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First Projector Recommendations? (~$1,500 or less)

post #1 of 23
10/14/07 at 8:59am
Thread Starter 
My brother-in-law wants to put a theater in the unfinished basement of his new home, but won't have a lot of money right away to make it maybe as good as it could be.

What I'm wondering is if there's anything wrong with planning the room out, doing the building, but using a less expensive projector for now, and maybe only a 2.1 setup for a while?

What projector, $1,500 or less, would you recommend? Keeping in mind there's a very real possibility it'll be upgraded within a couple years.

It'll be a self contained home theater, so total light control. Size of the room I'm not sure yet.

Any "quickpicks" I should take a look at?

Obviously prices are always changing, and since it'll be probably 2 months anyways before we're ready for the PJ, we're in no hurry. Just looking for some ideas.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 23
10/14/07 at 9:29am
Benq W500 easily. Read the thread. It's by far the best under $1500 projector.
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post #3 of 23
10/14/07 at 9:44am
Panasonic AX200 is a good bet. I like to see a shootout between AX200 and W500.
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post #4 of 23
10/14/07 at 9:45am
I'm looking to buy within the next two weeks and am leaning towards the Panny PT-AX 200u. I'm curious to see what people say on this thread.

--JK
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post #5 of 23
10/14/07 at 10:09am
DLP
That said Marantz vp4001, Sharp 12K MK II, Sharp 3K.
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post #6 of 23
10/14/07 at 10:52am
aktick-

Will this be your main viewing equipment for TV, DVD, gaming?

If so how much SD channels or how often do you watch?

Guess you dont know, have an idea or making it around PJ?
Room size? Throw distance? Ceilings?

This should help narrow it down.
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post #7 of 23
10/14/07 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sproket View Post

aktick-

Will this be your main viewing equipment for TV, DVD, gaming?

If so how much SD channels or how often do you watch?

Guess you dont know, have an idea or making it around PJ?
Room size? Throw distance? Ceilings?

This should help narrow it down.

Yes, it will be my brother in law's main viewing equipment for DirecTV (mostly sports), eventally HD-DVD or BRD, and a fair amount of gaming (360). Probably very little SD material - my sister is the one who'd watch SD stuff, and the upstairs is going to be "her's," so she won't watch it much.

Standard (8'? I think) ceilings in the basement, throw distance is really dependent upon how he ends up setting things up, but I'd guess 15-16'.

He's still debating whether he wants to do a dedicate HT room, or have it more open. We'll see. But for sure the outside light will be zero.
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post #8 of 23
10/14/07 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgs View Post

Benq W500 easily. Read the thread. It's by far the best under $1500 projector.

I get a kick out of comments like this.

"It's the best because I own it and I like it." -or- "It's the best because someone else told me so."

Unless someone has compared ALL the PJs in the price range THEMSELVES, you're just going by 3rd party reviews and really have no first hand idea.

I am sure the Benq is a great PJ. But to come out and say it's THE best and BY FAR is more than somewhat suspect. Maybe you could reply and give us the facts on which you base this claim? And if you are going to start quoting MFG specifications, don't bother replying.
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post #9 of 23
10/14/07 at 11:54am
If you intend to always view with ambient light, the AX200 is a decent option. Otherwise look elsewhere, mainly at DLP.
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post #10 of 23
10/14/07 at 1:55pm
aktick-

Sounds like you are looking for a Long Throw Projector.

How to mount would be a question, shelf, behind wall, or ceiling mount.
3 very common.

This will help narrow it down.

