So I've recently decided that I need to get myself a dedicated HD-TV. I am currently using a dell 2407 that I use as a secondary monitor for my 15" Powerbook. I also happen to use it for watching HD-DVD/360 gaming/HD digital cable. On the up side, It's a killer PC monitor. 360 looks awesome on it... provided you are sitting 3' away :/ In any case, I've recently been looking around at HD-TV sets (mostly 1080p LCDs in the 37-42" range). I'm on a rather right budget (as a student) so going higher than about $1200 pre tax is about all I'm willing to do (sales are great!). Thing of it is, I really don't think that even a 42" LCD is going to make me happy given my room dimensions and seating distance. I'm currently looking at a room that would have the LCD mounted on a wall with the viewing seats about 10' away. While I definitely wouldn't have much of a problem watching movies on this size monitor, I would prefer something bigger to game on at that distance (especially when playing something like split screen halo3). I'm sure I would find myself sitting on the floor or dragging my sofa around to 5-6'. In any case, because of my particular situation, I am also considering a few budget 720p projectors.

My Habits:
- I'm a student. I do like to watch movies and game. For TV I might watch some games on the projector (if that is the rout I take) but I'll probably continue to use my monitor for most TV usage (again if I go the projector rout) while sitting at my desk. I don't log a ton of hours of play time, and I don't watch a ton of movies, so in all honesty the fact that I have to replace the bulb down the road doesn't bother me (I'll be a grad by then and hopefully have some extra cash).
- Gaming will be from a 360 hooked up via component (also have VGA cables if the projector supports full rez over them)
- Movies will be from a toshiba HD-A2 (thanks wal-mart) and will be both up converted SD discs and HD-DVDs (as I build my collection)
- Any TV watching would be from a comcast digital HD (motorola) box

My room:
- Standard college all in one style bed room (single). About 11 feet from the wall that the projector would be mounted to to the wall the screen would be mounted to. Throw would probably be 9.5-10' and seating distance would be about 9'.
- I plan to have the screen up on the wall a bit. Due to furniture constraints in a reasonably small room, the middle of the screen would be about 2/3 up the wall. I blocked off a 65" screen size with blue tape to see how it looked from my sofa when reclined (and it was pretty much perfect).
- For screen size, I think 60-65" would be ideal for my conditions (70" tops).
- I have compete control of lighting. There are two windows in the room that are already blacked out via the standard blinds and 2 sets of blackout curtains a piece (yeah... I like to sleep late and not feel bad about it!). While I could paint the walls, I probably will forgo that venture as I'm only renting the place. Walls are off-white (so obviously not perfect).
- Drop ceiling (will probably be using a wall mount (there are a few I've seen for $60ish that should work well).
- Seating will be pretty much dead center in regards to screen placement.

Other Considerations:
- The portability of a projector setup is an advantage over an LCD @ 42". While I don't plan on really moving the projector once I get it setup, I can see it making a trip or two to the larger living room for large games and possibly some limited very large halo playing with some friends.
- I'm not sure where I will be in the future. I like the versatility that a projector offers. Even if I eventually buy a plasma/LCD in the future, I'm not one to waste money (I'll get every ounce out of that projector that I can... it will be used for something!).
- Again with flexibility - I have been leaning towards LCD based projectors due to the shift options that they allow for over DLP (at my price point). While I like PQ as much as the next guy, I have to be practical. I have a budget to stick to, and I know that this budget is only going to get me so much.
- I have all the other components: sound/sources/etc... So I would just need a projector and a screen - and I love DIY stuff so I'll probably go that rout with a screen assuming I can manage to find something that will be of decent quality.

This being said, I have some questions:
- I've never actually played anything (game wise) on a projector, nor have I watched an HD movie one one. I've seen plenty of pictures while browsing the forum, but that obviously doesn't capture everything (1000 words my arse). What can I expect given my situation? Will I get a screen door effect from projectors in my price range (looking at the Sanyo PLV-Z5 and the Panny PT-AX200U at the moment) given a 10' throw to a 65" screen with a viewing distance of 9'. This seems reasonable as 1.5x the screen size is 97.5" and the 9' dist = 108" (yes, I did play around with that handy model specific calculator already). I could easily drop to a 60" screen, which would still be in the range of both projectors, and give me 90" vs 97.5". Opinions, concerns?
- Would it be wise for me to go with a standard white screen... or should I go with something else? Any good DIY sites out there that can give me some help (I'll probably find this shortly after posting... always happens :/).
- Any additional units I should take into consideration? I'm liking the price vs performance on the Z5 right now. It seems to have the features I want, but lacks some brightness compared to the Panny. Given my room lighting and screen size considerations, I don't really see the Z5 not being bright enough.

