Posted on 01/03/2012 12:05:17 PM PST by John1111
I'm going nuts with this and as always, I know that I can throw this out on an FR post and get the input that I need. I'm trying to decide whether to go with a 55 inch flat screen TV or a HDTV Projector. Can anyone help with a decision. There are so many pros and cons to both and although I've been leaning toward the projector, I'm worried about bulb life. If I go with a projector, the viewing distance would be about 12' to 14' from the projector, which would be cieling mounted. I'm looking to spend less than $1000, but I'd really like to be able to entertain the kids with 3D/Blu-Ray movies and allow them to play their Wii on it. Are projectors they way to go?
Screw the 3D. If you want the kids to have an awesome 3D experience - send them outside to play and experience life in 3D. You can’t replicate that electronically.
You can get an LED HD Projector and not worry about bulb life. IMO, the bigger factor in this decision is whether you have a media center PC or other theater system to drive the projector (and whether you want to manage same.)
In the media room I’m very slowly building, I have both. I have a 42” LCD (will probably upgrade later this year) and a 110” projection screen. I use the TV for everyday shows then roll down the screen for when I want to watch a movie. I like the choice because I really don’t want something as big as a projection screen for just sitting around watching football, especially if I’m working at the same time. (also having a media room with projector is great if I plan to sell the home).
Considering how cheap components are these days, it can’t hurt to go with both if you shop wisely.
projction tv is great, providing that you have a way to eliminate all sources of light. We have a friend who just painted a wall in their basement white and they watch tv on that wall. It is like going to the movies! However, in daytime it stinks. Of course the sharpness isn’t quite as good as our 60 inch tv, but the size is a plus with projection. Hope this helps.
Something else to consider if you are using the WII with a projector is with such a small distance, will the kids motions get in the way of the projector and also where will you put the sensor bar if you have a large screen. It may be too low or high if you try to put it above or below the screen.
I haven’t seen modern projectors, but I know my 55 LED LCD is extremely bright. I just don’t think you’ll get the image quality with a projector. I’m under the impression that any extraneous light in the room is a problem for a projector, but all I know about is what I have.
A projector TV is usually not worth the trouble unless you are setting up a serious home theater. Since your post doesn’t mention anything like that, I would recommend you stay away from a projection system.
I’ve used a projector and an edge lit LED flat screen. Both have pros and cons. The LED flat screen is ridiculously convenient and colors are insanely bright - usually in the good way.
I should point out that my projector maxes out at 480P (no digital input) while my current 46” 1080P set makes blue ray’s sing.
All that said, I do prefer projector. There is something about the sheer size of it that matters, even if you sit far enough away that the relative size is the same. I can’t explain it, but it is real.
BTW, we sit about 6’ away from our 46” flat screen.
When we build our main house with media room, we’re definitely going projector, unless something changes.
About the 3D: I’ve been a huge proponent of 3D and the 3D Imax movies actually brought me back to the theater after shunning them for well over a decade. That said, I don’t like it in home TV’s. It really is more of a distraction than anything else. It also still needs to be cleaner and more perfected before it is really ready for prime time. I think it would be pretty cool for video games, though.
There is a trade-off involved.
If you have a $1,000 budget - don’t go with a projector. You will hate it, and it will sour your experience.
Now, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. A projector is a CHEAP way to get into the 100-300 inch screen size. Face it, for $3,000 for 1080p projector and screen - you can get the SIZE of a theater for a fraction the cost of a LCD/Plasma TV. You can’t buy a 110-300” LCD/Plasma - and if you could, you could likely get a house with a nice car for that price tag.
But, here’s where the Projector is going to fall short. You cannot shoot a black spot on the wall. Ambient light will be ‘black’, so the goal here is “light managment”. In a dedicated ‘Home Theater’, a Projector is in it’s prime. No windows, controlled lighting in wall sconces and/or rope light hidden behind crown molding. My old house had a dedicated theater room with a 110” screen. The HDTV projector and screen cost around $2500 combined.
Now, with a dedicated room, you control the light - so you can take several ‘tricks’ to make the bulbs last longer. My bulb in my set was rated for 1800 hrs; but by running the bulb in “Economy” mode - I have over 3200 hrs and it’s still going strong. Why “Economy Mode”? Because I have no outside or unwanted light to compete with. As I said earlier, you cannot shoot a black dot on the wall - so you trick your eyes by making the projected light and colors so bright, as to convince your brain that anything not brightly illuminated, appears black (in comparison). Because I didn’t have to fight sunlight, lamps or lights outside of my Theater Room (Man Cave) - I could tone the bulb down from 1,200 watts to ~750 watts and still keep the picture looking great (plus the fan is on a lower speed as well).
If you don’t have a room with controlled lighting, and want to keep in the sub-$1,000 range - I’d encourage you to go with a flat panel. Don’t “poison” the idea of a projector - as ‘cheaping out’ will mean an inferior experience. A decent screen will cost you ~$500- 1,000 by itself.
Neither. Do your kids a favor—turn off the TV. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Neither. Do your kids a favor—turn off the TV. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Couple things with the projection system: First: other light. The room with a projection system has to be fairly dark and if the room has windows it’s going to be a problem watching it during the day. Brighter bulb helps but won’t eliminate. Second at the distance you have from projector to screen how large will the image be? You need to see the projector images under same kind of conditions you’ll be using. Third what kind of screen are you using or just the wall? A real screen will give you a better image, but if you’re going to use a wall then you need to buy special paint (whole wall will need to be painted or it’ll look sloppy but man is that wall going to be white).
False and true. 1080p projectors are pretty commonplace now. Overall quality is a function of both the projector AND the screen.
Projectors are KILLED by outside light. A projector cannot project 'Black'. Any color but 'black' - so what they do is project every other color so bright - that an absence of this projection 'appears' black. Easy demonstration - make a shadow during a movie over a dark scene - you will easily see your shadow - so outside light really messes with the picture.
But, if you have a basement, or have a window-less room; you will get a great picture on a Projector, at a price that flat-panels can't begin to touch. You just can't buy a 100+ inch LCD/Plasma TV - they don't make them. And if they did, they would cost a lot more than $2,500.
Look at a 60” projection-style HDTV by Mitsbishi. Cheaper than LCD/Plasma, just as sharp, and 3D ready if you want to go that way. We have a similar sized room to what is described, and that is more than enough TV. Plus, we don’t have to deal with having a dark room like you need with a projection system.
We have a 55” Samsung LED flat screen. It is unbelievable crisp. Before that we had an LED projection, and it gave me migrains. Also, areas of the screen were turning pink. It is now out in the garage and is used for guitar hero/xbox stuff.
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