Alright, i'm totally new to this and I have got no idea what I need to buy. I want to get a projector mainly for watching tv and playing xbox 360... i spend a lot of time on the 360, so i would like it to be HD.

The wall that i'm going to broadcast the signal on to is about 4 metres long by 2.20 metres high, and there is about 5 metres distance for where i can hang the projector. So i guess i want the screen to be about 3metres-3.5metres.

So what i'm really trying to ask, is what is the best sort of projector and screen for my requirements. Also, what do i need to buy to get it working, and how much will it all cost. And if i have the projector mounted on to the roof, do i need to string cords to it from my xbox 360?

I'm willing to spend up to $700 ($400 to $600 is best) for the projector, and about $300 for the screen.

Help greatly appreciated.

PS I'm in Australia.

Your best bets are optoma hd65 and mitsubishi hc1600

Spend more on the PJ and paint your wall for a screen with eggshell (or satin for more gain), bright white paint with flat black border paint.

Get the Infocus X10 and paint the wall as suggested by Huey.

Get the Infocus X10 and paint the wall as suggested by Huey.

The X10 is $1300...a little out of his budget.

The X10 is $1300...a little out of his budget.

Yeah, but why settle for 720p?

Thanks for your replies. I was going to buy a projector in the next few weeks and just broadcast it on to a white wall until i save enough for a screen (i will have paid out my mortgage in full in 4 months!)... so a 1.3k projector is a bit out of my price range right now... the only place i can find that sells projectors and ships to aus is ebay.

I've heard that PT-AE700 and Z3's are good for xbox 360's, but i cannot find anywhere that sells them.

Thanks for your replies. I was going to buy a projector in the next few weeks and just broadcast it on to a white wall until i save enough for a screen (i will have paid out my mortgage in full in 4 months!)... so a 1.3k projector is a bit out of my price range right now... the only place i can find that sells projectors and ships to aus is ebay.

I've heard that PT-AE700 and Z3's are good for xbox 360's, but i cannot find anywhere that sells them.

I would wait a few months, save some more money and get into 1080p.

Yeah, but why settle for 720p?

because resolution isn't everything?

...and not everybody can double their budget?

Try to find a used HD70 with low hours. Great projector. It's my bread and butter.

A local store is selling new Viewsonic PJ513D for $697, it's 2200 lumens and can display a 6 metre screen... i think it's 1080p aswell. That seems to be the best i can find, but i don't know how well it works with 360's. Also, do I need to hook it up to a set top box to watch tv on it?

A local store is selling new Viewsonic PJ513D for $697, it's 2200 lumens and can display a 6 metre screen... i think it's 1080p aswell. That seems to be the best i can find, but i don't know how well it works with 360's. Also, do I need to hook it up to a set top box to watch tv on it?

that sounds fishy to me, make sure it's NATIVE 1080p and doesn't just accept a 1080p signal and scale it down to 720p or xga...

A local store is selling new Viewsonic PJ513D for $697, it's 2200 lumens and can display a 6 metre screen... i think it's 1080p aswell. That seems to be the best i can find, but i don't know how well it works with 360's. Also, do I need to hook it up to a set top box to watch tv on it?

That projector is native 800x600. I would pass on that big time.

...and not everybody can double their budget?

$1300 is double his budget if he holds off on the screen?

Yeah, but why settle for 720p?

From what I remember, most 360 games are geared for 720p.

I think 720p is fine. It isn't worth compromising features and quality for resolution.

I would suggestion an epson HC700 or HD70 depending where it falls in as far as sales go. An infocus model is good.

A good place to go is http://www.projectorreviews.com/

I spent alot of time researching before I bought an Epson Home 20. This site helped alot. I now have an Acer PH530. I wanted something HD but could only afford this.. at the time it was $599 and everything else was over $800. I am happy with it, but the epson, resolution withstanding, was much, much better in ease of use and quality.

As far as the screen.. forget a screen. From my own research, the downside of a pull down screen is that they develop wrinkles even with rolling them up. We have one at work and I wouldn't recommend it. Painting the wall is a good idea... except that it locks you into one position... one angle.

