First Projector: Buying Advice

[robyoung]

Hi all,

Just looking in to buying a LCD projector and screen for my living room. First of all my Living room is small and i'd be watching the screen from about 3.5 metres away! I've sen a similiar set up in a the same size room and it looks good.

So what projector would you reccomend around the 1000 mark. Will mainly be using it for my DVD player and occasionaly Sky+ and PS2.

What else will i need a switching box of some sort to change the input from Plasma to projector when need be. I'm also after a screen around the 7ft 16:9 and preferably remote controlled. I have been told screens are a lot cheaper to order from the US, is this true and if so where from?

Thanks for the help.
am new to projectors!

Rob

[KraGorn]

I'm sure you'll get several people suggesting the new Panasonic AE-700E, at around £1300 it's probably the best you'll get for the money and probably a good deal more too.

If that's too expensive the older AE500 will be less and could probably be picked up at a very good price as dealers make room for the AE700. About the only other one I can see in that price is the Epson TW-200 or a bit less gets you a Hitachi PJ-TX100 which seems a good price and I've seen some good comments about it.

That said, there's no real substitute for being able to audition and demo models you're interested in .. that said, I'm on my 3rd projector and all were bought 'blind'.

As for switching, it'll depend on the connections available from your DVD player and on your displays, you may find you can use, say, DVI for one and component for the other meaning you don't need to switch.

[hornydragon]

DEMO, DEMO, DEMO............
PTAE500, PTAE700 or Z3

[digisocialist]

Why have you ruled out DLP... there are some goog PJ's at that price. The SP4800 is under 1k as is the Optoma H30.

[robyoung]

Thanks for the replies.

I suppose i havent rulled out DLPs, just assumed they were out of my proce range. So what is the main difference in quality/size/brightness etc?

My connections at the moment are quite simple, my DVD uses S-Video to the Plasma and my Sky + goes through RGB. And my PS2 is piggy backed to my VCR which in turn is piggy backed to my Sky+!!! I know its not the optimal set up but it does me.

Also any recommendations on Screens and where to get them from?

Anyone recommend any good demo rooms near the Milton Keynes area?

Thanks
Rob

[Media Link]

Hi Rob

If you havent already I would consider the Infocus 4805 because it is great value and a the best budget projector I have seen, being DLP it produces a very natural image with great black level.

The only downside to DLP is raindow but on this product it is minimal.