Large HDTV vs HD projector?

[Jonesy]

My wife and I are starting to have our house built soon and we are having a theatre room and was wondering what do you guys think is the better option between a Large say 50' HDTV or a HD projector with a proper screen?

[Scottdau]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

My wife and I are starting to have our house built soon and we are having a theatre room and was wondering what do you guys think is the better option between a Large say 50' HDTV or a HD projector with a proper screen?

It is going to be like a real theater room? If if it I would go the HD Projector route.

[Watson]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

TV. projectors are too dark IMVHPO. Also, unless it's top of the line, the picture is fuzzier than a TV.

[pfunk880]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

TV. projectors are too dark IMVHPO. Also, unless it's top of the line, the picture is fuzzier than a TV.

Agreed. I always used to want a projector, but TV is more practical IMO.

[mgoblue]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

Agreed. I always used to want a projector, but TV is more practical IMO.

Yeah, while projectors sound awesome (and can be cool), there's a lot of stuff that can make it annoying. I had a friend get a projector and then he had to get a screen cause it looked crappy on the wall, and even then he wasn't totally happy with it by the end. With a big tv you know what you're getting for sure.

[jmood88]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

I would get the tv. I've seen a few HD projectors but the picture didn't look like it was in hd.

[Jonesy]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

It is going to be like a real theater room? If if it I would go the HD Projector route.

Well it's not going to be like the ones you see on MTV cribs or anything but it will be a room with tv, carpet, reclining chairs and surround sound so i get that qualifies as a "theatre room".

Thanks for the advice guys, seems most people are pro tv. The obvious pro of the projector is the size i can get for the price but like you guys have said i've heard mixed reviews on them. A friend of mine had one that he bought off ebay and you had to make sure there wasn't a single bit of light in the room to even see the screen. The other drawback is you have to change the bulb in a projectot that can apprarently be pretty expensive. They are much cheaper than a good HDTV though.

I just saw a commercial for a new Samsung LED tv which looked pretty cool and looked like it was only a few inches thick so it would be simple to wall mount etc.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

Why not both? Many people who have dedicated Theater Rooms have both. They have a flat-panel for normal viewing & when they want to watch a movie they pull down a screen (which blocks the TV from view) then watch movies.
If it's possible go ths route. Nothing lie having the best of both worlds... :wink:

[jake44np]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

Get the TV for sure!
My brother in law has a pretty expensive projector in his TV room/basement and I cant stand it. The picture is just not clear like a nice HDTV. He actually sells these projectors for a living and thinks the are the best thing in the world. And therefore has a really expensive one in his house but like I said it is fuzzy if you ask me.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

I vote for projector. You only live once and from the people I've talked to once you go projector you never go back. You've cleared the biggest hurdle which is having a dedicated home theater room. You can keep it dark for viewing with no problem. You'll just have to choose your colors wisely...don't paint your walls white.

Once you get the projector and screen, your only recurring cost is the replacement bulb. How soon you have to replace depends on your usage ($200-400 each) Most bulbs can go for 2000-3000 hours on average.

All that being said, you can get a good HD (720p) projector for under a grand. 1080p projectors start around $1300.

You just have to do your homework. DLP projectors vs. LCD projectors....they both have their strengths and limitations.

I say don't limit yourself to to 50 (LCD/plasma) to 65inches (DLP) when you can go 92-120 and not sacrifice picture quality. Bigger is definitely better.

[Dispatch]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

I think the biggest question is how far away will you be from the screen if you get a projector?

We have a projector in our basement and we sit about 20 feet away from the screen and it looks beautiful. If we were sitting 5 feet away then yeah the screen looks blurry, but from 20 feet away HDTV and BluRay looks phenomenal. I wouldn't want to watch SDTV though, that can be a little blurry because the screen is so large.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

What other uses will the room have? How often do you use it? The projector is alot cleaner looking if installed in the ceiling or back wall, with all the separates mounted flush. The TV, you know what youre getting, but its harder to hide everyting (wires). Plus, if its a bigger room, the TV seems to be either A) too small for distance viewing or takes over the room.

Either way, you cant go wrong, just think about the uses, how often, what type of room, etc

[tktnuri]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

Why not both? Many people who have dedicated Theater Rooms have both. They have a flat-panel for normal viewing & when they want to watch a movie they pull down a screen (which blocks the TV from view) then watch movies.
If it's possible go ths route. Nothing lie having the best of both worlds... :wink:

I would do this as well. You can't really use a projector for everyday viewing but it nice for movies and super bowl. But for the regular viewing I'd rather have a TV. It would make owning a projector more worth while by making the bulb last longer.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

I would do this as well. You can't really use a projector for everyday viewing but it nice for movies and super bowl. But for the regular viewing I'd rather have a TV. It would make owning a projector more worth while by making the bulb last longer.

That's assuming the OP has an extra $700-1200 available.

[Jonesy]

Re: Large HDTV vs HD projector?

Thanks for all the great replies guys.

Why not both? If it's possible go ths route. Nothing lie having the best of both worlds... :wink:

Yeah that would be great but it's probably out of my range financially at the moment plus the wife would want to kill me if i bought both.

Get the TV for sure!
My brother in law has a pretty expensive projector in his TV room/basement and I cant stand it. The picture is just not clear like a nice HDTV.

Interesting because you'd think if anyone was going to get it set up right he would but you still think the tv looks better.

I vote for projector.

Great post man, thanks for all the info. It's very true about the massive HD quality size picture you can get and the projector would def have more of a "wow" factor than a HDTV. I wonder how my ps3 would work with the projector and if it would look all pixilated and stuff once the picture is blown up that big? Anyone have any experience playing videogames on one of these projectors?

I think the biggest question is how far away will you be from the screen if you get a projector?

The room is a decent size but it's not going to be huge so a projector might be too big a picture for the space.

What other uses will the room have?

Either way, you cant go wrong, just think about the uses, how often, what type of room, etc

It's going to be only used for tv, movies (both dvd and blu ray) and possibly gaming (ps3) and not for any other purpose. We are going to keep our current 42' plasma (720p) for out in the lounge / dining area and this would be a special seperate room.

I would do this as well. You can't really use a projector for everyday viewing but it nice for movies and super bowl. But for the regular viewing I'd rather have a TV. It would make owning a projector more worth while by making the bulb last longer.

Just need to win the Lotto and this is getting done for sure!

That's assuming the OP has an extra $700-1200 available.

Probably not at the moment but i could prob get both eventually (the house won't be finished for over 6 months, still going through council approvals etc at the moment).