I built my own for about $100 and it is really nice. I used a 4x8 hardboard as a substrate, put together a frame using floor molding, wrapped them in some antireflective theater velvet, and put them on the screen after I painted it.

Tiddly helped me out alot on the screen. I didn't want to get over involved with paint, so I just got Behrs silver screen from Home Depot in flat. I discussed it with tiddler afterwards, and added a washable clearcoat paint to protect it (looked like glue) and it nearly correct the very slight blue shift there was. I then went into projector settings and perfectly calibrated the colors and such.

The paint was the most expensive, but I am glad I built one instead for two reasons: I can rehang it if necessary and it kinda looks like a TV. People are shocked at first that I have a 96" TV when they walk in.... until I tell them it is a screen... and then the "Ooooo's" come out.

There are other easy things you could do. If you don't want something to big, like may around 60-70", you could get some foamboard from staples and use that as well.

But the folks here are right... spend the money on the projector... not the screen. I used my wall at first, but wasn't happy after awhile.

From what I remember, most 360 games are geared for 720p.

I think 720p is fine. It isn't worth compromising features and quality for resolution.

I would suggestion an epson HC700 or HD70 depending where it falls in as far as sales go. An infocus model is good.

A good place to go is http://www.projectorreviews.com/

I spent alot of time researching before I bought an Epson Home 20. This site helped alot. I now have an Acer PH530. I wanted something HD but could only afford this.. at the time it was $599 and everything else was over $800. I am happy with it, but the epson, resolution withstanding, was much, much better in ease of use and quality.

As far as the screen.. forget a screen. From my own research, the downside of a pull down screen is that they develop wrinkles even with rolling them up. We have one at work and I wouldn't recommend it. Painting the wall is a good idea... except that it locks you into one position... one angle.

I built my own for about $100 and it is really nice. I used a 4x8 hardboard as a substrate, put together a frame using floor molding, wrapped them in some antireflective theater velvet, and put them on the screen after I painted it.

Tiddly helped me out alot on the screen. I didn't want to get over involved with paint, so I just got Behrs silver screen from Home Depot in flat. I discussed it with tiddler afterwards, and added a washable clearcoat paint to protect it (looked like glue) and it nearly correct the very slight blue shift there was. I then went into projector settings and perfectly calibrated the colors and such.

The paint was the most expensive, but I am glad I built one instead for two reasons: I can rehang it if necessary and it kinda looks like a TV. People are shocked at first that I have a 96" TV when they walk in.... until I tell them it is a screen... and then the "Ooooo's" come out.

There are other easy things you could do. If you don't want something to big, like may around 60-70", you could get some foamboard from staples and use that as well.

But the folks here are right... spend the money on the projector... not the screen. I used my wall at first, but wasn't happy after awhile.

The X10 is better than either of those.

The X10 is better than either of those.

can you read? his budget is $700, he is not buying a screen....total budget, $700. the x10 may be better, but it is also $600 out of his price range.

why arent you suggesting that planar like you usually do? oh thats right, you nor anyone you know is selling one right now.......

OP: i would simply suggest that you compile a list of all the projectors available to you at $700 or less, then use projectorreviews.com, projectorcentral.com and here to research each one on your list. i think if you look around you should be able to find a decent 720p projector in your budget. for what its worth, i have an hd65 and i have been very happy with it for the price.

i can't find anywhere to buy any of the listed projectors... even online. Right now i'm thinking of buying a PT-700 (if i could find one), they seem to be quite good for their price.

@biztyke
How much you would suggest is a good price for a hd65?

I'm don't know about the projector side of your issue, as I'm having the same issue myself, but for a screen, this was my idea:

I wanted something mobile, so I can watch movies outside with my kids so I was going to build a frame out of heavy pvc. You can purchase material that's screen grade on ebay, but maybe something acceptable from your local material store. I was going to sew loops, or a "sleeve" like on the edges of the material (screen), then slide the side poles of the pvc up each sleeve before assembling the frame. Once assembled, it would pull the material taut. Viola, instant screen that's easy to assemble/dissassemble. You should be able to find the pvc material at a local hardware store. (Lowes? not sure what you have there.)

