Projector vs large TV - Bang for buck
- Thread starter Yucca
- Start date
As said, you can't really go wrong here, between the Optoma and the Epson. But it is highly advisable that you take the time to actually go and look at them, preferably in a demo room, at the likes of Richer Sounds or somewhere. I drove 2 hours each way to view Projectors when I bought mine, and I am so glad I did. I absolutely made the correct choice as a result.
I see your profile has your location as Leicester. There is a Richer Sounds there, so try to arrange a demo of both the Optoma and the Epson, and see what one you prefer. Even if you find the picture quality the same, there may be other features you prefer, such as power cable length, zoom features, noise or inputs for example.
There is actually no better way to find out what one you will prefer other than actually going to see them both, and determining what one you like best, in person. Best not to just rock up and expect it to happen though. Book the demo room in advance, and tell them what you want to see, and if they would suggest something else to demo at the same time. I didn't really go to demo the Sony HW40es when I went in, but as they had it set up anyway, it would have been rude not to even look at it. And I ended up buying that one.
As for wiring the electricity socket. you can't really go far wrong with a couple feet off the back wall, in the centre of the room. Wherever you end up placing the PJ, that location will work.
I see your profile has your location as Leicester. There is a Richer Sounds there, so try to arrange a demo of both the Optoma and the Epson, and see what one you prefer. Even if you find the picture quality the same, there may be other features you prefer, such as power cable length, zoom features, noise or inputs for example.
There is actually no better way to find out what one you will prefer other than actually going to see them both, and determining what one you like best, in person. Best not to just rock up and expect it to happen though. Book the demo room in advance, and tell them what you want to see, and if they would suggest something else to demo at the same time. I didn't really go to demo the Sony HW40es when I went in, but as they had it set up anyway, it would have been rude not to even look at it. And I ended up buying that one.
As for wiring the electricity socket. you can't really go far wrong with a couple feet off the back wall, in the centre of the room. Wherever you end up placing the PJ, that location will work.
Having spent the last 2 hours in RS store chatting to staff iv decided to increase my budget and go for a Epson 6700 £1300. I discussed the Epson 5350 and its newer version the 5600 and asked whether the picture quality would be as good as my current 55'' Sony 9 series tv and they all said probably not. My Sony TV, though 6 years old is fantastic.
I don't want to spend money upgrading to a projector set up and end up with a noticeably poorer picture. They advised me to go for the 6700, though much more, it has better processing and they said picture quality should be much closer to/better than my Sony Tv. I have a viewing arranged for end of the week.
Iv worked out I can go up to a 100'' screen also rather than 92''.
My father wants to plug socket on the wall as close to the projector as possible to avoid visible wires. Im trying to work it out on the projector central website but when I select the 6700 it comes up with a zoom set to 1.31x and I can't seem to change it. Shouldn't this be set to 0 or is it coming up with 1.31x as thats what the manufacturer recommends for best image?!
I don't want to spend money upgrading to a projector set up and end up with a noticeably poorer picture. They advised me to go for the 6700, though much more, it has better processing and they said picture quality should be much closer to/better than my Sony Tv. I have a viewing arranged for end of the week.
Iv worked out I can go up to a 100'' screen also rather than 92''.
My father wants to plug socket on the wall as close to the projector as possible to avoid visible wires. Im trying to work it out on the projector central website but when I select the 6700 it comes up with a zoom set to 1.31x and I can't seem to change it. Shouldn't this be set to 0 or is it coming up with 1.31x as thats what the manufacturer recommends for best image?!
That is not really pretty damming. If I have translated that correctly they say it has outstanding sharpness and outstanding resolution detail for movies and photos in full HD and 4K resolution. They say the Benq outperforms the more expensive £10k to £20k projectors and outperforms the Sony projectors and it outclasses the 4k native chip projectors when it comes to film, TV and photos. Saying that I still say we cannot apply finding from the Benq and apply them to other projectors from other companies. Anyway what matters is how good the projector looks for the role you want it for like film, TV and photos.
That’s something I found as well Optima take more tweaking out the box but once setup correctly provide an amazing image. Not sure if it’s just luck or if Optima do something but I too was amazed by the original lamps. Mine is running on high, not eco and should have blown 1000’s of hours ago. Which is why I am looking for a new home projector. Been telling myself it has to blow any month now, for over a year.
