[josh684]

Im in the market for a new TV and was sold on getting a 46" LCD. I now have begun thing about getting a projector. The projector would be used as my everyday TV if I get it. My livingroom is not huge so I would project it on a 72" inch screen. Now my question is, If Im looking to sepnd about $1,200 + the cost of the screen...Is there a projector out there that would be good and not dissapoint is a bright room compared to an LCD?

I appreciate any input.

Thanks

 

[nightfly13]

You're going to have to research more and figure out your level of light control, but 72" is tiny for a projector, so anything you shoot will appear very bright on it. I personally went with the HD1000u which is 1500 lumens and reportedly quite bright (haven't gotten to set it up yet, but I have a gray screen to match it, that's how bright I'm expecting it to be). With that machine it'll be passable in ambient light (no direct sunlight on the screen) but even with mediocre light control it'll be plasma-bright on a screen that small. $900. I'm not sure you can buy a commercially produced screen that small, but there's a whole DIY screen section if you search the forums. Good luck!

 

[jrwhite]

I agree with nightfly, for that price point the HD1000 is a good choice. I have an older Mits HC3 that's in the same brightness league as the 1000. For about a year I used it as a widescreen graphics monitor in my office shooting a 70" pic on a light blue wall with no light control ( 3' x 5' window ). For average high brightness material ( like TV and sports ) it should be fine even with only minimal light control. If you want to watch a dark movie during the day, you should be prepared to draw the blinds.


Remember though, projectors can't be treated like a TV where you turn them on for brief periods and then turn them off. Ideally you will turn them on once or twice a day, and leave them on for at least an hour. AFter turning them off, you should wait at least an hour before turning them on again. Also, projector lamps are expensive, and generally last only 2000-3000 hours. If you only watch a few hours of TV a day that's fine. If you normally watch 6 to 8 hours a day, the replacement lamp cost can become a factor.


Jonathan

 

[gwlaw99]

It depends how much light control you have. If you can cocer all the windows with shades or curtains you will get a decent picture during the daytime. Mits HD1000 is a great buy at under $900.

 

[Flooper]

I am a big fan of projectors and have had them for over 5 years. Great for sports, movies, and gaming...but IMO, I don't think they work all that well as "everyday" TVs. You have to have too much light control, you can't turn them on an off for 5 minutes at a time, and to me, using a projector as an everyday TV takes away some of the "WOW" factor of using the projector for DVDs and HD sports. I'd probably choose the 46" LCD for an everyday TV over a projector. But if you do get a projector, the Mits HD1000u everyone has mentioned would be a good choice. I have seen it, and it is very bright and very impressive.

 

[nightfly13]

I'll just mention briefly that I disagree with the idea that you have to wait an hour to turn it back on. While switching on and off frequently isn't a great idea (I've heard and can accept that turning it on takes an hour from the bulb life) I've never seen anything to suggest you need to wait an hour. No projector manual states this that I've seen. Fans run fast for 30 seconds, cool the lamp enough to re-strike it. I don't necessarily doing so after 30 seconds, but I've never read anything definitive to say you can't. But it's a fine point, it's certainly not designed to be on and off as regularly as a tv.

 

[MTyson]

There is not a projector that is affordable that would not disappoint in a "bright room". If you don't shade the indoor light and block direct sunlight nothing will be good enough without a special screen.


72" is very tiny for a front projector. You can get RPTVs larger than they. Although they cost a lot more than an $899 unit like the HD1000U.

If you shade direct light from hitting the screen and project onto a light grey or silver screen you can get a nice ambient light image with pretty good contrast.

 

[S_rangeBrew]

On the subject of using a projector as an "everyday tv"


I have a projector set up with a 90" screen in one room.

I have a TV 32" CRT TV set up in another room.


The CRT does nothing but gather dust. We LOVE our projector. It doesn't matter if we are watching SDTV, HDTV, DVDs, video games, etc. .... if we can't see it at 90", it's not worth watching. I can't even get my wife to watch her soaps on the 32" set.


Size *does* matter. Those who say otherwise are just fooling themselves.

 

[CMRA]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Flooper /forum/post/0


I am a big fan of projectors and have had them for over 5 years. Great for sports, movies, and gaming...but IMO, I don't think they work all that well as "everyday" TVs. You have to have too much light control, you can't turn them on an off for 5 minutes at a time, and to me, using a projector as an everyday TV takes away some of the "WOW" factor of using the projector for DVDs and HD sports. I'd probably choose the 46" LCD for an everyday TV over a projector. But if you do get a projector, the Mits HD1000u everyone has mentioned would be a good choice. I have seen it, and it is very bright and very impressive.

I'm with Flooper on this one. Delegating TVs for TV duties and PJs for Movies, gaming and HD Football games makes the most sense.

The Mits is the hot budget PJ to beat...for the moment.