Hi Guys and Gals.

Any suggestions or advice on how to get ahold of a projector to hold me over for a year until I am ready to do this for real? Is it possible to get a projector for under $200 that actually has a working bulb in it?

If you look in the following picture you will see the sad state of affair that is my TV in comparison with my audio system. I can literally shake things off counters upstairs :cool: but have a 27" TV. Audio has always been most important to me. Now I am trying to see if it will be possible to do this on the super cheap.

I have been watching E B A Y but am at a bit of a loss as to what I need.

*Throw distance = 14 to 17 feet.
*Basement room. Complete light control but would like to have some ambient light.
*I have claimed this room from my wife in the name of "Man"kind so I can paint the room however I need to.
*Keeping the screen small enough with the throw distance will probably be more of an issue than going too large. The subs need to stay where they are for acoustic reasons and they are 35 inches tall. (I know this will probably be a problem.)
*Ceiling height is about 7.5 feet.
*If possible I would like to put the projector on a shelf instead of ceiling mount since the real version of this home theater will be built next year and I would rather not do any permanant installs if I can help it.

Any advice is appreciated. :)

http://www.ridicubass.com/Pics/Basement/Front3.JPG

With all that nice gear why go cheap on the display?
And another thing is with $200.00 you will not find a decent projector.

With all that nice gear why go cheap on the display?

Because it is either that or stay with the 27" TV. I don't wan't to drop a bunch of money just to replace it in the fall which will happen when this room gets torn apart and actually turned into my home theater. Except for the TV and the stand it is on, everything in that picture was either bought used or built by myself.

And another thing is with $200.00 you will not find a decent projector.

I was just hoping that since new projectors are now going for as little as $500 there might be something that shows up for cheap every now and again that I can resell in the fall without losing much.

Even Infocus X1 projectors with no bulb are going for close to $300 on ebay.

ive got a ae900u that needs a bulb...i won't let it go for 200 but ill sell it to ya cheap

ive got a ae900u that needs a bulb...i won't let it go for 200 but ill sell it to ya cheap

Does "needs a bulb" mean no bulb or old bulb? Feel free to PM me a price if you would like.

Why would anyone pay much more than $200 for an ae900 that needs a bulb. Thats $550 for a used 720p projector when new 720p projectors are $700.

pm sent Darren

Because it is either that or stay with the 27" TV. I don't wan't to drop a bunch of money just to replace it in the fall which will happen when this room gets torn apart and actually turned into my home theater.

um, why would you have to replace the PJ b/c you're re-doing your basement?

I say you have 2 options:

1. save the $200 and put it towards a nice PJ in early '09. tough it out w/ the TV

2. buy a nice Mits HC4900 for $1500 now and just un-install it when you need to re-do the basement and re-install it when you're done.


if you've never had a PJ before, you better make sure you like it before you tear up your basement. Also, if you go with option 2, you will be aware of some improvements you can make to the basement to help the PJ out (dark wall paint, placement options, etc.).


to be honest, just jump into front projection head on right now. I sat on the fence for months before buying my Optoma HD70 and I can say, beyond a doubt, it was the single greatest (and most sastifying) electronics purchase I have ever made.

I agree with bubba - go ahead and get a good PJ now and then when you do the remodel you will already have your PJ, won't have the added expense along with the remodel bill and you get to enjoy it in the meantime... :)

Patience is a virtue :). You could always buy a Projector now to sell it later this year, but I would just hold off.