Home Cinema Projector

[Woodsie]

Hi,
I am looking for a projector for my garage conversion which is being changed into a home cinema

Anyway, I have been looking at the Sanyo Z4 and was attracted by the free lamp voucher and the cheap price with good spec.
From 247av.com it is £879, bargain I thought.
I have about £1500 to spend on AV gear. From this I need everything!
Basically I am looking for suggestions if this projector is good, bad or better can be had. I would like to spend around £1k on the projector and the rest on audio.
I will be looking closely at the 98" electric screen from that German company on ebay, this is £145 delivered I think.
This is £1024 without the celing mount.


AUIDO GEEKS

I am looking for a surround sound system, most probably 5.1 and if you check my thread below I have been looking at the Denon DHT500SD and the KEF 1005's.

Audio isnt really my thing so any advice would be appriciated.


http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...67#post3796367

Thanks

[Gary Lightfoot]

I preferred the Sony HS60 over the Z4, but that was purely due to the better black levels and cobtrast. The Z4 is brighter though, so depending on your preferences, you will need to decide which is better for you.

Have you considered DLP? Infocus and Optoma both have 1280 x 720 modles in your price range that should be suitable.

I'll let someone else recommend an audio system for you.

Gary

[Woodsie]

Hi,

LCD, or DLP doesnt really bother me.

Any DLP models worth a mention? Better then the Z4?


I will be playing movies in either pitch black or minimal lighted rooms

[Bestbear]

Hi Woodsie

I bought a BENQ W100 for less than £400 from Pixmania. It is VERY good, and has an HDV input as well as two composite inputs. The bulb life is supposed to be 3000 hrs, by which time I think I shall have moved further upmarket.

I also bought a Musteq surround sound system, which is astonishingly good for the money. (£60) You can get a good Draper screen on ebay for around £40, so home cinema need not cost an arm and a leg! But if you have an arm and a leg to spare, you can probably get better performance than I have!

[Woodsie]

I have just seen the Panasonic AX100, that is an impressive spec for a cheap price, that certainly is moving towards the top of the list.
Any opinions?

[Gary Lightfoot]

The optoma HD70 and HD72i models seem to get good reviews. Do a search here and see what current owners think. I prefer DLP to LCD msyelf but thought the Sony HS60 LCD was very good indeed.

For a 1st projector you'll be pleased with most of them, but if you can view a few, you'll get an idea of what you like in an image and which models give you those properties.

Gary