Advice on buying a Projector

doh.ie

I'm planning to buy a projector when I move soon. Key requirements for it are that it is HD compatible (1080i/p), ideally with HDMI input, a decent lamp life, preferably XGA, at least 2000 lumens, S-Video input (hooked up via a Scart router). Audio isn't an issue as I'll let my sound system sort that. Should be able to handle 4:3 and 16:9 input - doesn't have to automatically switch between them, but there must be an option to choose one or the other. Primary use will be for TV (no presentations here!) - output via a Scart router (so multiple projector inputs isn't an issue), including Sky, DTT, Tivo, VCR, DVD and an Xbox running XMBC (for Divx/AVI/MPEG/MP4).

So basically among the issues confusing me are why some projectors say they are HD or HD-Ready and yet don't have a HDMI or DVI input and what is the maximum screen projection size I'll have on a projector that's 4.6m away from a wall on the other end of the room.

* Any help or advice appreciated. Budget for the machine is anything up to €1,500 (won't be getting a screen initially), will be projecting onto a white wall.

* Also any advice on machines that have particularly good lamp life and overall projection image quality.

* For replacement lamps, is there a "catch-all" type of lamp which can be used on any projector (like buying a normal bulb, though obviously you'd need to go to a home video supplier), or are there bulbs that are unique to each or several models? This isn't an easy one to find as most suppliers don't seem to quote for lamps alongside the main projector article (is this so as not to put you off?) I am aware though that the Epsons I've look at all have their own lamps, so I'm assuming it must be a lamp-per-machine issue. If that *is* the case, how do I know my projector won't be obsolete in a few years and its lamp no longer made?

* Any manufacturers which are recommended more than others? (I see BenQ and InFocus come up quite a lot in reviews.)

* DLP vs LCD - I don't know how much this is still an issue. It certainly was when I began considering getting one several years ago. Now most projectors seem to be LCD, so if there is still a drawback versus DLP, can anyone tell me what it is, and which is considered the superior?

Have seen several which are good value and that look like they'd do the job from CPC (who I trust), but there may be decent machines from Irish retailers I haven't yet considered.

In terms of "ideal" models, I do think this one is exceptional (http://www.projectorpoint.co.uk/projectors/Epson_EMP-TW1000.html), but it's way beyond the budget. But there may be something as decent available for a lot less. In the medium-price range, I quite like this one: http://www.projectorpoint.co.uk/projectors/Panasonic_PT-AX100E.html but again, there may be some disadvantages I haven't yet spotted.

Cheers for any help you pros can offer.

brav

I have the latter, PT-AX100E, you can get it from komplett for €1,229, it is probably the best lcd in your budget.

The main advantage is how bright it is, Myself and a few lads often play the 360 during the day on the projector with the curtains open. Even watch TV at night with the lights on.

*1) Currently the projector is upstairs in my room until the sitting room is finished, it is proj. onto a cream(?) wall, picture still looks great, a little bit of adjusting for the whites so they would look a bit orange but picture is great.

*2) Overall Lamp life is pretty standard across all projectors at the moment. However running this projector with full brightness(Dynamic as they call it) will shorten the life. [I use ECO-mode all the time, and cinema1 for night time and normal for daytime]

*3) It is not a standard lamp, but I don't think their is a fear of the lamp becoming obsolete, the projector is very common and in a few years everyone will be looking for bulbs, so the demand will be there, I mean whats the point of a shop selling bulbs for projectors if they only stock the brand new bulbs when they come out?

*4) InFocus, Panasonic, Sony, sanyo, optoma

*5) The only disadvantage of DLP I can think of is the rainbow effect but with the new tri-colour wheels(whatever they are called) this has been reduced. Otherwise they both have their advantages, for me I needed a bright projector as my room wasn't light controlled and the ax100 suited me perfect.

Any more questions let me(won't be back till after the holiday though).

Of course there are better projectors out there but most are beyond your budget, but the AX100 is a great projector for that price even SKY connected through composite(the yellow cable) looks good.
Of course the 360 though vga and the PC through hdmi looks the business

doh.ie

Brav,

Thanks a million for all of that. Will do some more research based on what you've said - cheers for the help. Makes deciding which one to buy a lot easier (particularly in the lamp life/good practical tips department - the kind of thing they rarely explain well on the sales floor, or website description.)

Your good results with the Xbox bodes well for my running of the modded version with XMBC, and I'm encouraged by its brightness in an alreadly lit room.

Will get back with any more questions too.

am i bovvered

Hello,
I've finished the conversion of garage into "den", and the final piece is a projector for the Wii, and the odd movie.
The room is 24ft long but the way it is designed the length between the projector and the wall is only 11ft.....3.3m , it is projecting onto a large gable wall.
Is this too close, I am thinking of an infocus IN74 for €1,099 on ebay.
Any advice is apprieciated.

brav

This site is very handy for calculating screen size.

for AX100E, with a distance of 3.3m from the wall and at max zoom, the biggest screen size you will get is 275cm or 108"(9.02feet)diagonally
for the IN74EX its 249cm or 98"(8.1feet)diagonally

HTH
brav

am i bovvered

Thanks Brav,
The room cannot be darkened ...open plan...but the location of the projector is dim, i have my heart set on one but everyone else says a large t.v. would be better , none of us has ever used a projector before so opinions are divided.
would you go for the panasonic over the infocus one ??

brav

The Infocus is a very good projector and highly rated over at avforums.com, if plan on only using it at night then it will prob be OK but any light on the screen during the day will spoil the viewing.
You could get a grey screen or one with high gain to help alleviate this.
The AX100 is prob the best projector out there for rooms with no light control

am i bovvered

Thanks Brav,
Its good to get advice from someone in the know.

blorg

I've had a Panasonic AE-500 (first 720p in this range, three models back from the AX100) for the last several years and am in general very happy with it. Replacement bulb not yet necessary but then my usage is a few films a week rather than X hours/day.

am i bovvered

Hi again,
I got the panasonic today,(Thanks for the advice), only had 10 mins to set it up before work but really happy with it, amazing picture , i had it set up with my sons ps2, its gonna be even better in HD:D , the only thing is i couldn't work the sound, do you need to connect it up to a surround sound system ? probably i have the wrong cables.
I am hoping to get a wii for it soon very poor knowledge in settings a system like this up...projector with...t.v.....games consoles...computer..., any tips on websites or products to do this would be great.

blorg

Projectors generally don't do sound, you would plug the sound from your source (PS2, DVD player, etc) directly into a seperate amplifier/surround sound system.

am i bovvered

thanks..got it working now.