You will find many suggesting
Sharp XV-Z12000MK2- Long throw (Its a tank, meaning big piece of equipment also kinda loud)
and
Marantz VP4001- Short throw
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post #11 of 23
10/14/07 at 1:58pm
There is no question the Sharp 12000 MKII is in another league than any other projector in this price range (it originally cost $10,000). That said, it is not extremely bright so a dark room is a must.
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post #12 of 23
10/14/07 at 8:24pm
PLV-Z5 can be found for around 1K now.
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post #13 of 23
10/14/07 at 8:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwlaw99 View Post

There is no question the Sharp 12000 MKII is in another league than any other projector in this price range (it originally cost $10,000). That said, it is not extremely bright so a dark room is a must.

how does the VP12S4 compare to the 12000 MKII for brighness and noise?
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post #14 of 23
10/14/07 at 8:58pm
A whole host of choices (including the best in class Sony AW15--because I own one, naturally ). Actually, at this price point now, as opposed to even a year ago, the choices are numerous and none of them will be bad. I would test for rainbows (they're a problem for me and my wife, so in this price range, LCD was the only option) and determine ambient light and long/short throw. Otherwise, enjoy.
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post #15 of 23
10/15/07 at 12:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgs View Post

Benq W500 easily. Read the thread. It's by far the best under $1500 projector.

No it isn't. The Dt-500 is better and under $1,400.

I got mine for $762.
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post #16 of 23
10/15/07 at 3:04am
If you are a projector "virgin", I think you will have a hard time buying a projector that you WON'T like.

It's only us jaded, anal pj addicts that actually care about the differences between all of the fine sub-$1,500 projectors out there. Everytime I upgrade my projector, all of my friends think that I'm insane. They think I might need professional help.
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post #17 of 23
10/15/07 at 4:10am
I would look at any fp with lens shift.Those that this is their first fp'lens shift is really great to have,And for alot of rooms it is a must.The DLP groupies never mention this along with rainbow loud color wheels ect.So do your homework.The ax200 will be hard to beat.
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post #18 of 23
10/15/07 at 4:22am
Epson 720..cheaper than the 200. Will have up to 2100 lumens as well (closest viewing position)
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post #19 of 23
10/15/07 at 6:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by buddahead View Post

I would look at any fp with lens shift.Those that this is their first fp'lens shift is really great to have,And for alot of rooms it is a must.The DLP groupies never mention this along with rainbow loud color wheels ect.So do your homework.The ax200 will be hard to beat.

I disagree with it as a must in most rooms. Just that many want to be able to hide the PJ away rendering non-lens shift PJ's incapable of doing the job.
If you are going to mention rainbow effect you should mention the astonishingly LOW percentage of people who are affected. With the number going down the faster the wheel is. You should also mention the SDE of LCD's.
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post #20 of 23
10/15/07 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnsmith808 View Post

If you are a projector "virgin", I think you will have a hard time buying a projector that you WON'T like.

It's only us jaded, anal pj addicts that actually care about the differences between all of the fine sub-$1,500 projectors out there. Everytime I upgrade my projector, all of my friends think that I'm insane. They think I might need professional help.

Boy is that true - That being said - my first PJ is the Sanyo Z5 and I'm VERY happy with it its a great 1st PJ -very easy to set-up its very quiet and its super sharp if I were you I'd go to projectorreviews.com -there is alot of good info there and Art compares alot of the PJs mentioned here- you will see which PJ is good for YOU. Just be carefull of the Pannys, there were alot of prob. with ax100 and no one really knows if they fixed them in the ax200
because the 200 just came out.
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post #21 of 23
10/15/07 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by buddahead View Post

I would look at any fp with lens shift.Those that this is their first fp'lens shift is really great to have,And for alot of rooms it is a must.The DLP groupies never mention this along with rainbow loud color wheels ect.So do your homework.The ax200 will be hard to beat.

I would use keystone with my DLP before going LCD.
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post #22 of 23
10/15/07 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MTyson View Post

I would use keystone with my DLP before going LCD.

And I would go with a much smaller plasma rather than cope with DLP rainbows.

It is best for the person to view each technology and decide rather than simply adopting one tech over another just on a poster's say so.

Personally, I like the image quality of the better DLP projectors I've seen, but the rainbows are a no go (and I see them with 6x wheels). So it was either a much smaller flat panel or an LCD projector. Different strokes for different folks, n'est-ce-pas?
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post #23 of 23
10/15/07 at 2:21pm
I actually feel bad for people that are susceptible to rainbows. As to me there is no equivalent to a quality DLP, yet.
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