Newbee looking to get projector, advice appreciated...

Drumpot

Hi,

I was going to rent out a projector and stand for a special occasion and didn't mind the cost of circa €100. Then my local pharmacist suggested I buy one because I would prob use it again if I had it. Sure enough I got online and found some interesting options. However I have never bought any of this stuff before so feel a bit vulnerable.

The following was what I was considering:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CTKZZSA?psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-Ethernet-multiple-shielding-compliant/dp/B00DYPFUNU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1476986583&sr=1-1&keywords=long+hdmi+cable+10m (so I can link up to PS4 and Sky without moving boxes)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0021F9D0K/ref=pd_vtph_23_tr_t_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4J7QBQVQW6KX7GDRTX02 (assuming cost isn't more then €10 deliver with parcel motel)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-WPS20-Adjustable-Height-Projector/dp/B00J3VYN9Q/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1476989458&sr=1-11&keywords=projector+stand

I would use it for movies, games and work presentation. I am slightly nerdy about the quality of movies so was hoping it would be a good quality pic. Would I need to get a sound system? I presume I could hook up earphones to this machine?

I know some of these may sound like silly questions, but I'm just a bit anxious forking out this much my first time!

Any advice or tips is much appreciated.

The Ritz

It's not clear where you want to use this, is it fior home use or for a wider audience ?

If you have any interest in picture quality, I would not be inclined to go for the projector you've linked to - mini LED projectors are intended for business us, often for on-the-move users, for use in a business setting by people around a table. Colour Quality etc would not be their priority.

If you want a projector for movie viewing or gaming, then you should consider an entry level LCD or DLP projector - if you look at http://www.richersounds.ie/c-18-Projectors.aspx for example, you'll see a range of projectors going from entry level up to the top if the range models. RS have a forum here on Boards where you could ask for advice (or ask for a deal, they're pretty good for that). I mod their forum on Boards but I'm not "plugging" them for the sake of it, they're pretty good at helping newcomers. Of course, they are not the only supplier out there, so shop around. Projectorpoint, www.projectorpoint.co.uk is another supplier which has a great range of projectors and very useful information.

As far as sound goes, most projectors come with some sort of speaker built in -I dint recall seeing earphone connectors on any of the projectors I've owned though. In reality you would rather have some sort of separate sound system, but you could add it later if this suited you better.

There's a projector forum on a forums.com - here https://www.avforums.com/forums/projectors-screens-video-processors.43/ It's a UK based website and is a very good resource for starting with a home cinema projector.

Hope this helps, it's pretty daunting going down this road, do some reading and think more about
How, Where, and What you want to use it for and hopefully you'll find your way successfully.

Ritz

imp1

The colour and brightness from that projector would wreck your head very quickly. You do not need to spend an awful lot more to get a semi decent picture, with good brightness. If mainly home use Optoma / BenQ, if you hope to present anything work wise, then maybe NEC / Panasonic, €500 + VAT should get you a half decent 3,000 lumens device. Most people go for the 16:10 format, so the projected image is the same shape as a laptop screen, (works best if any Powerpoint presentation has been put together in 16:10). So if that is your preferred shape make sure it has native WXGA 1200 x 800 resolution, or higher.
All (or at least all I know) projectors have an audio out mini jack, allowing you to connect an external sound system to the projector, though most PCs will allow you to take the audio out from the headphone socket and video out on HDMI, projector speakers tend to be pretty tinny, and though loud enough in a small room, not what you might want to watch a movie listening to. Even cheap sound bars will sound a lot better than the projector speaker.

wandererz

It depends on how much you want to spend.
I got an Optoma HD141x in the Amazon black Friday sales last year for £379. It's currently on Richersounds for £425/€499 or €475 according to xe.com.
And on Amazon for £449 or €502 according to xe.com.

It's HD and 3D capable.

Having used projectors for work presentations for 15+ years i was blown away by the quality of the video from this unit. There may be better out there but probably not for this price.

Yes, when I have my Samsung curved TV on beside this i can tell the difference, but otherwise nobody notices and everyone is complementary.

The one downside is the noise of the fan. However, when watching a movie with a decent sound system one doesn't notice it (well, at least, i don't mind it!)

There is a speaker on the unit itself which is ok in a small environment. However, even a cheap 2.1 speaker system or soundbar can provide some decent sound if you don't like the in-built speaker.

It's got 2x HDMI ports and a mini USB port.

I've connected UPC box, Chromecast, FireTV stick and my laptop directly to it.

Currently have UPC, FireTV Stick, Xbox, TV and Projector all connected to my Onkyo receiver via HDMI so i can select any source and switch to TV or projector. Have Hulu on xbox and then Kodi & Netflix on FireTV stick.

No fancy projector screen in place. I painted lounge wall pure brilliant white and project onto that.

I got Forza 6 with the Xbox and never quite got into it ... until I hooked it up to the projector. Now it's a whole different experience!

At Christmas last year, when people were over i put on some YouTube Christmas scenes or old seasonal videos on silent and played some music over. This creates a nice atmosphere and gives people a chance to socialise, talk etc while there's something interesting on the wall.

My 2 grand Samsung TV now has a fan problem and keeps switching off. So while I wait for a part from China i am using the projector every day. So every day is a cinema experience in my home now.

I've ordered 4x 3D glasses for £32 from Amazon so that people can watch 3D movies over the upcoming festive season. I just need to collect them from ParcelMotel tomorrow.

In terms of size, there is 3.7m between the back of the projector to the projection wall.
The resulting screen size is 2.38m(W) x 1.27m (H) or a diagonal of 2.75m (108 inches).

Compared to the projector you linked this would be almost professional level and i fear that you may want a change shortly afterwards.
If you are going to spend that kind of money, it may be better spending a bit more for something like the Optoma.

It is, i believe, 3000 lumens and 23000:1 contrast ratio. It is also more than sufficient to present for work purposes.

You may fair better by asking on the Richersounds boards.ie page if they will do a discount or include an HDMI cable in the deal (the longer the cable the better if you have a large space).

Hope this provides some help with making your mind up.

If you need to see some pics then let me know, although pictures will not show the reality.
Or if you need to see it working then i have no problem showing it to you. Bring along a BluRay movie if you want to or i have one or two i can put on as well.

Richersounds.ie: John

Drumpot,

drop us a line across on our Boards forum or a mail to sales@richersounds.ie and if we can help we will do our best!

http://www.boards.ie/ttforum/1105

@ Wanderez and The Ritz - thanks for the mentions, mucho appreciated - we'll be gentle with him

ATVB,

John Mc & Crew

wandererz

Just to add to this, i collected the 3d glasses today and have been watching the Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2, just because i have it.

What a difference!! The big screen really makes a huge difference.
And it is super clear in 3D.

For a projector that is a few years old and is still on sale i thoroughly recommend it.

My wife is sold on this and will authorise anything else if i need it!

That says quite a lot.

Alkers

wandererz wrote:

I've ordered 4x 3D glasses for £32 from Amazon so that people can watch 3D movies over the upcoming festive season. I just need to collect them from ParcelMotel tomorrow.

Do you just buy 3d glasses or is there anything else needed for the Optoma?