Just a suggestion.

Shannon

My vote is for the Mits HC1600.

I've had an HD1000U (basically same unit) now for 2.5 years and I am still amazed every single time I fire it up. I think I'm a DLP over LCD kinda guy though, but the Optimas that are being suggested are also DLP if I'm thinking correctly.

Can you get an Infocus X9 there?

It's a 720p, very bright, and well reviewed. Paint the wall a light gray for use as a screen. You should check one of the calculators to determine the maximum screen size from your distance, but I believe it should work.

i can't find anywhere to buy any of the listed projectors... even online. Right now i'm thinking of buying a PT-700 (if i could find one), they seem to be quite good for their price.

@biztyke
How much you would suggest is a good price for a hd65?

Not that hard

HD70 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4396194&CatId=4252

X9 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4490482&CatId=4252

HC700 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4355295&CatId=4252

MITSUBISHI HC1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824248056

BenQ W500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889106017

My vote is for the Mits HC1600.

I've had an HD1000U (basically same unit) now for 2.5 years and I am still amazed every single time I fire it up. I think I'm a DLP over LCD kinda guy though, but the Optimas that are being suggested are also DLP if I'm thinking correctly.

+1 on the DLP. I had LCD before and definitely prefer the DLP for projection. It just seems more natural and the technology lends itself to better contrast. But either works well and I think it really only makes a different with videophiles in the end.

As a fan of DLP, I hope there is eventually a 1080p DLP option that has the features the LCD pj's are getting lately like 5:5 pulldown or the frame interpolation. I think it would be great for tv and gaming. I'm looking to upgrade probably next summer, so hopefully something with these specs makes it to market and, fingers crossed, under $2K.

Anyway, best of luck with your decision. I think you'll be happy with any of the units recommended.

...and lens shift, which most DLP's do not have.

+1 on the DLP. I had LCD before and definitely prefer the DLP for projection. It just seems more natural and the technology lends itself to better contrast. But either works well and I think it really only makes a different with videophiles in the end.

I have the 6500UB and the contrast and black level on this thing is amazing.

You must've gotten the model with the DMD chip in it. :)

there's also the used market if you're willing to go there. I haven't been burned yet, but there's always a possibility of that.

You'd likely be able to get a much higher quality 720p that way. There are quite a few (there's a thread about it somewhere around here), but I've personally owned an Infocus 7210 and Sharp DT510 and both are fantastic for the price I got them. They're fantastic for the price many of these 1080p's are going for (which is twice what you'll pay used/refurbished) and are better overall picture wise than many of them, as well.

I had an x10 for a few weeks then picked up a DT510...the 510 blows the x10 away in black level and dark scenes, resolution be damned.

-1 for the HC1600. Its got a whoping 2x color wheel, which is a RBE nightmare for people that can see the RBE. Demo a DLP projector before you buy one, or you will be disapointed!

As the earlier posts suggested that the resolution of a projector isn't everything! They are right about that. Depending on the source of media you are planning on using, buy a projector with similar source resolution. Most media today are 720p and the 1080p media will still look stunning on the 720p projector...

But I personally am buying a 720p projector because I will be using it to play xbox 360 and streaming media (Hulu, joost, divx). Most of that media is still barely 480p and it will look really bad on 1080p projector.

The 720p will fill in the gap between 480p and 1080p source media...

On a side note, my buddy bought a 1080p projector because his other friend said to prepare for the future! lol...Anyways, his primary media is dish network and some dvd movies..Well, long story short; he is not happy because every standard def stuff he watches looks like crap on his 1080p!

I do agree with that. Not one of the 1080P projectors I have seen or owned looked good with SD material. Infact, it was usualy just plain terrible. Trying to upscale from 480P to 1080P is a huge leap, so that might explain things. The only reason anyone should get a 1080P display of any type, is because they plan on watching 1080P content. Otherwise, it is completely pointless. I beleive that when people say there is no difference between 720P and 1080P, they have no idea what they are talking about. I see a huge difference if I watch 1080P material on a 1080P display then if I watch 720P on a 720P display. Afterall, 1080P is over twice the detail and clarity as 720P. In my opinion, get a nice 720P machine. If its DLP, get the sharp dt-500 or dt-510. I think LCD may not fit your price point well. The Z4 will sell used for around your price point, and there is an ae900u in the forsale forum which is not a bad projector even though I had a horrible experience with panasonics ax200u. I have a panasonic vierra plasma that is extremely nice, so I wont hold anything against the company, just the ax200u in general.

