Im keen to get some visuals in my music room and at this stage could probably be swayed either way, although I am rather keen on the 46" Bravia. KDL46X3100.

Distance between eyes and screen will be almost 4m and the 46" LCD is really the biggest TV I could possibly get by my missus. She has already suggested getting a smaller TV and sitting closer...

So, given that I can get this bigass TV and it will no doubt suit my needs just fine, with added bonus of a PS3 thrown in, why should I consider a projector? I know nothing about them and wouldnt know where to start, but there seems to me be a few hassles associated with them.

Running cables, power, mounting on the ceiling, no FTA TV. Is the picture that good that all this is worth the admission price? I mean I could whack the big TV up in an hour and have FTA TV etc. And if projectors are really great then where should I start?

I suppose I could ask this question on DTV or somewhere but there are too many people there and I feel that SNA plays host to quite a good brainstrust in all these fangled matters. :wink:

Distance: 4m

Budget: $4k

Main use: Movies, but FTA HD TV would be great.

Ancillary use: setting up components, playing DVD Audios.

Don't buy a flat panel until you check out the Pioneer Kuro Plasmas, Jake. I know it's tough to do in most of the "box mover" stores. My 50 inch 508 XDA beats ANY LCD I've ever seen - yes 1080p models inclusive - to my eyes of course. You might have to stretch your $4k budget ever so slightly, but not much. And surely your wife won't object to a measly extra 4 inches :wink:

Don't buy a flat panel until you check out the Pioneer Kuro Plasmas, Jake. I know it's tough to do in most of the "box mover" stores. My 50 inch 508 XDA beats ANY LCD I've ever seen - yes 1080p models inclusive - to my eyes of course. You might have to stretch your $4k budget ever so slightly, but not much. And surely your wife won't object to a measly extra 4 inches :wink:[/b]

The 1080P 50" Kuro is available now for a little over $5K. I would assume its 768P brother would be at most $4.5K but I haven't kept up with that particular model.

The 1080P 50" Kuro is available now for a little over $5K. I would assume its 768P brother would be at most $4.5K but I haven't kept up with that particular model.[/b]

I haven't either Drizt, I hate it when I buy something and prices plummet Yeah, I know it's inevitable.

I wouldn't be amazed if the 508 XDA can be had for $4k or even less and I would be surprised if it could not be had for $4.2k or so. I paid a bit less than $4.4k a few months ago.

I haven't either Drizt, I hate it when I buy something and prices plummet Yeah, I know it's inevitable.

I wouldn't be amazed if the 508 XDA can be had for $4k or even less and I would be surprised if it could not be had for $4.2k or so. I paid a bit less than $4.4k a few months ago.[/b]

I bought 1 week before the prices dropped, could have saved over $500. sh** happens.

Go the PJ more intense veiwing put you there.

But that Pioneer is hard to go pass.

Cheers.

Don't buy a flat panel until you check out the Pioneer Kuro Plasmas, Jake. I know it's tough to do in most of the "box mover" stores. My 50 inch 508 XDA beats ANY LCD I've ever seen - yes 1080p models inclusive - to my eyes of course. You might have to stretch your $4k budget ever so slightly, but not much. And surely your wife won't object to a measly extra 4 inches :wink:[/b]

Just popped home during nightshift....gotta go, but thanks for the suggestion Brumby, I might have to have a look during the week. May not be much to choose from up here though...

The next time you're in Brisbane, Jake, take a wander down to Sunnybank Hi Fi. That's where I got my Kuro and I think it's where Joe got his. You can compare them against the Sonys and quite a few others too. And their prices were very competitive.

I'm no HT connoisseur but every time I have seen a projector system I have been impressed.

Just a little note - all the PJ systems I have seen have been in blackened rooms. Even the one guy who did not have a proper HT room had installed thick black curtains.

The Pioneer Kuro is very nice ... but beware of reflections. If you have plenty of windows or reflective objects (like white walls) in your room you will suffer this problem.

I'm no HT connoisseur but every time I have seen a projector system I have been impressed.

Just a little note - all the PJ systems I have seen have been in blackened rooms. Even the one guy who did not have a proper HT room had installed thick black curtains.

The Pioneer Kuro is very nice ... but beware of reflections. If you have plenty of windows or reflective objects (like white walls) in your room you will suffer this problem.[/b]

I was afraid of those issues, that what has initally steered me toward the LCD. I dont like watching movies in a dark room actually, Im probably unusual in that regard.

I was afraid of those issues, that what has initally steered me toward the LCD. I dont like watching movies in a dark room actually, Im probably unusual in that regard.[/b]

Forget the projector then, as they don't like well lit rooms.

