AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Digital Projectors - Under $3,000 USD MSRP › Looking To Get A Projector For Under $350
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Looking To Get A Projector For Under $350

post #1 of 27
12/13/12 at 8:26am
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to get a projector for my living room to replace my old 51" BigScreen TV. The $350 i hope is to cover the projector, screen, wall mount and anything else needed to get going. We sit about 12.5 Feet away from the viewing area were we plan to mount the screen. Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

What i currently was Looking at:

V06B LCD Projector 1080P Home Theater $169.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/V06B-LCD-Projector-1080P-Home-Theater-HDMI-WII-PS3-DVD-/280676569967?pt=US_Video_Projectors&hash=item4159a0936f


78" MOVIE PROJECTOR SCREE $49.99
http://www.ebay.com/itm/280913431492?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 27
12/13/12 at 2:27pm
You are not being very realistic. $350? That projector is a toy for your kids, at best.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 27
12/13/12 at 3:23pm
That projector is Chinese JUNK!!! These forums are full of reports warning people to stay away from these units. They're also known as "White Van Scams". Look closely at the specs, it isn't even HD, the NATIVE resolution 640 X 480!! Which means that any source resolution that is higher is DOWN-GRADED!! And the Contrast Ratio is a JOKE at 600:1. This is not a major player in the projector market and you will not find anyone stateside that will support it. If you have a problem with it, where does it go? I'm guessing back to to China.

I would seriously rethink your strategy. As was already posted, $350 is not a serious number for what you want to do. Of course, you're free to do what you want but you came here asking for our opinions and we had to tell it like it is. Good luck.
Edited by Sheridan1952 - 12/13/12 at 3:30pm
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 27
12/13/12 at 3:43pm
this is a joke right?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 27
12/13/12 at 3:44pm
also...loving the giant thumbs up with "good" written on it...
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 27
12/13/12 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
Yea i know a lot of people have been telling me that my budget was to low but i found this one for $290. Is it any good


ACER H5360 720P 1280x720 2500 ANSI Lumens NVIDIA 3D Vision Ready Home Theater DLP Projector
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009223
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 27
12/13/12 at 4:15pm
for 290 yes
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 27
12/13/12 at 4:20pm
Did you look into used projectors at all?
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 27
12/13/12 at 4:20pm
make sure to read that white van topic dot dot dot.

Edit: Here I found you the link, read up.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 27
12/13/12 at 4:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmannth View Post

Did you look into used projectors at all?

yea a few like the one i found on HardForum.com which is the Acer i linked. It has 536hrs on the lamp
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 27
12/13/12 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Durvelle27 View Post

yea a few like the one i found on HardForum.com which is the Acer i linked. It has 536hrs on the lamp

The 5360 is a decent projector, but buying a used projector is VERY risky. You need to save more money. What will you do when the bulb goes? The average bulb cost is about $275.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 27
12/13/12 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim McC View Post

The 5360 is a decent projector, but buying a used projector is VERY risky. You need to save more money. What will you do when the bulb goes? The average bulb cost is about $275.
By time that happens i really won't mind ?

Here is one:

PROJECTOR LAMP BULB FOR ACER H5360 $102
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROJECTOR-LAMP-BULB-FOR-ACER-H5360-H5360BD-P1303W-P1270-P5271i-P5271-H7530-P1206-/280999570211?pt=US_Projector_Lamps_Components&hash=item416ce12b23
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 27
12/13/12 at 7:40pm
Be ABSOLUTELY certain that this IS the CORRECT lamp. Do NOT depend on the seller to be honest or knowledgeable. I once saw a listing where the seller had a long list of projectors the lamp he was selling was "compatible" with. I only had to take a look at just a handful on his list to figure out he was lying.

The wrong lamp can do or more of the following....

Not work at all

Work for a few hours and fail because it was barely in the projectors operational parameters to begin with...

Work for several hundred hours

Damage your projector. I know of 2 people who bought so-called "compatible" lamps only to have to replace damaged optical parts after a few hours.

So do your homework before you try and save a few bucks, chances are, it will be waste of your money.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 27
12/13/12 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheridan1952 View Post

Be ABSOLUTELY certain that this IS the CORRECT lamp. Do NOT depend on the seller to be honest or knowledgeable. I once saw a listing where the seller had a long list of projectors the lamp he was selling was "compatible" with. I only had to take a look at just a handful on his list to figure out he was lying.
The wrong lamp can do or more of the following....
Not work at all
Work for a few hours and fail because it was barely in the projectors operational parameters to begin with...
Work for several hundred hours
Damage your projector. I know of 2 people who bought so-called "compatible" lamps only to have to replace damaged optical parts after a few hours.
So do your homework before you try and save a few bucks, chances are, it will be waste of your money.
Wasn't gonna buy just was using that as a reference
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 27
12/14/12 at 7:15am
If your going to use it for tv you should look into led projectors like lg hx300 or acer k330 (any of its clones) or lg pa70, you dont have to worry about a bulb
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 27
12/14/12 at 7:22am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fido dido View Post

