[HighEntropy]

Hello!

I am moving to a new house and was planning on replacing my projector that is staying behind at our old place.
Current projector is an Optoma HD25-LV.

Current speakers are Klipsch klipsch r82 ii. No subs, no center and no surround.

I have $1500 for upgrades to the system.

Planing to buy HD29Darbee to replace the old projector. Or should I spend my $ on the upgrade to an Epson Home Cinema 4000, or a Optoma UHD60 4K

I was going to spend this money on sound upgrades ( RC-62 ii , RC250 , Sub )

Will the upgraded projector give me a better experience for now than the upgraded sound?

Can't do both unfortunately.

Thanks!

 

[Dave in Green]

Depends on how quickly you plan to transition from 1080p to 4K content and how much relative value you place on improved image vs. improved sound. Current 4K projectors are still a new enough technology that image quality is going to continue to go up and prices come down at a more rapid rate than audio equipment. So the audio upgrade may be a better longterm investment at this point. The HD25-LV got pretty good reviews when it was introduced 4 years ago and it's not exactly an obsolete design as long as you're mostly viewing 1080p content. I wouldn't consider the HD29Darbee to be a serious upgrade as 1080p DLP technology has been fairly stagnant in recent years.

 

[AV_Integrated]

Also worth consideration if you want to consider a bit of a boost in overall image quality, the BenQ HT1070 is $500.

I would probably go that route over a UHD model or the Optoma.

Really, there is a LONG list of projector manufacturers that are in year one of 4K. They have some idea of what they are doing, but none of them really have it all figured out yet. Sony and JVC are a few steps ahead of the rest, and Epson with their 5040 certainly has a nice product. But, in 3-5 years, these will all be better and cheaper than anything you have out today.

You may also finally have a decent amount of 4K content to go along with it.

 

[HighEntropy]

You guys both bring valid points and I think that solidifies my position with buying audio upgrades for now.
And maybe compromising and spending around $1150 on the projector ( USD ). In 18 months I will be in a much better financial position for a projector upgrade, and once 4k is more standard.

I am going to research the BenQ HT1070.

While I am willing to spend the above on a projector.
Would you still recommend the above with my new budget, or even better?

Looking to get the best possible picture quality for my environment ( A large space, corridor like basement section, no light in the room. Pics attached )

Thanks for any help!

 

[Dave in Green]

I think the BenQ HT1070 is one of the great bargains right now at its current closeout price. It won't be available too long as it will soon sell out of stock. It would be at least a small upgrade from the HD25-LV in terms of overall image quality. But be sure to check its throw range out in one of the online projection calculators as I think it has a shorter throw than the HD25-LV and may need to be mounted closer to the screen to produce the same size image depending on your current setup. For a couple hundred more the BenQ HT2050 adds a small amount of vertical lens shift and a larger case with more internal baffling that makes it run a little quieter. Just don't expect a huge improvement in performance over the HD25-LV from any current

 

[HighEntropy]

I think the BenQ HT1070 is one of the great bargains right now at its current closeout price. It won't be available too long as it will soon sell out of stock. It would be at least a small upgrade from the HD25-LV in terms of overall image quality. But be sure to check its throw range out in one of the online projection calculators as I think it has a shorter throw than the HD25-LV and may need to be mounted closer to the screen to produce the same size image depending on your current setup. For a couple hundred more the BenQ HT2050 adds a small amount of vertical lens shift and a larger case with more internal baffling that makes it run a little quieter. Just don't expect a huge improvement in performance over the HD25-LV from any current

 

[AV_Integrated]

Generally speaking, no. The HT2050 is typically considered on par with the 3050, and the upgrade in price doesn't play out with the image on screen.

Do you plan on painting the walls, ceiling, or changing out the carpet?

If not, then I would get the HT1070 or HT2050 and call it done. If you are, then while those models are certainly the best under $1,500, the Sony HW45ES starts to become one worthy of consideration.

