Any of you use a video projector?

[Pliablemoose]

Curious how you like it, do any of you use it for regular TV?

I have a long narrow room I'm considering redoing to make it into a theatre like home theatre, already have Direct TV cabled into the correct wall etc, and have a 2nd DTV Tivo I can rig up to it.

Am thinking now is the time to set up a HTPC too...

Was browsing the AVS forums & there were some pissed off folks over how Infocus has slashed the prices on these projectors to not much over the price of a replacement bulb...

 

[Muadib]

Congrats!!! I don't have that projector, but I do use mine for TV.

Did staples tell you about the $100 rebate?

 

[gnumantsc]

Did you buy an extended warranty as well? That color wheel/engine will probably go on it.

 

[Pocatello]

I have the optoma H31, this thing is great for movies.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: gnumantsc
Did you buy an extended warranty as well? That color wheel/engine will probably go on it.

I can pick up an ext warranty for $79, have 30 days to decide.

Originally posted by: Muadib
Congrats!!! I don't have that projector, but I do use mine for TV.

Did staples tell you about the $100 rebate?

How big is your screen & does regular TV look bad compared to a DVD?

Yep, I already submitted the easy rebate..., and I used a $50 off $500 coupon on it

 

[vshah]

i use a panasonic ae700u...only for movies and gaming though

 

[Doggiedog]

I've got the same projector. I use the projector once in a while for TV but usually only at night. Considering how much a bulb is for the projector, I wouldn't really use it all that much for TV other than specials such as boxing, which looks spectacular in HDTV.

Here's a picture of a TV commercial. I have had some problems with my 4805 though. One huge one is the DVI-M interface not working. Its broken for some reason now. Another problem I have is with synchronization. I get some kind of wavy lines when using component.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I've got the same projector. I use the projector once in a while for TV but usually only at night. Considering how much a bulb is for the projector, I wouldn't really use it all that much for TV other than specials such as boxing, which looks spectacular in HDTV.

Here's a picture of a TV commercial. I have had some problems with my 4805 though. One huge one is the DVI-M interface not working. Its broken for some reason now. Another problem I have is with synchronization. I get some kind of wavy lines when using component.

Did you buy or build your screen?

 

[aircooled]

I've got one I use for occasional movies, but I've found that unless I were to build a permanent place for it, it will not get much use.

 

[MisterJackson]

What was the final price on it?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
What was the final price on it?

$499 after taxes.

I'm thinking a 114" diagonal screen homebuilt would kick ass...

Wal Mart has blackout drape liners 105" X 80" for ~$40 and I can just use 2X4's for the frame.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
What was the final price on it?

$499 after taxes.

I'm thinking a 114" diagonal screen homebuilt would kick ass...

Wal Mart has blackout drape liners 105" X 80" for ~$40 and I can just use 2X4's for the frame.

So is there another $100 off on top of that like someone else above said?

 

[jfall]

Yes, I have an infocus X1 (with the good chip) using component connection, porjecting onto 91+ screen. I generally only watch movies and play xbox on it.

 

[Apex]

Congrats on your purchase, welcome to the wonderful world of front projection.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

The staples one is refurb?

 

[conehead433]

Originally posted by: vshah
i use a panasonic ae700u...only for movies and gaming though

I also have a Panny Ae700 and highly recommend it or the newer AE900. I have an HDTV cable box hooked up to it and watch a good bit of HDTV movies, HDTV sporting events, as well as DVDs and some regular TV which includes some analog channels. The interesting thing is that the Panny has a better upscaler than my Sony 57" CRT so the analog channels look better on a 129" diagonal screen (roughly 4 times the size of the 57" screen) than they do on the Sony. Took me a long time to get over the wow factor. Since my family is here during the holidays everyone wants to watch movies in my theater.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
What was the final price on it?

$499 after taxes.

I'm thinking a 114" diagonal screen homebuilt would kick ass...

Wal Mart has blackout drape liners 105" X 80" for ~$40 and I can just use 2X4's for the frame.

So is there another $100 off on top of that like someone else above said?

Nope, it worked out to $495 after rebate. Still not bad, it's a refurb, 90 day warranty. Infocus sells their own refurbs for ~$700 on eBay, evidently they're nearing the end of their product life cycle & there will be a new model introduced in January. They're also EDTV, not HDTV, but evidently the Farouja chip is pretty good at converting signals to something that looks decent.

