HELP : -Budget 1080 projector

ilsondanni · 05-07-2009, 1:30 PM

In the next few months we are hopefully going to convert our garage into a lads room. Currently I am torn between a large TV (50" probably) or a projector.
Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated, and also any good projector models that you can think of
Cheers.

swiftpete · 05-07-2009, 2:11 PM

You need to specify a budget otherwise there's no point asking. You could spend up to 50 grand on a projector.

ilsondanni · 06-07-2009, 10:59 PM

Anything upto £1000 maximum.
Ideally 1080p but 1080i would probably do.

swiftpete · 07-07-2009, 7:52 AM

Well you're a bit out of luck for a grand as you have the sanyo z700 which doesn't seem to be very good, as far as I've read anyway.
If you can pump up a bit more cash, for 1125 the mitsubishi hc5500 looks good, as does the epson tw3000 which is a bit more. The tw3000 has more placement flexibility than the the mitsi though. It's something I've been researching for ages now myself as I don't want to spend more than a grand if I can help it!

Glenzo · 07-07-2009, 9:01 AM

Optoma HD20 £899

swiftpete · 07-07-2009, 10:18 AM

Yep that's the one for this guy. Prob not better than my pjtx300 so I immediately ruled it out for myself and forgot all about it.

*cyberheater* · 07-07-2009, 1:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftpete

Yep that's the one for this guy. Prob not better than my pjtx300 so I immediately ruled it out for myself and forgot all about it.

Ansi contrast on the HD20 is something around 500:1 which is going to be way higher then the PJTX300. And if the black level is decent then it would be a significant upgrade.
If your RBE sensitive then it's probably a no no but if you're okay with DLP then it likely be a cracking budget 1080p projector.

I'm tempted myself.

swiftpete · 07-07-2009, 1:58 PM

You could well be right. Dynamic CR is 10000:1, but I'm not sure of how that compares to ANSI contrast ratio.
I've been tinkering with the idea of the mitsi hc5500. CR on that one is 14000:1, which to my brain, sounds higher than 10000, but I don't know how that compares to ANSI either.

swiftpete · 07-07-2009, 2:28 PM

Just done a bit of research and I understand it a bit better now. Anyway, this one could be cool, if you can put it in your room anyway, with no lens shift it could be awkward to place, if you're building a room, it wouldn't really matter though, cos you could put it where you wanted.

*cyberheater* · 07-07-2009, 2:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftpete

You could well be right. Dynamic CR is 10000:1

Interesting. Where did you hear about the CR figures?

swiftpete · 07-07-2009, 2:56 PM

Sorry for the confusion, thats on my hitachi pjtx300, not this one. I was just rambling about how the 2 would compare

Glenzo · 11-07-2009, 10:29 AM

Oops! Cancelled the order for the HD20.

Went for the Sanyo PLV-Z700 for the same price. Reckoned it was more of a projector. Quite retro looking piece of kit!!

Up and running, it's suave and my worries of LCD instead of DLP have been quashed. Watched movie last night in 1080p and it's the bollucks. The fan is very quiet btw.

ilsondanni · 12-07-2009, 12:34 PM

Cool, Been looking around lately and because the screens only gonna be around 90" - 100" I thought there wouldn't be much difference in 1080 so I've been looking at Optoma HD-70.
Any reviews on this?

*cyberheater* · 12-07-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenzo

Oops! Cancelled the order for the HD20.

Went for the Sanyo PLV-Z700 for the same price. Reckoned it was more of a projector. Quite retro looking piece of kit!!

Up and running, it's suave and my worries of LCD instead of DLP have been quashed. Watched movie last night in 1080p and it's the bollucks. The fan is very quiet btw.

How are the black levels? Reviews I've read have stated that it's about the only weakness of the machine.

Glenzo · 12-07-2009, 2:30 PM

Hi was thinking of getting the Sanyo PLV-700 calibrated maybe with Avia or DVE HD.

I've tinkered so far outside of the default settings to what suits my room best.

I don't think I'd complain about the black levels, we watched Black Water on Sky HD and the whole experience was so much richer and noticeably sharper than 720p. There were a lot of dark scenes and it seemed to cope fine.

Now I'm no expert but is there a quick way to test your black levels and I'll let you know further?

Ps. The unit is built in Japan and you can tell as it's very solid and expensive looking.

*cyberheater* · 12-07-2009, 3:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenzo

I don't think I'd complain about the black levels, we watched Black Water on Sky HD and the whole experience was so much richer and noticeably sharper than 720p. There were a lot of dark scenes and it seemed to cope fine.

Now I'm no expert but is there a quick way to test your black levels and I'll let you know further?

Well, if you're watching a movie with lots of dark scenes and the blacks seem dark enough then your done. Nice one.
I've had a few LCD machines in the past and the blacks always seem a bit too gray for me but I'm hoping that modern LCD machines like the Sanyo have by and large solved that issue.

RL123 · 12-07-2009, 4:11 PM

I was worried about black levels before I bought my Z700 but - as someone else on here correctly pointed out - they are only 'poor' compared to similarly-specced 1080p machines...which will likely cost 40% more, or higher. They are more than adequate and are very good, IMO. Certainly as good as other projectors I've seen in this price range.

I don't have a single problem with this projector but, if I did, it would be to improve the black levels. It is just so impressive with everything else it does. Blacks are still black but there is so much fine shadow detail in the image that I just wouldn't get with my LCD TV.

Glenzo · 12-07-2009, 8:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberheater

Well, if you're watching a movie with lots of dark scenes and the blacks seem dark enough then your done. Nice one.
I've had a few LCD machines in the past and the blacks always seem a bit too gray for me but I'm hoping that modern LCD machines like the Sanyo have by and large solved that issue.

My previous projector was an Optoma HD70 DLP and was the only one I ever had. I totally loved it! Craved 1080p and Lens shift! I had worries that LCD Technology wouldn't be as impressive after going for the Sanyo over the Optoma HD20 which looked aesthetically cheap in comparison.

Now that I've bought an LCD Projector my worries are quashed with the technology not being as good as DLP (this is how a lot of people seem to view it).

The LCD projector is so quiet in operation compared the the HD70 fan which I now realise was a little noisy. Also I believe it handles SD material better with minimal macroblocking on SKY.

*cyberheater* · 12-07-2009, 9:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenzo

I had worries that LCD Technology wouldn't be as impressive after going for the Sanyo over the Optoma HD20 which looked aesthetically cheap in comparison.

Thanks. How would compare the black level of the Sanyo compared to the HD70? Sorry to keep asking.