Projector buying advice for newbies

There seems to be a lot of discussion about how to choose the right projector from some front projection newcomers. As a ten year projector owner who has owned four separate units (Runco 760 CRT, Sony D50Q CRT, Mitsubishi HC5000, Epson 1000) I think I know something about the subject.

I have my own list of how to evaluate this type of equipment, but first here are some things I've learned over the years:

1) The only thing that really matters is what you see (and hear); numbers are a guide, that's all.
2) No two people have the exact same visual acuity.
3) Virtually no one watches their system in a completely dark room (either because they can't or don't want to).
4) You have to be able to live among your equipment


OK, here is my list, from most or least important:

1) Picture elements (if you can see SDE, rainbows, etc. it's over) This is why I stuck with my Sony CRT projector for so long.
2) Picture artifacts (uneven brightness, dead pixels, misconvergence, banding, DI problems). This factor is why I returned my Mitsubishi)
3) Sharpness (I like sharp video, period. However, it is possible to be too sharp)

Problems in any of the first 3 categories make a projector DOA in my book.

4) Video Noise (Not much of a problem anymore with today's new crop of PJ's)
5) Projector noise (Anything over 30 db is distracting (My Sony was 65 db - I had to build a hush box)
6) Accurate color (Important, but hey I'm over 50; glad I can still see color)
7) Black levels / Contrast ratio (unless your theater is like a vampire bat cave, not nearly as important as some folks would have you believe). But don't trust me, go see it for yourself.
8) Brightness (For me, a 92" screen is as big as I want - However, for folks with large setups (over 110 inches) this factor will obviously be higher in their evaluation list.

Flaws in categories 4 through 8 can be OK, depending on the severity of the problem.

9) Warranty / Company reputation (unfortunately, it seems that in today's world it is very hard to make video projectors reliable for prices that most of us can afford
10) Ergonomics (This is on the list so that I have a "Top 10" list instead of a "Top 9" list.

OK, so let me know how your list goes, and why.

(P.S. If you do go and actually buy something DO NOT read this forum for at least 5 years - you risk severe mental trauma if you do!)

Tony S;

I bought my Sony CRT projector in September of 1997.

I started looking a digital projectors in earnest around 2001. My criteria for switching was something that produced as good as or better than my Sony, for less than half the Sony's price (less than $5K).

It took until late fall of this year before projectors came to market that met my criteria. At this point, having lived with the Mitsu 5000 and the Epson 1000 for almost two months, there is no going back to CRT.