Projector slection advice please

[andypsmith]

Apologies right at the start for this question, but I couldn't find a suitable thread so far, so please point me in the right direction if there is one!

I am looking for a general projector for linking into DVD, karaoke, PS2 and PC - all standard definition. I can't afford to spend a great deal at the moment so I am looking for the best place to spend my meagre amount of cash!

I used to have on loan an XGA projector from work (BenQ PB6210) which was quite good, but will an SVGA give me a disappointing picture in comparison?

The BenQ was pretty good in my room - throw of 4.3m gave a 2m wide picture (on an Ikea roller blind - I said I was tight with my cash!).

Advice on whether an SVGA will cut the mustard and views on which one to go for would be really appreciated.

many thanks
Andy

[andypsmith]

(Bump)

Is this a bit low spec for you guys? I could do with some advice, there seems to be a lot of knowledge out there and I could do with tapping into it!

[Broadsword]

You don't give a budget?

To be honest I dont even know what SVGA is. Is that like 800 * 600? For SD you just need a 860 * 480 but it will look awful for PC work. If you have no interest at all in HD then it would be overkill to spend £400 on one but you may have to if you want a pc desktop on it. Also does it need to be WS?

Maybe one of the second hand ones that people are getting rid of for HD projectors would be good. I have a panasonic pt-ae200 which is a nice SD projector that will give you your 2m wide picture if your interested. 1500 hours on the bulb. Ideal for DVD's and PS2 (even has a scart socket) but crap for a pc desktop. Sorry if that turned into an advert btw.

[andypsmith]

No Problem with the advert - fortune favours the brave!

SVGA - trying to be a bit clever from the stuff I have read on the web! - yeah, basically 800 x 600 ish

Budget - as little as I can get away with for something useable

[CinemaChap]

How about the HD700x?

£400 and HD ready (720p) Huge thread on this PJ too.

Link to Optomas site....

MovieTimeâ„¢

[Broadsword]

Originally Posted by andypsmith

No Problem with the advert - fortune favours the brave!

SVGA - trying to be a bit clever from the stuff I have read on the web! - yeah, basically 800 x 600 ish

Budget - as little as I can get away with for something useable

Well as I said, it depends if your running your pc desktop on it too. If your not the you can pick a very decent SD projectors for £100 or so that will give a decent, not brilliant, picture for DVD or PS2.

If your looking for new then Im not sure many people on this board will have much knowledge on SD stuff, the Optoma HD700 mentioned is the cheapest home cinema 720p out there I think. But with everything the more you spend the better you get.

[chrisfh]

You could pick up a cheap 800*600 PJ for £50-£100 now second hand. They're fine for occasional use if you're not too fussed on quality. More limiting than the resolution is that being old tech they will be noisy, have a poor contrast ratio and generally not so good an image. For normal low res SD TV etc. this is OK, but you'd be missing out on DVD's let alone anything HD.

I would either look for something at less than £100 second hand, try to get XGA if you can... or step up to a new 720p unit which will look great with all sources.

That's my thoughts...

RE: using with PC... due to the size of a PJ image, most resolutions look a bit rubbish until you get to 1920*1080, full HD... that's not to say there's anything wrong with them but it's like running 640*480 on a 19" CRT monitor, it just looks pants. 800*600 will display 1024*768 OK but no more... XGA or 720p isn't readiculous but full HD is the way forward on a 100" screen...

[andypsmith]

Thanks guys,

If I could get something for £50-100 then this might just sow the seeds for a fairly quick upgrade - from the advice it looks like a 720p is the way to go in the medium term

I will scour the classifieds on this forum!

Cheers
Andy

[CinemaChap]

Originally Posted by andypsmith

Thanks guys,

If I could get something for £50-100 then this might just sow the seeds for a fairly quick upgrade - from the advice it looks like a 720p is the way to go in the medium term

I will scour the classifieds on this forum!

Cheers
Andy

why not put that £100 towards the hd700x? your a quater of the way there then, and you will also have a hd ready PJ that will blow your mates out the water

[andypsmith]

You obviously don't think like my wife (or my bank manager!)

Seriously - thanks for the input