Projection TV

[wiuhusker]

Was wanting some help with some projection TV's. Reason I ask is that my parents are building a new house and pops finally gets his man cave. We got to talking and he wants to put a large TV (70 inch) in it. I'm trying to talk him into doing a projection TV but really know nothing about them. I'm hoping that if I can find him a good setup and it's reasonably close in price to a regular TV that he will do this instead.

 

Any information that you guys can provide me will be helpful.

[Landlord]

I'm assuming that you're meaning to say you want to get a projector.

 

Projection TVs are old technology that you get for $50 on Craigslist.

 

 

But talking projectors, you can get a really nice quality product for under $1,000. Absolutely make sure it's full HD 1080p, and check user reviews, but the biggest decision to make is going to be your screen. Typically people will buy one for the least amount of work, and you'll spend about $100-250 on that depending on size and if you want it to pull down or be fixed to the wall. You can also build your own, of course, but another option is projector paint. There are all different kinds and qualities of paint you can put on your wall to work as a screen (there is even 3D polarized paint).

[strigori]

Unfortunately you are probably stuck buying one without seeing its picture in person. I cant remember the last time I saw one running in a store. I know many feel that the picture is inferior to Plasma or LED. You might also look at what a 60 inch would cost, and go with one of those techs.

[RedSavage]

Just know in advance, if you don't already, it won't work well if there's a lot of light in the room. I was going to get a projector at one point but decided not to 1) because of the lighting issue and 2) because I found I could get a tv comparable in size, with a better picture for a better price.

[EbylHusker]

If I was looking for something in the 60-70 inch range, I'd still be looking at actual televisions. Sure, you can get cheap projectors at low prices, but their picture sucks and will almost certainly be inferior to a good LCD or plasma TV. I just see no reason to go with a projector in that size range unless you want to buy a really nice one, and even then, I'd still put that money towards an upper level TV, not a projector.

[The King]

Not to mention when the light bulb burns out... those are not cheap to replace...

 

But yeah, we have a projector and a 55" LED.

 

No one watches anything on the projector if the other is available.

[Landlord]

If I was looking for something in the 60-70 inch range, I'd still be looking at actual televisions. Sure, you can get cheap projectors at low prices, but their picture sucks and will almost certainly be inferior to a good LCD or plasma TV. I just see no reason to go with a projector in that size range unless you want to buy a really nice one, and even then, I'd still put that money towards an upper level TV, not a projector.

 

Can you get a decent-to-good brand 70" tv for under $1,000?

[EbylHusker]

Nope, but I sure as hell wouldn't buy a projector that was that cheap either. And I understand you think you can get a "really nice quality" one for that price, but you really can't. Your definition of really nice quality is way, way off.

[Landlord]

Nope, but I sure as hell wouldn't buy a projector that was that cheap either. And I understand you think you can get a "really nice quality" one for that price, but you really can't. Your definition of really nice quality is way, way off.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but I'll trust a high quantity of consumer reviews on newegg over your word for it.

[EbylHusker]

ROFL

 

 

You can find good online reviews for sh**ty products all over the place. The technical quality of the image those sub $1000 projectors throw up is just not good unless you want to be slumming it. And hey, if that's all the money you want to spend on a projector and then you can live in ignorant bliss. But they do not produce good image quality. Believe whatever you want, it's pretty f'ing funny.

[strigori]

Some reading materiel.

 

Pros and cons

 

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57344073-221/projectors-vs-tvs-giant-screen-pros-and-cons/

 

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57582243-221/dlp-vs-lcd-vs-lcos-projector-tech-pros-and-cons/

 

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57582241-221/the-big-picture-projection-screen-basics/

 

And some reviews that are better than a random collection of user reviews, which are highly unreliable.

 

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-projectors/

[Landlord]

Okay. I'm fine looking it up for myself as opposed to blindly taking the word of an anonymous, condescending internet poster. How ignorant of me.

 

 

Good luck whatever route you take wiuhusker!

[EbylHusker]

Stupid posts get condescending responses. Deal.

 

The fact of the matter is, if you buy entry level projectors, you get entry level picture. Sub $1000 projectors are entry level. I would not buy a projector unless I was willing to spend $2500-$3500, and even then I'd be careful in my choices. There is still a wide variation in quality at that level.

 

And for that money, you're going to get similar, if not better, results from a properly chosen and priced LCD TV in the 60-70" range. One that doesn't have nearly as many limitations as a projector does.

[wiuhusker]

Sounds like projectors are pretty expensive. No way pops will be spending that much on a tv. Looks like he will be getting his 70" and maybe I can convince him to spend a little extra money for a couple 32" to put on each side for the ultimate game watching experience.

[EbylHusker]

Why did you want to steer him toward a projector in the first place? It's a little confusing since you said you wanted to do so, but know nothing about them. I'm just trying to figure out what brought projectors to mind.