[hulk_uk]

I am thinking of getting a projector for the spare room so i can watch dvds and play on the playstation in there. I obviously want as bigger screen size as possible but its only a small room.

I worked out i will have pretty much 2.5m max throw distance so what sort of size am i looking at getting?

money is the other stumbling block im not rich so i need it two be around £400 max as i need a screen, speakersand dvd player etc.

So i guess if anyone can recommend some good CHEAP hd projectors that dont require huge throw distance it would be much appreciated.

also any info on where to pick up a cheap screen?

cheers

[stevelup]

Hi

I'd highly recommend seeking out a used Sanyo PLV-Z3. It's a great projector and within your budget.

Steve

[hulk_uk]

i will have a look at that model cheers what sort of size do you think i would get from it at 2.5m also bulb costs??

i am hoping to get about 70" as i already have a 46" lcd downstairs which i am sure my girlfriend will tell me is just fine.

[stevelup]

Hi

At 2.5M, the minimum image size would be 142cm w x 80cm high and the maximum would be 183 x 103.

A lot of those projectors shipped with free lamps which means they are quite widely available 'used' if you see what I mean.

Many people who would be selling a Z3 might already have a spare lamp.

Steve

[stevelup]

That's 64" > 85" diagonal.

Steve

[hulk_uk]

hi thanks for your help so far that sounds good and what i am after. I have had trouble finding them though.

What do you think of this?
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Elec...p=1&dpr=151422

i was thinking maybe about this what does everyone think?

[stevelup]

Be sure you can tolerate DLP projectors.

They make me feel sick and give me a blinding headache after as little as ten minutes.

Not everyone suffers from this so it might not be a problem for you...

Just to be clear, I was suggesting a used Z3 - you won't find a new one anywhere now. Try the classified forums here, and possibly eBay.

Steve

[x liddy x]

Optoma HD65, it's the newer model to the HD700X. it's £435 at Dixons with discount codes.

[hulk_uk]

Ok guys thanks for your help thinking probably the hd65 or the slightly older model i mentioned as at my short throw range i can still get 70"ish.

I now just need to find new places for junk out of the spare room so i can get a sofa and stuff in (the harder part) and i think i will go ahead and order.

[stevelup]

Don't forget the check you are not allergic to DLP first!

[x liddy x]

Originally Posted by hulk_uk

Ok guys thanks for your help thinking probably the hd65 or the slightly older model i mentioned as at my short throw range i can still get 70"ish.

I now just need to find new places for junk out of the spare room so i can get a sofa and stuff in (the harder part) and i think i will go ahead and order.

I'll PM you a deal, it's the best i've seen so far and should save you a few bob.

[stevelup]

Ssshhhh... I'll meet you in the park under the old tree. I'll be wearing a grey mac and will have a carnation in my pocket.

It's vital no-one else learns of the deal

[x liddy x]

Originally Posted by stevelup

Ssshhhh... I'll meet you in the park under the old tree. I'll be wearing a grey mac and will have a carnation in my pocket.

It's vital no-one else learns of the deal

Well, tis.

[TechnologicSte]

Play.com have the HD700X for 449.99 with a free £200 screen

[x liddy x]

Play.com say that screen is worth £200 so people think they are getting a bargin. Same way they price the Optoma Subwoofer for £100, again so people think they are getting a bargin.

[hulk_uk]

thanks everyone but i met someone in the park wearing a grey raincoat and think im going to go with his deal.

Only joking there is nothing dodgey about liddys deal at all.

[hulk_uk]

right all ordered now went for the hd65 should get it in a week or so and once its set up will let you all know what i think thanks for all your help.

[x liddy x]

Hey, you used the 'secret' deal from under the old tree lmao.
Let me know how it works out for you.

[hulk_uk]

Yeah i used it cheers oh my god i havent been this excited since i was about 5 and it was nearly christmas. (a weekish for everything to arrive then need to get my dad to help me put me shelving and stuff up im crap when it comes to diy so hopefully this weekend)

Just been ordering hdmi splitter and few other bits and pieces where am i best of getting a 10m hdmi lead for cheap any ideas?

£18ish on ebay but they dont look like great quality cables although with a digital singnal does it really matter?

Just another thought as well will a projector be ok with a wii or will i have to leave this downstairs?

again thanks so much for your help.

[lord vader]

could somebody pm me this deal as i am about to buy a hd65 from dixons

[x liddy x]

Originally Posted by hulk_uk

Yeah i used it cheers oh my god i havent been this excited since i was about 5 and it was nearly christmas. (a weekish for everything to arrive then need to get my dad to help me put me shelving and stuff up im crap when it comes to diy so hopefully this weekend)

Just been ordering hdmi splitter and few other bits and pieces where am i best of getting a 10m hdmi lead for cheap any ideas?

£18ish on ebay but they dont look like great quality cables although with a digital singnal does it really matter?

Just another thought as well will a projector be ok with a wii or will i have to leave this downstairs?

again thanks so much for your help.

HDMI cables are all the same, unlike conpostie/component, it doesn't matter if it's gold plated or silver plated, cheap or expensive.
They run off a digital signal, it will produce the same image each time.
Component/composite use an anlogue signal which can variate, where as HDMI is digital which is either on or off, noting inbetween.

The Wii you can connect using composite, as for the infra-red bar, it can be mounted below or above the screen.