If you are looking at pre-owned, go DLP. I like the LCDs alot and the lens shift availability rocks, but LCD technology is prone to wearing down in colors over time especially if it is left on for extended periods of time. I have on more than one occasion left my projector running more than 24 hours by accident. I am sure others have as well. You could end up with a good one... but then again.....

Either is fine though if new. I would just read the reviews and make the decision after a bit of research. It isn't like buying a flat panel where they are mostly the same within a certain price range.

In regards to resolution, getting a low end 1080p is a bad idea if you are planning on watching SD. One of the key differences between a $3K 1080p and a $1300 1080p is the upscaling ability.

I have a 720p that has been paired with an Onkyo DV-HD805 (Reon), HTPC, Phillips DVP642/37, Wii, 360 and both an HDA2 and HDa3. The upscaling in my Acer is definitely subpar. Fortunately, all of my major equipment (HTPC and Onkyo) upscale very well. It was not unwatchable but was not HD like.

On the other hand, my Dad has a really expensive 2 year old 62" RP DLP. It upscales almost as good as my onkyo with the reon. The advantage of a better upscaler is that it doesn't matter what the source is. With my system, I still have issue upscaling the Wii.

Another advantage as was mentioned is that 720p is a happy middle between 1080p and 480p.

Lastly, on my HTPC in 1080 mode at 96" at 9' away is really tiny. It is perfectly sized at 720p. 480p is way too big. And I sit really close with a 42.3 degree angle. Most movie theaters are in the 30s.

there's also the used market if you're willing to go there. I haven't been burned yet, but there's always a possibility of that.

You'd likely be able to get a much higher quality 720p that way. There are quite a few (there's a thread about it somewhere around here), but I've personally owned an Infocus 7210 and Sharp DT510 and both are fantastic for the price I got them. They're fantastic for the price many of these 1080p's are going for (which is twice what you'll pay used/refurbished) and are better overall picture wise than many of them, as well.

I had an x10 for a few weeks then picked up a DT510...the 510 blows the x10 away in black level and dark scenes, resolution be damned.

Most of my viewing is HDTV. Do you think a 720p projector has an advantage over an 1080p like the X10 when the source is 720p? I just bought the X10 for a good price, but wonder if I would do better to switch to something else. HDTV seems to be very source limited anyway, and I'm not planning to go with Blu-ray anytime soon.

Most of my viewing is HDTV. Do you think a 720p projector has an advantage over an 1080p like the X10 when the source is 720p? I just bought the X10 for a good price, but wonder if I would do better to switch to something else. HDTV seems to be very source limited anyway, and I'm not planning to go with Blu-ray anytime soon.

I have Cox Cable. I owned the Planar PD7130 (720p) previously and now the Epson 6500UB (1080p). I have my cable box set to 1080i and it looks a lot better on my 6500UB than it did on my Planar. If I set my box to 720p, then it still looks slightly better than the Planar and the Planar was no slouch. Resolution does make a difference. I am at the same seating distance, same size screen and I can't see any pixels, with the Planar they were easy to spot. It is very hard for me to believe that the DT510 looks better than the X10. I've seen the X10 and it looked better than my Planar on HDTV, Blu-ray and HDTV.

HDTV looked good on the x10, except for the dark scenes/black level.

I wouldn't say the 510 or 7210 would be any "better" at displaying the HDTV I've watched on them due to resolution matching up. On bright scenes the x10 performs well and is equal with the 510 and 7210. On dark scenes the x10 falls behind, which again is due to its qualities outside of resolution.

