I'm going to be building a new home theater in a new house (I'm hoping to start construction over the next few weeks, and have it finished 4-5 months later), and I'm thinking about using a Sony VPL VW200 as my video source. While the reviews and comments I've read sound great, I'd still like to see one set up and running somewhere before taking the plunge.

I live in Nashua, NH, which is about 40 miles from Boston. In my immediate Nashua neighborhood I haven't found anyone who has a VPL VW200 I can take a look at. Any suggestions where I might find a good demo in my area?

Most of what I have seen in person with other projectors has been a bit disappointing. While I like the extra drama of a larger projected picture, every projector set-up I've seen, except a very expensive Runco (which was noisier than I'd want to have in my theater room, even if I could afford it) was disappointingly dim, producing images that couldn't tolerate the slightest bit of ambient light, images which were still underwhelming in terms of brightness even in well-darkened rooms, on diagonal screen sizes of 92" to 100".

I currently own a 70" Qualia 006. I'm torn between sticking with the Qualia, buying a new RPTV (like the LED-lit 72" Samsung DLP that's going to be available in June), or getting a front projector like the VPL VW200.

An RPTV still seems like the best bang-for-the-buck when it comes to getting a bright and impressive picture. Because of the way I'm having the room built, I'll be able to recess an RPTV into the front wall of the theater, hiding the bulk of the unit and getting a flush-to-the-wall effect.

Still, "only" 72" or so of screen size doesn't seem like enough when I'm going to have a 15'x24' theater (a 15'x29.5' area, with a 15'x5' equipment/set-up room taking up the front of that area behind a 6" partition wall). I'd really like to do a 92" screen, or perhaps even 100", but only if I'm going to get better results than most of the projector demo set-ups I've seen around here.

I'm also considering an acoustically transparent screen, since I love the idea of parking my center channel speaker directly behind the screen, but I'm wondering if I'd miss the extra gain (1.3 seems typical) of a good standard screen. Good acoustically transparent screens I've read about have a 0.95 gain.

For those of you who own a VPL VW200, or at least have seen one in action, do you think you could be satisfied with the brightness of the image you'd get on a 92" acoustically transparent screen? 100"? Would you rather go with a screen gain of 1.3 and locate your center channel underneath?

One thing that makes me consider holding back on the expense of a VPL VW200, besides concerns about brightness, is the hope that if I go with a much cheaper RPTV now, after a wait of a year or two I'll be able to get something even better that a VPL VW200, for less money, and maybe based on much more energy-efficient LED technology, with no $1000 lamps to replace.

Finally, if I did decide to get a VPL VW200, any recommendations for a reliable place to buy one at a good price? I suppose it would be a little cheesy of me to take advantage of brick-and-mortar retailer's demo set-up only to turn around and buy what I want online -- but I'd get over any guilt I might feel about that if I save a few thousand dollars in the process. :)

I'm going to be building a new home theater in a new house (I'm hoping to start construction over the next few weeks, and have it finished 4-5 months later), and I'm thinking about using a Sony VPL VW200 as my video source. While the reviews and comments I've read sound great, I'd still like to see one set up and running somewhere before taking the plunge.

I live in Nashua, NH, which is about 40 miles from Boston. In my immediate Nashua neighborhood I haven't found anyone who has a VPL VW200 I can take a look at. Any suggestions where I might find a good demo in my area?

Most of what I have seen in person with other projectors has been a bit disappointing. While I like the extra drama of a larger projected picture, every projector set-up I've seen, except a very expensive Runco (which was noisier than I'd want to have in my theater room, even if I could afford it) was disappointingly dim, producing images that couldn't tolerate the slightest bit of ambient light, images which were still underwhelming in terms of brightness even in well-darkened rooms, on diagonal screen sizes of 92" to 100".

I currently own a 70" Qualia 006. I'm torn between sticking with the Qualia, buying a new RPTV (like the LED-lit 72" Samsung DLP that's going to be available in June), or getting a front projector like the VPL VW200.

An RPTV still seems like the best bang-for-the-buck when it comes to getting a bright and impressive picture. Because of the way I'm having the room built, I'll be able to recess an RPTV into the front wall of the theater, hiding the bulk of the unit and getting a flush-to-the-wall effect.

Still, "only" 72" or so of screen size doesn't seem like enough when I'm going to have a 15'x24' theater (a 15'x29.5' area, with a 15'x5' equipment/set-up room taking up the front of that area behind a 6" partition wall). I'd really like to do a 92" screen, or perhaps even 100", but only if I'm going to get better results than most of the projector demo set-ups I've seen around here.

I'm also considering an acoustically transparent screen, since I love the idea of parking my center channel speaker directly behind the screen, but I'm wondering if I'd miss the extra gain (1.3 seems typical) of a good standard screen. Good acoustically transparent screens I've read about have a 0.95 gain.

For those of you who own a VPL VW200, or at least have seen one in action, do you think you could be satisfied with the brightness of the image you'd get on a 92" acoustically transparent screen? 100"? Would you rather go with a screen gain of 1.3 and locate your center channel underneath?

One thing that makes me consider holding back on the expense of a VPL VW200, besides concerns about brightness, is the hope that if I go with a much cheaper RPTV now, after a wait of a year or two I'll be able to get something even better that a VPL VW200, for less money, and maybe based on much more energy-efficient LED technology, with no $1000 lamps to replace.

Finally, if I did decide to get a VPL VW200, any recommendations for a reliable place to buy one at a good price? I suppose it would be a little cheesy of me to take advantage of brick-and-mortar retailer's demo set-up only to turn around and buy what I want online -- but I'd get over any guilt I might feel about that if I save a few thousand dollars in the process. :)
I demoed a VW200 in the Boston area, but it was dim on a 92" screen. I suggest you visit New England Home Theater in Littleton, MA, and check out the JVC RS1 on a 110" Silverstar. The high gain Silverstar, coupled with the RS1's high contrast, will show you how amazing front projection can be. You will be convinced. New England Home Theater is right off of 495 on 2A and is open on Saturdays.

I'm sure AV Science, the forum sponsors, can get you a VW200 if that is what you want. Or an RS1/RS2 or Silverstar. They will demo projectors for you if you are willing to travel to Rochester, NY.