I have Around $ 2000 to spend on a proj and 500 0n a screen and was just wanting some opinons on what was best in that price range. This will be my first proj and I am lookin at eithier a 92 inch or 100 inch elite ez fixed screen. Will be sitting about 12 feet from sreen, do you guys think that is far enough or maybe go to like an 84 inch screen. What are you guys opinons on dlp vs lcd. I have a 15.5 by 13 room with one window that i have blocked out. The walls are painted a med brown and has brown hardwood floor and a white celling. Sorry for so many ?s I just want to get the most out of my money and this is all new to me. So any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks

What is your seating distance and where do you expect to mount your projector?

Also, if you note where you are located, someone may be able to help with local info.

I will be sitting at 12 - 12.5 feet. I plan on either celling mounting it or building a shelf to put on back wall. I live in chesapeake va

I assume that the screen goes on the 13' wall. You can shelf mount and need somewhat of a short throw projector

Your first decision is of you want 16:9 or cinemascope (about 235:1) for the screen. Cinemascope adds significant drama to movie-watching if that is your primary use -see the separate forum.

I would go bigger on screen (particularly for movies) if possible.

If you will have speakers to the sides of the screen and need 2' on each side, the max image size for the 13' wall would be about:

57 x 101.5 116" diagonal for 16:9

43 x 103 (112 diagonal, or 88" diaginal in 16:9 mode) for a 2.4:1 screen

If you ceiling mount speakers:

No real limits.

If you need the speaker space, I would go 16:9 because the screen will be pretty small for 16:9 material (88").

At 12-12.5', I would go bigger than 100" - probably around 115" or so in 16:9.

When you have an IDEA of screen format/size, you can go to the projectorcentral calculator to see if your throw distance of about 13.25' works with various projectors. This can give you an idea of waht works, but you must download the manual for the projector to check the table there.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/Marantz-VP-8600-projection-calculator-pro.htm

You have a perfect application for the Da-Lite High Power screen as you have a narrow room and you can mount your projector just above head level. With that screen, you almost don't have to worry about how bright you projector might be. It will help with your white ceiling.

With a 115' screen at 12'. you should stillb e Ok with a good 720p projector.

You should be able to start your research now. Look for a pj capable of fairly short throw. A small amount of vertical lens shift would be useful and avoid projectors with large offset and little vertical lens shift if you plan to use the high power screen as your pj will be somewhat near the vertical center of the screen.

You will get may pj recommendations. The one I use will not work for you. If you wait for Benq to go back to 1300 for a w5000 refurb, that plus a high high power from Jason Turk will meet your budget. Talk to Jason about pj's as well.

Good luck. Feel free to PM.

Don't get one of the refurbed benq's....just a friendly warning

Thanks for all you info I am pretty sure I will go 16:9 100 inch and problly the d-lite hp screen, from reviews I have read and where I will mount the projecter it seems like a good fit. Now all I need is to pick a projector. Any IDEAS guys. I was thinking of maybe an epson 6100, benq 5000 infocus x10 , OPEN to any options though.

Thanks for all you info I am pretty sure I will go 16:9 100 inch and problly the d-lite hp screen, from reviews I have read and where I will mount the projecter it seems like a good fit. Now all I need is to pick a projector. Any IDEAS guys. I was thinking of maybe an epson 6100, benq 5000 infocus x10 , OPEN to any options though.

You will be limited in your 1080 choices within your budget.

With a 100" screen, the 720p DLP Marantz VP8600 that I use will work. Great picture, very quiet (important since your head will be near the pj) and built for reliability. Can still be had for $1200 new or $800 refurb (what i got). At your seating distance, you would be hard-pressed to see a difference from a moderately-priced 1080p unit.

Make sure you get a warranty.

For $2000 you might be able to find a Sanyo Z3000. For under $2K you have lots of options as well even with 1080p with something from Epson, Mitsubishi, Sanyo.

My $.02:

Paint the wall and put the money into a Panny AE3000.
Lens memory is a feature that makes the image wide like a theater. Anamorphic.
No other projector has that yet I believe.

I've decided to go with the Infocus X10 for 1299 at Tigerdirect. Go over to projectorreviews and check out the review and screen shots of this baby. After comparing screen shot with other projectors, IMO it has unmatched image quality and detail within 600 - 2500 price range. Only thing it lacks according to the review is blacks. Just be sure it will work in your room, requires long throw and has a 36 offset.

Just my .02 cents :p

Thanks all for the imput but I just got a litt e more money then I org had budged for, got paid back a loan from my brother so now I will have in the neighbor hood of $3000 for a projector and was thinking of the sony hw10 or maybe the new optoma hd808. What do you guys think

I've decided to go with the Infocus X10 for 1299 at Tigerdirect. Go over to projectorreviews and check out the review and screen shots of this baby. After comparing screen shot with other projectors, IMO it has unmatched image quality and detail within 600 - 2500 price range. Only thing it lacks according to the review is blacks. Just be sure it will work in your room, requires long throw and has a 36 offset.

Just my .02 cents https://********************/smile4.gifhttps://********************/smile.gif

I second the Infocus x10. My friend just got one and the picture is absoutely stunning. The best bang for your buck.