Recommend a budget projector?
Discussion
Let me start by saying that I'm pretty sure this application is totally wrong (AV speaking) for a projector but there are other factors at play so bear with me...
I have a spare bedroom that I'm currently redecorating into a second living room for my little girl with a view to not having to keep her toys as tidy as in our main living room and also to be able to pack hyperactive kids off to it when other parents are round. It's not the biggest of rooms - about 13ft square but with a double doored cupboard on one wall, the hall door on the opposite wall and the window on a third wall... still with me?
My plan is to have a settee running along the wall under the window and a TV on the wall opposite (the only clear wall in the room). Floor space with the settee in will be fine for a play mat and toy boxes but I'd prefer not to have a TV unit as well. Also, refer to the previous comment about hyperactive kids, and see why I'd prefer not to have TV at child height at all
In my mind, a projector would sort all my problems. I could mount it from the top of the window alcove and project on to the white wall opposite. The TV point and power sockets are right beside the window so short cable runs are possible and the DVD player (and amp) can sit on the windowsill out of the way, with the cables sunk into the plaster of the alcove.
I guess the downsides are that the wall will face the window which means that theoretically any sunlight will be shining straight onto the projected image unless the blinds are closed. Bearing in mind that this will be for cartoons and the odd DVD (rather than the full HD experience
), I can live without perfect viewing quality, I think. That said, I don't want it to be faded out and unwatchable either.
My budget for the projector is preferably around £500 at the max, but I could move a little bit if needs must. I have everything else I need already so this and a mounting bracket are the only outgoings.
So over to the experts - will I get a suitable projector that will accomplish my aims, or am I pi$$ing in the wind?
TIA
I have a spare bedroom that I'm currently redecorating into a second living room for my little girl with a view to not having to keep her toys as tidy as in our main living room and also to be able to pack hyperactive kids off to it when other parents are round. It's not the biggest of rooms - about 13ft square but with a double doored cupboard on one wall, the hall door on the opposite wall and the window on a third wall... still with me?
My plan is to have a settee running along the wall under the window and a TV on the wall opposite (the only clear wall in the room). Floor space with the settee in will be fine for a play mat and toy boxes but I'd prefer not to have a TV unit as well. Also, refer to the previous comment about hyperactive kids, and see why I'd prefer not to have TV at child height at all
In my mind, a projector would sort all my problems. I could mount it from the top of the window alcove and project on to the white wall opposite. The TV point and power sockets are right beside the window so short cable runs are possible and the DVD player (and amp) can sit on the windowsill out of the way, with the cables sunk into the plaster of the alcove.
I guess the downsides are that the wall will face the window which means that theoretically any sunlight will be shining straight onto the projected image unless the blinds are closed. Bearing in mind that this will be for cartoons and the odd DVD (rather than the full HD experience
), I can live without perfect viewing quality, I think. That said, I don't want it to be faded out and unwatchable either.My budget for the projector is preferably around £500 at the max, but I could move a little bit if needs must. I have everything else I need already so this and a mounting bracket are the only outgoings.
So over to the experts - will I get a suitable projector that will accomplish my aims, or am I pi$$ing in the wind?
TIA
There are some models available for around this price (search for Optima), the only caveat is that they are typically based on DLP technology. This means that they are sometimes less flexible regarding positioning and may not have a huge amount of zoom which limits the size of the picture if you don't have a huge distance to project from. Viewers can also be susceptable to 'Rainbow effect' which is where movement 'splits' into the three basic colours of red, green and blue stripes/patterns, so you may need to demo to see if you are effected by it (some people get headaches from it as well as the distraction).
The other option is an LCD model, but they tend to be more expensive and have their own issues too (can be prone to dust blobs, weaker blacks though are often more flexible and don't suffer rainbow effect). If you look on the AVForums classifieds you may well find a low hours unit for sale within budget.
I would recommend that you avoid the cheap Chinese models that appear on Ebay as they often aren't even HD ready resolution (minimum of 1280 x 720) yet cost pretty much the same as the Optima ones. Also they try to confuse buyers by mentioning 1080i and 720p but fail to mention these are the INPUT capabilities of the projector which will then downscale to the projector's NATIVE resolution of (typically for the Ebay models) 800 x 600.
AVForums classifieds link:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/tv-projector-classi...
The other option is an LCD model, but they tend to be more expensive and have their own issues too (can be prone to dust blobs, weaker blacks though are often more flexible and don't suffer rainbow effect). If you look on the AVForums classifieds you may well find a low hours unit for sale within budget.
