4K Projectors?

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 10:21

Hello All,

I've got a 3 year old Optoma 1080p Projector and am thinking about upgrading (model number in sig). It's pretty difficult to spot these in the wild so thought I'd ask for informed opinions on quality improvements over the last few years and if it's worth upgrading?

For example are the £1k 4K projectors a worth while upgrade or do need to spend £2k to make the difference "worth it" (appreciate that's subjective)

I popped into PC World and viewed the LG OLED65B9PLA TV (£1800), I was blown away by the PQ, I appreciate a projector isn't going to touch this for blacks but are the 4k ones a decent improvement over the older models? I've only ever seen DLP projectors...

Advice / opinions welcome.

Cheers

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 10:42

hornetstinger said:
At your budget stick to a better 1080p pj.

Cheers for the response!

Suspected that would be a common answer, same question though, are the newer models a decent improvement over models from a few years ago?

Basically is a £1k projector from 2019 a upgrade from a £1k projector from 2015 or earlier? (if both were new, maybe impossible to answer if tech has not moved on)

Cheers,

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 12:21

Firestar_3x said:
Not sure i see the point at 1k, i recently went from a 1080p Optoma to a BenQ W5700 cost 2.6k was on the fence but the difference is impressive.

Hopefully native 4k projectors start coming down in price in the next few years giving me a upgrade path.

I guess the problem I'm having is the leap of faith aspect, it's very difficult to see a projector in action...I bought my original projector after seeing one in a London store, I'll stretch the budget if it's worth it but that's the big question!

Tempted to get a OLED TV as I know the PQ is better but I don't think it will replace the wow factor of a 100" screen...

Cheers,

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 13:58

cheers @lucid

I'm getting the impression a 1080p Projector will be the £1k choice for a while yet, given that, I'll probably stick with what I've got but what is your opinion on the below?

"is a £1k projector from 2019 a upgrade from a £1k projector from 2015 or earlier? (if both were new, maybe impossible to answer if tech has not moved on)"

Cheers

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 18:13

Pottsey said:
There can be a noticeable improvement depending on what you are moving from and what you are moving to. Not all upgrades will be automatically better. I went from a 4 year old 1080p Optoma that didn’t support rec 709 to a newer 1080p Optoma that did support rec 709 and there was a noticeable improvement in colour.

Saying that I wouldn’t at this stage upgrade to a new 1080p projector. I would try and keep the old projector working another year or upgrading now to 4K. The problem is 1080p projectors are not only behind in image quality but they are also massively behind in sound quality when streaming from Netflix or Amazon. If you like high quality Atmos Sound from those two sources you need a 4k projector. 1080p limits sound to much for me to considering getting a new 1080p

The £1k projectors at 4K are not that good but 1k isn't far off what you need. A BenQ W2700 also known as HT3550 is around £1300 or £1400 ish which looks great at 4k and HDR along with DCI-P3 color.

I'll have a look into a BenQ W2700 and whatever "rec 709" is!

, cheers, you've lost me with the sound as I already have ATMOS via my AMP? The AMP is 4K compatible it's just my TV and Projector that aren't...

ssmacc · 24 Oct 2019 at 20:04

Pottsey said:
Atmos sound only works via Amazon/Netflix if you have an ATMOS supporting AMP and a 4K projector or TV. If you have a 1080p projector/TV you won’t get Atmos sound. So as strange as it sounds upgrading to 4k also upgrades your sound quality by a large amount. This is only for Amazon/Netflix. A blueray player and disk will play ATMOS sound on a 1080p projector/TV. Most people don't realise this but its worth considering the sound quality difference when choosing between a 1080p or 4k Display.

Actually that's incorrect, I get ATMOS from my Nvidia Shield if I'm playing a source that supports ATMOS (in 1080p) unfortunately Netflix does not support ATMOS via the Shield but the HTPC and XBOX both do, in either 1080p or 4k. (I could be mistaken, so happy to be corrected - My amp tells me it's decoding ATMOS)

ssmacc · 25 Oct 2019 at 06:53

Pottsey said:
I have never tried an XBOX but the Firestick, Fire TV and all other set top boxes I have tried don't work with ATMOS via Netflix or Amazon unless you have a 4k stream active which you cannot do on a 1080p display even if it does support ATMOS.

Perhaps its a case of some devices work and others do not. I am wondering on your Xbox if you watch Jack Reacher on Amazon on a 1080p display, press pause and go into subtitles audio options what options do you have? Is ATMOS listed?

It's to do with the player and obviously the sound set up (AMP in my case) not the display (1080p or 4k makes no difference), I've not got Prime but Netflix supports ATMOS on Windows 10 and the XBOX one (although content is limited), I see the ATMOS sign and the info in my AMP tells me it's ATMOS on my supported devices and I've not got a 4k screen.

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/64066

Netflix have disabled support for Android and ATMOS...for no apparent reason...

ssmacc · 26 Oct 2019 at 20:13

Cheers everyone, what are your views on the Optoma UHD60? From my research it looks the best for it's price point...

As ever advice appreciated.

ssmacc · 26 Oct 2019 at 23:16

Pottsey said:
Its decent enough but does not have the best black levels and is limited to Rec.709 colour space. From what I have read the BenQ W2700 is better at the same price point and goes beyond Rec.709 colours. But I have not seen them run side by side. Also the UHD60 is large, very large compared to some other projectors. Personally I would put the UHD60 is in the top 3 choices at that price point. But for me at least the BenQ W2700 wins out.

The UHD60 and UHD300X are practically the same the only real difference is the 300x is not as bright but £550 cheaper.

Thanks for that will do some more research (the BenQ W2700 was also on the list)

Edit, I know most will not agree but I'd like 3D as well...

ssmacc · 28 Oct 2019 at 08:57

I went to Richer Sounds yesterday (Stoke) and they had a Optoma UHD51 on display, watched a little of Blade Runner 2049, it was a very dark scene and to be honest it's not worth ditching my old Optoma HD25 for, I'm sure side by side I'd tell a difference but coming in cold it's not a worth while upgrade (as others have said). The Stockport branch has the dearer Sony on display, I'll bob over next week and see if it's noticeably better. Currently thinking of postponing my upgrade until the next generation of 4k's...(although I'm still looking / reading reviews)

Cheers for the advice

ssmacc · 1 Nov 2019 at 17:19

Having seen the Optoma UHD51 today I think I'm going to go for it! It's "only" £1294 and will give me a few years viewing pleasure before the true 4k become sub £2.5k, I'm a little tempted to order the UHD51ALVE as it's a little brighter but the colours suffer a little due to this (apparently I've not seen it), it also has Alexa and a few other add on's but I'm not fussed about that as my broadlink already voice controls the simple functions...

Given my logic anyone want to put me off buying the Optoma UHD51?

Cheers

ssmacc · 13 Nov 2019 at 17:17

Looks great, I'm really happy with my 4k...apart from the pesky light boarder (more noticeable on the UHD51a I swapped the UHD51 for!), my HD25 served me well, but after 6 years I was due a upgrade...