What's the best home projector to buy? I have £1250 to spend

Uksilversurfer

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I'm getting £1250 from an insurance claim to purchase a new home projector.
Would love some advice on what to go for!
I may be able to add some more cash if needed.
Would love to get in the 3D market but realise they are quite a lot more expensive.

Look forward to reading your replies.
 
Welcome to the Forum. :)

This question gets asked virtually every day, so there's lots of suggestions if you do a search.

If you need to come back, then room details (size, colour of walls/ceiling and whether you can black out the outside light) would be helpful.

Good luck. :smashin:
 
Hey thanks for the reply!

Will take a look around and see what I can find.

Will post room details later in week (away from home right now) and size of screen I already have, along with distance from projector which I suppose might be helpful!

Thanks again
 
£1250 is a bit of an in between price as there are a few models around £1000 and then a jump to £1500-£1800.

I will give you the favourites in those price bands to check out.Some are DLP some are LCD and a couple are D-ila.

The prices are all approx as sometimes there are specials on which can include a screen or maybe a reduced price.

DLP
Optoma HD20 £800
Mitsubishi HC4000 £1050
Mits HC3200 £800

LCD
Sanyo Z800 £920
Epson TW3200 £900
Panasonic AE4000 £1550 (special price at the moment)

D-ila
JVC HD350 £1799
Sony HW15 now discontinued but I understand there may be the odd one about at £1250 approx.

There are other makes and models but these represent the best in their price points.Of course the type of room shape/size/room conditions/screen size/and type of media you will be viewing will all play a part in what is best for you.
 
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Knew I'd get you on avf eventually mate, !!!
good luck in the projector hunt :)

Sent from my iPhone using AVForums
 
Thanks for the info mate I will take a look at them.

DLP or LCD that is the question!!

I've read about the DLP rainbow effect on some, but yet have been told they are better projectors?

Which would you recommend?
 
owen021173 said:
Knew I'd get you on avf eventually mate, !!!
good luck in the projector hunt :)

Sent from my iPhone using AVForums

Yes it's me and I'm here at last! Will be a great help in the hunt for the projector!
Think I've decided on the onkyo 609 amp also!
 
I would not say DLP are better than LCD more different.DLP used to have better blacks and contrast ratio than LCD but LCD have pretty much caught up now.

LCD are more room friendly in that they can be placed almost anywhere as they have lens shift.

DLP tends to have a bit more pop and more film like.You need to get a demo to see if rainbows are an issue to you.

D-ila is the best if you can afford it as it has the best attributes from both LCD and DLP.
 
Keith`s recommendations are good and I would add the Epson 3600 into the mix at £1299

Allan @ ideal av
 
I'll second this and Keith will also be happy to know that we are finally getting the Epson EH-TW3600 into our showroom for demonstration! It's taken some time but it will be hear soon.

Regards. Shane.
 
Just to add DONT! go LCD make sure you go single chip DLP as they are razor sharp !!

WOW thats a bold statement for a newbie, I am no expert and I do have DLP and love it but I have seen many projectors in action but I could not say such a bold statement!!! I saw the JVC X9(I think it was x9 anyway could have been the 7) in action at The Gadget show Live and that was spectacular. Obviously price above my PJ is 10x and would not say it was 10x better but it was better.
 
Ok guys, thanks for all your replies. Going round and round in circles with all the options! :)

Think I've decided to go DLP at least, but now thinking 3D-XL ready. (using the Optoma 3D-XL adapter)

My only concern is the 3D ready seem to be 720p 1280x720 and the non 3D ready 1080p 1920x1080. Will this affect the quality of my non 3D image?

Can you please recommend a 3D ready projector?

Obviously this will be used for Blu-rays and Sky3D along with PS3 gaming.
 
My only concern is the 3D ready seem to be 720p 1280x720 and the non 3D ready 1080p 1920x1080. Will this affect the quality of my non 3D image?

Can you please recommend a 3D ready projector?
Hi. The answer to this is yes on 2D.

The differences are massive when comparing it against one of the JVC Projectors on a large screen.

