which budget hd projector £450 max

TEKNICOLOURFOX · 11-05-2009, 12:51 PM

Hi,, posting this on behalf of myy friend who has £450 max to spend on a new projector. Will be used on PS3 for gaming and the odd blu ray...

Can someone please point me (him) in the right direction. Optoma seems good but which is the best in this price range?

If you know of any at a good price please give us a pointer

Cheers

King_Louie · 11-05-2009, 3:36 PM

There isnt much choice in thsi price range and from what I gather the king remains the Optoma HD65. Ive been very happy with mine for over a year now. I have heard its very hard to get and is now retailing for over £500. However,there is also the Optoma HD700X which seems very similiar. This can be picked up for less. The only thing to think about is that some people suffer from 'rainbows' when watching these kind of projectors (DLP).

luke90 · 11-05-2009, 7:07 PM

Hey,
Ive just ordered this and waiting to take delivery towards the end of the week

Play.com (UK) : Optoma HD700x 1300 ANSI 720P DLP Projector : Electronics - Free Delivery

Its slightly over budget at £530 but it comes with a free 92" screen aswell. Ive heard its a great budget projector and only slightly behind the HD65 in terms of contrast and brightness.
So if he can save for that little bit longer this may be a better route to take...

Was he hoping to get a screen aswell or just the projector?

nwgarratt · 11-05-2009, 7:19 PM

If you can extend to around £480 then get the Optoma GT7000. This is a HD700 with speakers and a rucksack (they expect people to carry it about on their back) !!

The speakers are crappy and just plug into what is being used as a play device.

A HD700 on its own is over £500.

DavyMac · 11-05-2009, 10:05 PM

Hi m8

The Optoma HD700 is just over £450 at projector point and comes with a free 2m HDMI cable.

http://www.projectorpoint.co.uk/proj...ma_HD700X.html

TEKNICOLOURFOX · 12-05-2009, 10:03 AM

cheers so far guys, those are the models i was looking at for him, he does have a surround sound setup

so far seen the gt 700 but with free screen at dabs

dabs.com - Optoma GT-7000 HD Ready 720p Home Cinema Projector (GT-7000)

for 469 which may be the way to go, i think that 450 ish is his absolute max, more than 500 is pushing it im afraid...

ben16v · 12-05-2009, 7:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEKNICOLOURFOX

cheers so far guys, those are the models i was looking at for him, he does have a surround sound setup

so far seen the gt 700 but with free screen at dabs

dabs.com - Optoma GT-7000 HD Ready 720p Home Cinema Projector (GT-7000)

for 469 which may be the way to go, i think that 450 ish is his absolute max, more than 500 is pushing it im afraid...

buy that now if thats your budget, everything seems to be going up in price and with a screen free he`d be silly not to get onto the ladder so to speak!
you wont get anything else at that price unless you look 2nd hand

PhlangePhace · 12-05-2009, 9:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEKNICOLOURFOX

cheers so far guys, those are the models i was looking at for him, he does have a surround sound setup

so far seen the gt 700 but with free screen at dabs

dabs.com - Optoma GT-7000 HD Ready 720p Home Cinema Projector (GT-7000)

for 469 which may be the way to go, i think that 450 ish is his absolute max, more than 500 is pushing it im afraid...

I went for this but when it was delivered there was no voucher for the free screen in the box

.....I'm currently waiting to see if they're gonna honour the deal and send me the voucher.....

One thing to point out....on the web and the email-shot, it states free 84" screen (doesn't say whether 4:3 or 16:9) yet in issue 168 of their e-catalogue it states free 92" screen.

When (or if) I get the voucher I'll try to report back on this thread whether it's 84" or 92"

Oh and yes, if anyone is wondering, it's annoying having a new toy that I can't test out properly yet as it's missing a vital component! (Got no flat white walls in my house)

nwgarratt · 12-05-2009, 9:47 PM

When I got my PJ and Screen from Dabs, they were sent separately.

PhlangePhace · 12-05-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

When I got my PJ and Screen from Dabs, they were sent separately.

