I have been looking for a good CHEAP projector. I have a buddy that has a EPSON Powerlite 77c. I have seen it in person and I thought it was pretty amazing.

I know its old tech for many of you here and most of you have things I will never have...BUT...What do you think of this projector? The only issue some have with it is not enough contrast. Other than that all the reviews I have read are really good. PLUS the big name sites speak well of it also.

I dont want NOR do I have the money to spend on anything more expensive. I found this for 500$ NEW. The bulbs are cheaper then most also.

Im also wondering ...Will it render my xbox 360 in 720p? I know regular dvd's look good as , like I said, " I have seen it in action"...

SO what are your thoughts and do you have a projector for 500-570$ that would match this one or be better? NO DLP please..

CRT is the value king. Its a big noisy box, but can deliver stunning images.

Sorry I don't have an opinion on that specific PJ.

I would drop this question over at the Digital Projectors - Under $3k (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68) forum; they might be able to suggest something that will work better for you.

But... to answer your question(s). That projector will not render your Xbox 360 in 720p (1280x720) as it's only capable of 1024x768 natively. That is not to say it wouldn't produce an acceptable image, it just wouldn't be "720p".

Sounds like you made up your mind on DLP but I know for a fact that some of the best budget projectors out there are indeed DLP so be prepared if you ask in the Projector forum ;)

I would drop this question over at the Digital Projectors - Under $3k (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=68) forum; they might be able to suggest something that will work better for you.

But... to answer your question(s). That projector will not render your Xbox 360 in 720p (1280x720) as it's only capable of 1024x768 natively. That is not to say it wouldn't produce an acceptable image, it just wouldn't be "720p".

Sounds like you made up your mind on DLP but I know for a fact that some of the best budget projectors out there are indeed DLP so be prepared if you ask in the Projector forum ;)
Yea every time I find a good price on a projector it ends up being a dlp. I just cant get myself to buy one from all the horror stories about the color wheel. Including the "rainbow effect" and that the wheel doesnt spend fast enough on some models..??

Thanks for your help..OH, I did post on that forum "i think"..lol..Dont remember it was so late last night..lol..

I have been looking for a good CHEAP projector. I have a buddy that has a EPSON Powerlite 77c. I have seen it in person and I thought it was pretty amazing.

I know its old tech for many of you here and most of you have things I will never have...BUT...What do you think of this projector? The only issue some have with it is not enough contrast. Other than that all the reviews I have read are really good. PLUS the big name sites speak well of it also.

I dont want NOR do I have the money to spend on anything more expensive. I found this for 500$ NEW. The bulbs are cheaper then most also.

Im also wondering ...Will it render my xbox 360 in 720p? I know regular dvd's look good as , like I said, " I have seen it in action"...

SO what are your thoughts and do you have a projector for 500-570$ that would match this one or be better? NO DLP please..

Only thing I could suggest is a Sony VPL-AW10. The AW15 was my first (and current) pj, and while this machine has its pros and cons, like everything else, I think it's a very nice looking first box; good color, good blacks. The AW10 is its little brother; I think you lose one auto-iris, so the contrast rating is a little lower, but for a street of just under $700, I think this image might best your friend's Epson. And no rainbows!

CD

First off - our first PJ was a Canon "business" projector - 1024X768 and just take my word that when placed side-by-side with our Panasonic 720p "HT" projector is competes VERY well in all departments.

There are numerous "business" projectors on the market that were designed to be dual-mode and when in Cinema mode the image processor and software if well made can do a very credible job of movie and game system image projection.

One must have with a business projector is a HDCP digital input (HDMI or DVI) and, again, you can be very happy with this type of PJ.

Other thing is to be a determined shopper - we found our Panasonic 720p in a close-out store almost two years ago for $600 when retail was around $2600. It was a store floor demo unit with 80 hrs on the lamp. We paid $50 for our Da-lite fixed wall screen at that same store when retail for that screen was about $700.

Determined bargain hunters often are bargain finders so think about being a creative shopper.
Best of Luck

Well this is my first venture into the world of projectors "long time lurker since 1987"...I tend to take my time on things..lol

I am going with the Epson Powerlite 77C. I just have to. I went over to my buddies house again today and looked at the new HULK movie on his homemade screen with his lousy projector and I must say, Its pretty amazing.

I dont know what some of you are looking at...BUT he showed me it was displaying in 720p and 1080i. I seen if for myself...It said it was running at 720p and 1080i when he demonstrated it to me...

So for me its a win win situation for a beginner projector.
BUT now im wondering...What color should I paint the wall to help the contrast? White, grey, off white..???