I would recommend that you avoid the cheap Chinese models that appear on Ebay as they often aren't even HD ready resolution (minimum of 1280 x 720) yet cost pretty much the same as the Optima ones. Also they try to confuse buyers by mentioning 1080i and 720p but fail to mention these are the INPUT capabilities of the projector which will then downscale to the projector's NATIVE resolution of (typically for the Ebay models) 800 x 600.
AVForums classifieds link:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/tv-projector-classi...
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Wednesday 7th April 19:16
If you don't need true HD and it's for the kids tv room, then how about an 2nd hand svga projector, plenty of ex corporate ones for sale on eBay.
Something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hitachi-XGA-ED-X3280-Multime...
Something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hitachi-XGA-ED-X3280-Multime...
We use these at work for general hire stuff http://www.epson.co.uk/Projectors/Epson-EMP-83H been good so far.
Should be able to get one for around £500 but you will also need a hanging cradle
Should be able to get one for around £500 but you will also need a hanging cradle
I know it's for your kids room, but unless you can get either of the above suggestions for well under £500 used, then I'd still say look at the Optimas and similar, plus other used ones on the classifieds link I posted above.
The two suggested above are both 4:3 format which means you will have black (or rather 'grey') bars for most content and huge bars for any 2.35:1 (scope) films (and there are a few kids films in this format). The poor contrast of both of these options (350:1 for the Hitachi for example) will mean that the image will tend to look a bit washed out, though they will be fine for Powerpoint or other office type presentations in high ambient light.
The other thing to look for is the kind of connection and if the projector only has VGA and basic 'composite' (as opposed to component) inputs then it will be difficult to connect upto a DVD/BluRay player and the image will be poor. If you can find a model with a HDMI input then this should make things easier and is generally a better connection than the analogue ones above as VGA may be limited to 60Hz which doesn't work well with UK PAL format which is 50Hz (if it works at all you'll get a horrible judder).
Just my 2p worth and if you find something on the 'bay for £100 or so then nothing to lose, but if you're going to spend £500 you may as well get something decent as you might like to watch it yourself when the kids are in bed.
The two suggested above are both 4:3 format which means you will have black (or rather 'grey') bars for most content and huge bars for any 2.35:1 (scope) films (and there are a few kids films in this format). The poor contrast of both of these options (350:1 for the Hitachi for example) will mean that the image will tend to look a bit washed out, though they will be fine for Powerpoint or other office type presentations in high ambient light.
The other thing to look for is the kind of connection and if the projector only has VGA and basic 'composite' (as opposed to component) inputs then it will be difficult to connect upto a DVD/BluRay player and the image will be poor. If you can find a model with a HDMI input then this should make things easier and is generally a better connection than the analogue ones above as VGA may be limited to 60Hz which doesn't work well with UK PAL format which is 50Hz (if it works at all you'll get a horrible judder).
Just my 2p worth and if you find something on the 'bay for £100 or so then nothing to lose, but if you're going to spend £500 you may as well get something decent as you might like to watch it yourself when the kids are in bed.
Yes, definately for the buy used option: There's an Optoma HD700X on the classifieds I linked to for £350 and that's a pretty decent model compared to a standard bussiness type projector. I've no connection to the seller, so not a recommendation, but at least he has 11 trades and hasn't just joined to sell it. Sometimes people sell with ceiling mounts and/or screens too which all helps (or could be sold one to recoup some cost. There was also an older Panasonic AE100 that went for under £100 and a Sony HS60 (both LCD models) that went for £330. I've lost more money than that on projectors I've bought and sold one when a newer/better model came out, so I really tend to buy used when I can nowadays.
OldSkoolRS said:
. I've lost more money than that on projectors I've bought and sold one when a newer/better model came out, so I really tend to buy used when I can nowadays.
Exactly - normally, unless there is some spectacular new tech, the last model looks 99% as good as the new model when operating in your lounge - but is often >50% of the price!I recently replaced a £1500 Sanyo LCD projector (which itself was a replacement for an older £4500 Sharp LCD projector) with a £450 Optima 700x DLP.
It's amazing! Projection really has come a long way in the last 10 years.
The Optima has limited placement options (like most cheap DLP) but is considerably better than my past LCDs. Bright, natural, pixel and flicker free. Recommend it!
It's amazing! Projection really has come a long way in the last 10 years.
The Optima has limited placement options (like most cheap DLP) but is considerably better than my past LCDs. Bright, natural, pixel and flicker free. Recommend it!
I project a quite decent 1080p LCD projector onto a wall adjacent to a window.
