Projectors instead of flat screens?

[rankandfile]

I am not technophile but I do have a refurbished Panasonic DLP front view projector. Itss about 15 years old and its finally had some blue green lens burn so I am looking to replace it.

Any other forum goers have a projector they use for their home theater?
If so what is your make and model and tell me about it.
I am thinking about the $1000 Epson 2030 (2d/3d) or maybe pony up for the Epson 3020(2d/3d) at $1500. although the BenQ 1070 is cheaper and has more lumens and about the same contrast as the 2030 Epson.

I am worried about fps because I want to play online console games with it but I do like the fact that these two Epson have long lamp lives before replacement (up to 5000 hrs on eco mode)
Replacement lamps are only $100 on the 2030 but about $250 for the 3020.
but the contrast and lumens are a lot higher on the 3020.

I will most likely be viewing and playing at night so ambient light is a non issue.

 

[Plainview]

Lamp replacement is what has kept me from getting a projector.

 

[menace-uk-]

Lamp replacement is what has kept me from getting a projector.

Yeah, Lamps are pretty costly, but each lamp should last you about 2 years or more. Hell, even using them 8 hours a day it should last you over a year.



@rankandfile: My understanding is the Benq 1070 has motion issues. I have seen the Epson EH-TW5910 in person and I thought the Picture quality was fantastic. Really good color, skin tones seemed spot on and the blacks were really good. The Optoma HD33 is also supposed to be very good.

 

[Nervusbreakdown]

I was an IT for a school district and I can tell you when the lamp goes out your going to hate the price to get another. Keep that in mind.

Put it this way, for every time you buy a lamp you can get a tv for a little more.

 

[BearHuntr]

I just recently upgraded to an Optoma HD131Xe from a Sanyo PLV-Z4 projector and am really enjoying the nice bright 1080p picture on my 92" screen. I do miss the horizontal and vertical lens shift from the Sanyo as that made mounting much easier. The replacement bulb for the Optoma sells for about $180 now, but I'm sure that I will find it cheaper when the time comes to buy one. I don't use it so much that I have to worry much about the bulb life. I've had the Sanyo for more than 5 years and there is still life left on the original bulb and that came with an extra bulb too. The Optoma runs for about $760 and the large screen is totally worth it just for gaming alone, but movies are great too and I can take it outside in the summer and use it on a 16 foot screen for backyard movies or gaming.

 

[rankandfile]

I ended up buying this:
THe Epson Powerlite HC 2000.

I am on a budget (this unit cost $849) and the the replacement cost on the lamp is $100. With 3 kids getting older and all the new consoles coming out we intend to use this unit a lot more than the old Panny. Plus according to Epson the lamp should last for "up to 5000 hrs" in eco mode.
the lumens are at 1800 color and 1800 white and the contrast is 13,000-1 , should be enough to get the good blacks and definition in shaded areas. The 2030 was 2000 lumens and and 15,000-1 contrast but $150 more.
That wasn't enough of a difference for the eye to see clearly to justify that much more in price.
plus Amazon threw in a Roku streaming stick!

menace-uk- , i wish I had the money for that unit! I could have justified the cost for that or the 3020 but I would have been cursing up a storm once the lamp died and Im forking over $300-$400 for the replacement lamp!
maybe when my business takes off

 

[rankandfile]

Lamp replacement is what has kept me from getting a projector.

epson states that the lamps in the new Epson 2000 and 2030 will last up to 5-6,000 hrs in eco mode-but does drop the contrast and lumens down a bit- hardly noticeable (4000 on regular) and the replacement cost is only $100.
I love the fact that I can take mine outdoors too and be able to project movies on the side of a barn.

 

[Plainview]

epson states that the lamps in the new Epson 2000 and 2030 will last up to 5-6,000 hrs in eco mode-but does drop the contrast and lumens down a bit- hardly noticeable (4000 on regular) and the replacement cost is only $100.
I love the fact that I can take mine outdoors too and be able to project movies on the side of a barn.

That's what they claim. From everything I've read on projectors, expect half the time on lamp life.

 

[rankandfile]

I just recently upgraded to an Optoma HD131Xe from a Sanyo PLV-Z4 projector and am really enjoying the nice bright 1080p picture on my 92" screen. I do miss the horizontal and vertical lens shift from the Sanyo as that made mounting much easier. The replacement bulb for the Optoma sells for about $180 now, but I'm sure that I will find it cheaper when the time comes to buy one. I don't use it so much that I have to worry much about the bulb life. I've had the Sanyo for more than 5 years and there is still life left on the original bulb and that came with an extra bulb too. The Optoma runs for about $760 and the large screen is totally worth it just for gaming alone, but movies are great too and I can take it outside in the summer and use it on a 16 foot screen for backyard movies or gaming.

i seriously looked into the Optoma because they may have a good fps rate for online gaming. better than epson or BenQ but the lamp costs kept me away.

