| nytflyt |
I am an admitted Home Theater nut and a firm believer in front projection for a true big screen theater experience. I thought I would ask how many members have any experience with front projection and if anyone would like to have one in their home?
Earl |
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| renov8r |
A really high quality front projector can put out an amazing image. Get that on a good screen in a big enough room with excellent sound system and you can cross "going to the cineplex" off of reasons to leave the house -- BUT -- even the very finest front projectors have some "livability" factors that mean they are not for everyone.
First, no matter how many lumens the projector puts out they will look their best in a dimly light room, pretty much demands a dedicated space and/or a hefty investment in heavy draperies.
Next hang-up is kinda minor, but it is still a factor -- if you don't ceiling mount your projector and you have pets it will get VERY dusty very quickly. Even if you do ceiling mount it and you have very sheddy pets you will see A LOT of "dust" in the beam & this is like snow in your headlights -- it 'scatters & dazzles' and is distracting.
Finally, if you have kids younger than high school seniors they will certainly manager to mess up the screen and/or projector. It is not an "if" just a "when" -- ask any quality home theater installer how many service calls they get from families with kids! |
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| nytflyt |
These are all valid points but there are work a round’s for all the problems. I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room but with room darkening draperies, pull down screens, in-wall speakers, and such the front projector can be used in a multi-purpose room. It surprises me somewhat that sometimes people will spend 8 or 9 thousand for a plasma TV when they could have a front projector setup for less that would give them a much larger screen size with the same or better image quality.
Earl |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by nytflyt
These are all valid points but there are work a round’s for all the problems. I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room but with room darkening draperies, pull down screens, in-wall speakers, and such the front projector can be used in a multi-purpose room. It surprises me somewhat that sometimes people will spend 8 or 9 thousand for a plasma TV when they could have a front projector setup for less that would give them a much larger screen size with the same or better image quality.
Earl
Very true! Although on the price point, if flat displays improve AND the price drops, I would expect to see the same for FPs. Technology does not stand still for anybody. |
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| BlueStreak |
I'm about reacy to buy something and I think Plasma is reuled out. I have lots of natural light, so front projection isn't an option. LCD, DLP, or rear projection.
And speaking of such check out thid bad boy - Sony Grand Wega 70" for $5600. It's a rear projection, but what a unit!
http://pcmag.pricegrabber.com/searc...469fdbce9d5b1a6 |
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| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by BlueStreak
I'm about reacy to buy something and I think Plasma is reuled out. I have lots of natural light, so front projection isn't an option. LCD, DLP, or rear projection.
And speaking of such check out thid bad boy - Sony Grand Wega 70" for $5600. It's a rear projection, but what a unit!
http://pcmag.pricegrabber.com/searc...469fdbce9d5b1a6
We have a 64 inch Pioneer Elite rear projection, that we absolutely love. When we bought it, we compared it to almost every projection tv available including Sony's (of which we are big fans) and it blew the competition away. We have had it for two trouble free years and would highly recommend that you check it out. BTW, prices are generally very negotiable on these big ticket sets.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/p...9573418,00.html |
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| nytflyt |
Greg,
I agree with Maik, if front projection is not an option, the Pioneer Elite sets are hard to beat. You should also check out the new DLP based rear projection sets. The Samsung is very good and there are other new sets coming out now. I don’t like the black levels on the LCD sets but that is a personal opinion and you might like them.
Earl |
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| BlueStreak |
quote:
Originally posted by nytflyt
Greg,
I agree with Maik, if front projection is not an option, the Pioneer Elite sets are hard to beat. You should also check out the new DLP based rear projection sets. The Samsung is very good and there are other new sets coming out now. I don’t like the black levels on the LCD sets but that is a personal opinion and you might like them.
Earl
Appreciate the info. Decisions, decisions..... |
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| DaleB |
I would not say anything negative about Pioneer's Elite series. However, they do not stand out as well as they used to IMHO. They were truly the Elite for a good decade.
The competition is fiercer than ever, and with advancing technology, is only likely to be come more so.
To the consumer goes the spoils. You can almost do no wrong by choosing a reputable brand. But the more finicky videophile is likely to be more selective.
In the CRT rear projection market, properly calibrated Toshiba, Mits, Sony, and Hitachi offer stellar performance. Not to say the likes of Samsung and others, are not nipping at their heels.
When it comes to LCD and LCoS things get more dicey as well as more expensive. You don't have to wait long for the next revolution to explode on the marketplace and offer even better displays and at lower cost. There are not many things created by man, that are such successful endeavors, but technology certainly ranks right up there with the best. |
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| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
I would not say anything negative about Pioneer's Elite series. However, they do not stand out as well as they used to IMHO. They were truly the Elite for a good decade.
If thats the case, that decade ended less than two years ago. When we bought ours, there was a huge difference. It totally blew the competition away. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by Maik
If thats the case, that decade ended less than two years ago. When we bought ours, there was a huge difference. It totally blew the competition away.
The reviews I've read from several publications for the last year or so, show less expensive rivals exhibiting similar or even better performance in some aspects. The point being they are certainly holding their ground but not always blowing everything else away.
