Home Theatre Projectors

[tmac450]

  XR06T said:

there are many very good 720p projectors now available for less than 2k, the epson tw 700 (lcd0 and mitsu hc1100 (dlp) are a couple.

the site to check out is dtvforums.info.

there is a wealth of info over there and they will be able to help you out

ps there are many horror stories with the panasonic ax's.......

I could only find the one horror story, but I must admit that I've heard Panasonic servicing is woeful.

As far as my experience goes, the first AX I got didn't work, it was replaced the next day with the newer E version. This one has worked flawlessly for 4500 hours. We use it every day as our main TV. My main requirement was the ability to perform in a lit room and at the time, the Panasonic was well ahead of anything else I saw.

I've heard good things about the Epsoms (which weren't as good when I was looking). There's new models coming out all of the time and they get better and cheaper by the day. The old man got an Infocus about 4 years ago. It burns through globes every 1200 hours, is dark, needs complete darkness to work and the colours are flat and is cost him around $7k. Now you can get something for $2k that craps all over it.

[FPV TRANNY]

  tmac450 said:

We use nothing but our projector. It's the TV that doesn't get used. I haven't seen too many 100" plasmas, and certainly nothing close to the price of our set-up.

Same here.We use ours every day and night.I used a 3000 hour lamp in 8 months .Replacment globes are cheap if you buy them direct from the wholesaler.

I got out of the whole set up including audio,screen,projector and reciever for around $5000 and its all good gear.

On another note mate.Hows that qaud treating you?

I crashed mine into a fallen down tree branch and broke my arm and my thumb I only hit it because my two wheeling mates counldnt see through all the dust I made so I elected to go last but I had limited visability and didnt see the tree

[jordak]

  FPV TRANNY said:

Same here.We use ours every day and night.I used a 3000 hour lamp in 8 months .Replacment globes are cheap if you buy them direct from the wholesaler.

I got out of the whole set up including audio,screen,projector and reciever for around $5000 and its all good gear.

On another note mate.Hows that qaud treating you?

I crashed mine into a fallen down tree branch and broke my arm and my thumb I only hit it because my two wheeling mates counldnt see through all the dust I made so I elected to go last but I had limited visability and didnt see the tree

Damn, sorry to hear about the arm/thumb, but bones can be fixed, more importantly HOWS THE BIKE

Have pushed my luck a few times and come close to giving the body armour a good workout but touch wood we're still both in one piece.

Since the mods she goes like a cutsnake. The only gripe I have with the old girl is that she is too narrow and top heavy. That problem is getting sorted next week when $4,000 of suspension mods will see her 4" wider wearing Elka's. Then she will be the ulimate allrounder

I've still got that custom tune here waiting for you, how are those mods coming along?

Edited 22/06/07 04:51 AM by jordak

[FPV TRANNY]

I had to hold off for a bit as the misses wasnt to impressed when I stacked it.I uncorked the pipe on it and that seemed to livin it up a bit.OH the bike is fine.Bloody strong quad.It flipped twice after spitting me off up side down.Scared the shiit out of me.I havent ridden it since but plan to this weekend hopefully.My thumb is still a bit worse for wear thou but it should heal all right.

Funny thing is that when I did it,I ride for another hour or so before I really felt any pain but after we stopped I couldnt move my thumb again or straighten my right arm.The only bummer about stacking a quad is you genreally go with it not part company like a 2 wheeler

[ZAP]

You guys that use the projectors all the time must have big rooms.

I guess this is why I do not use it much as we are only sitting 3m from the screen. With the projector, I find I have to scan the screen to take it all in.

It is like sitting at the front row of the IMAX. Also for the $5,000 your setups cost, you could buy a 60" Plasma, that would give you a good experience.

[cobrav8]

  Flukey said:

Dont agree.

My projector and screen cost me under $7K with a screen size of 95".

I hardly ever watch anything on my "tiny" 42" plasma now.

A Tv cant give you the cinema experience yet

I have had a second hand data projector and 100 inch screen for years - and we just use it for movies normally. That means it is nice, something different - and just watch normal tv on the tv.

A good quality screen makes heaps of difference - dont just project on the wall.

The only issue with the old ones - they are noisy from the fan - a bit annoying in quiet sections of the movies, and I need the curtains shut and lights off to make the picture the best.

Dont hesitate - get a projector for movies and a 50 inch plasma later for TV when they are even cheaper.

[tmac450]

  ZAP_F6 said:

You guys that use the projectors all the time must have big rooms.

I guess this is why I do not use it much as we are only sitting 3m from the screen. With the projector, I find I have to scan the screen to take it all in.

It is like sitting at the front row of the IMAX. Also for the $5,000 your setups cost, you could buy a 60" Plasma, that would give you a good experience.

Our room is a custom made theatre set-up, 4.5 m x 5.5 m, accoustic gyprock, accoustic grade insulation, dark walls and ceiling, black-out curtains, etc. The cost of projector and screen was $3700 (the RRP was $6k, but I got a top deal because we purchased about $25K of electrical equip in one go when we renovated).

$1300 more for a screen 40% smaller doesn't make alot of sense to me.

Admittedly, for the first week, we thought it was too big, but we got used to it and now everything else is too small. It is a true movie experience. An Xbox is great, expecially with multiple players.

Also, if you think the image it too big, then why don't you just reduce the zoom on the lens. Our projector gives us a range of anywhere between 30" and 150".

[nang3]

with Projectors you should really decide a couple of things first;

1.) how well can the light be controlled in the viewing room

2.) what are the rooms dimensions

3.) 720P or 1080P

4.) DLP or LCD

Personally number 4 will be the decider - a small percentage of people see a dizzying rainbow effect from DLP projectors and they cant watch them at all.. if this is the case then LCD is for you and I'd suggest a brand with a decent service reputation like Epson. Be aware that LCD units *can* exhibit panel degradation (blotches, blue tinges etc) which requires a replacement optical block for about $1400 or so.. Newer inorganic LCD panels are slowly being used which should stop this though.. Most of the time the PQ and contrast of LCD panels are not quote up to the DLP's but LCD's are usually a bit brighter.

If no one is affected by the rainbow effect, then I'd suggest one of the Mitsubishi (HC1100/HC3100) PJ's in the $1500-2500 mark, or the Optoma HD70 around $1800-2200 or HD72 around the $3k mark.. it all depends where ya shop really..

If you want the ducks nuts and the cops figs, go for a 1080p JVC HD1 I think the model is, around the $7k mark but supposedly the shizzle.. might be overkill for a non dedicated theatre room really..

a screen will be around $1k for a decent one, or an overkill one for about $5k haha

Check out Simply Home Cinema in Ozzy Park opposite JB's - they have a good setup with DLP and LCD units at varying price points.. they are a little bit exxy though