The Pioneers are the best panel displays available IMO. Whilst the bonus PS3 is tempting I'm sure, the Kuro is way better. In a side by side comparrison, you maight find the LCD is artificialy bright, while the Kuro is like looking out a window, as it's picture is very natural. I assume the Pioneer still comes standard with a 5 year warranty and free install. Says me who just bought a 50" Samy P9, as the free 26" LCD was too much to pass by :blush:

It is also suprising how quickly you will adapt to the bigger screen (assuming you are currently using a CRT TV). No such thing as a panel display being too big - also IMO :biggrin:

Unless you have a light controlled room (ie, can make it dark during the day), then forget about a projector, it may only disappoint you (washed out colours etc). The only real advantage of a projector is the "big screen".

Now, after saying all that, I'm a projector type guy and its not all that much effort to set them up and get them going (crt's excluded). It depends on how much trouble and effort you want to go to with regards to ceiling mounts, running cabling in walls and through the roof, putting a separate switchable power point in the roof for it etc.

Yes you will need a separate tuner or set top box for tv, and then probably an avr to make the switching easier.

Other projector cons:

Slightly worse depreciation than decent flat screens.

Bulbs wear out and can be costly to replace (although getting cheaper every day).

Standard def tv looks crap when blown up to a 100" diagonal (or more).

Really need a screen to get the best out of them (more $$).

If you are ever on the Northside of Brissy, you are welcome to pop in and have a gander at what a cheap 720p projector can do (and maybe a crt if I get my pc working again).

Concur with all that has been said about a projector in a non light-controlled room. If you don't like to watch movies in the dark, then a projector is not what you're looking for.

We did consider a projector before we bought the Kuro. But we don't have a light-controlled room and we frankly didn't want to to through the hassle of stringing cables, ceiling mounting the projector etc. Add to that the fact that you need a decent screen (good ones don't come cheap) and a set top box of some type to watch TV and the fact that a projector is not optimum in daylight.

We have had absolutely no screen reflection problems with the Kuro. Windows are on all both sides and behind the panel but not on the facing wall. As for the size, my wife was a bit leery of a 50 inch panel - the entire panel is a bit over 1200mm wide - taking over the living room. She got used to the size in about half an hour.

I reckon it will be difficult for you to compare panels in a well set up environment in Gladstone, Jake. Try and get down to Brisbane sometime. Oh, and if you do get a chance to see a Kuro, make sure that it is not set up in "Dynamic" mode. That's what it is set up to out of the box and most stores don't bother to change it.

That's where Sunnybank Hi Fi comes in. Their panels are not under harsh store lighting and they have no objections to a bit of experimentation with the setup.

PS: LuckyDog saw my XDA 508 in broad daylight with FTA (SD and HD) and DVD feeds.

..almost 4m and the 46" LCD is really the biggest TV I could possibly get[/b]

Some good points have already been raised by others.

I'll share my experience with my ~3yo NEC 42" HD.

I sit some 2.5-3m from the panel in a room with glass panels and doors on 2 sides,

albeit with full-length pull down shades in a light beige colour.

- FTA shows are fine since it uses most of the panel view space.

However we do watch a number of DVDs (haven't gone to cinemas much since bub)

and with letter-boxing I think the pic is too small.

Go with the 50" if you can.

You won't regret it like I do now.

- Yes, projecters love a dark room

but I still don't like watching movies on my plasma in the day time even with the

shades are pulled-down.

I lose a some colour contrast with my panel and dark scenes are hopeless.

So consider darker coloured shades/curtains too to reduce the amount of ambient

light in the room.

Hope this helps.

Now to speak to wifey about that 50" Kuro..

kevin_

Interesting. The Pioneer 508 XDA 50 inch is actually smaller in all dimensions than the Sony 46 inch.

Both WITHOUT stands: Width - Height - Depth in mm

Sony 46" KDL46X3100 - 1262 x 734 x 121

Pioneer 50" 508 XDA - 1224 x 717 x 115

Pioneer - more screen, less bezel :biggrin:

Our PJ in our rumpas room .The room isn't blacked out white walls .My wife and I only watch movies at night .Still better than watching movies on the plasma .If the kids want to what a movie they watch it on the plasma or they have to wait after 6 pm ,its hard enough to get them to get them off their butts off the PC and out the house during the day.

Cheers.

I run a projector and a plasma screen.

Both run through a DVDO scaler. For me the Plasma is like a large TV in the sense of it everyday use, and we use the projector for family nights or when Joel has his mates over.

Projector is used sparingly but a Plasma does give you the scale and size "I'm at the movies feel" with something like Star Wars etc which a plasma won't give you.

