looking for some clarification on current projectors

[Seeker47]

I posted this
http://forum.videohelp.com/topic374732.html
because I will be needing a couple display solutions for a new location. With the exception of an lcd panel I got for a bedroom a year and a half ago, I had not purchased any sort of tv for something like 14 years. Just trying to survey all the options.

The standard wisdom I've seen dispensed here is that projectors are even way more for well-controlled low-light situations than plasma. I recently saw a home where they'd set up a projector (probably your typical Optoma or HP) and a pull-down screen. It was very likely inadvisable there -- although I think they only used it at night -- but it was in a rented house, and the tenant did not have a lot of good options for that particular space.

[What Consumer Reports considers a viable option, and what passes muster here are apt to be two very different things !]

Here's my question: getting a very sharp picture for HDTV and dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues. If so, what might they be ? Are we talking about fancy commercial gear that very few could afford for a home setting ?

[redwudz]

I have a couple of projectors and neither are really usable for daytime lighting. I use blackout curtains for occasional daytime viewing and there's no problem. But not all rooms are suited for that.

But having a 12' screen is worth it to me. I use a Sony Bravia projector with HDMI and it looks great with HD video. DVD or lower res video is a bit disappointing, though. The choice of a screen helps also. A video type gray screen will give you a bit more contrast if your room isn't totally dark, but they can get expensive. If you opt for one of those, go for a electric model and you won't regret the extra cost.

Maybe a $6000 projector would work better in brighter lighting, but not worth it for most people.

Here's one projector site that has a lot of info: http://www.projectorcentral.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/ is another place to look.

[jagabo]

dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues.

Front projectors will never be as good as CRT, LCD, plasma, etc when it comes to lit rooms. The reason is simple: look at the screen of a CRT, LCD, plasma, etc in a lit room. It's nearly black. Now look at the projection screen. It's white or silver. The darkest part of any image projected on that screen will never be any darker than the room lighting. The projector can't subtract light from the screen. Ie, the black level is determined by the room lighting. If they made the screen black, so as not to reflect room lighting, you wouldn't see the projected image either. End of story.

[Seeker47]

dealing with the light issue seem to be the major drawbacks for projectors. But I've heard there may be some better, brighter ones that can overcome these issues.

Front projectors will never be as good as CRT, LCD, plasma, etc when it comes to lit rooms. The reason is simple: look at the screen of a CRT, LCD, plasma, etc in a lit room. It's nearly black. Now look at the projection screen. It's white or silver. The darkest part of any image projected on that screen will never be any darker than the room lighting. The projector can't subtract light from the screen. Ie, the black level is determined by the room lighting. If they made the screen black, so as not to reflect room lighting, you wouldn't see the projected image either. End of story.

Thanks for that. I wasn't expecting anyone to repeal the laws of physics. But, every so often, there are some advances, and one wants to know about them if and when they happen.

[Seeker47]

O.K., what do you think of this puppy ?

eBay Item # 150383764782

Looks formidable.

[jagabo]

Looks like a 14 year old CRT projector. I'm sure it was nice in its day but I wouldn't blow five grand on it today.

[Seeker47]

Looks like a 14 year old CRT projector. I'm sure it was nice in its day but I wouldn't blow five grand on it today.

Yeah, and originally much more expensive than that, but wasn't he claiming the performance would run rings around most of the ones on the market today ? I kind of doubt that, but this is what caught my eye.

[jagabo]

wasn't he claiming the performance would run rings around most of the ones on the market today

Sure. And since most projectors sold today are lower quality 720p models with poor optics, he's right.