Note: Stepping up to a 60" plasma or LCD isn't an option budget wise (and a DLP set wont fit in my given room). I'm looking to stay as close to $1200+/-100 as possible. The Z5 comes in pretty damn close to what I want to spend (with the panny being a bit more). This would also be consistent with quality 1080p 42" LCD sets around this time of year (nothing bran spanking new tech wise - but offerings from Philips, Sharp, Samsung, non XBR sony, JCV, hell I'll even consider Vizio). I want to buy something that fits my needs by xmas or shortly after. I'm not going to wait on tech. Anything I purchase at my price point is going to be middle of the line anyway, so I'm not worried about waiting for new uber tech at uber prices (have been building PCs since I was 13... learned that lesson real early in life).

hey someone from my area, nice (i'm in the altoona area). I can honestly say that having a projector is simply amazing. I love it's flexability and what it's done for my finished basement (now entertainment room!).

My personal recommendation is to go with a nice 720p projector. You said yourself that you have light control, you can use your monitor when necessary, and with the projector you can fine tune your screen size / position to your likings. I have to recommend the projector I have, the Epson Home Cinema 400. In all honesty, it's dirt cheap now with the rebate (which Epson will get back to you in 4 weeks tops) and it's quality is outstanding. I was in a toss up between the Sanyo Z5 and this, and so far i'm very happy with my Epson. You won't have any screen door effect with the screen sizes you said about and viewing distance. Good luck!

Thanks for the info, I will definitely check out the Epson. One question... can it do full native rez through the VGA input (I know the Z5 can't - which is quite stupid but meeh :/)? In either case, it's always nice to meet someone from the area :) I've only been to altoona a few times (ironically always to buy something from someone off of craigslist), but it's a nice place!

In either case, I am heavily leaning towards getting a projector, and I've located the screen forum around here (I knew it existed... lol but was apparently passing it every time!). So now I'm screwing around with floor plans and such just to make sure I can do everything I want to do!

I haven't tried hooking up my laptop to the vga input yet, but i don't see why it wouldn't. If my laptop wouldn't by default show 1280x720 then you can use free utilities like Powerstrip to force such resolution to be displayed. I'm interested now i'll have to try that out to see.

I'm not sure if this is just my pesonal bias but I would stay away from anything infocus with a color wheel. My own continuous motor bearing failures with my infocus 4805 meant it was in repair for nearly 1/4 of the time I've owned.

I finally told infocus to throw it out.

I'm not sure how their newer products are but I'm leaning towards Epson for the next purchase.

Thanks for the heads up Quadlog. I do tend to check out a lot of reviews, especially those on the forums here for long-term problems before buying any piece of AV equipment (really any large purchase in general). I have to say that I'm opting away from things with color wheels in general for this project. I have nothing against DLP tech or anything, but at this price point, it's hard to ignore the flexibility offered by many LCD based systems (as far as shifting adjustments and magnification).

That being said, I am still open to all suggestions DLP or LCD. Honestly, if the adjustment is there, and the PQ is there, I'm all for it :)

Damn the HD70 is cheep!

Hey wuzup, I think for your situation the Z5 is perfect - I've had mine for about 10 months and absolutely love it - the vertical and horizontal lens shift are great, the Z5 is also very quite and super sharp. I have mine in my living room that gets alot of ambient light during day and I watch the NFL in HD and I have enough lumens - the games look incredible. As far as games go - wait til you see Halo 3 on a BIG screen
you'll be floored! To me the best part of an LCD PJ is the zoom dial -
you could game at 65" or just zoom out to 92" - I love that flexability

LOL if you want I could sell you my hs20 sony projector for a few hundred. It's fab with gaming machines and has dvi hdmi and other inputs as well.

