Please Help, confused. Info wanted!!! (1 Viewer)

[Evan S]

OK, don't flame me. I've been a member of this forum for almost 3 years and I know how to use the search function. I've even checked the HTF basics primer.

However, I cannot find an easy, convenient location to find the plusses and minuses of the various technologies available (projection, DLP, CRT, LCOS, Plasma, etc).

I have nearly 11K invested in my home theater, but I watch movies on a $400 27" TV. I need to rectify this by the start of the NFL season.

How will I use the TV? 60% DVD/30%TV/10% gaming. I doubt burn in will be an issue as I rarely play my X-Box more than an hour at a time.

I'm looking for a display format that gets the best picture without a lot of tweeking. Down the road I will get it ISF calibrated, but probably not right away. My room is 23x21 and has very good light control (finished basement). I have thought about front projection, but from where I would have to mount the projector (11'), it seems the picture size will be little bigger than what I can get from a regular TV.

Oh yeah, my budget is $3000-$3500 max. If you can link me to a FAQ or offer suggestions, that would be great. I realize there is a thread out there that is similar to this one, but I really want to educate myself along with narrowing my choices down, I don't just want a bunch of suggestions. Thanks guys (and gals!).

 

[Mort Corey]

In you price range LCOS and plasma are probably not an option. That didn't point you anywhere but it narrowed the search didn't it?

Mort

 

[John S]

You may find some basic info on it....

But when I actually went to look at the Brick and Mortor stores, I found you cannot generalize on technology. Every different set has it's +'s and -'s on various aspects of picture quality and quirks.

I looked at 100's (no not a misprint) of HDTV's, before deciding on my price / performance / size / inputs compromise.

In the end, I spent much less than my budget and so far, I am completely happy with the purchase. If for no other reason, I understood the trade off's with the one I chose really well by the time I purchased it.

 

[Citizen87645]

Depends on the projector of course, but from where my InFocus 4805 sits at about 11 feet away, I get a 73" diagonal, 16:9 image and that's at about the 1.0X zoom setting. With the zoom ring at max I'd get about an 85" diagonal. I'd say that's a significant increase from a regular TV. I don't think the 4805 is unusual in its throw distance, so I'd say seriously consider front projection.