My opinions anyway. BTW my projector is projecting to a 72" screen.

Tony C

Our PJ in our rumpas room .The room isn't blacked out white walls .My wife and I only watch movies at night .Still better than watching movies on the plasma .If the kids want to what a movie they watch it on the plasma or they have to wait after 6 pm ,its hard enough to get them to get them off their butts off the PC and out the house during the day.

Cheers.[/b]

Sounds like my situation,except we have no plasma for during the day only an old CRT TV.

Anyhow I don't need another reason to get stuck on the couch during the day.So evening PJ'ing is something to look forward too.

In my situation I could easily give up day time veiwing,but never the movie expereince from the PJ at night!

Anyhow I don't need another reason to get stuck on the couch during the day.[/b]

Good point Joz. Along with my dislike of watching TV/movies in the dark, I also hate watching anything during the day. Generally in our house if the sun is up the TV is off.

So that brings me back to the projector as a potential winner as I wont be having sunlight streaming through the windows while trying to watch something.

Can anybody now suggest some good PJs within the budget? I could stretch to $5k for a PJ I think, but as I ve said earlier I know jack about them.

Cheers,

Jake

$5K will buy you a hell of a lot of a projector ($7k will get you a JVC :wink: ).

You should be able to get a 1080p pj and a screen for that easily.

I really think the Epson TW2000 is a bargain of a 1080p projector. Could be had for around $4k or less. 3 year warranty on unit and lamp. That leaves you with over a grand for a good screen.

Don't forget PRICE JAPAN for PJ's

I'll throw in my 2 cent's worth.

You don't tend to watch movies during the day....PJ

You don't like watching movies in the dark....Plazma or LCD screen.

I see your dilemma.

I gather that you have a run of the mill standard TV.....if so use that to watch free to air.....not that great a content program wise.

Big Plazma/LCD screen V's PJ,Pro's and cons to owning both.

FOR:Plazma/LCD.

1]You don't need a darkened room.....but to get the best out of a KURO or screen as such,better darker....light bad,reflections off the screen are a PITA .B+

2]Ease of use....grab remote and turn on..A+

3]WAF 100%...if she gets to choose it.[just as long as it doesn't clash with the curtains].A+

4]Ease of positioning...compared to setting up a PJ..A+

5]Connectivity...this is a land mine...you want a set that does HDMI 1.3a full 1080p with at least two inputs to that spec....wasting your $$ if specked otherwise. [if got A+] if not D....for Don't think about buying it.

FOR:PJ

1]Huge immersing picture....even the biggest standalone Plazma/LCD display pales in comparison.[REALLY need light controlled room to get anywhere near what this display format can achieve]. B+ for light control,A+ for YOU ARE THERE effect if done correctly.

2]Ease of use/ set up....well if you have a wall screen..easy enough....remote..turn on and your away.A+

If drop down screen needed..well another remote to press.A

3]Position,position,position.....the three words that have stopped people from previously getting a PJ.

OK that was a need to know distance to screen [otherwise known as the throw distance].that was a NEED for CRT PJ's,The new digital PJ's are FAR away in complexity in the setup compared to those units......put on shelf....zoom lens to fit screen size...focus...your done. A+

4]There is all this talk about LAMP life,bit of crap IMHO....2000 hours....work it out...at least 3 years even if you were playing Playstation games on it for a few hours a day....REAL cost would be around $125 PA...diddle squat.A+

By the way...It is a lot easier to hide a Digital PJ with a retractable screen than it is to have a HUGE piece of glassware sitting on a display unit.

Hope you get sorted one way or another.

Well, Ive decided to go with a projector. A mate came around the other day, had a look at the room and thought I was crazy not to go with a PJ.

First problem solved.

The decision then was pretty easy after all that Ive read, so Im now after the Epson TW2000.

Lucky Dog, where did you see it for $4k?

The best I can find is $4899, and I am not prepared to buy grey import or from Price Japan. I want to buy from a real shop in Australia, someone who can assist me with after sales advice etc, as this is my first PJ.

http://www.ausmedia.com.au/dynamic/cgi-bin...CIAL+EMP-TW2000

Well, Ive decided to go with a projector. A mate came around the other day, had a look at the room and thought I was crazy not to go with a PJ.

First problem solved.

The decision then was pretty easy after all that Ive read, so Im now after the Epson TW2000.

Lucky Dog, where did you see it for $4k?

The best I can find is $4899, and I am not prepared to buy grey import or from Price Japan. I want to buy from a real shop in Australia, someone who can assist me with after sales advice etc, as this is my first PJ.

http://www.ausmedia.com.au/dynamic/cgi-bin...CIAL+EMP-TW2000[/b]

$3940.00