Posted: 6/13/2015 3:44:34 PM EDT
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I am interested in buying a projector. I would like to put it in my house and have it project against a wall, but also have the ability to take it outside for movies in the summer time. I would like to be able to take it camping, hang a sheet and have a movie outdoors as well.
I have looked a little at projectors but don't really know much about them. I see LCD, LED, DLP, SXRD and other acronyms. I am not really sure what is old technology versus newer. What should I steer away from and what should I make sure I get. Does anybody have a recommendation of a good projector or what features or brands I should look into? Thanks |
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What's your budget and what will the interior space be? Dedicated media room/theater or more of a multi-purpose space for daytime viewing?
There are a LOT of questions that come into play, but budget is probably the easiest because that could potentially rule out a bunch of stuff right off the bat. If you are looking at keeping it under $1000, then I would go straight for the BenQ W1070 or the newer HT1075. The 1070 has pretty much been one of, if not the, go-to entry-level projector for a couple of years now. Both are very bright and have great reviews with excellent picture quality in the sub-1K class. They are also both DLP designs with a mostly sealed light path which will help keep dust out of the projector when using it outside. While some (extremely few) people report seeing "rainbows" with DLP projectors, these units have a 6X (fast) color wheel which pretty much eliminates the issue. The 1075 will be my holding-pattern PJ until the new 4K units become more reasonable in another year or two. I'm not willing to spend 2-3K for a better 1080P PJ right now when I know that 4K is right around the corner. I'd rather spend $800 on a temporary upgrade and wait. There are a few entry-level Epson projectors in the sub-1K range and Optoma makes some decent stuff (sometimes). Depending on the budget, I would stick with one of those three brands to start. Assuming that you are looking for a decent price/performance ration, you will most likely be looking at either DLP or LCD units. My personal preference is DLP, but there are some decent 3-chip LCDs out there - it all comes down to your personal preference. As far as purchasing goes, I would use either Projector People or Visual Apex - both have excellent service and pricing and I have used both personally (my preference is for Projector People). Projector Central is a great resource: http://www.projectorcentral.com/best_projectors_under_$1000.htm As is AVSForum (beware the signal to noise ratio): http://www.avsforum.com/forum/68-digital-projectors-under-3-000-usd-msrp/ And direct links to the BenQ HT1075 and W1070 (add to cart for correct pricing): http://www.projectorpeople.com/BenQ-HT1075-/Projector/33612 http://www.projectorpeople.com/BenQ-W1070/Projector/27769 I would strongly consider even an inexpensive screen vs. a plain wall. Even a $200-$300 screen will usually greatly improve your picture quality. There are many different sizes available and you may want to stay with the standard 16:9 aspect ration for simplicity. Try something like this for starters: http://www.amazon.com/STR-169120-Silver-Ticket-120-Diagonal/dp/B00CYLOTPK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1434227037&sr=1-1 Hope that helps a bit - good luck! |