Unfortuantly for me i only have £320 and I am buying Metal Gear Solid 4 this thrusday for £25 so i'm down to £295 outof the money needed for this projector.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10m-HDMI-to-HD...QQcmdZViewItem
HDMI 10M £12 delivered, if your unhappy you can get a full refund.

[hulk_uk]

cheers i thought that was the case just last time i bought a cheap cable for my dvd player and sometimes when i turn it on the screen bounces untill i unplug and replug the hdmi lead in. No big deal like just a little annoying.

cheers for that ebay link.

oh right i thought you had already ordered it all. I couldnt really afford it especially after all the extra stuff i had to buy to re house things in different rooms and furniture for room when finished. Ended up spending over a grand but got half on 6 months intrest free and rest on credit card so i can pay it off over 2 months without intrest.

I thought i best bite the bullet otherwise i will be uming and arhing(spelling) on which projector to get if i save up like i did for my tv. technology moves to fast and your always waiting that little bit longer for the next best thing.

Plus i wouldnt mind watching some of the euro tourny on it even without england in it. Still got teams to cheer for coz if some of me bets come in it will all be paid for anyway.

[x liddy x]

That projector should last you until the current 1080p ones are at a decent price and new budget ones come.

[pooley91]

Originally Posted by x liddy x

HDMI cables are all the same, unlike conpostie/component, it doesn't matter if it's gold plated or silver plated, cheap or expensive.
They run off a digital signal, it will produce the same image each time.
Component/composite use an anlogue signal which can variate, where as HDMI is digital which is either on or off, noting inbetween.

The Wii you can connect using composite, as for the infra-red bar, it can be mounted below or above the screen.

Unfortuantly for me i only have £320 and I am buying Metal Gear Solid 4 this thrusday for £25 so i'm down to £295 outof the money needed for this projector.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10m-HDMI-to-HD...QQcmdZViewItem
HDMI 10M £12 delivered, if your unhappy you can get a full refund.

Liddy's right - I bought a 10m HDMI cable from ebay for £17 and it works perfectly. I also got a 10m VGA cable so that I could hook my SKY box up to the HD65.

I also bought a cheap HDMI splitter - which didn't work - not sure why. On reflection I actually need a HDMI switch with two outputs (TV and HD65) and at least 3 inputs (PS3, Freesat and Spare) - any recommendations?

I bought a Freesat box on saturday and hooked that up - and allI can say is wow!!! Ok it's only got BBC HD and ITV HD at the moment but that's what I bought it for - so that I can watch Euro2008. Watching footie in SD just isn;t the same anymore!

Liddy - don't buy MGS!! Keep the money in the kitty for the HD65 - it's worth it!!

Mike

[x liddy x]

It's MGS man, are you crazy!

[hulk_uk]

another quick question sorry this is abit of topic as well.

I have a 32" lcd in my bedroom so could i get a hdmi splitter and have one output in my projector the other in my lcd and then be able to use one or the other for watching dvds or playing ps3?

also what would the quality be like i am running am going to be running a 3 port hdmi switch which the dvd and ps3 plug into then have a 10m hdmi going to my projector/ to a splitter box which will have a tiny hdmi to project and probably another 10m+ hdmi to lcd

This isnt really needed but it would just be nice so i didnt always have to use my projector although why i wouldnt want to i dont know.

Probably just to give it a rest i guess.

Next question is does anyone know of anycheap hdmi splitters?

also have sky in my bedroom sd only but will still quite like to be able to watch footy on pj but cant move box out of bedroom as lass would kill me. So are there any cheap composite splitters? and what would pic quality be like using 1?

I will only ever be watching on 1 output at a time in both of these cases but would just like both sources available in each room.

thanks again and sorry for being a pain with all my questions just figure might as well try and do everything at once.

[hulk_uk]

Projector and screen just arrived this dinner time good job i spent all last night building/moving furniture, equipment and junk around.

Its a lot smaller then i expected and really light as well cant say the same for the screen which is bigger and heavier then i imagined although this is still in packaging.

I have enlisted the help of my dad tonight so hopefully i might get it up and runnning and be able to post some pics and first impressions.
(probably wont get it all done 2night but i can hope)

[hulk_uk]

right i have my projector and everything set up except shelf for my projector. I am after a black glass one atleast 11" X 11". having trouble finding one though. Saw one in ikea so might have to have an hour drive there and an hour drive back to get one. Any one know of anywhere else?

first impressions it really is going to be amazing didnt get long to use it had loads of tidying up to do. But i got 70"ish of upscaled dvds not including black bars. 75" from sky and have tested ps3 yet. (hopefully might get another inch or 2 when my projector is in place properly.

I have some pictures took of a crap camera phone but will post them anyway.
dont forget i havent touched any settings and projector is balanced on a box.

post them later today.

[x liddy x]

Congrats man. I'm back to £295 for it, i bought MGS4, couldn't stop my self.

[hulk_uk]

hey pictures i promised.

my visable screen has like an inch border round the sides does anyone know how to get rid of this and preferebly turn it into visable screen.

great that it came with a scart to vga adapter makes it easy to connect a virgin box

i realised i get slightly bigger pic from cable and ps3 compared to dvd as well 70" dvd and about 74" others.

not bad considering i am roughly 2.45m throw distance.

like i say if anyone knows how to get rid of black border great let me know.

projector is just on default settings unfortunatly it has to be tilted slightly which causes a bit of keystoning which loses me abit of size aswell.

still great though will post pic of my mounting later after i get my trunking up.