 

[rankandfile]

That's what they claim. From everything I've read on projectors, expect half the time on lamp life.

i had good success with getting every hour out of the lamps in my Panasonic (3600 hrs) and more. for the last month < i have been turning it on and it says to replace the bulb up acrosse the screen then it goes away and Im at about 3900 hrs
I have heard that some bad stories with some particular units with lamps blowing up etc. but I ruled them out in my search.
Although these are fairly new models that just came out this year so will see.

 

[Plainview]

i had good success with getting every hour out of the lamps in my Panasonic (3600 hrs) and more. for the last month < i have been turning it on and it says to replace the bulb up acrosse the screen then it goes away and Im at about 3900 hrs
I have heard that some bad stories with some particular units with lamps blowing up etc. but I ruled them out in my search.
Although these are fairly new models that just came out this year so will see.

Let me know how the Epson Powerlite HC 2000 works out. I'm demanding pics in dark and regular room lighting!

 

[menace-uk-]

I ended up buying this:
THe Epson Powerlite HC 2000.

I am on a budget (this unit cost $849) and the the replacement cost on the lamp is $100. With 3 kids getting older and all the new consoles coming out we intend to use this unit a lot more than the old Panny. Plus according to Epson the lamp should last for "up to 5000 hrs" in eco mode.
the lumens are at 1800 color and 1800 white and the contrast is 13,000-1 , should be enough to get the good blacks and definition in shaded areas. The 2030 was 2000 lumens and and 15,000-1 contrast but $150 more.
That wasn't enough of a difference for the eye to see clearly to justify that much more in price.
plus Amazon threw in a Roku streaming stick!

menace-uk- , i wish I had the money for that unit! I could have justified the cost for that or the 3020 but I would have been cursing up a storm once the lamp died and Im forking over $300-$400 for the replacement lamp!
maybe when my business takes off

Do you have this yet ?

I'm quite curious as to how it is. Been thinking a lot lately on upgrading my Plasma and have decided it would be best to wait till I can get a 4K TV and future proof myself. So with that my mind...I has turned once again to entering the Entry level projector realm.

Right now my short list is

BenQ W1200
Optoma HD33
Epson TW-EH5900

The £90 bulb for the Epson is very compelling.

 

[Ape Still Rules]

I've considered it in the past but like plainview replacing those expensive lamps killed it for me.

 

[rankandfile]

Do you have this yet ?

I'm quite curious as to how it is. Been thinking a lot lately on upgrading my Plasma and have decided it would be best to wait till I can get a 4K TV and future proof myself. So with that my mind...I has turned once again to entering the Entry level projector realm.

Right now my


short list is

BenQ W1200
Optoma HD33
Epson TW-EH5900

The £90 bulb for the Epson is very compelling.

I have it, but haven't installed. I have a ceiling mount and thought the mount I had would be compatible but it wasn't. So I had to order a chief universal mount to install it properly. Just got in the mail today!
I suppose I could have hooked up on the coffee table to see how it looks but I wanted to wait for some reason. Mainly because with three kids around all the time, they are constantly getting into my crap…

I've considered it in the past but like plainview replacing those expensive lamps killed it for me.

We'll see. the replacement lamps cost $100 for the Epson powerlite 2d/3d 2000 and Epson """ 2030. And the unit I purchased is rated to last approximately 5-6000 hours on eco mode.
My old Pany would get up to 4000 and thats about every 2-3 years for my rate of viewing movies, games and playing games.

 

[Lucid Rifter]

That Epson 2030 is tempting. I will certainly be getting one for the mancave when I move to my new house. That picture quality <$1000 is great. Bulbs aren't that expensive either.

 

[rankandfile]

I have the Epson HC 2000 installed! had to rewire a new receiver and run a HDMI cable through the ceiling. Looks awesome!!!. How did i ever get by this long without Hi def???? the fan is quiet and the unit doesn't get hot like I have read in some amazon reviews. I have set it on eco mode and the trade off to a louder fan to image quality is worth the trade off. the less lumen power is hardly noticeable on screen.
However, my screen is 4:3 and the projector call for 16:9 so i can't get it to fit just right onto my screen. I need to buy another screen or just take it down all together (have a white wall) and move the wall mounted speakers out a little wider.
Will post pics soon showing the screen at day and night.

