

I agree with the above two posts. I didn't think about the bulbs, because I do remember hearing elsewhere that they don't really have great lives. I guess I'll save the projector for when I get a basement, or mayhaps I'll turn one of the guest bedrooms into a theater room someday. Thanks guys! =)

[HAULN-SS]

I dunno if I believe people about the bulbs. We had that one in P-run pretty much running non stop for 2 years - between regular tv, dvds, and 360, it hardly ever got a break. Was still going strong when I left. And even when we priced a new bulb out one time, it was like 90$ or something. Not that bad.

[white_2kgt]

I dunno if I believe people about the bulbs. We had that one in P-run pretty much running non stop for 2 years - between regular tv, dvds, and 360, it hardly ever got a break. Was still going strong when I left. And even when we priced a new bulb out one time, it was like 90$ or something. Not that bad.

Yea they average 2-3 years and are around 90-150ish to replace, not bad at all anymore.

[WRXtranceformed]

That's not really that bad actually. The maintenance costs are a factor, but aren't as big a deal to me as not actually being able to see the picture that well... so I'll probably look for another flatscreen of some kind. There's a place near where I live that sells open box and display models from local electronics stores. I bought my TV there 2.5 years ago at a huge discount ( I think I saved like $1500), so I'll see what they have next time I go. The last time I was in there they had a 67" DLP 1080p Samsung TV... basically the big brother of mine for only like $1950 or something ridiculous... I was sad that I wasn't in the market for a new TV at the time or I would have bought it!

[Apoc]

Not to bring up a sore topic/thread but I finally ordered my chit today. I should have everything, exlcuding the seats (which are delayed) installed by Christmas. Who wants to come over and bring an Xbox?

[WRXtranceformed]

Still a sore topic

Congrats on the new stuff. I'll bring my box over and you can try out all the games you might want before you buy them