My wife and I just moved into our first home! My theater room is 13' wide x 19' 4" long x 10' high. I was looking at getting a 50" plasma to start out with, but once I put blue masking tape on the wall for the plasma, I quickly realized I would rather save up, and go with the projector. Room will be used for movies, music and concert DVD's. I currently have $2000.00 saved up. I would like to go with a 1080p projector. This will be my first projector (currently own a 32" CRT TV in living room. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

We just moved in 2 weeks ago. HT has no furniture, lighting etc so I'm starting from the ground up. I'm very active in the Klipsch forums but will be visiting the AVS forum now that we have a HT room to build. I have a LOT to learn and am in it for the long haul.

http://www.soleproductions.com/forumfiles/theater_room_01.jpg

have you determined how far you would be sittting from the screen.. because im sure you could get a decent 720p projector to suit you and still be crystal clear...

Of the current projectors, I would check out the Epson 1080UB,
5 Attachment(s) Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and BenQ W5000. The Sanyo can be had for about $1,500, the Epson comes with a free bulb and $300 rebate. The BenQ is available for about $2,000.

Thanks guys. I will have two rows of seating. The sweet spot should be about 12 feet back. The second row will likely be sitting against the rear wall at 19 feet.
I'll check out the projectors mentioned later tonight when I get home from work. Any others I should consider?

Dysfunction, where are you able to purchase the Sanyo for $1500 and the Benq for $2000. I'm seeing around $2300 for the benq and $2500 for the Epson. $1500 for a 1080p projector would be great.

I just received an email from a local guy that has a Benq PE7700 720p projector, a Denon 3806 and a Draper Onyx screen (approx 100"). He's selling that plus a 7.1 Tantra speaker system & sub for $5000.00. I emailed him about just the projector, screen and receiver. He said make an offer. Any idea what I should offer for these three if I like it? Looking online, I am seeing the following:

Projector - $1200
Screen - $1000
Receiver - $450

I'm tempted to offer him $2000 for those three items. Would that be worth it for $2000 for my first projection setup or should I just save up for the 1080p system?

Dysfunction, where are you able to purchase the Sanyo for $1500 and the Benq for $2000. I'm seeing around $2300 for the benq and $2500 for the Epson. $1500 for a 1080p projector would be great.

I just received an email from a local guy that has a Benq PE7700 720p projector, a Denon 3806 and a Draper Onyx screen (approx 100"). He's selling that plus a 7.1 Tantra speaker system & sub for $5000.00. I emailed him about just the projector, screen and receiver. He said make an offer. Any idea what I should offer for these three if I like it? Looking online, I am seeing the following:

Projector - $1200
Screen - $1000
Receiver - $450

I'm tempted to offer him $2000 for those three items. Would that be worth it for $2000 for my first projection setup or should I just save up for the 1080p system?

If you go to google shopping and search for those projectors, then you'll see where he's getting close to those numbers. The Sanyo Z2000 is still offering $600 in rebates and the BenQ is listed around $2k.

I'm about to buy the Sanyo for my first front projector home theater.

Epson 1080UB. $ 2650-$300 rebate-$350 extra bulb to sell on ebay=$2000. Definitely the best projector in the price range.

Any others I should consider?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/1080p_home_theater_projectors.htm

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My wife and I just moved into our first home! My theater room is 13' wide x 19' 4" long x 10' high. I was looking at getting a 50" plasma to start out with, but once I put blue masking tape on the wall for the plasma, I quickly realized I would rather save up, and go with the projector. Room will be used for movies, music and concert DVD's. I currently have $2000.00 saved up. I would like to go with a 1080p projector. This will be my first projector (currently own a 32" CRT TV in living room. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

We just moved in 2 weeks ago. HT has no furniture, lighting etc so I'm starting from the ground up. I'm very active in the Klipsch forums but will be visiting the AVS forum now that we have a HT room to build. I have a LOT to learn and am in it for the long haul.

http://www.soleproductions.com/forumfiles/theater_room_01.jpg

Wow, does that put things in perspective. And I was bummed I could only go 96" :D

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee136/CDLehner/Mr%20Blondes%20HT%20Room/DSC00172.jpg

Looks like you've made a wise choice! Look forward to seeing you here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=19

Good luck,
CD

That's awesome CD. Thx. That definitely puts it in perspective. I almost put the projection blue tape up tonight around the tiny 50" plasma blue tape just for kicks. LOL.

youthman -- Don't leave out the Mitsubishi HC5500 (1080p) either. It currently is discounted (from it's MAP) and has a $200 factory rebate, until Oct. 31st. You should be able to get a 106" screen for well under your $1000, if you get it from the AVS store (http://www.avscience.com/contact.htm).