I was not buying, but auditioning a large Pioneer CRT RP display from a major dealer, LaserLand in Cupertino, CA. This was 3 years ago. They have individual rooms for all large screens. They felt Pioneer was their biggest ticket items. And they were fabulous. I was there when they had a Panasonic display that had everybody mesmerized. In color fidelty, the Pioneer still had a slight edge, but the Panny had detail that Pioneer could not approach. They were very surprised. All their displays are professionally calibrated. About half of us, including me, still preferred the overall picture of the Pioneer, but if price was the major concern, the Panny would have won out.
Every manufacturer has access to the same technology, it is how they implement it that will make the difference. We are talking hair-splitting differences in many cases.
The point being there is a level where more money does not buy that much more, and in a matter of time, all the big players will have models of equal performance. I think all the top line CRT RPs are there now. It just gets down to personal taste and features.
Solid displays will follow the same path IMHO. You may not agree and that's fine. It is just an opinion, and I would never argue purchasing a Pioneer Elite display was not a wise choice.
Hell, I love my Sony Wega for now..but I still think the color fidelity of my older non-flat screen Toshiba in the b/r is slightly better. |
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| Maik |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
I was not buying, but auditioning a large Pioneer CRT RP display from a major dealer, LaserLand in Cupertino, CA. This was 3 years ago.
Are you sure it was an Elite?
From what I have seen lately, I would still say that the Elite is superior to the newer sets I have seen, both in stores and at homes of friends. While I agree that certainly all manufacturers have access to the same technology, not many manufacturers have copied the Elite. I suspect that it is due to economics and the fact that most manufacturers that sell the rear projection sets are aiming at a different price point, especially today. The Elites continue to sell well despite the fact that they are priced well in excess of the vast majority of the competition. If I were buying today, I suspect that we would reach the same conclusion.
Good thing there are all those brands to choose from...that way you and I can both be satisfied. |
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| DaleB |
From what I recall it was, that's why everyone was so surprised. But fine detail is only one aspect..and it takes a lot of elements to make up a fine picture..a balance if you will..and while one may have slightly better detail does it also have more noise in the picture ? One may have a better color decoder, but another more consistent color at ever point on the screen, and on and on...it's easy to get lost in the details, so to speak...but like speakers, when you hear the ones that are right for you, you will know it.....something just clicks.
The Feb. issue of Home Theater Magazine gives a Toshiba an edge in overall picture presentation over a Pioneer Elite as well as 8 other brands. The Pioneer is a PRO-530HD.
All these sets were great, we are talking fine points. Plus, none matched the Pioneer for build quality.
OK? Well, I take all reviews with a grain of salt. But this publication has raved about Pioneer Elite displays for years. You can look at their archives at www.hometheatermag.com
They rave about Def Tech speakers too, which personally I did not find all that impressive. So you have to make up your mind (as you well know).
When I am close to purchase, I read as much as I can, including what's said on forums, but the big thing is I go out and see for myself. Then I validate what I read also, as well as deciding what works for me.
When I am ready for a big screen, I just may be taking an Elite home. It's hard to say. But when the time comes I don't have a problem plunking down extra cash if it is going to make a difference I can see. |
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| hondacuraworld |
| My good friend Rob over at AudioKarma uses a Barco projector....the effect is quite amazing! |
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| DaleB |
You will need a projector that does at least 1024X768 res and a contrast ratio of not less than 2000:1
There are several good ones for around 2K that will do that. That should satisfy most DVD watching. For true HDTV you will probably want to double your budget. Those are 'roughs'. |
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| nytflyt |
Zafer,
That’s a reasonable price for that system but I am not sure it is worth getting. The resolution of that projector is pretty low and LCD type projectors do not do blacks very well. I don’t think anyone would be happy with that projector when they compared it to a rear projection system of equal cost. Even though the screen would be a lot bigger, with the projector, the quality of the image would not be equal to the RP unit.
Earl |
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| crmsnidol |
You owe it to yourself to preview a plasma vs. LCD vs. projectro setup at your local hi-end A/V shop. In my area, Tweeter actually has a good setup for this.
For my basement project, I'm looking at a projector. I have no light, have wired for dimmers that control two halves of the basement (to elimiate light from the theater side) and wired a box above the drop ceiling for the projector. For me, a projector is a better choice over a plasma for many of the reasons already mentioned. Some are:
1. My basement is going to primarily be a play room so I don't want the equipment within kid-reach.
2. I plan on controlling the setup through a home theater PC (HTPC) allowing me to puch .avi, DIVX, MPEG, web, PS2, Cable, etc through the video source. Using an HTPC also allows me to custom control the resolution and settings for every input type. Wayne (xcel) got me interested in this setup last year.
3. The cost involved for the HTPC, projector and screen (if purchased rather than made) would be approx half that of a comparably sized/resolution plasma. I have a clear wall on which to shoot an approx 110" image and a seating area that is 12-16' from the screen. The forums linked below offer a wealth of info and pictures of setup to help you decide what may work for you. One of the idea I really like it to try certain paints on your wall first before buying a screen to see how it looks. Stewart-Firehawk screens are not white but gray and there are posts that decribe the exact colors to use on your wall. Perfect if you don't want to assemble a screen everytime you want to watch a movie or don't want the expense of a mechanical drop-down model ($3,000+). Again, not having to worry about kids defacing the screen is key for me. The same would hold true if I opted for Plamsa or LCD.
Good luck.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php |
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