3D projector ***Updating the UPDATE!!***....again......

[hamerhead]

I'm just starting the process of upgrading my home theater and thinking I need a 3D projector. We currently have a 7' screen (10' diagonally) and might bump that up to 8'. There's 18' between the mount and the screen. Ambient light isn't an issue, and 3D would only be a small percentage of what we watch.

I love 3D stuff in theaters (simpleton, I know), but haven't seen any 3D TVs or home theaters in action, and really don't know what to look for or avoid.

Help?

[RichRS6]

I have a JVC X3 (X30 in the states I think) which is pretty good but apart from that I can't tell you too much about it apart from it was the cheapest I could find that did 3D at the time.

The picture is pretty good for the lowest end of JVCs 3D range but I'm no spec chaser and have pretty poor eyesight anyway !

Lamp life seems pretty good but the 3D can be a bit hit and miss depending on what you're watching.

Only ever used it for Blueray movies in 3D but it can handle TV broadcasts too.

Hate having to wear the active glasses which is weird as they don't bother me in the cinema.

My advice, try to find one that uses rechargeable glasses as they seem to go through batteries quite fast.

HTH.

[JohnnyB]

Go to Hometheater.com for their reviews of recommended 3D projectors. They range from $1,000 to $25,000 (for the first commercially available 4K projector), so there's something for nearly everybody. These guys really wring out the gear, doing full subjective evaluations with a variety of source material, then sanity-check against high-resolution tests, graphed out for you to see.

I tend to read up on (or audition) the best available in something, and then pick the one I can afford that comes closest to giving me that same sensation.

[Armitage]

I'm using a JVC DLA-X90 D-ILA Projector on a 132 inch screen in a blacked out room with dark red brick flat paint on the side walls and flat black on the ceiling and the wall behind the screen. I shopped all around and was really unhappy with most of the stuff I saw. The much more affordable Epson and Panasonic everyone loved were just terrible. After watching a properly calibrated plazma TV, it was a tough act to follow. Lousy blacks and faded whites were the norm. I kept thinking, why spend all the money to do up this room just to have a picture that's not as good as the TV I have upstairs? Do it right, or don't do it and be unhappy... IMH of course.

I never use the 3D feature though... didn't even get the glasses.

[Bobby Marshall]

Given the topic, the last line of the OP should have been as follows

Help me Johnny-Wan Kenobi, you are my only hope!

[JohnnyB]

I'm using a JVC DLA-X90 D-ILA Projector on a 132 inch screen ...

I never use the 3D feature though... didn't even get the glasses.

i haven't done much auditioning of front projectors recently, but the 3D direct view flat panels--whether LCD/LED or plasma--generally have a better 2D picture than the 2D TVs. 3D requires much more powerful light and for 2D confers a wider dynamic range of shade and color than the 2D counterparts.

[Armitage]

That's one of the reasons if I was doing it again without spending such big bucks, I'd stick with a quality large screen TV instead of a projector and just sit closer...

[Armitage]

.... not a job interview...

[JohnnyB]

That's one of the reasons if I was doing it again without spending such big bucks, I'd stick with a quality large screen TV instead of a projector and just sit closer...

The direct view TVs just keep getting bigger, better and cheaper. Currently Costco online offers an 80" (nearly 7 feet) Sharp Aquos for about $3400 with free shipping. You can get excellent 70-inchers for under a $2K. And there's no bulb replacement cost.

I do recommend you try those Redmere HDMI cables from Monoprice. That's a cable I think we could agree on.

[hamerhead]

TVs are just too small!! I like having to turn my head when Rogers throws the ball. Or when Ironman flies across the screen. It's the size that matters!

My current unit is 5 or 6 years old, and wasn't very expensive at the time - I think around $600 or $700. And it is infinitely better than the 5- or 6-year-old one before it that cost twice as much. Since I'm not really a stickler for the best-of-the-best picture-wise, I can get by with a sub-$1500 unit that - given the continuous advances in technology - will be miles ahead of what I'm currently using. And in 5 years they'll be even that much better and I'll do it again.

I couldn't afford a projector that rivals the picture quality of the current batch of TVs. They look killer, but get pretty pricey. But what I'll gain in a new unit is a big enough improvement to keep me happy for the next 5 years or so without breaking the bank. My wife doesn't yet know how much she loves that.

I've read some great reviews so far (in all price ranges) and there are several that would be a coin toss. Oh boy!

And JB - the Redmere cable is first on the list. I really want to see what it does with the current set-up.

Great stuff - keep it coming!

[JohnnyB]

So Hamerhead, do you have a target budget? Also, remember that the prices listed in the HomeTheater reviews are full list price and can be had for less. Since 2D is significantly more important to you than 3D, I'd go for a projector in your price range that has the highest 2D performance and most stars for overall value. If it's one of the Home Theater Top Picks, better still.

For example, the Epson 5020UBe has five stars for 2D picture quality and for value, is a Top Pick, and can be had for $2500-2900 via Amazon. The BenQ W7000 also gets high ratings at its $3K list, but can be had for under $2K.