If I open my blind, parts of the image become invisible.
Were it facing the window I doubt I'd see anything worth watching.
I'd really try to get a home trial to see if it is even viable. Were you not in scotland I'd lend you my spare projector (well I'm supposed to have sold it when I bought this one but never got round to it!) to test it out. Might be worth trying a shop to see if they do a home audition service.
If I open my blind, parts of the image become invisible.
Were it facing the window I doubt I'd see anything worth watching.
I'd really try to get a home trial to see if it is even viable. Were you not in scotland I'd lend you my spare projector (well I'm supposed to have sold it when I bought this one but never got round to it!) to test it out. Might be worth trying a shop to see if they do a home audition service.
Thanks for all the input, really appreciated.
For info, the £500 'limit' was based on going out and buying a cheap flat screen and wall mount for the room - if I can get a usable projector for similar money (and it sounds like I can), then it would be preferred. The wiring etc would be far far easier for a start. Oh, and I like the idea of having a big screen. Boy's toys!
Secondhand is definitely the best option from what everyone has said, so will explore this a bit further, I think.
To the chap who said it possibly won't work opposite the window, that is my only real concern. It's not really possible to lay the room out differently without major reconstruction which I just don't want to do. I'm kind of telling myself that no screen (CRT, LCD, plasma) would look great with direct sunlight on it, so it may just be a case of having to shut the venetians when the telly is on... not the end of the world. Speaking to one of the guys in my IT department, I can borrow a portable PC projector to try out - I presume that this will be similar enough in theory to try out the effect?
Anyway, plenty to mull over. I'll post back when I finally get round to buying something!
Thanks again
For info, the £500 'limit' was based on going out and buying a cheap flat screen and wall mount for the room - if I can get a usable projector for similar money (and it sounds like I can), then it would be preferred. The wiring etc would be far far easier for a start. Oh, and I like the idea of having a big screen. Boy's toys!
Secondhand is definitely the best option from what everyone has said, so will explore this a bit further, I think.
To the chap who said it possibly won't work opposite the window, that is my only real concern. It's not really possible to lay the room out differently without major reconstruction which I just don't want to do. I'm kind of telling myself that no screen (CRT, LCD, plasma) would look great with direct sunlight on it, so it may just be a case of having to shut the venetians when the telly is on... not the end of the world. Speaking to one of the guys in my IT department, I can borrow a portable PC projector to try out - I presume that this will be similar enough in theory to try out the effect?
Anyway, plenty to mull over. I'll post back when I finally get round to buying something!
Thanks again
offshorematt2 said:
Thanks for all the input, really appreciated.
For info, the £500 'limit' was based on going out and buying a cheap flat screen and wall mount for the room - if I can get a usable projector for similar money (and it sounds like I can), then it would be preferred. The wiring etc would be far far easier for a start. Oh, and I like the idea of having a big screen. Boy's toys!
Secondhand is definitely the best option from what everyone has said, so will explore this a bit further, I think.
To the chap who said it possibly won't work opposite the window, that is my only real concern. It's not really possible to lay the room out differently without major reconstruction which I just don't want to do. I'm kind of telling myself that no screen (CRT, LCD, plasma) would look great with direct sunlight on it, so it may just be a case of having to shut the venetians when the telly is on... not the end of the world. Speaking to one of the guys in my IT department, I can borrow a portable PC projector to try out - I presume that this will be similar enough in theory to try out the effect?
Anyway, plenty to mull over. I'll post back when I finally get round to buying something!
Thanks again
Yep try it out, if you have a blind then you'll be fine. I've just painted my opposite wall dark brown to reduce reflection and it's made quite the difference!For info, the £500 'limit' was based on going out and buying a cheap flat screen and wall mount for the room - if I can get a usable projector for similar money (and it sounds like I can), then it would be preferred. The wiring etc would be far far easier for a start. Oh, and I like the idea of having a big screen. Boy's toys!
Secondhand is definitely the best option from what everyone has said, so will explore this a bit further, I think.
To the chap who said it possibly won't work opposite the window, that is my only real concern. It's not really possible to lay the room out differently without major reconstruction which I just don't want to do. I'm kind of telling myself that no screen (CRT, LCD, plasma) would look great with direct sunlight on it, so it may just be a case of having to shut the venetians when the telly is on... not the end of the world. Speaking to one of the guys in my IT department, I can borrow a portable PC projector to try out - I presume that this will be similar enough in theory to try out the effect?
Anyway, plenty to mull over. I'll post back when I finally get round to buying something!
Thanks again
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