If you can get the HD70 for a good deal, that should work fine for you. I think I read that you said you were going to use a wall mount. If you use a wall mount that holds the HD70 upside down and you mount it up near the ceiling, you will be able to keep your image up pretty high. The HD70 has an image offset but for a 65" screen it's not that much. You can hang just about any simple DIY screen up and get excellent results. I painted my wall but you could just as easily use a panel or boc.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/johnsbin/HD70/NFLHD-EF06-Ambient.jpg

We are crossing back and forth between LCD and DLP. Most people prefer the quality of the DLP pic but I get bad eye strain from it and have always stuck with LCD. One of the big advantages of LCD is the flexibility. Throws, offsets, etc can be made work in almost any room. DLP is quite the opposite. There aren't lens shifts, etc. I would try to track a few people down in your local area. Bring a few beers over and see how they are set up and which picture you prefer. See if you see rainbows. No matter where you end up you will be blown away by FP. Its a blast.

Hey wuzup, I think for your situation the Z5 is perfect - I've had mine for about 10 months and absolutely love it - the vertical and horizontal lens shift are great, the Z5 is also very quite and super sharp. I have mine in my living room that gets alot of ambient light during day and I watch the NFL in HD and I have enough lumens - the games look incredible. As far as games go - wait til you see Halo 3 on a BIG screen
you'll be floored! To me the best part of an LCD PJ is the zoom dial -
you could game at 65" or just zoom out to 92" - I love that flexability

Glad to hear a positive review! It seems that most of the people who bought the Z5 really enjoy their purchases... which is great in my eyes. I'm also glad to hear that it works decently well with some ambient light. I honestly can't see myself not having light control any time soon, but that is always something to consider. If you don't mind my asking, what type of screen are you using?

If you can get the HD70 for a good deal, that should work fine for you. I think I read that you said you were going to use a wall mount. If you use a wall mount that holds the HD70 upside down and you mount it up near the ceiling, you will be able to keep your image up pretty high. The HD70 has an image offset but for a 65" screen it's not that much. You can hang just about any simple DIY screen up and get excellent results. I painted my wall but you could just as easily use a panel or boc.

Yeah, the HD70 is currently pretty cheap, and there's a $200 rebate on it. That does bring the price down quite a bit under the z5. The only reason I am a bit shy about purchasing it is that I won't be in this location for long. I'm graduating in May, and I'll be moving out of my current apartment by the summer of 08. Not quite sure where life is going to take me after that, so the added flexibility afforded by the LCD units is a major plus. The HD70 would actually work with my placement using a 65" screen. However, I wouldn't have much of a margin to work with (the center line of the lens would have to be ~8" from the ceiling). With the Z5 I could theoretically go a bit larger than 65" without any problems... and um... that is a possibility :)

Man that picture you posted makes me want to just purchase a fp today :) I'm a huge football fan, and recently discovered the glory that is ESPN HD (and of course other HD broadcasts). What size image are you projecting on your wall? Did you stick with a true white screen when you did your painting? Or did you opt for something that would offer a bit more gain (due to the close window placement)?

As for screens, I'm a bit limited, but I'm an avid DIY kinda guy. I love DIY projects and have been checking out the DIY forums here for some good ideas. I honestly would rather paint, but like I said I'm in an apartment and I wont be here very long. I'm probably going to be making a screen with a wood frame + painted hardboard that i can attach to the wall studs with a few screws. I have a damn thermostat that sticks about an inch out of the wall right in the middle of where I want to put it. Lucky, it's ingenious placement smack in the middle of the wall is rivaled only by it's crappy function... it will most likely be covered... and I will probably freeze to death... big screen halo is worth it...

After reading pretty much every review I can get my hands on, I think I'm am going to stick with my original choice. Now I'm going to go through the mandatory 2 week period where I try to find the best deal hehe :) Damn I wish there would be huge fp sales on BF...

Glad to hear a positive review! It seems that most of the people who bought the Z5 really enjoy their purchases... which is great in my eyes. I'm also glad to hear that it works decently well with some ambient light. I honestly can't see myself not having light control any time soon, but that is always something to consider. If you don't mind my asking, what type of screen are you using?



