Starting from scratch

[admin_exported]

Ok guys i'm a relative newbe to all this and was wondering if I could get some help.

I have always dreamed about having my own place with an extremley efficient networked home where all my media is minamilised to hard drives and can be stremed around my abode. I would love to make it as wireless as possible too. I also like to travel and want my home to be as acccesable as possible. I have just bought a new house and am really excited about setting all this up.

I would like either a large flat screen TV or projector with screen in my front room which i can use for my normal TV, movie playback, radio and music play back, live sport and online gaming (XBOX, PS3), I love the idea of having a huge projector screen but would i be better off with a large better quality TV?

Thanks

Olly

 

[greybb]

I personally would go with a large flat sreen, i think you have to change the bulb every few thousand hours on a projector at a few hundred pounds a pop. Yes you can have a ridiulously large picture with a projector, but depending on the distance you are from the screen that could be too big. Plus light is an issue, i think you need to be in a dark room.

What's your budget for a tv / projector ?

 

[bigboss]

A projector is definitely an excellent option. Changing bulbs is not an issue, as the bulbs last for a few thousand hours (which translates to a few years of use). Also, contrary to popular belief, you don't strictly need a pitch dark room. You can get a high-gain screen that will enable to you watch without having to have black-out curtains or wait until it's dark.

We need more information to advise you on either (TV or projector):

1) What's your budget?

2) What are your room's dimensions?

3) What percentage of your viewing is going to be SD programmes?

 

[bigboss]

greybb: but depending on the distance you are from the screen that could be too big.

That is the whole point of a projector, isn't it?

 

[greybb]

Yes but if your that close to it surely you don't want to be moving your head from side to side whilst playing xbox or ps3, plus i was under the impression that if you were too close to a screen you would see flaws in the picture that you wouldn't see at the correct distance.

I maybe wrong, i'm no expert and just giving my opinion based on what i've read here.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Projectors are an unmatched experience as far as movies are concerned

 

[greybb]

But am i wrong in thinking you can be too close ???

 

[Anonymous]

Guys,

Thanks for the thoughs so far, i would have about 3m between me and the screen although i would have a fairly big window to the side. Budget is about £1500

Thanks

 

[greybb]

Panasonic 50v20, it's not 3D but it's an exellent tv.

 

[bigboss]

greybb:But am i wrong in thinking you can be too close ???

When I demoed my AV equipment, I was treated to watching a film on a projector. I think it was an 84-inch screen, & I was seated less than 3m from it. Not a hint of grain or blurriness & even fast motion was comfortable. Mind you, I was watching a blu-ray film. The experience is unrivalled by any TV available in the market (including my KRP 500A plasma).

It really depends on the OP. If you're going to watch a lot of SD programmes, a 50-inch TV is probably a better option, although Clare Newsome (Editor-in-Chief, WHF) uses a projector exclusively for everyday viewing.