[mike.hutch]

I'd like some opinions here please, I'm building a room that will be 3 metres wide by 6 metres deep, with the screen on the shortest wall. I was planning on having a 42" plasma with a large drop down projector screen in front. The thing is I'm not sure if the room is big enough for the projector to be worth having. I've seen the 60" LG plasma in Currys and it looks pretty impresive, so I'm thinking the 65" Panasonic my be a better solution. I know its about £3600, but by the time I've bought a decent 42", projector and screen its not that much more.

Any thoughts?

[skalmen]

Ofcourse the better idea is projector and 42 inch lcd or plasma, then large plasma or lcd, for around 3600 you will have good pj like optoma hd82 or benq w6000, or sony hw-15 or mitsubishi hc6800 , this are all around 2000-2500 pounds and you have 1000 for lcd and some nice screen, the distance 6 meteers is big enough for descente 120"-140" screen , there is no match for any plasma or LCD even 65", pj have always better film like picture, more vivid and 3 demention , and the size!!!!!!, also in this price range wery good black level, so you cant think about something else, thats my guss afcourse
when you buy your firs pj and see how it perform, you will never think about something else

[kbfern]

42" plasma approx £600,1080p projector under £1k,screen £100-£200.Hows that not much less than £3600,I make it less than half

[confused88]

The room is ideal for a projector. You could easily accomodate an 80"-92" screen. I wouldn't want to have such a huge TV.

[inzaman]

Originally Posted by mike.hutch

Any thoughts?

Stick to your original plan - 42inch Plasma and a PJ.

There is nothing more satisfying in the movie veiwing experience than watching a movie on a PJ imx.

If you go with 65inch then once you get used to the size if watching normal TV then movies will loose that wow factor very quickly. With a PJ once the screen comes down and the lights go out you will get the wow factor

[OrigamiNinja]

Go for the plasma and PJ option!

I have a 50" plasma which is great for everyday viewing but there is nothing better than firing up the PJ for some 360/PS3 action or if the lads come round to watch the footy! As the PJ is used quite sparingly it still has that wow factor everytime I use it!

[mike.hutch]

Thanks guys, I will be sitting about 3-4 metres max. back from the screen as the room needs to house a gym at the back as well really. The thing is I really like the idea of only having one screen, maybe even a fixed projection screen.

I'm thinking of the Epson TW5000 projector, hence the similar price.

[mike.hutch]

Actually I've just worked it out and The seating position will be 4 metres back. The room will be used for PS3/Xbox and films mainly, no normal TV though.

[Ken42]

It's no contest. In the evenings I watch normal TV on my projector and have a 32" LCD for daytime viewing. I don't want a massive TV in the room.

I sit 3 metres back and the screen size is 87" diagonal. You'll have plenty of room for your gym.

[Graham N]

Another vote for PJ and TV

I have a Pioneer 507XD 50inch plasma for normal TV and a JVC HD750 throwing onto a 104inch electric screen that comes down in front of the TV. My viewing distance is about 11ft

Graham

[nwgarratt]

Originally Posted by Ken42

It's no contest. In the evenings I watch normal TV on my projector and have a 32" LCD for daytime viewing. I don't want a massive TV in the room.

I sit 3 metres back and the screen size is 87" diagonal. You'll have plenty of room for your gym.

Same here. 32" LCD for watching rubbish TV programmes and 84" for HD films and DVD's. If I had 42" I would want at least 92" to make the size more impressive. Over 100" would be even better.

A TV is also needed for daytime viewing or when it is not suitable to turn the lights off.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by mike.hutch

I'd like some opinions here please, I'm building a room that will be 3 metres wide by 6 metres deep, with the screen on the shortest wall. I was planning on having a 42" plasma with a large drop down projector screen in front. The thing is I'm not sure if the room is big enough for the projector to be worth having. I've seen the 60" LG plasma in Currys and it looks pretty impresive, so I'm thinking the 65" Panasonic my be a better solution. I know its about £3600, but by the time I've bought a decent 42", projector and screen its not that much more.

Any thoughts?

Mike, check my set up:

My Third Home Cinema

My room is 3m x 5m, so similar to yours. I have a 43" plasma on the wall, and a PJ screen which pulls down in front of it that's c.2.35m wide.

I couldn't live with just a PJ (too odd for watching 'normal' TV) or no PJ (even at the size it is I find it just big enough for film watching).

You can buy a decent enough 50" plasma for around £1k, BTW. If I had no display at all, I'd opt for 50" for 'normal' TV and a projector.