The projector will typically be right over the seating area. The noise is not much and the location keeps it out of the walking path of others on the ceiling. Typically projectors vent from the front/back/sides, so directly overhead often is the best location for keeping you out of the direct noise line from a projector.

 

[Dave in Green]

Most agree with @AV_Integrated that the HT3050 is not worth the extra money over the HT2050. The HT3050 is calibrated to Rec 709 at the end of the BenQ assembly line while the HT2050 is not. But you can tweak an HT2050's settings to closely approximate the HT3050's performance. The HT3050 is mostly worth it to those who are really serious about getting as close to Rec 709 as possible without having to tweak settings.

All of the BenQ models can properly illuminate a 150" screen in the dark but would not stand up to very much ambient light in the room. To get maximum lumens on the screen you should try to mount the projector as close to the screen as it can be while filling the screen from edge to edge. With both the HT1070 and HT2050 they can fill a 150" screen from a range of 12' 6" to 16' 4", so mounting with the front of the lens 12' 6" from the screen would give you the brightest image. You still might need to run in full lamp mode rather than low lamp, and that would mean the fan would be running faster and making more noise. So the quieter HT2050 would have an advantage there.

For a longer throw you might want to consider the HT1070 replacement model, the new HT1070A. Along with minor improvements over the HT1070 the HT1070A's longer throw lens can produce a 150" image from a range of 14' 11" to 17' 10". Again for maximum lumens on the screen you'd want to mount it at its closest throw of 14' 11", which would be 2' 5" further back than the HT1070 and HT2050. But the HT1070A has the same smaller case as the HT1070 so there would be more fan noise than with the HT2050.

All of these BenQ models produce similar quality images and very few forum members have expressed dissatisfaction with any of them. To get significantly better image quality you'd need to move up to the $1,500 price range where there are options for better 1080p models and also the lower end of the DLP pixel shifting models that produce near-native 4K image quality.

 

[3DBob]

I have the H29DARBEE and auditioned the Optoma UHD65 and Epson 5040 before that. I chose to keep the H29 as I didn't think that 4k offered enough of an upgrade due to the lack of content and 3D support. I going to look at the 4K Benq 2550 (predicted to cost between $1,500-$1,999, which comes out in January as it uses a new chip allowing for a smaller projector and will support DLPlink 1080p 3D as well.

That said, the H29 is much brighter than the W1070, so take that under consideration as well. I would say the DARBEE improves picture quality by 50-100%, whereas 4K improves about 150%. If you watch a lot of cable, you aren't going to see much difference with 4K. As for bluray, unless you watch a lot of true 4K content, the H29 is going to compare to upscaled 4K quite well.

See more of my experiences with 4K and the H29 here:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-di...-announces-ht2550-4k-hdr-dlp-projector-5.html

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-di...2550-4k-hdr-dlp-projector-5.html#post55231532

 

[AV_Integrated]

Since you asked specifically about the HT1070 on a 150" screen, I will throw out my link to my W1070 (earlier model of the HT2050) on a 161" screen. The screen is 1.3 gain which is worth noting...

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-di...usd-msrp/1720730-w1070-lights-161-screen.html

 

[Dave in Green]

... That said, the H29 is much brighter than the W1070, so take that under consideration as well. ...

DLP projectors with non-RGBRGB color wheels like the HD29Darbee are always brighter in brightest mode than those with RGBRGB color wheels like the BenQ models being discussed here. One tradeoff is that in brightest mode the non-RGBRGB models typically produce much fewer color lumens that white lumens. Many bright non-RGBRGB projectors that measure 3,000 maximum lumens in brightest mode are only producing 1,000 or less color lumens. So while whites are really bright colors tend to be relatively dark and dingy.

Another tradeoff is that non-RGBRGB color wheels are also less color accurate than RGBRGB color wheels. That's why, for example, in the BenQ lineup RGBRGB models are considered to be more premium and cost more than non-RGBRGB models. Non-RGBRGB home projectors are typically crossovers evolved from business projectors that favor brighter whites for business presentations. Almost all of the better home theater DLP models have RGBRGB color wheels that produce the best overall image in the dark. Non-RGBRGB models are primarily for home video or home entertainment use when viewing in a room with ambient light.

