Considering purchasing my first projector

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Thanks, I am looking at projector people and it looks like its perfect free shipping too. Do you know where it says the 4 hour gurantee thing? I looked around and can't find it.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/customer-service/purchase.asp

You can return it within 30 days if it has less than 4 hours on the bulb and not have to pay a restocking fee

 

[leglez]

Ok thanks that looks like the best deal, no tax and free shipping.

Would I be better off going with the Onkyo HT-S3200 HTIB:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VEI2NG

Or just getting a receiver like the TX-SR507 and then using my speakers until I can purchase new speakers?

It looks like I can get the SR507 for $250 on ebay, and it allows you to run just 1 hdmi cable.

 

[leglez]

Any recommendations on the receiver or htib? Also just found out walmart.com sells the HD20 for $985+tax+$5 shipping and I have a friend that works there and gets 10% off so I think I can get it for around $950, so I might do that instead of projectorpeople. After a little more digging looks like I can also get 4% bing cashback through walmart.com, not sure if I can combine that with an employee discount though.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Any recommendations on the receiver or htib? Also just found out walmart.com sells the HD20 for $985+tax+$5 shipping and I have a friend that works there and gets 10% off so I think I can get it for around $950, so I might do that instead of projectorpeople. After a little more digging looks like I can also get 4% bing cashback through walmart.com, not sure if I can combine that with an employee discount though.

I think the 507 doesn't convert other video connection types to HDMI? If you have a component source, you'd have to connect both component and HDMI to the projector.

The 607 has this capability.

 

[leglez]

I think the 507 doesn't convert other video connection types to HDMI? If you have a component source, you'd have to connect both component and HDMI to the projector.

The 607 has this capability.

Ah thanks for pointing that out. Did a little reading and found the Onkyo HT-RC160, supposedly just like the 607, but $100 cheaper. It is here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882120146

I also found the the Energy Take 5 Pack on Newegg for $200. If I go with the HT-RC160, I think I will also grab the Take 5 pack. That puts me at about $540, for the audio system and I have an older subwoofer I could use until I can afford something nicer. That would give me a great setup that wouldn't need to be upgraded for a while.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Ah yes, the 160 will get the job done too.

Your old subwoofer is a powered one right? (Has its own power plug to go into a wall outlet)

 

[leglez]

Ah yes, the 160 will get the job done too.

Your old subwoofer is a powered one right? (Has its own power plug to go into a wall outlet)

Yeah its has the power cable and RCAs. Its some cheapo fisher audio that I got in a trade a while back.

 

[leglez]

Just bought the projector and mount. Now gotta wait for my state refund to come through to order the audio stuff.

Just a note to anyone reading, buy.com has the HD20 on sale for $941 and free shipping.

http://www.buy.com/prod/optoma-hd20-...211447472.html

 

[vi edit]

I'm looking at projectors as well and just having a hard time deciding on how much a quality improvement you get as you move up...

HD20 for under $1000
Benq 1000 for $1200
Epson 8100 for $1500
Panasonic AE4000 for $2000

It's not like you can really demo these things side by side in the same room. So overwhelming. :\

 

[Muadib]

I'm looking at projectors as well and just having a hard time deciding on how much a quality improvement you get as you move up...

HD20 for under $1000
Benq 1000 for $1200
Epson 8100 for $1500
Panasonic AE4000 for $2000

It's not like you can really demo these things side by side in the same room. So overwhelming. :\

You can if you order from the right places. They will allow you to put 3-4 hours on the bulb, and return it. Order 2 that you like, and return the one that you don't.

 

[leglez]

Just got a notice that the projector will be here friday, and an email that the mount has shipped so hopefully will have it set up this weekend. Then I will probably order the RC160. I am wondering, should I stick with the Energys, or should I get fronts and center for ~$200 and then later buy surrounds? Will the Energys work well for my setup?

 

[leglez]

Just ordered the RC160. I am needing some help deciding on a screen now. Should I go the DIY route, or buy a prebuilt one, or buy a DIY one.

How much would it cost to do a DIY one and are they fairly simple to make look good? Any guides anywhere?

I have found this thread. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1064339 which links to these screens:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Home-Theater-Mo...eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ht_3947wt_1167

Its around $200, but its all that I would have to do is screw a few screws into it. Can I build a DIY one for cheaper than that that will look good?

 

[RedCOMET]

I spent Less than $130 on my DIY screen. That includes getting the fabric from my local jo-anns and buying a staple gun and other necessary hardware to construct the screen.

A few things i learned from building my screen.. Get the good wood, make sure its straight, not bowed, etc. and have them folks at home depot / lowes (sp) cut the wood for you if you don't have the right tools to do it yourself.

I had a hard effing time cutting a 1 x3 ( which really isn't 1" x 3") in a straight line with a circular saw. Took a lot of effert on my part to ge the edges square and flat with a dremel tool. I got some pics of it win my theater thread in my sig.