Yeah, the HD70 is currently pretty cheap, and there's a $200 rebate on it. That does bring the price down quite a bit under the z5. The only reason I am a bit shy about purchasing it is that I won't be in this location for long. I'm graduating in May, and I'll be moving out of my current apartment by the summer of 08. Not quite sure where life is going to take me after that, so the added flexibility afforded by the LCD units is a major plus. The HD70 would actually work with my placement using a 65" screen. However, I wouldn't have much of a margin to work with (the center line of the lens would have to be ~8" from the ceiling). With the Z5 I could theoretically go a bit larger than 65" without any problems... and um... that is a possibility :)

Man that picture you posted makes me want to just purchase a fp today :) I'm a huge football fan, and recently discovered the glory that is ESPN HD (and of course other HD broadcasts). What size image are you projecting on your wall? Did you stick with a true white screen when you did your painting? Or did you opt for something that would offer a bit more gain (due to the close window placement)?

As for screens, I'm a bit limited, but I'm an avid DIY kinda guy. I love DIY projects and have been checking out the DIY forums here for some good ideas. I honestly would rather paint, but like I said I'm in an apartment and I wont be here very long. I'm probably going to be making a screen with a wood frame + painted hardboard that i can attach to the wall studs with a few screws. I have a damn thermostat that sticks about an inch out of the wall right in the middle of where I want to put it. Lucky, it's ingenious placement smack in the middle of the wall is rivaled only by it's crappy function... it will most likely be covered... and I will probably freeze to death... big screen halo is worth it...

After reading pretty much every review I can get my hands on, I think I'm am going to stick with my original choice. Now I'm going to go through the mandatory 2 week period where I try to find the best deal hehe :) Damn I wish there would be huge fp sales on BF...
Well when I got my Z5 I couldn't decide on which screen to get so I got a roll of "Seam-less" paper - that is the paper back-drops that photographers use - so I'm still using that.

Yeah, the HD70 is currently pretty cheap, and there's a $200 rebate on it. That does bring the price down quite a bit under the z5. The only reason I am a bit shy about purchasing it is that I won't be in this location for long. I'm graduating in May, and I'll be moving out of my current apartment by the summer of 08. Not quite sure where life is going to take me after that, so the added flexibility afforded by the LCD units is a major plus. The HD70 would actually work with my placement using a 65" screen. However, I wouldn't have much of a margin to work with (the center line of the lens would have to be ~8" from the ceiling). With the Z5 I could theoretically go a bit larger than 65" without any problems... and um... that is a possibility :)

Man that picture you posted makes me want to just purchase a fp today :) I'm a huge football fan, and recently discovered the glory that is ESPN HD (and of course other HD broadcasts). What size image are you projecting on your wall? Did you stick with a true white screen when you did your painting? Or did you opt for something that would offer a bit more gain (due to the close window placement)?

As for screens, I'm a bit limited, but I'm an avid DIY kinda guy. I love DIY projects and have been checking out the DIY forums here for some good ideas. I honestly would rather paint, but like I said I'm in an apartment and I wont be here very long. I'm probably going to be making a screen with a wood frame + painted hardboard that i can attach to the wall studs with a few screws. I have a damn thermostat that sticks about an inch out of the wall right in the middle of where I want to put it. Lucky, it's ingenious placement smack in the middle of the wall is rivaled only by it's crappy function... it will most likely be covered... and I will probably freeze to death... big screen halo is worth it...

After reading pretty much every review I can get my hands on, I think I'm am going to stick with my original choice. Now I'm going to go through the mandatory 2 week period where I try to find the best deal hehe :) Damn I wish there would be huge fp sales on BF...

I painted a gray formula, FnEasy-06, from the DIY forum. The screen is 92". I have a DaLite Deluxe Instatheater but I wanted something more permanent and this looks good and it feels like my colors are better.

I can understand wanting to be able to have flexibility if you are moving on soon. Just trying to help you get out of decision mode and into watching some big screen soon!

Here's another teaser!

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q139/johnsbin/HD70/IMGP2031.jpg

Hi there.
I'm in a similar situation and I can't decide between the BenQ W500 and a 42" Westinghouse LCD TV. I'd love to get the projector but I'm worried about how it will look during the day in my living room which has a lot of windows and even with the curtains drawn has a lot of ambient light.

It's good to hear that the Z5 is useable in these conditions and gives me a bit of confidence in going for the brighter W500. Only problem is placement because the BenQ only has 1.2 zoom I think. Hmmm....

forget the puny 42" LCD.....

I went back and forth bethween the panny and the z5 for several weeks and then I finally went with... the Epson. Using a DIY laminate screen and its great. I have the projector on a shelf in the upper back right of the room and its flexibility allows you to project right in the center without keystoning.
-T