tv verus projector

[admin_exported]

Hello,I have a superb home cinema system,Phillips 47" Lcd,Pioneer LX 82,Sony BD 500ES and MA Silver RX6-AV-12 and quality cabling.

I watch sport,motorbikes,golf,football,etc.Also documentaries,Discovery etc.Also the occassional Blu-Ray.However would a Projector system be a step forward or 2 steps back.I have never seen a projection system working in the home situation.I have seen the footie on a projector/screen in the pub and it was of poor quality.

Any suggestions?

Colin.

 

[Muzza]

I am also interested in this and have two further questions:

1 - For SD images I imagine a projector is awful but will be superior in HD, is this right?

2 - Can you only really watch this set up in the dark?

Hello,I have a superb home cinema system,Phillips 47" Lcd,Pioneer LX 82,Sony BD 500ES and MA Silver RX6-AV-12 and quality cabling. I watch sport,motorbikes,golf,football,etc.Also documentaries,Discovery etc.Also the occassional Blu-Ray.However would a Projector system be a step forward or 2 steps back.I have never seen a projection system working in the home situation.I have seen the footie on a projector/screen in the pub and it was of poor quality. Any suggestions? Colin.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Have a read through this blog I wrote a couple of years' ago, which should answer some questions.

My projector and receiver have been updated since i wrote it, but the essentials are the same. Then i'll be here to answer any further questions. I'll also delete the near-duplicate, earlier thread.

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

Hi Dargan, I would hunt down a local specialist who can demonstrate the latest projectors properly. The results can be amazing if set up properly. It does depend on your budget to some extent as to how much of a step up you will have from your TV but most of the £2k models on the market should offer you a comparable image just much larger. Taking it to £5k and above and the projectors take the lead.

You do not need to watch in the dark, there are several screens on the market that allow for ambient light but these are normally priced at a premium. Generally speaking there is a fine balance to find between the projector, screen, room and of course budget.

 

[Muzza]

Hi Clare

Thats very helpful thanks! Can I just ask a few more questions?

can most projectors nowadays be used 'side on'?

what source do you use? are sd pictures ok?

you mention you dont draw the curtains, in a normally lit room does it impact the picture at all?

Have a read through this blog I wrote a couple of years' ago, which should answer some questions.

My projector and receiver have been updated since i wrote it, but the essentials are the same. Then i'll be here to answer any further questions. I'll also delete the near-duplicate, earlier thread.

 

[DandyCobalt]

If it helps, I was in same position before buying a £2k Sony HD projector, and Beamax (about £250) pull-up screen.

Total darkness does help (for atmosphere more than anything) and you will really notice difference if you play SD tv, or a DVD then a Blu-ray - you will get that "ahhh, HD is really much better!" moment.

However, a big screen and darkness can be very stimulating for the senses, and therefore tiring after a while. We use our screen/projector for blu-rays a few nights a week, and is then put away tidily. The plasma does the job for TV, DVDs etc.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Hi Clare

Thats very helpful thanks! Can I just ask a few more questions?

can most projectors nowadays be used 'side on'?

what source do you use? are sd pictures ok?

you mention you dont draw the curtains, in a normally lit room does it impact the picture at all?

Not all projectors can be used 'side on' - but there's a lot more flexibility (apart from the very budget end) re positoning then there used to be: models, for example, that are happy used on a coffee table firing up. Any good dealer will be able to help you towards the best model for your room/needs.

In terms of sources, i've got Sky+HD and a Pioneer 'LX52 Blu-ray player. I'd estimate we watch @90% HD (TV and Blu-ray), with the remainder (SD TV and DVD) upscaled via the Pioneer 'LX82 receiver. The best DVDs look excellent; SD TV channels depend so much on the source quality, but represent by far the smallest fraction of viewing - when you've got a projector, you're too busy revelling in excellent HD dramas, sport and movies!

Re lighting. Without the curtains drawn, you can lose some contrast on a sunny day - but then our living room doesn't get sun for most of the day. Plus, of course, lashings of contrast isn't so essential with the content we'd typically watch on a weekend daytime: sports. If we really want to watch a movie on a bright day, the curtains take less time to draw than the Blu-ray disc takes to load!

 

[The_Lhc]

Out of idle curiosity Clare, how often do you have to replace your bulb?

 

[Clare Newsome]

I've always upgraded projector before a bulb change has been needed!

But that was when tech was changing all the time... i've been using the current main incumbent (Panasonic PT-AE3000) for two years now without a bulb change. I do, however, keep it regularly cleaned so the bulb doesn't overheat. This also cuts down on fan noise, which is a bonus.

 

[DandyCobalt]

I do, however, keep it regularly cleaned so the bulb doesn't overheat. This also cuts down on fan noise, which is a bonus.

Claire, do you open up the cover etc and put the vacuum in there? Worried about warranties etc, but I posted a pic recently of the dusty insides of my Pioneer plasma control box - and it was shocking.

 

[Clare Newsome]

I follow, very carefully, the specific instructions for that Panasonic given to me by a helpful retailer. It is quite scary and I wouldn't recommend it for the faint-hearted - not least because it'll invalidate your warranty.

Most projectors benefit - while, of course, being totally switched off! - from a regular clean/de-fluff round their air-intakes with a handheld 'dustbuster' etc.

Anything more specific than that and i'd strongly urge contacting your retailer/the manufacturer for specialist cleaning tips.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

A easy way to keep the inards of Av equipment dust free is to use a hair dryer on cold or a can of cand-air and regularly blow the air through the units air vents and you will see any dust fly out. I do this from time to time and I also do this with my Xbox 360 which saves any over-heating realted issues!