At the 3k price range what projectors would be on your short list to look at? I am going to see the UHD65 and take some footage with me. Any others you would look at?
TBH much of my viewing these days is Netflix and Amazon which barely justify 1080p so my next upgrade is likely going to be a relatively cost effective 1080p projector and I've only given higher end stuff a cursory look.
in the top left box of the calculator change it from throw range to diagonal range.
No one is totally damming the XPR Chip projectors - whats been said multiple times by multiple people and multiple websites is that its not native 4k and it can't do 1:1 pixel map which you keep denying.
That doesn't allow you to change the zoom ratio.
? Does on mine ; when you click on diagonal range you can then adjust the Zoom ratio from 1.00 - 1.63 on say the TW 6700
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Thank you mate. Let me know if you work it out. As I can currently put it at any distance that I want I may as well do the best I can!
Unfortunately yeah it does, that why cinemas would mostly use a prime lease.
We are the same, for us its around 80 to 90% of our viewing is Netflix and Amazon, 10% Blurays and 0% live TV. What ever I upgrade to I was hoping to keep for 5 years so I was thinking long term 4k content will get more common via streaming even though 4k streaming isn't as good as 4k Bluray. For us streaming is more then good enough for most things its only the odd thing like Planet Earth 2 that we get on bluray.
Ok sorry, Iv found it! If I play with the zoom and set it to more or less, i.e. set it to 1x or 1.62x then the throw distance recommended changes considerably.
I don't think I know what I'm doing using this calculator!!
What zoom am I meant to use for optimum picture quality!?
The advice iv found online is this:
The more you zoom out the softer the picture will become. Ideally, it's best to not use zoom if you can get away with it. The closer the projector is to the screen, the brighter the image, the further away it is, the duller it'll become. Obviously moving the projector closer to the screen will normally need the use of the zoom facility.
So does that mean I should place projector as close as possible to the screen with only a 1x zoom or furtherest away from the screen with a 1.62x zoom for best results?! Im so confused.
I am right in thinking 1x zoom is LESS zoom than 1.62x zoom right?! And why can't I set the zoom to 0 i.e. no zoom. Or does 1x zoom mean no zoom?!
The more you zoom out the softer the picture will become. Ideally, it's best to not use zoom if you can get away with it. The closer the projector is to the screen, the brighter the image, the further away it is, the duller it'll become. Obviously moving the projector closer to the screen will normally need the use of the zoom facility.
So does that mean I should place projector as close as possible to the screen with only a 1x zoom or furtherest away from the screen with a 1.62x zoom for best results?! Im so confused.
I am right in thinking 1x zoom is LESS zoom than 1.62x zoom right?! And why can't I set the zoom to 0 i.e. no zoom. Or does 1x zoom mean no zoom?!
1x should mean no zoom. Honestly I wouldn't get to concerned about it - aslong as you have the projector at a range where you can use minimal levels of zoom and close enough you are getting decent brightness it doesn't make much odds (unless you buy one of those cheapy no name Far East brand jobbies).
You'll probably see more impact from how well you can dial in the focus unless the projector has additional features to aid with that though a convergence pattern can help.
You'll probably see more impact from how well you can dial in the focus unless the projector has additional features to aid with that though a convergence pattern can help.
Rroff, thanks for the advice. Doesn't having the projector further away mean less zoom which means better quality image? But then the closer the projector to the screen the brighter it is, i.e. more lumens, which is a good thing right?! Which of the two is more important?
I have a choice between 1x zoom (i.e. no zoom) which gives me a throw distance of 4.7m. Or on full zoom which seem to be 1.62x I get a throw distance of 2.9m. And obviously a range in between.
What would you go for??
Naturally I want the best picture quality and sharpness when the curtains are done and I'm watching a movie on it. But then I will be watching some day time tv with natural light coming through the windows so I could also do with it being as bright as possible.
Iv got a 5 meter room so the entire range is available to me. Just can't decide what is best!
Iv got a 5 meter room so the entire range is available to me. Just can't decide what is best!