Newbie in need of purchase help have been reading

reviews and owners threads and can't make a decision.:confused:

Info light controlled unfinished basement, 0 to 14 foot throw, seating

distance 12 to 14 feet , area for projector 12ft.W 17ft.L and 7ft.high no

screen chosen yet figure I'd wait and see .Would like aprojector thats good

with some light others playing pool or air hockey or party .

Watch mostly sports and movies. Budget tops a GRAND WAF already really low:eek:

Cheaper option with near same quality better:rolleyes:

Big THanks to everyone in this forum already learned alot and am ready to

jump into FP nirvana:D

IMO - Panasonic PT-AE200U for under a grand.

Since you've done a lot of reading on forums you already know that light is the enemy of front projection.

If this is a multi-purpose game and party room I suggest you have both a big screen tv and projector.

Shooting Pool - if the only light is the over-the-table that just shines down on the playing area then PJ will work great. If all of the room lights are on better stick to the television.

Party - same as Shooting Pool. Light shining directly onto a PJ screen causes a washed out and less than desirable image which, of course, is why the lights go dark in commercial theaters when it's time to light up the big screen.

A lot depends on room layout and size. Our multi-purpose area is about 40 ft. long - one side is dedicated to furniture for watching TV or watching movies via the PJ.

The other side of the room has a large bar and big comfy bar chairs that can see into the other side plus it has a row of pinball machines, foosball table and coin-op type dart machine. This side of the room can have a party going on with all games lit along with commercial beer neons and typical bar/tavern dimness and people in the other area can watch a movie or the BIG GAME on the PJ screen and have a really good image.

Also, our walls are dark paneled and non-reflective with dark floor treatment and non-reflective ceiling so we can accomodate a bit more light without affecting the PJ screen nearly as much as a similar sized room with bright white walls and ceiling. There are a lot of room variables that affect any answer to a PJ room question.
Best of Luck - regardless of the PJ you choose you won't be sorry that you stepped up from watching television to the WOW of Theater in the Home.

Pair the Panny AE200 with a Dalite Model B or C HP screen (about 300 to 400 clams), and I think you'll be happy. Got your receiver and speakers already?

Thanks Brown and Imjay for the response. :D Imjay my basement sounds alot like yours 24W by 35L ceiling ht. 7 FT. One area already has 51 in. Hitachi CRTRP and I plan to use that for regular T.V. with sectional and second couch thought I'd have drop down screen in front of that. Other side has pool table, air hockey , darts,and foosball and bar.
plan on painting walls dark and I already have sorrund sound set up 7.1 onkyo set up not top notch but I love it. :cool:Panny AE200 is the one I keep coming back to but see alot of problems in owners thread though I know best selling 720 projestor most at forum because of problems and many happy owners. Love panny anyway have panny plasma lcd and htib and no problems. One thing about Panny older projector didn't know if anything newer or better was out there. also didn't realize release of new projectors was more scattered than tvs,blue ray players etc.

Sorry for long post but thanks for responses first PJ wife totally against :eek:want to get best for money and have wife who loves movies go WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and be willing to spend more when we inevitablly UPGRADE!
MUCH appreciation for any responses!!!!!!!!

Thanks Daringone I have been looking at the Mitsubishi 1600 also.Now with more research the optoma 65 or 71 and then I see the sanyo plv 60 is rated higher by projector central better than the panny ax200. Then I see the epson 720 is their editors choice.Man I wish you could see these demoed in person like tvs. I don't know I hate paralysis by analysis, :eek:but I want the best for the money.

Please more opinions!!!!! Reconotechlab, TF Ghost, Davyo , etc.any of the really knowledgeable guys I see on here in all the threads Please:D

I have the HD65 but its hung from an 8'3" ceiling and with fixed offset, I would not want my screen any lower (13'6" throw) than it is (34"). With low ceiling (7ft) you may want to stick with LCD pj with lens shift, especially if you want to go big on screen size.

Thanks Daniamal!! I appreciate that yeah after more research I now keep coming back to Panny 200, epson 720, or sanyo plv 60. argh Man life is full of difficult decisions LOL!!
Man I'm new to this and so much to learn. I wish one of my friends was into these but at least I'll be the first to wow them with mine. I hate when budget gets in the way of what you want!:D

Thanks Daniamal!! I appreciate that yeah after more research I now keep coming back to Panny 200, epson 720, or sanyo plv 60. argh Man life is full of difficult decisions LOL!!
Man I'm new to this and so much to learn. I wish one of my friends was into these but at least I'll be the first to wow them with mine. I hate when budget gets in the way of what you want!:D

Quick hands, Are you looking at the Panny AE200 or AX200? I see both mentioned in the thread. I'm looking at the same price point, and want to make sure I'm looking for the right thing as I can't seem to locate any AE200s.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike I'm looking at the AX200 from everything I read on this forum and in profesional reviews its highly rated and the best selling 720 projector many problems in the owners thread but to be expected with such a high volume product. Hopefully all problems have been adressed by now. A couple of other highly rated projectors in this price point by projector people are epson 720 editors choice an sanyo pvl60. Though as you see in my thread and many others most people recommend the panny. Also Mike epson has 100 MIR 3yr. waaranty and free replacement bulb which is making my decision even harder. I hate this part of new equipment being a newbie never quite sure of correct decision!! Anyway good luck with your decision and hopefully we'll get more responses to this question soon. Write back any info or decisions or ideas you see please.