I have a 13' wide room also, and I'm using a 106", 16:9, screen. We sit 11' from it, and it's great with my 720p PJ. With a 1080p PJ, it's going to be super (I am about to "pull the trigger" on the HC5500, if everything works out in the next week).

PS -- I got my new Klipsch RC-62 center channel speaker last week. It sounds great and works very well with my 30+ year old JBL L96 R/L speakers (they have a sonic performance somewhere between the RB-81 & RF-82 Klipsch models). My first BD player and a couple of BD discs arrived last week also (so I'm ready :D).

Agreed. $1000 for a screen is overkill IMHO.

Best of Luck! I'm also in the market. Been looking at the Mits and the Epson but keep reading about convergence problems with the Epson with people sending them back sometimes twice trying to get a decent PJ. I don't have the time or the energy for that. I have had a Mits Hc3000u for two years and it has served me very well. Love Mits quality in general so leaning that way, even if the black levels aren't as good.

:)

CT...That is a great setup. I really love the sound of my RF-83's. I only have a 3.1 setup right now (Klipsch RF-83 Front, Klipsch RC-7 Center and Velodyne F-1500 sub). Going to eventually sell the RC-7 and get the matching RC-64 center and get the RS-62's for rears. This hobby is quite expensive but I am very patient and do not feel that I have to get everything at once. Save up and pay cash for my toys...I need a third job. LOL.

Dave, my price on the screen was what I was finding his screen for online. I would love to spend less than that. I haven't heard back from him yet. He might think I'm lowballing him. I figure if he wants to get rid of it, he'll be interested. If not, he can try to sell the entire package for $5000. I just think he's going to have a hard time selling it for that much, especially the way the economy is right now. I'm probably just getting itchy and need to just purchase a new system, one with current features and options.

Paint your own screen to before you buy one and you might never see the need.

I think I would rather have an actual screen instead of painting the wall. Thx for the suggestion though.

youthman -- Don't leave out the Mitsubishi HC5500 (1080p) either. It currently is discounted (from it's MAP) and has a $200 factory rebate, until Oct. 31st.

+1, the Mitsubishi HC5500 is a nice 1080P projector with great colors and a sharp image. the bulb is rated to 5000 hours in economy mode which is more than enough with a high power screen.

This is a dalite 92" HP screen. If I had a full wall like you have, a 106" fixed frame would look great.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy!!

http://mynikonphotos.com/projector/DSC_0892.jpg

http://mynikonphotos.com/projector/DSC_0889.jpg

http://mynikonphotos.com/projector/DSC_0883.jpg

http://mynikonphotos.com/projector/DSC_0885.jpg

http://mynikonphotos.com/projector/DSC_0887.jpg

Wow zombie! I'm totally drooling over the picture quality. I can't wait to get mine setup.

hEY Just a thought. Have you ever thought of building a home theatre room on top of what you have there already? Like for example, painting the walls dark, lighting, AV rack, Stage, Riser? This is what im doing until the prices on my 1080P epson go down a bit...(Under 2000.00)

Thanks

Shadow, not sure I follow you unless you were addressing zombie with his room setup. We will be painting the ceiling black tomorrow, walls on Thursday. I will be adding lighting, riser, two rows of seating, rear speakers and some form of AV rack either in the linen closet outside the room or somewhere else inside the room. This will be done as funds become available.

youthman -- I have the 106" version of the screen that zombie10k pictured, above. I don't know what he paid for his, but mine was less than half of the $1000 (including shipping - from AVS) you quoted (and the Model C pull-down screens are more expensive than the fixed frame ones).

You really do need to give Jason Turk, or one of the other AVS sales people, a call (NOW), before you waste your hard earned money (http://www.avscience.com/contact.htm). They sell PJs too (check the "Products" tab in my link).

BTW, zombie10k & I had some exchange of posts before he bought his screen. He likes a very bright picture and I don't - it's a personal preference. Therefore, if (when) I get my HC5500, I will likely have to install a ND2 filter on it to cut the brightness in half. With the HC5500 running in the low (economy - 5000 hour lamp life) lamp mode, it specs out at way too bright for me on the Da-lite High Power screen. This is what I have had to do with the last 2 PJs I've owned. For me (again, personal preference) a screen like the Elite CineGray model (ezFrame for the fixed frame versions - also available through AVS) would be a much better choice, with the newer PJs.