Well this is my first venture into the world of projectors "long time lurker since 1987"...I tend to take my time on things..lol

I am going with the Epson Powerlite 77C. I just have to. I went over to my buddies house again today and looked at the new HULK movie on his homemade screen with his lousy projector and I must say, Its pretty amazing.

I dont know what some of you are looking at...BUT he showed me it was displaying in 720p and 1080i. I seen if for myself...It said it was running at 720p and 1080i when he demonstrated it to me...

So for me its a win win situation for a beginner projector.
BUT now im wondering...What color should I paint the wall to help the contrast? White, grey, off white..???

Well, I guess it's as good a place as any to start, but you may be selling yourself short by not shopping around (or listening to some of the experienced users in this forum). The first time I saw a PJ, just shot up on my stupid, white, painted Family Room wall...no adjustments, no calibration, etc...it was amazing! It's what we tell people coming into the forum who are trying to decide between a $3,000 58" LCD or a $1,000 PJ; nothing beats a really big image.

My point is you think your buddy's 77C looks amazing, and that's only natural...as you have nothing else to compare it to...but how do you know that a $600 PJ, that someone else in the forum might recommend, isn't ten times better, and still within your budget? I mean, you come in and ask for advice, then you see The Hulk on your buddy's rig, and you're sold?

Besides, I did a search on that 77C; the only one I see for $500 is a refurb; next cheapest is ~$640 from a place called Hot Buys (which is, at least, probably truth in advertising). The lowest price I see from a rated, reputable dealer is around ~$750, so it's not really the bargain you think it is anyway. But you seem determined, so just be careful.

CD

mikieson,

We use this proj. at my job, for meetings and presentations. Not sure where your seeing it for that price, just be careful. If it is a refurb Epson has it for $650.00 with a $75.00 rebate, so you can have it for $575.00 straight from Epson. What you were probably seeing with your friends projector is the signal it was receiving. That doesn't mean that a native 768 projector is bad though. It is high definition just that the projector has to do some work to make the picture fit. A lot of 720P flat panels are natively 768.

If you want to get in the game and this is what you could afford, go for it. The image on this projector has been great for everything we have used it for. This includes power points, sales reports, training videos, WWE DVD's :D, Nintendo wii. The only downside that I have with it is that while it does accept component via a VGA connection it doesn't have an HDMI or DVI connection. You can spend a couple of hundred more to get HDMI but at this point you might go for something else.

Go over to the DIY screen section, you can find a good paint mix there for a screen or you could find info on different materials you can use. i.e. laminate or phifer sheerweave. Good luck.

BTW this projector has excellent on & (but more so) off time. When you shut it off it is ready to be unplugged in about 5-10 seconds. This is more of business need to be mobile but still a nice feature.

Well, I guess it's as good a place as any to start, but you may be selling yourself short by not shopping around (or listening to some of the experienced users in this forum). The first time I saw a PJ, just shot up on my stupid, white, painted Family Room wall...no adjustments, no calibration, etc...it was amazing! It's what we tell people coming into the forum who are trying to decide between a $3,000 58" LCD or a $1,000 PJ; nothing beats a really big image.

My point is you think your buddy's 77C looks amazing, and that's only natural...as you have nothing else to compare it to...but how do you know that a $600 PJ, that someone else in the forum might recommend, isn't ten times better, and still within your budget? I mean, you come in and ask for advice, then you see The Hulk on your buddy's rig, and you're sold?

Besides, I did a search on that 77C; the only one I see for $500 is a refurb; next cheapest is ~$640 from a place called Hot Buys (which is, at least, probably truth in advertising). The lowest price I see from a rated, reputable dealer is around ~$750, so it's not really the bargain you think it is anyway. But you seem determined, so just be careful.

CD
Actually I have seen a few movies.."OR" parts of movies that he wanted to show off to me. IM not dumb as you might think. I have seen theater setups before years ago. I do know there are way better images out there.

BUT...Im coming in with NO real need for HD right now. Although is projector displays 720p and 1080i just fine. However it may be doing it..Its doing it well enough that im not going to complain.

Im going to use a shade of grey for my screen im going to paint. It will pop the blacks up just a tad compared to his white screen im sure.

I dont expect it to be full blow 1080p goodness. But for the money you simply can not beat this lil projector. The bulbs not only supposedly last longer than most bulbs..BUT they also cost less.

Plus he built his own cables for nothing hardly and he is going to do mine for me. So im going to get a good deal in the end for just getting started.

IF BY CHANCE someone here can find another LCD projector for the same price....I will check it out. BUT until then...Im sold.

Dont take me as rude for finally deciding on something shortly after I first posted. I have been searching for years and years before finally deciding I can jump in here on a tite "poor man's" budget.

Thanks for your help and anyone elses help....

