I currently have an Epson TW10 (480p wide screen) projector with a 60 wide no name screen that came with a projector. I've had it more than 3 years (just changed the lamp after almost 3000 hours) and I've been very happy with it. It has been used only in Theatre Black (eco) mode, although the room is rarely fully dark, especially in the summer time (one side of the room is full of windows with just blinds and no other curtains), since I found the colours more pleasing for my eye in that mode. But, as I said already, I've been happy with that set up. That is until I connected my HTPC. While TV and video files look ok whit it, I could really use higher resolution when using it as a PC (mainly tweaking the HTPC). I could also use a little more brightness (the projector is rated 1000 ANSI according to specs).
So I've decided to go for a wide screen 720p projector. But I find it hard to decide which one to get, since I can't seem to be able to test them before purchasing here in Lithuania where I'm currently working (and probably will for several additional years). Also the prices are not nearly as competitive as you have over the pond (go figure why perhaps the manufactures are under the impression that people in Eastern Europe are much wealthier than in North America). So the projectors that are at my budget range are the Optoma H70, Mitsubishi HD1000U and Epson EMP-TW700. The price range difference is about 150 HD70 being the cheapest and the TW700 the most expensive, but since it's relatively minor difference that would not be necessarily a deciding factor.
So here are my two questions:
1) Which projector should I get? As you notice from my current setup, I'm not that demanding. The easy placement of the TW700 would be handy but not necessary. Also I do not care that much for colour accuracy, just as long it looks good.
(Having said that, I have an Optoma EzPro 739 (I think) DLP projector at the office and that one must have the worst colours in video play back I've ever seen. It also has problems with whites and blacks. The white colours burn loosing most of the details and black lack any shades. On top of that it seems to have difficulty to keep up whit the video signal, especially with complex colour patterns like the human face. One frame all the natural defects of the skin are there next frame they seem to be flushed, and the following frame they are back again. Very annoying! I hope this not a normal feature on Optoma and/or DLP projectors.)
2) I want a slightly bigger screen (maybe around 80 wide screen) but I'm not willing to pay the enormous amounts of money they are asking for them, so I'm probably going to do it myself. What material/colour should I use? I did some testing by comparing white laminated chipboard to my current screen and I didn't notice a big difference. But I remember reading somewhere that would be a bad idea. Does anyone know why? I'm also thinking of using a laminated hard board (I don't know the English name for it, but it's the cheap thin cardboard like material that is usually nailed behind bookshelves) and paint the laminated side with some colour with some black boards. What colour should I get if those made for projector screens are not available here (which seems very likely)?
Thank you for your help.
So I've decided to go for a wide screen 720p projector. But I find it hard to decide which one to get, since I can't seem to be able to test them before purchasing here in Lithuania where I'm currently working (and probably will for several additional years). Also the prices are not nearly as competitive as you have over the pond (go figure why perhaps the manufactures are under the impression that people in Eastern Europe are much wealthier than in North America). So the projectors that are at my budget range are the Optoma H70, Mitsubishi HD1000U and Epson EMP-TW700. The price range difference is about 150 HD70 being the cheapest and the TW700 the most expensive, but since it's relatively minor difference that would not be necessarily a deciding factor.
So here are my two questions:
1) Which projector should I get? As you notice from my current setup, I'm not that demanding. The easy placement of the TW700 would be handy but not necessary. Also I do not care that much for colour accuracy, just as long it looks good.
(Having said that, I have an Optoma EzPro 739 (I think) DLP projector at the office and that one must have the worst colours in video play back I've ever seen. It also has problems with whites and blacks. The white colours burn loosing most of the details and black lack any shades. On top of that it seems to have difficulty to keep up whit the video signal, especially with complex colour patterns like the human face. One frame all the natural defects of the skin are there next frame they seem to be flushed, and the following frame they are back again. Very annoying! I hope this not a normal feature on Optoma and/or DLP projectors.)
2) I want a slightly bigger screen (maybe around 80 wide screen) but I'm not willing to pay the enormous amounts of money they are asking for them, so I'm probably going to do it myself. What material/colour should I use? I did some testing by comparing white laminated chipboard to my current screen and I didn't notice a big difference. But I remember reading somewhere that would be a bad idea. Does anyone know why? I'm also thinking of using a laminated hard board (I don't know the English name for it, but it's the cheap thin cardboard like material that is usually nailed behind bookshelves) and paint the laminated side with some colour with some black boards. What colour should I get if those made for projector screens are not available here (which seems very likely)?
Thank you for your help.
