Hi Tony! I've been researching projectors for some time now and I have finally decided on the Epson HC6500UB. Now, not every projector is going to be perfect for all owners. The decision is really up to you, but I'll tell you why I decided on the Epson. First off, all the reviews I have read speak very highly of the unit particularly regarding its black level and ability to reproduce very deep and solid blacks. The unit is also very bright, which is good for me because I often have outdoor movie nights using a 144" stewart projection screen. The unit also has all the inputs I need (including RS-232c) and HDMI 1.3b (Deep Color). Another convincing feature is that the lamp on the unit is rated to last 4,000 hours which is well over the 2,000 industry norm. However, the unit sells for a little more...$2,500 is around what I've been seeing for it online. Epson is running a promo until the end of August in which you get a $400 mail in rebate and a replacement bulb ($300). I feel that justifies the price and the cost of ownership dramatically. The projector is 3LCD and alllows a multitude of placement options. If you have to spend less, take a peek at the Epson HC6100. It has a good deal of the same features of the 6500 but sells for closer to $1800. The trade off is that you won't get the contrast ratio or black levels that the 6500 is known for.
You already have the screen, so you save in that regard. The question really is how much performance do you need? I use my projector primarily for movies especially blu-rays, so true dark blacks are a main concern of mine especially because they are the hardest things for most projectors to reproduce. Your needs may differ from mine though. Hope this helps! Good luck with everything.
-TJ