OK...My choices are these here..Its all I can come up with.
Epson Powerlite 78
Epson EX70
Sony VPL-EX5
I know these arent the best in the world, but its all I can find. There are several Epsons that look about the same to me, but if anyone whats to check them out go for it.

I do my shopping on
TigerDirect
Projectorpeople
Newegg
B&H Thanks much..

Well, for the money the only one I'm seeing that makes a difference is the EX70 because it has an HDMI connection. However it shows it has a native 16:10 image though all the others have a native 4:3 image. The 77c also shows 4:3 native but we use that proj. in 16:9 and it has workd well. Good luck on your choice.

OK...My choices are these here..Its all I can come up with.
Epson Powerlite 78
Epson EX70
Sony VPL-EX5
I know these arent the best in the world, but its all I can find. There are several Epsons that look about the same to me, but if anyone whats to check them out go for it.

I do my shopping on
TigerDirect
Projectorpeople
Newegg
B&H Thanks much..

My man, why are you so insistent on these "multimedia"-type projectors? I mean no HDMI? 4:3 aspect ratio? Are you planning to use this for HT or a business meeting?

Is it just the price? Again, not that I am even touting this as the best PJ for the buck, but B&H has the VPL-AW10 for $695. I guarantee it will best the picture of any of the other models you've listed...and it has an HDMI port :eek:

CD

My man, why are you so insistent on these "multimedia"-type projectors? I mean no HDMI? 4:3 aspect ratio? Are you planning to use this for HT or a business meeting?

Is it just the price? Again, not that I am even touting this as the best PJ for the buck, but B&H has the VPL-AW10 for $695. I guarantee it will best the picture of any of the other models you've listed...and it has an HDMI port :eek:

CD
Every projector I have listed DOES 16:9 I have seen it and its not distorted.

As far as the lamp goes your right about the 77c. I ordered a spare for my job yesterday from Visual Apex $185.00 plus 10 bucks shipping. I looked up my projectors (Epson HC 400) lamp for giggles $349.00 :eek:, I didn't giggle much.

I do NOT need HDMI. I will not need HDMI for at least 5 years. I dont keep up with every new tech that comes along.

And when a projector says "MULTIMEDIA" Thats means multipurpose not just documets/presentation.

OK...Here is what I want everyone to do....I have TOPS 650$ to spend. And I mean tops. I would rather keep in the high 500's$.

I ONLY watch widescreen dvd's. I play Xbox, PS2, Wii, and will play my 360 as well. I know that the projectors I have listed will probably upscale in some way the 360 images and they do look fine.

SO having said this....Find me the best projector for "MY" needs, not yours. I dont do anything HD yet. I wont for a while I promiss. In 3-5 years if I feel I want to upgrade, then I will.

I want mostly LCD. I dont want to depend on a projector that spins a wheel. Its just my personal prefferance. I will send someone 20$ through paypal if they find me the best of the best of what im looking for..

Besides the 77c I have dealt with another low end Epson, the S5 I think. I was more than overly impressed with 77c after using the S5 for nearly the same cost. I say for your needs go for the 77c, it works great even with plenty of ambient light coming in from 4 large windows and flood lights on during the day. You can keep the 20 bucks for the lamp fund ;)

Besides the 77c I have dealt with another low end Epson, the S5 I think. I was more than overly impressed with 77c after using the S5 for nearly the same cost. I say for your needs go for the 77c, it works great even with plenty of ambient light coming in from 4 large windows and flood lights on during the day. You can keep the 20 bucks for the lamp fund ;)
And like the 77...Im sure the 78 does do widescreen? Im not too sure on this but if the 77 does it...the 78 has to.

Im looking at the BenQ MP512st dlp at newegg for 648.86 total AND the
Epson MovieMate 55 at tigerdirect for 654.98 total.

Heck the Epson MATE55 is lesser resolution then the 78? The contrast is even less on the MATE55...And the lamp brightness is too...BUT the ease of use and the dvd being included is nice. BUT still looks like less of a projector than the 77? BUT I could be totally off?? Any thoughts?

If you're looking at DLP's now I would suggest maybe looking at the Mitsubishi HC1500 which can be had in that price range. I just happen to know someone who is looking to sell theirs with very low hours ;)

I always worried about devices that integrate too much into one package, such as projectors with dvd's players built in or tv's that have built in dvr's; if one thing breaks you're down completely until it's repaired.

Ya I'm not crazy about DVD's being built in to the projector or tv either. Besides, you can probably get component switcher so you can connect all the devices your looking to use with the projector and you'll have the one connection going to the projector anyhow.

Here is a 4 port model from monoprice for very short money.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10112&cs_id=1011201&p_id=3027&seq=1&format=2

I'm sure the 78 will also display 16:9 as you say. You can double check by downloading the manual from Epson.