I've been on this merry go round with 1080p and 720p. I've had a 6500UB that was fan-freaking-tastic and would still have it if I didn't have some financial issues that cropped up and forced me to sell it. The other 1080p offerings I've had are the x10 and the Mits 4900...both of which suffered from poor contrast compared to the better 720p units out there. Even with the 6500UB the only true benefit I've seen with 1080p over 720p is the ability to sit a little closer without seeing pixel structure/SDE. Otherwise, contrast and color trump resolution by far once you get to 720p and above. The 6500UB has those other qualities besides the resolution that make it a happy medium, but you have to pay for it.

I like what I see with the X10, but I wonder if I would be just as happy with the X9 for HDTV viewing. I like the smaller size of the X9, but would have to give up some picture adjustments, and I'm a tweaker by nature. At half the cost, it could be a projector that you would not worry too much about lamp hours, or turning on just for an hour show. And since some stations are 720p, there would be no scaling on those channels. The 1080i channels might not be as good as the X10 though. I bought the X10 in kind of a rush to make sure I didn't miss out on a deal like I did on the IN76. I tried to find out more on the X9, but could not get enough solid information requarding RBE. The DT510 was of interest, but it seemed you had to jump through a lot of hoops to get a deal on one, and I don't like that kind of game playing on pricing.

I was told by Art at projectorreviews.com that the X10 would be an improvement over my Infocus IN72 when it comes to black level and contrast. The IN72 was one of the better 480p projectors of its time, which had good contrast and black levels. I ended up getting the Planar on Woot for $600 which is why I did not end up buying the $1,999 X10 at that time. I came in to some extra cash and ended up upgrading to the 6500UB, which ended up costing $1,899 out of pocket after selling the Planar and the $500 rebate. If you want to go cheap, just get a 480p, it handles SD television great and they are super cheap now, otherwise I would wait for a 1080p. I have had all 3 resolutions and 1080p is far superior than 720p IMO,from a 10' seating distance with a 120" screen. I was totally happy with 480p, until I saw a 720p unit. I was totally happy with 720p, until I saw a 1080p unit.

J*sus. Not this again.

J*sus. Not this again.

Jesus is a bad word? I personally think it should be banned, but didn't know you weren't allowed to spell it out...lol.

Well I got called out by a mod for calling Ryan Seacrest gay, so I'm not taking any chances. Especially with this new guy, AVS Notice, lurking around. :)

...If you want to go cheap, just get a 480p...I was totally happy with 480p, until I saw a 720p unit. I was totally happy with 720p, until I saw a 1080p unit.:confused:

Sounds like you are giving contradictory advice...honestly with how cheap 720p PJ's are today, I dont know why anyone would recommend someone to purchase 480p...

:) I don't think we are really getting into the whole 720p versus 1080p thing again here.

It is just a question of bang for buck. $700 seems to be the budget most people set aside for their first projector. It is a good intro budget in that you are spend enough to get something half decent, but not too much if you find out FP is not right for you. It isn't right for everyone you know.

As far as I can see, there are no 1080p's in the $700 range. Even the $1000 range. $1300-1400 is alot to ask someone to spend on their first jump into FP. I personally would start out small and see if it is right for you.

So if we are talking about $700, I don't see how 1080p is even a consideration especially in this economy when it will cost you double+.

I still think 480p isn't really that bad. Most people overlook that a 16:9 480p projector will give you much better resolution for DVDs when it comes to WS presentations which most DVDs are when compared to a 4:3 CRT TV.

That aside, 480p is a bit dated at this point and your 360 will have to be downscaled.

I think the real question is DLP versus LCD for this application. Anyone have any intelligent arguments for one technology or the other in terms of gaming.

I personally think LCD may be better in this application. I like my DLP, but my epson was much brighter. It seems LCDs do tend to be brighter than DLPs overall. I think brightness is especially important in this application. Unless you are going to sit in a dark room and game by yourself, you are probably going to want a few lights on as gaming tends to be more of social function as well (and contrary to what some say on here, projectors work fine in well lit rooms if you pick the right one... barring direct sunlight).

For movies, I would go the other way and say definitely a DLP.

:confused:

Sounds like you are giving contradictory advice...honestly with how cheap 720p PJ's are today, I dont know why anyone would recommend someone to purchase 480p...

