A lucky financial break may allow me to soon upgrade to a FullHD projector.

My HT room is pretty small, with a length of around 4m, there's some ambient light, it can't be 100% controlled. Screen is 185cm diagonal, matte white. Ceiling is not very high, so some DLPs may not fit.

I'm not very rainbow sensitive, so I can pick LCD, LCOS or DLP.

Thing is, my current PJ (very old) is a real dust-sucker, and I'm sick and tired of opening and cleaning it. I also read that some current PJs are difficult to maintain in a DIY fashion and require returning for service.

Which FullHD PJ would you recommend a lazy bum like me? :D The Sanyo 2000 has blower holes, telling me they expect dust to occur frequently, but at least you can clean it without opening the machine. One of my favourites is the Mitsu 6000 but I read there's plenty of dust troubles there too. A Panasonic 2000? Or a Sony LCOS? Any DLPs I should look at except Planar (which has lens shift, should therefor be able to fit into my HT room)?

Thanks
Neko

check out the LCOS projectors, some have sealed light engines, Sony VW40/60

BenQ W5000, 1080p DLP & Lens Shift or the Sony VPL-VW40 judging from your approximate price range.

Sounds like you have a dusty environment. You might give some thought to controlling the dust if there is a way. It probably isn't too good for you to be breathing and it means frequent cleaning is necessary. You can place filters over airduct outlets and there are room-size HEPA filters and electronic air cleaners available that will remove a great deal of the dust. I use one in my HT room, I vacuum once a week and leave the filter on during the day. There are also after market filters that you can place over the air intakes of the PJ that will catch most of the dust. I have been using a dust prone LCD for 6 years and have had to take it apart and clean it exactly once in that time. This is a direct result of controlling dust.

If that isn't possible in your situation then buy an LCOS (Sony) with sealed light path. I don't know if the D-ILA JVCs are sealed but I assume so. LCDs will have more dust problems.

Jvc Rs1

JVC RS1 / RS2 or any of the Sony SXRD projectors...

If you can deal with the offset, in the lower end of the spectrum there is the Optoma HD80.....

From what I understand all these projectors are sealed to fend dust off.

Thanks all for your comments!

I do clean regularly (not with vacuum cleaners, they just whirl dust up, even with HEPA filters. I clean with static cloths on wooden floors and damp cloths for surfaces), being allergic to a lot of things including dust :) but this is an old house in a rather dusty environment (close to major roads) Not healthy no, but there's not much choice here.

Seems almost everyone is advising the LCOS PJ's so I'll concentrate my further searches there. But I will have a peek at the Benq too, my current PJ is a DLP and I quite like it.

Neko

KuroNeko

Didn't mean to imply that you were untidy! Obviously the dusty environment isn't doing you or the PJ much good. I have allergies to dust, molds and various pollens but since I started using a whole house filter (happens to be Honeywell but there are others) and a room HEPA in my bedroom and HT room, I have ZERO problems indoors. Check out something like:

http://www.kaz.com/kaz/store/product/a5117f1ba9d9a9fc5b3215c1bf6e00f7/

It'll stop the dust bunnies on your screen and drastically cut allergic responses. Dust can be controlled.

KuroNeko

Didn't mean to imply that you were untidy! Obviously the dusty environment isn't doing you or the PJ much good. I have allergies to dust, molds and various pollens but since I started using a whole house filter (happens to be Honeywell but there are others) and a room HEPA in my bedroom and HT room, I have ZERO problems indoors. Check out something like:

http://www.kaz.com/kaz/store/product/a5117f1ba9d9a9fc5b3215c1bf6e00f7/

It'll stop the dust bunnies on your screen and drastically cut allergic responses. Dust can be controlled.

I grew up with terrible allergies and asthma. I've used the honeywell filters before and they work okay...just remember to size them properly to your room. The biggest downside to them is noise, I used to keep one in my bedroom and it was pretty loud. Not keep you awake loud but you had to get used it. For a theater I would go with a Blueair filter if you can fit it in your budget. They are the quietest on the market and review extremely well.

http://www.blueair.com/

If you have a serious health problem, consider installing an electrostatic filtration system onto your Heating/Air system. I've lived with these for over a decade and they are amazing. The reduce the dust to astonishing low levels. I have terrible allergies and they make home systems that can provide the same level of filtration in operating rooms...without that funny hospital smell mind you. The whole home systems are obviously much more expensive, but if it's a serious problem then it's worth looking into. The thrill of breathing freely is definitely worth the added cost to your system.

The trick for room units is to buy about one size larger than is recommended for your room, regardless of the brand (I've found.) This lets you run the unit at a lower fan speed, thus much quieter, and at lower overall cost...typically.

My 2 cents.

Xyst

I turn the Honeywell off for viewing. You are right they are louder than a PJ.

I also agree about the central system--I have one. Not everyone has a central HVAC system though.