The strange thing about 3D on a Single Chip 720p DLP projector like the Themescene - Optoma HD67n with the packaged 3D-XL is that the compared to a 3 chip solution, the 3D effect seems to offer solution. One which we have found is acceptable to many peoples eyes.

Now I'm not saying the HD67 is as good as the X3, but if you must have a 3D projector and happy with the 2D trade-off then you'll love what this little projector has to offer at it's price point.

If you'd like to have a shoot out comparing the X3 against the tiny Themescene HD67n package then please give us a call.

It'll be like David and Goliath, although Goliath will win overall! but having said that, people do love an underdog!

Regards. Shane
 
Going round and round in circles with all the options! :)

That's always the problem when you ask for other's opinions! :laugh:

(I've just asked which are the best tyres on a motoring forum and got 6 replies with 6 different recommendations! :suicide:)

It's been said many times before, but a demo is essential, as you are the only one in the whole world who knows what's best for you!

Good luck. :smashin:
 
Only just bought my first projector, so take this with a pinch of salt.

I've got an Acer H5360BD, and absolutely loving it!
 
Out of curiosity which is better in your opinion between the JVC HD350 and the Sony HW15.

One point on 3D, I have tried a few demo's now and each time after a couple of minutes I have had a shooting pain through my head and had to pull the glasses of quick. Each time I try and put the glasses on shortly afterwords the pain comes straight back. But what I can say is the trailers I have seen have been very impressive, I just wish I could watch more of them.
 
I would say the HD350 wins by a margin:)
 
So would I Keith, although i`ve put a Sony HW20 on the rack last week and tweaked it a little and its looking quite impressive atm.

I love the image that the epson gives though, for under 1300 quid its a winner for me and no rainbows at all ;)

well apart from the one out of the window :D

One point on 3D, I have tried a few demo's now and each time after a couple of minutes I have had a shooting pain through my head and had to pull the glasses of quick. Each time I try and put the glasses on shortly afterwords the pain comes straight back. But what I can say is the trailers I have seen have been very impressive, I just wish I could watch more of them.

What were you viewing at the time? and what distance were you away from the screen/panel?

Some people simply can`t watch 3d in comfort at all, which is a real shame as when its done properely its very good and adds a lot more I feel to the movie.

Also we had a client hear the other day who simply couldn`t see it and his partner could :confused:

its not for everyone I feel but for those who can see it and who push the boat out to do it in a big way if its possible and not on a 40" panel, its very addictive :)
 
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The other thing to possibly consider is the fan noise, I've had a couple of dlp projectors in the past and the fan noise was irritating to say the least, anywhere near 30db is not acceptable to me, very happy with my HD350 at 19db.
 
I think, after reading all your comments, I need to see a full HD projector side by side with a 3D ready projector.

Anyone know anywhere around the Leeds/Huddersfield area that I can do this?
 
I think, after reading all your comments, I need to see a full HD projector side by side with a 3D ready projector.

Anyone know anywhere around the Leeds/Huddersfield area that I can do this?

we are in Normanton 15-20 mins from both places and you are welcome to come for a demo, just give me a call

cheers

Allan @ Ideal AV
 
Also we had a client hear the other day who simply couldn`t see it and his partner could :confused:

I had a girlfriend that got really bad headaches and so went to see an eye specialist, the first thing they did was show her a cylinder sat on a square plate (cylinder was raised about an inch up off the plate) but it had the same flowery pattern across the entire surface of both cylinder and plate but she couldn't see the cylinder at all. She also can't see SIRDS.

I could see it from any angle, seemed obvious it was there but she couldn't. They diagnosed this as the shape of her eyeballs being slightly different to the norm and said its not that uncommon, all she needed was glasses with thick sided frames (to stop her seeing out the corner of her eyes). She got new glasses with thick sided frames and her headaches vanished almost instantly.

She didn't even know she had this defect until they tested her so I guess she must see the world flatter than most. Strange eh.

Anim
 
I`ll just say this last thing about 3d then shut up as its taking the thread slightly off topic.

i hear the new movie about Eddie Stobarts life story is going to be in 3D

i`ve seen "The Trailer" and its not bad :devil:
 

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