Steve W

[Rich H]

I had a similar dilemma. I was headed toward getting a 65" plasma for my room, but then caught the "projector bug." Here's the story on why/how I made my decision, FWIW:

I HAVE SEEN THE (Projector) LIGHT! A Conversion Story.... - AVS Forum

Rich H

[confused88]

Originally Posted by kbfern

42" plasma approx £600,1080p projector under £1k,screen £100-£200.Hows that not much less than £3600,I make it less than half

A little bit off topic.

Hi kbfern,
How do you find the HD20? Is is a big improvement over the Planar?

[kbfern]

As good as the Planar was for the money we paid, the HD20 is so much better.

The blacks/shadow detail of the HD20 is a good step up from the planar along with extra brightness and improved contrast ratio.The extra detail of 1080p over 720p is also pretty obvious.

I was able to sell the planar and for only an extra £480 allowed me to get into 1080p.So for me it was a no brainer.Also the replacement bulbs are only around £130 so the thought of having to replace it one day is no longer a shock..

It was also brilliant that the offset and throw are almost identical so changing projectors involved no fiddling around with moving/changing screens or projector location.

[maxwell4321]

I have the 60" LG Plasma and I have a PJ Panasonic PT-AX200 for movies and some gaming, 120" screen drops down in front of the plasma and it is stunning everytime,
Before this I had a 42" Plasma and a HD65 with a 84" screen but when I got the 60" plasma I sold the PJ and screen thinking it was not needed as the plasma would be big enough but it just isn't and has nowhere near the same impact.

So dont do what I did as you will regret it you have more than enough room/budget to get yourself well kitted out with both and you will enjoy the difference a big screen can make

[confused88]

Originally Posted by kbfern

As good as the Planar was for the money we paid, the HD20 is so much better.

The blacks/shadow detail of the HD20 is a good step up from the planar along with extra brightness and improved contrast ratio.The extra detail of 1080p over 720p is also pretty obvious.

I was able to sell the planar and for only an extra £480 allowed me to get into 1080p.So for me it was a no brainer.Also the replacement bulbs are only around £130 so the thought of having to replace it one day is no longer a shock..

It was also brilliant that the offset and throw are almost identical so changing projectors involved no fiddling around with moving/changing screens or projector location.

I am glad to hear that. As good as the Planar is I also think that shadow detail could have been a little better.
Thanks.

[mike.hutch]

Cheers for all the replies guys, I think I'm going to go with the projector. I'm thinking of maybe going for a fixed screen and a 42" plasma on a lift that can be hidden in a cabinet when not in use. I can build the front speakers in there too then.

I was working in someones house yesterday and they had a very expensive (£250000!) setup in a dedicated room with proper staged seating, all the speakers hidden, acoustic panels everywhere, the works. They had a fixed screen which did look very nice indeed.

My setup is going in a dedicated room where I wont watch normal TV. I have a 50" plasma in the house which I think is about right for normal viewing.

[Welwynnick]

Once you get used to a projector its hard to imagine AV life without one.

Its the real thing.

Nick

[DrH]

A PJ is a must. It cannot be beaten for the wow factor.

Mine is used for films and games and dare i say the missus loves the x factor on it.

The Plasma is now relegated to all other viewing in the lounge.

Especially for films it is just a whole other experience.

DrH

[Rich H]

Yeah, it's funny: I bought my 42" plasma back when plasmas were the new thing - over 7 years ago. Replacing my 27" CRT, I was enthused about how big and cinematic my 42" display seemed.

But now 42" is almost small compared to standard flat panel offerings. And a widescreen image that big is now just Watching Standard TV.

Projection gives back the wow factor. The cinematic vibe that is different from "watching TV" or movies on a flat panel. Not to mention that you can do things like go Constant Image Height, where the CinemaScope-shaped screen further increases the "Now THIS is cinema" aspect, vs the standard 16:9 shape of everyone else's TV screen.

[tomdanscar]

Another vote for the plasma and pj route.Ihave a pioneer 500m 50" for the news and a jvc hd350 for the movies also you can upgrade in the future like we all do when better kit comes out without losing loads on one expensive item

[paul77]

just to add ive got tw5000 and 37" tv,

the epson is simply stunning! I have had panny's before this in ax200 and ae2000 and this simply wipes the floor with them and nearly every other tv i have seen, picture is razor sharp and super bright, colours are stunning and blacks are inky black. If you have this as an option go for it! I project onto a 96" screen in a garage conversion