So the voucher is redemable at DABS rather than from Optoma directly?
(Until I get it I haven't a clue)

Or was it a different deal (without voucher redemption) ?

nwgarratt · 12-05-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlangePhace

So the voucher is redemable at DABS rather than from Optoma directly?
(Until I get it I haven't a clue)

Or was it a different deal (without voucher redemption) ?

No voucher for me. They were sent in separate packages.

PhlangePhace · 13-05-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlangePhace

....
When (or if) I get the voucher I'll try to report back on this thread whether it's 84" or 92"

Received the voucher from DABS today, so thumbs up to them for good customer service.

However, I can't confirm what screen it is for.
It is a credit-card style voucher with a serial number on that you register with Optoma directly on their website......the screen will be dispatched within 30 days of registration.

Annoying as I don't know whether I will need to use the length of my room (if 92" screen) or across the width of my room (if 84" screen).

nwgarratt · 13-05-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlangePhace

Received the voucher from DABS today, so thumbs up to them for good customer service.

However, I can't confirm what screen it is for.
It is a credit-card style voucher with a serial number on that you register with Optoma directly on their website......the screen will be dispatched within 30 days of registration.

Annoying as I don't know whether I will need to use the length of my room (if 92" screen) or across the width of my room (if 84" screen).

That is annoying. The offer at Play.com is for a 92" one so I would bet it is the same offer.

PhlangePhace · 13-05-2009, 3:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

That is annoying. The offer at Play.com is for a 92" one so I would bet it is the same offer.

I'm not too sure as the play.com offer (on a different PJ, incidentally) doesn't mention voucher redemption...so unclear whether screen supplied with PJ by Play themselves or via voucher redemption.

Note the ambiguous advertising (of screen size) I mentioned at Dabs in post #8 above.

But no, unfortunately neither the voucher nor the Optoma website registration page indicates what size screen the voucher is for!

Knowing my luck not only will I get a 84" but it'll also probably be 4:3

AND I've gotta wait upto a month for it!

nwgarratt · 13-05-2009, 3:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlangePhace

I'm not too sure as the play.com offer (on a different PJ, incidentally) doesn't mention voucher redemption...so unclear whether screen supplied with PJ by Play themselves or via voucher redemption.

Note the ambiguous advertising (of screen size) I mentioned at Dabs in post #8 above.

But no, unfortunately neither the voucher nor the Optoma website registration page indicates what size screen the voucher is for!

Knowing my luck not only will I get a 84" but it'll also probably be 4:3

AND I've gotta wait upto a month for it!

It is the Optoma HD700 which is the same PJ without the speakers/backpack that the GT7000 has. However, it is more money that the GT7000.

PhlangePhace · 13-05-2009, 3:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

It is the Optoma HD700 which is the same PJ without the speakers/backpack that the GT7000 has. However, it is more money that the GT7000.

Indeed, I saw the play.com offer first and was tempted....but the GT7000 is the better model, no? (Despite being cheaper at DABS...bargain!)

I was under the impression the GT7000 is effectively a HD65 in a black case minus a couple of years warranty.

The HD700X has lower contrast ratio (3000:1) and ANSI brightness (1300) compared to GT7000s 4000:1 and 1600 ANSI

nwgarratt · 13-05-2009, 3:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhlangePhace

Indeed, I saw the play.com offer first and was tempted....but the GT7000 is the better model, no? (Despite being cheaper at DABS...bargain!)

I was under the impression the GT7000 is effectively a HD65 in a black case minus a couple of years warranty.

The HD700X has lower contrast ratio (3000:1) and ANSI brightness (1300) compared to GT7000s 4000:1 and 1600 ANSI

There is no difference in reality between the two. The HD700 even use HD65 firmware.

The HD700 is also black and has one year warranty (HD65 has 3 years due to being branded as Themescene).

PhlangePhace · 13-05-2009, 4:03 PM

Just noticed this in the Optoma screen registration page....

Screen Voucher Terms and Conditions

* The unique screen voucher number can only be used once.
* The voucher is not transferable or exchangeable for cash.
* Optoma reserves the right to withdraw the offer without notice.
* The voucher can only be redeemed 30 days after purchase.
* Offer must be redeemed within three months of purchase.

So what's point 4 all about? Does this mean not only do I have to wait a month (from registration) for screen to be dispatched but also have to wait a month to register/redeem the voucher?

I hope this is a typo!