Don't worry, he's always giving "advice" in this forum that's inapplicable to the situation or just plain bad.

:confused:

Sounds like you are giving contradictory advice...honestly with how cheap 720p PJ's are today, I dont know why anyone would recommend someone to purchase 480p...

It depends on your source. According to most people here, resolution is not as important as black level, or contrast. So based on that, why not save $300 and get a higher end 480p...right? :rolleyes:

Guys let's stop the resolution argument, we don't need to go there again ;).


Just my opinion, the best Image Quality at $700 or less with current pricing/deals would have to be the Sharp DT-510 (of course there could be some deal out there that I am not aware of).

Jason

Most xbox 360 games are 720p, so i'm thinking that's the way to go, which brings me back to a PT-AE700. The only problem is, that panasonic hasn't supported them since 2005, so buying a new one will be hard, and i've heard that their current model isn't that great.

I'm playing in a fairly bright room, so probably something with high lumens is better... i'll try and see what i can find this weekend at local electrical stores (it's really hard to find a store that sells projectors for under $2000)

Okay, i've narrowed it down to a few choices: InFocus X9, Optoma HD70, Sharp DT-510 and Panasonic AE900u... but right now the Optoma HD70 seems to be the best value here at tigerdirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4673850&CatId=1755), the only problem with that is that it will cost me like $600 aud+shipping+power adapters/converters.

Except for its 3 year warranty, what's wrong with the Sanyo PLV-Z60 for $719?

Okay, i've narrowed it down to a few choices: InFocus X9, Optoma HD70, Sharp DT-510 and Panasonic AE900u... but right now the Optoma HD70 seems to be the best value here at tigerdirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4673850&CatId=1755), the only problem with that is that it will cost me like $600 aud+shipping+power adapters/converters.

The Optoma HD72 at that website is certainly noteworthy too...

As the post above says, check out the HD72. Its the same as the HD70 but it has a better build quality, less of a green shift out of the box, and a higher native reslution. If you are using 1280x720, then you would have some room for image shift since the DMD is 1280x768. I would jump on that before its sold out. You wont need a power converter for any of those projectors as they accept 240V. You would just need the correct power cable. The sharp would be a better unit, but not by much. I would just get the HD72, and then just enjoy it, and never come back to these forums.:D

I'm not sure if you've ruled both these out yet, I saw them mentioned a time or two, but both the Optoma Hd65 and the Infocus X9 are known for very good image quality, an excellent price point, and great out-of-the-box colors, they don't need a whole lot of tweaking. The X9 has a longer lamp and warranty, and is a great buy if the tiger deal is still going on.

I do agree with that. Not one of the 1080P projectors I have seen or owned looked good with SD material. Infact, it was usualy just plain terrible. Trying to upscale from 480P to 1080P is a huge leap, so that might explain things. The only reason anyone should get a 1080P display of any type, is because they plan on watching 1080P content. Otherwise, it is completely pointless. I beleive that when people say there is no difference between 720P and 1080P, they have no idea what they are talking about. I see a huge difference if I watch 1080P material on a 1080P display then if I watch 720P on a 720P display. Afterall, 1080P is over twice the detail and clarity as 720P. In my opinion, get a nice 720P machine. If its DLP, get the sharp dt-500 or dt-510. I think LCD may not fit your price point well. The Z4 will sell used for around your price point, and there is an ae900u in the forsale forum which is not a bad projector even though I had a horrible experience with panasonics ax200u. I have a panasonic vierra plasma that is extremely nice, so I wont hold anything against the company, just the ax200u in general.

It comes down to screen size and viewing distance. At a viewing distance of 1.5 x screen width there are 720p projectors that give an image that is better than some 1080p projectors.

Thanks, one more question. Is it best to run devices (eg xbox 360) on a projector via composite inputs or is there a better way?

Don't use composite. Composite is what you would use if you were using a 19" CRT/VCR combo from the mid 90s. Composite is the worst out of all the connections. You want a Hi-Def connection (HDMI or component)

In order (best to worst) HDMI > Component > S-Video > Composite

If memory serves me correctly, I believe the XBOX360 will do VGA as well, which I'm guessing would fall between component and HDMI (?)