 

[menace-uk-]

I have the Epson HC 2000 installed! had to rewire a new receiver and run a HDMI cable through the ceiling. Looks awesome!!!. How did i ever get by this long without Hi def???? the fan is quiet and the unit doesn't get hot like I have read in some amazon reviews. I have set it on eco mode and the trade off to a louder fan to image quality is worth the trade off. the less lumen power is hardly noticeable on screen.
However, my screen is 4:3 and the projector call for 16:9 so i can't get it to fit just right onto my screen. I need to buy another screen or just take it down all together (have a white wall) and move the wall mounted speakers out a little wider.
Will post pics soon showing the screen at day and night.

Awesome....looking forward to the pics.

On the Lumen side, it really shouldn't make a huge difference if you have decent lighting control. The Higher lumens are best for rooms with plenty of light or watching during day time without blacking out the room. You should also have an option to resize the image to 4:3( did you try that ?), but obviously a new screen is needed as 16:9 is the far better ratio.

What screen size are you projecting at ?

 

[rankandfile]

Awesome....looking forward to the pics.

On the Lumen side, it really shouldn't make a huge difference if you have decent lighting control. The Higher lumens are best for rooms with plenty of light or watching during day time without blacking out the room. You should also have an option to resize the image to 4:3( did you try that ?), but obviously a new screen is needed as 16:9 is the far better ratio.

What screen size are you projecting at ?

80" and if there is a 4:3 setting as in "zoom" or "auto" I haven't found it yet or my previously installed ( i did myself about 7 years ago) ceiling mount is too close (just under 8').

 

[menace-uk-]

80" and if there is a 4:3 setting as in "zoom" or "auto" I haven't found it yet or my previously installed ( i did myself about 7 years ago) ceiling mount is too close (just under 8').

I would assume the controller has button for Aspect ratio either named exactly that or maybe Aspect.

80" Not bad. That it the sort of size it seems I will have to run at too. Looking at the throw distances of the projectors I want. Bit smaller than I would have liked, but seems short throw projectors ( BENQ 1080ST) has some issues with hotspots, and focus.

 

[rankandfile]

I would assume the controller has button for Aspect ratio either named exactly that or maybe Aspect.

80" Not bad. That it the sort of size it seems I will have to run at too. Looking at the throw distances of the projectors I want. Bit smaller than I would have liked, but seems short throw projectors ( BENQ 1080ST) has some issues with hotspots, and focus.

yes sorry Aspect works but then I have borders on the sides. Im going to end up getting a wide screen.

 

[menace-uk-]

yes sorry Aspect works but then I have borders on the sides. Im going to end up getting a wide screen.

Maybe a good time to move that projector further away, and then get a new screen for the bigger size.

Also...Still waiting for those pics bro

 

[Plainview]

Also...Still waiting for those pics bro

Yeah, WTF! Hurry up!

 

[rankandfile]

Maybe a good time to move that projector further away, and then get a new screen for the bigger size.

Also...Still waiting for those pics bro

the mount is probably too far forward to begin with. its basically right above the sitting area and the fan is noticeable during quiet scenes ( i know i said it was hardly noticeable before but now I am hearing cycles depending on how much information is being processed during action scenes). So when there is a big action scene and then a quiet one, I hear the fan cycle down. Not a big issue but when I sat on the floor in front of the projector I could not hear it at all.
working on this pic but I'm slow. it takes me about a half hour to type this. took some phone pics whilst the kiddies played Lego Star wars on the PS3 and then took some stills of Skyfall . Still want to to get the daytime shots (hopefully this weekend)

Yeah, WTF! Hurry up!

lol

 

[rankandfile]

So I go the mount and lets just say the mount makes my little projector look like a mini cooper with off road tires.

keep in mind I took pictures with an IPhone 3s so the resolution does not do justice, the picture is great and is fine during the day as well yet the fan will be louder during the day as living room mode is full power on the lumens. needless to say the projector is usually off during the day.

here is a nature picture.

in short Its still a work in progress. worth the effort for someone who doesn't have one already? Not sure. I had an AV friend install the original for free back in 2005(well a case of beer) and got a deal on a factory refurbished hi end projector ($800) when it was obviously ready to replace I just got another one. since it was 4:3 oriented and this is 16:9 oriented I have some issues with the screen size and the Epson 2000 is not that flexible as far as where it is to be mounted. I think optimally I will move it back from 8' to 10' back
In short if you want a cinema experience, go for it! its can't be matched, but for everyday TV and VG use I would say that you are perfectly fine with a flat screen TV.
However, I have not checked out the 3d capabilities yet. That comes during Xmas