Projector advice

budhabob

Hi all,
I'm thinking of getting a projector for the bedroom, the logic is, if I was to get a TV I'd have to get an electrician in. As it stands the chimney breast is bare so a projector would work.
So, the specifics:
1. Budget of <€500 (won't be used too regularly,maybe a film or Netflix episode a week, so cheaper the better)
2. Distance of about 3.5m
3. Would like to be able to connect a Chromecast or similar.
4. small in size.
5. LED bulb (although could be advised otherwise)

Does anyone have any recommendations?

budhabob

Does anyone have any advice or recommendations on the above? pretty much a noob when it comes to projectors.

Just to add, the plan would be to throw the image onto the chimney breast which is above 1.4m in width, from a distance of about 3.5m.

wpisdu

In this budget consider Optoma 143x, you won't be disappointed.

http://amzn.eu/6mDuj0s

UPDATE:
I just read that you want to throw 1.4m wide picture from 3.5m distance. The picture from the average projector mounted 3.5 meters away from the screen would be 2.1-2.3 meters wide. You could use the digital zoom to make the picture smaller, but then there will be some degradation in the picture quality and brightness. Can you mount the projector closer to the wall?

budhabob

wpisdu wrote: »

In this budget consider Optoma 143x, you won't be disappointed.

http://amzn.eu/6mDuj0s

UPDATE:
I just read that you want to throw 1.4m wide picture from 3.5m distance. The picture from the average projector mounted 3.5 meters away from the screen would be 2.1-2.3 meters wide. You could use the digital zoom to make the picture smaller, but then there will be some degradation in the picture quality and brightness. Can you mount the projector closer to the wall?

hmm, I could but it wouldn't be the easiest.....would have to go from the ceiling and run cables etc. I had thought a projector would be a simpler option than a TV but Id be running into similar problems with wiring etc if I went with the ceiling option.

The Ritz

Hi,

If I understand correctly you want an image about 54" wide ? The big benefit of a projector is that it will throw a big cinematic image and to get a decent quality image you'd want to have some sort of light control. Throwing an image that small will need the projector to be quite near the screen location and you'd need to check to make sure it would throw that size image at all.

If you're considering a projector as an alternative to a TV for the location in question, then I would advise against it - a projected image that will try to emulate a normal TV installation needs specialised gear installation including a specialist screen which rejects ambient light - none of this is for the un-initiated and would be way outside a normal starter budget.

Just to be clear, I've had projectors for about 16 years, I would never use one where a TV is more appropriate and wouldn't dream of the kind of installation I've mentioned above, a decent TV is far more effective and TV screen sizes are no longer an issue up to about 75" diagonal.

Hope this helps, let us know what you think.


Ritz.

budhabob

Valid points above Ritz....maybe I should just bite the bullet and go with the TV.

Thought the projector would be a simple affordable solution

The Ritz

In all honesty, if you want a TV-like solution for your living room, the solution is a TV, not a projector. Buying a projector and finding it doesn't suit your needs is a false economy, add a wee bit more to that budget and you'll have a super TV.

Cheers,

Ritz.