 

[leglez]

I went ahead and ordered a sheet of gatorfoam through a local company, should be ready tomorrow got it for ~$50 and then I am going to follow some guides on AVS to paint it.

I am getting ready to order all the cables and a few other accessories. I have the following in my cart:

1 - 30FT HDMI Cable (run from receiver to projector)
2 - 3FT HDMI cables (run from xbox and ps3 to receiver)
1 - 100FT 14AWG Speaker Wire
6 - Closed Screw Banana Plugs

I also noticed these speaker stands at monoprice.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10828&cs_id=1082804&p_id=3022&seq=1&format=2

Would that work with the energys? There is not going to be much furniture in the room so I can't set them on anything. And I would like to do it right the first time and get the speakers placed correctly. Could I pick up 2 sets and use them for the front and rear speakers and then set the center on my entertainment center?

Also does anyone know what length power cable is shipped with the HD20?

 

[leglez]

Got everything ordered I believe.

HD20 should be here tomorrow (well today)
Ceiling Mount should be here tomorrow or Saturday
Receiver should be here Saturday or Monday
Gatorfoam should be available for pickup tomorrow
Speakers should be here monday or Tuesday
All the cable will hopefully be here monday-tuesday.

I also scratched buying the speaker stands from monoprice. I was at walmart tonight and found some floor lamps for $7. They screw together there are 5 different sections. I am just going to screw 3 in and then cut the lamp cable and run the speaker cable down it and then put a screw or something through the stand and either hang the speaker on the side of it or make a stand on top. I was worried about how well the monoprice stand would hold the speakers based on the reviews. These lamps are pretty heavy on the bottom so I think they will work out better.

Thanks for all the help from everyone!

 

[leglez]

Got the HD20 in a few minutes ago. Went ahead and hooked it up and just put it on my coffee table projecting onto a blank wall. Actually doesn't look bad out of box projecting on a blank wall with quite a bit of ambient light. Once I get it mounted on the ceiling and projecting onto the gatorfoam I am going to play with the settings. Sorry for the bad quality pictures, using my phone. Also ignore the mess haha I was excited about testing it out so I just pushed stuff out of the way, and I had to move a couch to get to the blank wall.

 

[RedCOMET]

Nice!!

 

[leglez]

Picked up the gatorfoam to use for my screen last night. Also picked up 3 more floor lamps from walmart for $8 each. I'll be using them for speaker mounts.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you have a plan for attaching the speakers to the poles?

(I guess you're going to need the speakers in hand to figure out what will work though, eh?)

 

[leglez]

Yeah I am waiting to get the speakers before I decide how I am gonna do it. I think they have a keyhole in the back though, so if I do I will probably just drill a hole in the lamp posts and put a bolt through and hang the speaker on it.

 

[leglez]

Got the HD20 mounted, next up is the screen. I got some L-Brackets I am going to try to use until I get velvet to wrap MDF in and then I will use that.

Not too sure I like the projector mount either. It is locked in place, yet if anything barely touches it it moves. Is that how most mounts are? Are there any higher quality mounts I could try?

 

[leglez]

Mounted the screen, but not too sure I am happy with it. I ended up just putting screws with washers up and then set the screen on them and then did the same on the top. But in the process of moving the screen from my bedroom to the living room I broke about a 1/4" off the bottom right corner. Not noticeable but kinda annoying.

I think I am going to research some paints, and try to possibly paint the wall and then do a velvet border.

Everything is still up in the air. Once I get the speakers and everything hooked up I might change my mind.

Receiver and speakers are scheduled for Tuesday, and all the wires for Thursday. So by Thursday or Friday i should have everything up.

 

[Muadib]

Got the HD20 mounted, next up is the screen. I got some L-Brackets I am going to try to use until I get velvet to wrap MDF in and then I will use that.

Not too sure I like the projector mount either. It is locked in place, yet if anything barely touches it it moves. Is that how most mounts are? Are there any higher quality mounts I could try?

Which mount did you buy? Peerless makes a nice mount, $150:http://www.visualapex.com/accessori...umber=PRS-KIT0811&MFR=Peerless&Projector=HD20

 

[leglez]

I got the $25 one off ebay. I read a few reviews for it, and talked to a few people on avs and everyone seemed to like it. I now have it setup perfect for my screen, just can not touch it at all. Once I get everything else setup like I need I think I will invest in a fancier mount.

 

[Muadib]

I got the $25 one off ebay. I read a few reviews for it, and talked to a few people on avs and everyone seemed to like it. I now have it setup perfect for my screen, just can not touch it at all. Once I get everything else setup like I need I think I will invest in a fancier mount.

Not a bad idea, as unless you have something blocking the area, friends may try to touch the projector. Bass from your sub may move it too.