$599-projector free shipping
-$50 ($50 off $500 coupon from eBay for $2)
-$100 rebate
+$45.78 tax
=$495

I'm psyched, I have all the components to put together a pretty decent home theatre & a room to do it in.

 

[markgm]

I haved used one for about 2 years now for TV. I used to have digital cable hooked up to it and since Media Center came out I have an extender hooked up to it. I love the thing. I am working on finishing the basement in my house and it is going to be a media room when I get the time to finish it.

 

[Muadib]

How big is your screen & does regular TV look bad compared to a DVD?

I have directv too, and yes regular tv will look bad compared to DVD. I used to have the 300u which has the same (or very close) resolution as your 4805, and I got a HD receiver, and although it's was an improvement, it wasn't a big one.

I then upgraded to the AE700, and tv has stunning ever since. Sure, the non hd channels still look bad, but even they are improved, because they are converted to 1280 x 720 resolution.

If you plan on watching tv, then you should return the 4805, and wait until you can get at least a 720p projector. The age of HDTV is now. Directv should start deploying their new hd receivers any day now. You don't want to miss out.

EDIT: I have a 92" screen. I was going to go larger, but decided to stick with the formula found here.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Muadib

How big is your screen & does regular TV look bad compared to a DVD?

I have directv too, and yes regular tv will look bad compared to DVD. I used to have the 300u which has the same (or very close) resolution as your 4805, and I got a HD receiver, and although it's was an improvement, it wasn't a big one.

I then upgraded to the AE700, and tv has stunning ever since. Sure, the non hd channels still look bad, but even they are improved, because they are converted to 1280 x 720 resolution.

If you plan on watching tv, then you should return the 4805, and wait until you can get at least a 720p projector. The age of HDTV is now. Directv should start deploying their new hd receivers any day now. You don't want to miss out.

for $500, I'll play with this one for a while, i have a 61" Sony RPTV that is about as big as conventional TV can be without looking like total crap. I suspect I can use this for a year & sell it for not much less than I paid for it & upgrade at that time. I also have a 30" HD LCD already.

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: Muadib

How big is your screen & does regular TV look bad compared to a DVD?

I have directv too, and yes regular tv will look bad compared to DVD. I used to have the 300u which has the same (or very close) resolution as your 4805, and I got a HD receiver, and although it's was an improvement, it wasn't a big one.

I then upgraded to the AE700, and tv has stunning ever since. Sure, the non hd channels still look bad, but even they are improved, because they are converted to 1280 x 720 resolution.

If you plan on watching tv, then you should return the 4805, and wait until you can get at least a 720p projector. The age of HDTV is now. Directv should start deploying their new hd receivers any day now. You don't want to miss out.

EDIT: I have a 92" screen. I was going to go larger, but decided to stick with the formula found here.

4805 would have been a big upgrade from 300u!

 

[mrrman]

I have the same unit with a 60x60 screen, all my stuff goes through it. DVD,XBOX,PS2,Gamecube,Satellite...its great

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: mboy

Originally posted by: Muadib

How big is your screen & does regular TV look bad compared to a DVD?

I have directv too, and yes regular tv will look bad compared to DVD. I used to have the 300u which has the same (or very close) resolution as your 4805, and I got a HD receiver, and although it's was an improvement, it wasn't a big one.

I then upgraded to the AE700, and tv has stunning ever since. Sure, the non hd channels still look bad, but even they are improved, because they are converted to 1280 x 720 resolution.

If you plan on watching tv, then you should return the 4805, and wait until you can get at least a 720p projector. The age of HDTV is now. Directv should start deploying their new hd receivers any day now. You don't want to miss out.

EDIT: I have a 92" screen. I was going to go larger, but decided to stick with the formula found here.

4805 would have been a big upgrade from 300u!

Yeah an upgrade to rainbows, screendoor and a loud ass fan. I'll pass thanks. The only thing the 4805 had over the 300u was better black levels, which was taken care of with a $30 filter. Try again son.

 

[mboy]

Wrong you are pops!
Funny, no rainbows or screen doors on mine. 92" screen, 12' seating distance.
Low power and the noise is fine, even use an nd2 on low power.

Too bad most are of the opinion that the 4805 blows best the 300 easily, especially for the $$$.

 

[pontifex]

i heard that the infocus brand wasn't very good.