I want to buy an in-home ceiling mounted LCD Projector instead of a TV this go around. I've seen them vary in prices from $700 to $30,000. However, I am only interested in a $700-$1000 projector.

I tried researching but it is all over my head. I understand Pixel Dimensions and Lumens. Does anyone have one for sale or know anything about buying them? any help is much appreciated

__________________
1995 E320 Sportline Wagon "Bernard"
black on black leather

http://i.imgur.com/BdZ7jM3.png

Check AVS Forums. Keep in mind that if the projector is going to be used for regular viewing you will need a steady supply of $100.00 bulbs and not be afraid of the dark.

Peyton, the AVS forum is the "Mercedesshop" of home theatre, just scan their projection forum. Just curious, how did you come to the decision on front projection? Seems like the ultimate in "theatre" but you do have to have pretty good control over abmient light to watch. I haven't checked prices lately, but DLP still seems to be the best projection system, both front and rear.

Narwhal, with the wife "on board" you're halfway there! My better half green lighted the plasma purchase when it was clear that any RPTV was going to eat up too much floor space and didn't offer the off axis viewing like a flat panel.

Absolutely go to AVS and say hi to any Mercedes shop members - I use the same username.

I have a front projector in my theater. I went with DLP.

LCD projectors have issues with a "grid" effect that is referred to as screendoor. Basically, you will see a gap between pixels that is noticeable depending on how close you sit from the screen.

DLP technology has the dreaded "rainbow" effect where you may notice flashes of color if you move your eyes fast enough.

Before you decide on a PJ be sure you address the following:
Sensitivity to screen door and rainbows.
Take one home and demo it, be sure you can return it.
Spend as much time researching the screen as the PJ. Make sure they match.
Do you have control over ambient light?
How far back from the screen do you plan to sit?
How far back from the screen to mount the PJ?
What type if video I/F? I would suggest you go with DVI that is HDCP compliance.
Do you plan to go hi-def in the near future? I would plan for that. I would not go below 1024 x 768.

Good luck.

I plan on having the projector between 10-12ft from the wall and the picture should be no larger than 7ft wide.

ive used a projector for both school and business and it wasn't necessary to black out the room, being dark helped but wasn't necessary.

also, why can't i just project onto my white wall? i understand that screens could yield a better picture, but what's wrong with a plain white wall?

__________________
1995 E320 Sportline Wagon "Bernard"
black on black leather

http://i.imgur.com/BdZ7jM3.png

Nothing wrong with just using the wall. I used a sheet for a few months before I got my a screen. Before you spend any big bucks, do your homework.

Another thing to look for is the noise level of the fan. Many HT based PJs have a quiet mode that business PJs don't have.

-Enjoy.

Peyton300TD,

I had a Panasonic rear projection 60" - for about 2 weeks... the quality was lousy and the set dominated the room. I am very fussy, a true pictophile.

You're right to go to front projection, but don't buy LCD - the screendoor effect is horribly primitive and you'll never improve it.

DLP is miles better. There is some screendoor effect with SVGA. but you will get maximum results if you run your projector through a dedicated computer rather than a DVD player. I've had this setup for several years now, and the quality can't be faulted.

Go a step further and buy what I have - the Infocus X1 (http://www.projectorcentral.com/infocus_x1.htm). It's only $1,000 to $1,500 depending on where you source it, and it'll give you exactly what you want.

This Infocus is a SVGA 800x600 pixel projector with 1000 ANSI lumens of brightness and 2000:1 contrast. If you know nothing about projectors, take it from me, this is all you need and more.

But the best part is that the cooling fan sound is barely audible from 6ft away, and the bulb life is a whopping 3,000 hours. That's like 3 hours every night solid for 3 years.

It has a zoom lens - absolutely essential for getting the picture just right, and a bunch of other stuff too numerous to remember.

This is my 3rd front projector, and it is cheaper than the rest but hugely better... it is superb.

Connecting it through a computer DVD is important because though it is touted as a home theater projector, it is still partially designed for business desktop presentations. The computer power does amazing things to the quality of almost any presentation projector, and is the picture-quality equivalent - I kid you not - of buying one 10 times the price.

You get silky smooth, filmlike quality from your DVD's this way.

Here's a photo of mine with the Infocus ceiling mount. I project onto a 8ft diagonal table screen which sits in front of my cabinet-based 42" plasma.

But a caution. Once you've gone to a large screen with this setup, you'll never go back!

Ken Silver
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~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)

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Mmm I was thinknig about doing that as well at home

You guys have motorized drop down screens?

__________________
2003 E55 AMG
2007 FJ Cruiser

In my country there's not much selection... the only local manufacturer of motorised screens doesn't produce a quality screen... it's just plain plastic. Any imported screens are 5x the price of my PJ - not quite the right investment!

But the main problem is masking. With all the different projected ratios available, you really need 4-way electric masking, and this really only leaves a Stewart or something expensively similar.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

Ken,

Very cool tip on the X1. We are redoing our basement and that might be the way we go (they have an X2 out now if you have any opinion on that)

One question though. How do you run sound (DD5.1 or higher) out of your computer? I don't have a coax or optical out on any of my comps.

I haven't done any research since buying the X1 about a year ago. Can't find much on the X2.

One question though. How do you run sound (DD5.1 or higher) out of your computer? I don't have a coax or optical out on any of my comps. [/QUOTE]

I have a sound card, but I don't know how you would do yours without optical or coax. Here's my setup:

- Compaq Presario 1.3Ghz Celeron, 40GB HD, 256MB RAM
- Radeon 9000
- Samsung DVD drive, region-free
- Win98 SE
- PowerDVD 4.0
- StreamZap remote
- Wireless keyboard and mouse
- PCI CMI8738 Sound Card SPDIF out via optical cable
- Sony SDP-EP9ES digital surround processor
- Infocus X1 SVGA DLP projector, 800x600@60htz
- Technics SA-TX50 5.1 THX receiver (100watts/channel)
- Technics THX matched 7 speaker system ( 2 subwoofers)



Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

Thanks, that answers my question. An upgraded sound card will have digital out. I have an old compac I'm not using that I would upgrade.

Spent a little time on the AVS board. That X1 is a slick setup.

JVC DILA projector (no rainbows or "grids") with a Home Theater PC (Radeon VGA, and M-Audio 24/96 audio board with TheaterTEK software) running pure RGB back to the projector.

The only thing that beats the JVC DILA, IMHO, is the 3-gun RGB projectors like a Sony VPH1270, 1292 or G90.

Pictures to come.

:-) neil

I agree with most everything Ken has said. If you are considering HDTV I would not go below XGA (1024 X 768). With that said I would step up from the X1 to the NEC LT240K/LT260K if you have the green.

HDTV on a 120in front projector is like looking out a window.