I'm not sure if you've ruled both these out yet, I saw them mentioned a time or two, but both the Optoma Hd65 and the Infocus X9 are known for very good image quality, an excellent price point, and great out-of-the-box colors, they don't need a whole lot of tweaking. The X9 has a longer lamp and warranty, and is a great buy if the tiger deal is still going on.

The HD65 and the X9 are no competition at all for the optoma HD72, or sharp DT-500/DT-510.

Okay, i've narrowed it down to a few choices: InFocus X9, Optoma HD70, Sharp DT-510 and Panasonic AE900u... but right now the Optoma HD70 seems to be the best value here at tigerdirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4673850&CatId=1755), the only problem with that is that it will cost me like $600 aud+shipping+power adapters/converters.

unit will take 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz

The HD65 and the X9 are no competition at all for the optoma HD72, or sharp DT-500/DT-510.
That's really only your opinion. The newer crop compete well against the HD72 and the DT-500. They're newer, for one, but in the same price-range, the HD65 had the RGBCYM color wheel compared to the HD72's white segment...

But setting all that aside, let's consider the op's requirements for a second:
I'm playing in a fairly bright room, so probably something with high lumens is better...
Sharp DT-510 - 1000 Lumens
Optoma HD72 - 1300 Lumens
-----------------------------------
Optoma HD65 - 1600 Lumens
Infocus X9 - 1800 Lumens.

When you actually consider all the ops requirements, they are indeed good options to look at.

Tiger has the X9 for 599 again! Hurry or you'll miss the boat!
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4490482&csid=_27

Victor

Tiger has the X9 for 599 again! Hurry or you'll miss the boat!
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4490482&csid=_27

Victor

I've pretty much ruled out the X9 because i've heard it doesn't project blacks well, which is the main colour in most games I play. I'm going to get a HD72 from tigerdirect after I check one out at a showroom (assuming the DT-510 doesn't come up on tigerdirect, which i would prefer).

what about a NEC MT1065 i have one im trying to sell, if youre interested let me know. Good Luck bud.

Yeah, it's really been tough deciding on which PJ to pull the trigger on! Such great low budget 720p PJs nowadays...

I'm opting for the X9, which should be okay with ambient lighting and a HCMW screen. The screen will help with black levels, and the X9 reportedly has good gray levels.

Can't really go wrong with any of the PJs mentioned in this thread, as long as you really take the time and evaluate your own setting in which the PJ will be used...

Yeah, it's really been tough deciding on which PJ to pull the trigger on! Such great low budget 720p PJs nowadays...

I'm opting for the X9, which should be okay with ambient lighting and a HCMW screen. The screen will help with black levels, and the X9 reportedly has good gray levels.

Can't really go wrong with any of the PJs mentioned in this thread, as long as you really take the time and evaluate your own setting in which the PJ will be used...

I've managed to block out about 80% direct sunlight in my lounge room, but i'm going to try and make it darker by sewing (not that you can call it that, i'm hopeless) this blackout material (one side is rubbery, other side material) to my white curtains, hopefully that will make it dark enough.

Hey that blackout cloth also makes a fantastic low-budget screen! I bought some online that was seamless 16x9 ft for my backyard screen and it is wonderful!

Hey that blackout cloth also makes a fantastic low-budget screen! I bought some online that was seamless 16x9 ft for my backyard screen and it is wonderful!

Really, which side did you use... the cloth i bought has 1 big seam running straight through the middle, that would get annoying

I use the smooth/rubbery side for projecting, it seems to be slightly higher gain. There are no seams in mine, I found a guy that sells it off an industrial size roll, it's 110 inches, and i bought a 16 ft length to get my 16x9 size. I think the kind you buy at like a linen store is 55" or so.

Does anyone know if the refurbished projectors being mentioned from TD have new lamps in them? If they're not new, is there any way of knowing how many hours have been put on them?

to my knowledge every refurb projector comes with a new lamp. At least all the optoma's I've ever looked at.