But of course read the reviews to see which ones have the strengths and weaknesses most compatible with your viewing habits.

[Armitage]

TVs are just too small!! I like having to turn my head when Rogers throws the ball. Or when Ironman flies across the screen. It's the size that matters!

The rule of thumb is you sit back, double the width of your 1080 TV. This gives you the optimum distance for pixel size and viewing angle. So if your TV is 50 inches wide (actually wide, not diagonal), you sit back 100 inches etc... So when it comes down to it, TV size has more to do with how far you are away from it, and it'll always be the same size in your eyes!

[hamerhead]

Mom said sitting too close will ruin your eyes. She mighta been on to something........

Right now I'm back about 12' from a 7' (actual width) screen, so just by dumb luck I'm at least close to the 1:2 ratio. But real movie theaters put it right in your lap (realizing pixels aren't at play here). And I'm sure hanging a Ipad from the bill of my hat won't produce the same effect (I tried sitting closer to a normal TV. It was weird.). I understand what you're saying, but the bombast, the spectacle, of a big screen is part of the fun, even with less-than-ideal conditions.

Keeping it under $1500 (closer to $1000) still means I get a big upgrade without a big investment, mostly because I hate spending top dollar to get the latest/greatest tech stuff when it's outdated before it's hooked up. I'm a cheap bastard, but so far there seems to be plenty to pick from in the that range.

I love the info, guys. Processing it all and scaling it to fit is the tricky part. But I'm learning........

[JohnnyB]

Keeping it under $1500 (closer to $1000) still means I get a big upgrade without a big investment, mostly because I hate spending top dollar to get the latest/greatest tech stuff when it's outdated before it's hooked up. I'm a cheap bastard, but so far there seems to be plenty to pick from in the that range.

That's what I do. I bought my last AV Pre/pro on a closeout--$2K unit for about $650 while the companies were gearing up for the HDMI interface and lossless decoding.

So now the next big thing is 4K video, the same resolution as digital theater projection. It's going to take awhile before there are 4K video players and 4K satellite or cable programming. But in the meantime there will be an increasing number of 4K home projectors, and that probably means the price of 1080p projectors will drop some more.

I remember in the '80s when stereo TV was introduced. That mono 27" Trinitron that everybody once lusted after for $450 was suddenly $279.

[hamerhead]

The 4K stuff is going to be cool. Really cool. I hope in 5 or 6 years it's widespread and affordable. In the meantime, having prices drop on 1080 gear works really well for me.

[Toadroller]

.... not a job interview...

Cruel and unusual punishment. And cringe-worthy humor.

[hamerhead]

Well I finally took the plunge after months of studying and searching and on and on. And the winner is:

The Optoma HD131Xe.

At $730 I couldn't pass it up. It does everything I wanted, gets great reviews, and was way cheaper than expected, which is a good thing considering I also got a bigger screen, a 3D Bluray player, and the stupid glasses. The one thing I overlooked (actually didn't know I needed one) was the emitter required for 3D viewing. D'OH!

The picture quality (compared to the outgoing ViewSonic) is amazing. Vivid color, stunning detail, really just leaps and bounds better. I was shocked. I mean I knew it would be an improvement, I just had no clue it would be that much of one. It's 'holy sh!t' good. And it runs super quiet. The ViewSonic was just loud.

I was in Sam's with my wife and joked about the 80" flat screen for $3000. This whole set-up - the projector, screen, 2 pairs of glasses (and emitter), Bluray player, and 30' Redmere cable (thanks JB!) was under $1100. If the old stuff sells for a couple hundred, I'm in at about $900.

I'm still fine-tuning here and there, but overall I couldn't be happier. WHOOHOO!

[geoff_hartwell]

Sweet!

Where did you get the new screen and what did you go with?

[hamerhead]

It's a generic Ebay screen:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370892941979?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

...but it looks good. I've had Da-Lite screens, but I can't see any difference with this one. Maybe if they were side-by-side...The Da-Lite is heavier built, which is good is you're setting it up/tearing it down frequently, but for a semi-permanent installation this works well.

Mine was $99 w/free shipping (price apparently went up). It's a pretty good deal.

I would recommend this set-up to anyone looking for large screen TV. No, it's not quite flat panel good, but it's incredibly detailed and sharp for it's size (four 50" TVs). And you could spend a sh!t-ton more money for a true theater experience (you'll need a bigger room). But for a cheap giant TV in the man cave, you won't beat this.

[hamerhead]

Updating the update:

JB steered me to the proper BluRay player (Panasonic DMP-BDT500P with 2 HDMI outs) and after some tinkering I've finally got some really cool 3D hapnin'. I've heard that the effect wasn't nearly as good on the home units as it is in the theater (go figure), and wasn't really expecting much, but this works considerably better than I imagined. I've had bugs and bubbles floating out into the middle of the room where you could grab them, and haven't noticed any weird artifacts or glitches as yet (pretty limited use so far).

It's cool, works great, and I'm a happy guy.

And thanks again JohnnyB for the heads up. It brought the whole thing together.