 

[robbynaish]

I have the H29DARBEE and auditioned the Optoma UHD65 and Epson 5040 before that. I chose to keep the H29 as I didn't think that 4k offered enough of an upgrade due to the lack of content and 3D support. I going to look at the 4K Benq 2550 (predicted to cost between $1,500-$1,999, which comes out in January as it uses a new chip allowing for a smaller projector and will support DLPlink 1080p 3D as well.

That said, the H29 is much brighter than the W1070, so take that under consideration as well. I would say the DARBEE improves picture quality by 50-100%, whereas 4K improves about 150%. If you watch a lot of cable, you aren't going to see much difference with 4K. As for bluray, unless you watch a lot of true 4K content, the H29 is going to compare to upscaled 4K quite well.

See more of my experiences with 4K and the H29 here:
https://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-d...-announces-ht2550-4k-hdr-dlp-projector-5.html

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-d...2550-4k-hdr-dlp-projector-5.html#post55231532

Hi Bob... i was looking ths manual of this PJ... as you see i searching a good PJ without problem with anytypes of 3d source. I read your post on tk800, and it let me no so so happy...

In the h29 seems sbs is handled better or i wrongly understand all that numbers? )
Thanks for your time
Ale

 

[3DBob]

Yes, in my experience 1080p projectors with 3D typically handle SBS 3D better than the current 4K 3D projectors. The HG29 handles SBS very nicely--closer to how LCD and OLED TVs handle SBS 3D.

 

[noob00224]

@robbynaish if you want a 1080p projector that can do SBS at [email protected] there are a few to go around. You can get a Benq MH530FHD which is bright at 3300 luments, an Epson 2150 (2500 lumens), or a HT2050a, which is less bright (2200 lumens) but has better color accuracy.

 

[robbynaish]

Yes, in my experience 1080p projectors with 3D typically handle SBS 3D better than the current 4K 3D projectors. The HG29 handles SBS very nicely--closer to how LCD and OLED TVs handle SBS 3D.

Even the common sbs 1080p24?
Thanks

 

[robbynaish]

@robbynaish if you want a 1080p projector that can do SBS at [email protected] there are a few to go around. You can get a Benq MH530FHD which is bright at 3300 luments, an Epson 2150 (2500 lumens), or a HT2050a, which is less bright (2200 lumens) but has better color accuracy.

Thanks... I will study them...
Pity that 4k don't handle 3d good... So strange

 

[bernstorm5000]

I have an Optoma HD29Darbee and was pretty damn happy with it in my sometimes bright apartment. Unfortunately, something happened to the lens and the place I took it said they can't fix it. So, I guess it's time to upgrade. Don't want short-throw. Want to mount on the same ceiling mount I have. Don't want any less bright than the HD29Darbee, and I don't really want a noisier projector (though a bit is fine, I guess). Was thinking about maybe a laser projector perhaps. 4K would be nice, though not completely essential. I was never disappointed on that front with the HD29darbee. Anyway, anyone have any suggestions for a natural upgrade... an even better projector than I had for under $2000? Thanks!

 

[bunts]

No intention of hijacking the topic, but I am a similar dilemma and could use some advice:

1. I am planning to replace my trusted HD25LV with an Optoma UHD projector (UHD35) as I'm getting a lamp life warning. The reason being I could repurpose the exact same mount I have. My current projector is at 11.5' (mount point) from 100" screen. Will it work? UDH35 has a manual zoom of 1.1 and I think I can get 100" from 11'5".

2. The HDMI cable I am using it pretty old (about 10 years) and does 1080p with no issue. It is a Monoprice in-wall 25' cable. Will it be okay for 4k? I do not think I can reroute another cable as it was prewired through the wall.