AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › CRT Projectors › What projector to get if I am on a budget...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What projector to get if I am on a budget...

post #1 of 35
Thread Starter 
I'm finishing my basement and am gonna make it a HT room....its about 12'x18'....want to project at least a 100" screen probably a little more if possible...

I would be sitting back approx 12-15 feet and would love to get a 1080p one but cant afford it now (baby coming in 8 months) so I dont know much about these and can most likely only afford a 720p....

any help would be great and if u need anymore info from me let me know thanks
post #2 of 35
Thread Starter 
bump
post #3 of 35
well if your on a budget then freight might be out of the question, and you will be looking locally. Where are you located?
post #4 of 35
Don't get too caught up in the numbers!

Find someone local and go and check it out and see for yourself!

Just get a M8500 for 6 to 8 bills and call it a day...keep in mind you will also need an input device to feed it an hdmi/dvi signal

Hope this was helpful

Martin
post #5 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

I'm finishing my basement and am gonna make it a HT room....its about 12'x18'....want to project at least a 100" screen probably a little more if possible...

I would be sitting back approx 12-15 feet and would love to get a 1080p one but cant afford it now (baby coming in 8 months) so I dont know much about these and can most likely only afford a 720p....

any help would be great and if u need anymore info from me let me know thanks

I have about the same exact room size using a 100" screen. Having used an NEC XG at 720p and 1080i, and an RS-1 at 1080p I'd say 100" is perfect for size IMO. I had 3 rows of 3 folding seats and actually preferred the back row very near the wall. I never really used the front seats at just pass 11' from the screen, so I'm remodeling for 2 rows of 3 recliners.

By the way after going to the RS-1 and seeing the digitals I'm looking to go back to CRT with another XG, G-70, or as suggested M8500, WAF permitting!
post #6 of 35
What's your budget?
post #7 of 35
Take a look at Curt's site http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTforSale_Intermediate.shtm look at the intermediate section. This will give loads of background info and tell you what might be able to do 1080p. Most guys will recommend against 1080p unless you go with a high performance CRT (9 inch tubes), but I know there are guys running 1080p happily on their 8 inch sets.

NEC's are tough for a new person to learn, but I believe you can do 1080p on some (but it will supposedly look soft). I have a NEC 9pg+ as my first projector and it looked REALLY good at 1080i/ 720p. It was REALLY sharp, but I could see the scanlines at 6 feet away. Mine couldn't resolve 1080p. The NEC XG series are loud, but when you have a movie going, you don't notice it. I find my PS3 louder than the projector.

I'd say talk to Curt if you have the budget. Or if not, try to find a Marquee 8500 locally if you can. Try craigslist to see what's available. Even if you had to drive a couple hours, it might be worth it.

Hope that helps.
post #8 of 35
Thread Starter 
well my budget on a projector would like to be under $600 but maybe up to $800....then ill have to get a screen...id like to get motorized.....tigerdirect has a mustang brand that is 120" for $250 it looks pretty nice??
post #9 of 35
Thread Starter 
maybe im in the wrong topic forum...i didnt know what CRT was...im looking for just a regular projector with the 1 lens u can buy at like best buy
post #10 of 35
No problem. You almost got sucked into an obsessive hobby... ;-)

Try to get a demo of any of those projectors before you buy. There's some not bad digitals to be had, but they won't give you good black levels (most Best buy projectors are like 2500-1 contrast, but they'll be nice and bright). I almost went that route, but it turns my wife gets really bad eye fatigue (like looking at your monitor too long) with digitals, so bad that we couldn't get through a movie. That's why I went CRT. Depends how hands are you are. If you don't want a big heavy beast that requires some attention, digital is the way to go.

I'd still take a look at the link, just to see what it's all about. Good luck with your search.
post #11 of 35
where do you live?
post #12 of 35
You can get an Optoma HD65 720p PJ for a little over $600, and the 1080p version of that for somewhere under $1,000. They haven't got fantastic black levels but are otherwise more than competent, and I can personally testify to their ability to withstand (as of last count) dozens of hours of use on a vibrating, jolting, slamming-around racing simulator!
post #13 of 35
Thread Starter 
ok thanks...i am in missouri....what kind of screen should i get...there is a dalite locally for $200...it is just a pull down but its 120" OR tiger direct has a mustang brand electric screen for $250 and is also 120"
post #14 of 35
Thread Starter 
This looks like a really good deal on amazon....optima hd65 for $645 and get a FREE 106" pull down screen

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...d_i=B000XOKZ8U

is that a good deal...looks to be but I dont know.

here is the mustang 120" one i was talking about

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...08481&csid=_25
post #15 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

This looks like a really good deal on amazon....optima hd65 for $645 and get a FREE 106" pull down screen

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...d_i=B000XOKZ8U

is that a good deal...looks to be but I dont know.

here is the mustang 120" one i was talking about

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...08481&csid=_25

I was at Bed, Bath and Beyond yesterday and saw a projector they're selling at $99. Check this out and it's really good price.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/prod...1&SKU=16698083



Good luck with your search!!!
post #16 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

ok thanks...i am in missouri....


