My room is 26' long X 11.5' wide with 8' high ceilings. I have total light control and my sofa and single seat are 10' from the front wall and my row of 3 curved is 18' from the front wall. I would have like to have done both a plasma and a drop down screen but it's just not in the budget since I'm saving my money for the JBL Synthesis three system. I have to decide by tomorrow since I'm ordering a few electronics from value electronics and they only have 3 150fd's left. All input or personal experience would be greatly appreciated. I can do either option for about the same price give or take a couple hundred dollars so price isn't a factor.

I would say get the Marantz with screen! Heck I would go bigger on the screen too. I had a room that was like yours with seating position about the same. I had a 110" screen 8' wide. The screen against the wall was so impressive as it took up most of the width of the wall. It was framed in by a nice proscenium and was really impressive to see even when a movie wasn't playing. When a movie was playing, it was awesome and a great immersive experience. The feel of a front projector system is different and IMHO better for movie content.

Now why have you chosen the firehawk for your screen?

The 15S1 is a great projector.

I would say get the Marantz with screen! Heck I would go bigger on the screen too. I had a room that was like yours with seating position about the same. I had a 110" screen 8' wide. The screen against the wall was so impressive as it took up most of the width of the wall. It was framed in by a nice proscenium and was really impressive to see even when a movie wasn't playing. When a movie was playing, it was awesome and a great immersive experience. The feel of a front projector system is different and IMHO better for movie content.

Now why have you chosen the firehawk for your screen?

The 15S1 is a great projector.


This is not a dedicated home theater room so I think the Firehawk would help with ambient light and reflections off the side wall. The reason I can't go bigger then 100" is because I want to leave some room on the sides of the screen for speakers so they don't have to be flush up against the side walls.

OK. cool. Hmmm...

With the room not being a dedicated HT room, that changes things a little. Now I see why you wanted both.

Now it gets harder. With a decent amount of ambient light the Pioneer will definitely win out there, but it isn't that big compared to the projector.

My wife would never go for having to have most of the lights out for regular TV viewing. For me, I would be totally fine with that.

Perhaps you could start with the plasma and make sure that you can add the FP later. Or maybe go for a stretch and purchase a cheaper screen/projector and have both?

You should factor in the bulb in your budget. If you go with a projector that has a cheaper bulb you could theoretically save enough for a cheap plasma or you could go the other way with that by getting the expensive projector with a 500+ dollar bulb that you will have to replace twice a year which is then the same price as a cheap plasma now.

Why not get a different projector and screen combo and then your budget would allow for drop down in front of a plasma.
Dalite Hi-power maybe, it fights ambiant light.
With tat large of a budget you shold be able to do both.
In answer to your original question though, projector for sure.

Scott

You might want to PM RobZ:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=913109

Get his opinion if he 'had to pick'. Personally, I think it comes down to viewing habits. I use my projector in the evening when I get home from work. But during the weekends for 'casual viewing' I tend to use a RPTV DLP. Maybe just because it is closer to the kitchen. :) If I had to pick, it would be the projector.

Side note - the projector will use less electricity. Maybe half?

In my experiences, most people that use a projector in their living room usually end up going back eventually, or at least add another display like a 60" for more casual everyday viewing. Some sooner rather than later.

In my experiences, most people that use a projector in their living room usually end up going back eventually, or at least add another display like a 60" for more casual everyday viewing. Some sooner rather than later.

I could see a person doing that since it starts to ruin the whole experience of a large screen. I've been using my projector for the last 2 1/2 years as my main tv which now all I want to do is get a larger screen :). I guess it all depends on how the room is setup and how much time you watch tv. If you have a wife that watches tv during the day I could see that becoming nauseating.

The day time and early evenig viewing is tough for sure. Took me about 3 years to tire of it, even needing to watch in working light happened enough to make it bothersome for me personally.

The person I know that did it for a long time, just got a plasma to supplemet as well though.

Best thing to do is to buy the projector and screen for the living room, make sure you have some blackout curtains and go with a firehawk screen. To keep the wife off of YOUR TV, buy her one of those undercounter TVs for the kitchen and a small flat panel for the utility room.

If she is a good housewife, when she isnt cleaning the rest of the house she needs to be doing laundry and in the kitchen anyways. 8)

offensive

He put a smiley after his comment. :D

I would be curious what type of viewing you do. I have a PJ in a studio apartment but when I decide to power it up I know I'm going to be sitting for at least an hour. I'm not one to check scores or weather on TV- I use the internet. If you're a less dedicated viewer but still want the PJ experience for all the obvious reasons, you could go with a smaller display than 60" for more liesurely viewing.

Also, something like the new Epson has very watchable modes that are quite bright and I think it costs roughly half of what the Marantz is going for albeit not as good from all that I've read but haven't seen either personally.

Dino

I've decided to go with the 150FD. I might go with a drop down screen and projector at some point in the future. The more I think about it you just can't beat the plasma when it comes to everyday viewing and practicality.