If your going to use it for tv you should look into led projectors like lg hx300 or acer k330 (any of its clones) or lg pa70, you dont have to worry about a bulb
Out of the budget
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 27
12/14/12 at 10:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Durvelle27 View Post

Out of the budget

Your all backwards on this. Using a projector for a tv, that's alot of hours on the bulb and strikes on the lamp. Your going to be spending way more $$$ on projector lamps than you think. All those "this lamp will last 6000 hours on the side of the projector box" it's mostly bs.

I suggest reading up on bulbs, lamp strikes etc. so you have a better idea of what your getting yourself into.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 27
12/15/12 at 12:46am
I have bought a used projector before. Just be sure about the return policy and know about the bulb situation. If you get a projector that is messed up you just send it back. There are plenty of cream puffs out there. You are on a tight budget. Do a ton of research.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 27
12/15/12 at 1:03am
Just a head's up...

The LG PA70G (as suggested above) is on sale at Fry's right now for $399 and you could always shoot it on a wall until you can get a screen.

Jason
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 27
12/15/12 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amber Ale View Post

Your all backwards on this. Using a projector for a tv, that's alot of hours on the bulb and strikes on the lamp. Your going to be spending way more $$$ on projector lamps than you think. All those "this lamp will last 6000 hours on the side of the projector box" it's mostly bs.
I suggest reading up on bulbs, lamp strikes etc. so you have a better idea of what your getting yourself into.
Like mentioned above yes it will be used for tv and movies but we don't watch much tv in the living room so that's why i said it wasn't a problem but when we do watch tv its not very long maybe an 1hr at max
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 27
12/15/12 at 7:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmannth View Post

I have bought a used projector before. Just be sure about the return policy and know about the bulb situation. If you get a projector that is messed up you just send it back. There are plenty of cream puffs out there. You are on a tight budget. Do a ton of research.
Yea i've been doing some heavy research and the return policy i'll check up on that. Also we talked about the bulb has about 500hrs on it as he said he no longer uses it.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 27
12/15/12 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
I just want to clarify the projector will be 12.5FT away mounted on the wall will a 78" screen be adequate
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 27
1/2/13 at 5:59am
Thread Starter 
will this mount work with a Acer H5390

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10911&cs_id=1091102&p_id=5466&seq=1&format=4#feedback
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 27
1/3/13 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Durvelle27 View Post

Like mentioned above yes it will be used for tv and movies but we don't watch much tv in the living room so that's why i said it wasn't a problem but when we do watch tv its not very long maybe an 1hr at max

This not a very efficient way to use a projector. Just the act of turning the projector on uses up about an hour of a bulb's life due to the "strike". So, if you just watch an hour at a time, you effectively cut the bulb life in half. Also, you can't watch for a half hour, turn it off, come back half an hour later and turn it on again. Once a projector is turned off, the bulb needs time to cool completely before starting the projector again. "Striking" a hot lamp can cause it to burst.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 27
1/3/13 at 1:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Durvelle27 View Post

Like mentioned above yes it will be used for tv and movies but we don't watch much tv in the living room so that's why i said it wasn't a problem but when we do watch tv its not very long maybe an 1hr at max

Funny how I never wanted to watch TV and when I did it was only for a short time.. Once you get a nice projection setup, you will find you want to watch TV.. You are no longer watching the little box..
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 27
1/3/13 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crussader View Post

This not a very efficient way to use a projector. Just the act of turning the projector on uses up about an hour of a bulb's life due to the "strike". So, if you just watch an hour at a time, you effectively cut the bulb life in half. Also, you can't watch for a half hour, turn it off, come back half an hour later and turn it on again. Once a projector is turned off, the bulb needs time to cool completely before starting the projector again. "Striking" a hot lamp can cause it to burst.
Like i mentioned its not a problem as we don't watch tv very long especially since were gone most of the time as i have school and work and she works so not much time spent watching tvs unless its family time which isn't but probably once a week or a big game
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 27
1/3/13 at 6:46pm
As everyone is suggesting here, if you are going to be using it for watching TV, save for some time and go in for an LED projector. Once you start watching TV on the projector, I can assure it you it won't be for only an hour. Also, you will need to get frequent lamp replacements, which will result in 2 things -
1. You will spend way more than you had planned- even if you manage to snag those lamps at $100 (though I don't trust that at all; lamps should be bought from the manufacturer)
2. You will stop using the projector altogether because you have to spend too much on lamps.

Just my 2 cents on the issue.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Digital Projectors - Under $3,000 USD MSRP › Looking To Get A Projector For Under $350