Complicates things unless you are by St. Louis or KC... southern Missouri doesn't have alot of projectors for sale so you would have to ship.
post #17 of 35
Thread Starter 
sweet just ordered the one from bed and bath...should be at least 1080p or better...cant wait!!












NOT







im about 45 minutes from st louis......I found this panasonic...he said he would take $375 but i dont know if there is something wrong with it...check it out please


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/ele/1487273125.html
post #18 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

im about 45 minutes from st louis......I found this panasonic...he said he would take $375 but i dont know if there is something wrong with it...check it out please


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/ele/1487273125.html

dust blob hopefully, common problem with digital crap boxes
post #19 of 35
Thread Starter 
easy to fix? im thinking i should buy a projector NEW cause u dont know what they have been through and how many hours since new bulb etc.....im leaning towards the optoma HD65 for $645 shipped. unless someone has a better option
post #20 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

.im leaning towards the optoma HD65 for $645 shipped. unless someone has a better option

pretty much anything, stay away from Floptoma or Unfocus. Panasonic has a better electronics track record than most as does JVC. I wouldn't buy a used bulb machine, that 1 year warranty and 90 days on the lamp for a new machine might save you 600 dollars.
post #21 of 35
for 6 bills you will get a sub-data grade "digital" with such annoyances as the screen door affect and very annoying noises by teh color wheeeels and the cooling fans....lets not forget the freebe in the mist: a great room heater!

But for that same budget you can get a decent M8500 ...or any other mid level CRT that will knock the pants off any digital short of the triple chipped models that are over 8/10ks.

So there you have it, if the size and the so called learning curve does not intimidate you...it is the only way to go if you want professional results at the so called "hobby" prices! (needless to say that the hobby budget sometimes hist the 30k ceailing as it did in a lot of our cases!)

Anyhow the choice is yours.

Hope this helped

Martin
post #22 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prehjan View Post

....lets not forget the freebe in the mist: a great room heater!

I don't disagree with the general gist of your argument but every CRT projector I have had is great room heater. It is hard for me to believe that the average digital consumes that much more power and therefore puts out that much more heat than the average CRT. And yes I am typing this on my Runco 1100/Barco 1209s room heater :-).
post #23 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by secstate View Post

I don't disagree with the general gist of your argument but every CRT projector I have had is great room heater. It is hard for me to believe that the average digital consumes that much more power and therefore puts out that much more heat than the average CRT. And yes I am typing this on my Runco 1100/Barco 1209s room heater :-).

hehe

....Yeah but with a bulbed machine it almost feels like you can sun tan with them!

With the CRTs it is subtle!

Martin
post #24 of 35
'Tired of hot spots on your body tan? The Barco/Marquee/Sony CRT projector lines offer a slow even tan that lasts longer than one from a standard bulb'

post #25 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

im about 45 minutes from st louis.....


There's a runco on craigslist for sale, i'd offer the dude 100 spot for it.. even if the tubes leave alot to be desired, better than an HD65. They really don't look very good.
post #26 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

unless someone has a better option

get the Runco (NEC PG) like Verge posted, it's a no brainer even for the full asking price of $275. just make sure it comes with the full factory set-up remote.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/ele/1482276726.html
post #27 of 35
Thread Starter 
I emailed him and offered $100 but he said no and will take $200....i know NOTHING about crt....its like 8 years old i think he said...how would that do 1080p if its that old...and how would I hook it up...obviously it wont have hdmi.....

what else should I ask him. more info please
post #28 of 35
A PG will not do 1080p and even if you manage to feed it that signal it will be soft!

A properly set up 1080i or 720p will be much better for that type of PJ.

Keep in mind that it will also depend on the source material, just because you has magically appeared from a source material that was shot in 720.

The trick is to get the best PQ from the source resolved as best possible on the display device!

Find someone locally to you th a proper set up and go check it out person.I suspect that you will like the results even at those resolutions.

Most folks are used to seeing a crappy picture so when they see a proper one for the first time they are flabbergasted!

Anyhow hope this helped...don't get too hung up on the numbers!

Martin
post #29 of 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by tibasnatch View Post

I emailed him and offered $100 but he said no and will take $200....i know NOTHING about crt....its like 8 years old i think he said...how would that do 1080p if its that old...and how would I hook it up...obviously it wont have hdmi.....

what else should I ask him. more info please

It won't do 1080p... but neither will an HD65, sooooo.
post #30 of 35
Thread Starter 
yea he changed it to 1080i i asked for some more pics....he also said it did NOT come witha remote...so im assuming it wont be plug and play...I have a HD dish network ps3 and xbox 360 to use with it...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: CRT Projectors
AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › CRT Projectors › What projector to get if I am on a budget...