...do you find that you watch less TV on your TV and use your projector for most (or more) of your viewing or do you use it mostly for special occasions such as watching movies, sporting events or some TV shows (such as "Lost" which would look amazing BTW)???


I was thinking about buying an LED TV to replace my aging rear projection TV at some point for regular TV viewing and then a projector for watching movies, etc.

I was at a local AV dealer and they said that he wouldn't bother with the TV and projector setup as most people get accustomed to watching the projector and don't end up using the TV as much as they thought they would. ((I just bought the Denon AVR4310CI with this in mind of having the TV and projector available for use depending on the material that I wish to watch.))

We were discussing the two projectors that I've been researching such as the Panasonic PT-AE4000 and Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8500UB and how most people are buying based on reviews.

I indicated I liked the Panasonic better than the Epson because it had motorized lens and had the ability to zoom between 2.35:1 and 16:9 material and I didn't want to spend $4K on an anamorphic lens.

This was one of the few places that I have seen where you can view a Panasonic setup but I didn't do this today (ran out of time). I will likely be going back to see this projector in action.

He indicated that you are better off to buy the Panasonic projector from the US by driving across the border or buying online (at retail cost) for $500 below their cost price (approx $2500) as the projector retails for $2800-2900 Canadian at most retailers.... provided that you want to take a chance on warranty and if you have issues to send it back to the US. Even if it cost you $80 to send it back you would still be $800 ahead of the game I figure.

Also, I had indicated that most people seemed to like the Panasonic or Epson projectors and a lot of people bought them based on reviews because there aren't that many places that have them up for display.

He indicated that the Mitsubishi projector that they have for approx $2800 has much better picture quality than the Panasonic projector and has some of the features I was looking for such as lens shift, lens memory, zooming, etc but I wasn't able to ask what model this would be. Do you know which model of the Mitsubishi is in the $2500-3000 price point so that I can research this projector in more detail?

He said that I should come back and take a look at all of the projector (I was running out of time towards closing) to see the differences in picture quality and I think I definitely will be.


Anyway, I was thinking if I was to buy a new LED TV for $3000-4000 and the average projector bulb lasts for 2000-3000 hours.... doing the math perhaps it would make sense to use the projector even at $300-400 (or as high as $500) as he indicated there are some people that are on a bulb after 2.5 years of regular viewing (say 4 hours per night). You would go through 8-10 bulbs before you get to the cost of the TV and have it projected at much bigger screen.

Also going with a fixed screen would be better than a motorized or pull down screen but then I wouldn't be able to have the TV against the same wall or have to move it all the time, etc

Considering this would be my first projector I think I would be overwhelmed with the amazing experience and picture quality perhaps I wouldn't notice as much but I guess I need to see them setup.

Anyway, thoughts and input are welcome...

I have had several projection setups and have found that I use it for everything! I have a small 42" in the bedroom for the girlfriend to watch csi before going to bed but the rest is always on the projector.

The only thing I can warn you about is it is ADDICTIVE! once you have gone to 90" or above its really hard to go smaller. If you have half way decent light control it will blow you away most of the time!

I think your right on choosing the Panasonic over the Epson due to the power lens feature(wish I had that!)

I bought a previous projector from the states and yes it is indeed cheaper! I had to return one thou due to a failed iris but still was well worth having the ship it back.

I bought a previous projector from the states and yes it is indeed cheaper! I had to return one thou due to a failed iris but still was well worth having the ship it back.
thanks for the feedback. How much did it cost you to send back the projector and did you have to pay both directions?

What was the price difference between the US and Canada price on the PT-AE3000 at the time when you bought it? That would be the major factor of deciding to buy here or the states.

I thought the old PT-AE3000 had a MSRP of $3999 (4K) and the retail on the PT-AE4000 is $1000 less ($3K)?

I have a set up where I use both a projector and a TV. I have a 40 inch LCD tv mounted on the wall, and I have a 106" motorized screen that comes down in front of the TV when we run the projector.

We tend to watch a lot of television shows on the 40" tv, but if we are watching something good (like Lost or any kind of sports) we will use the projector. Anything on DVD or Blu-ray we watch on the projector.

If I had to guess at a ratio, I would say we are about 50/50 between the projector and the TV.

ctown6412 is right though .... once you start to use the projector it is hard to go back to the TV!

I was also vacillating between AE4000 and either Epson 8100 or 8500UB and ended up settling on AE4000. This is to replace my Optoma HD7100 which I have been satisfied with for a little over a year. The only thing that kind of stood out is the noise level - not to the point of being bothersome but you can hear it. I heard that the Panasonic is really quiet so that is one of the factors I considered.

Our family's personal experience has been that with the projector, we use it a lot especially when we still had a 42" Tv. We also like the audio and the theatre-like experience. We use it too for viewing HD channels. Now that we have replaced the 42" TV with a 58S1, we kind of have a 50:50 ratio between the two.

Yeah, we might as well throw out the TV now. We use the projector far more than I ever expected. Once the kids figured out the remote that was it.:) We are on our third bulb already.

The Mitsubishi you heard about was probably the HC6800.

One thing the Epson has going for it is more brightness for non-cinema viewing. Another is the claimed 4000 hr lamp life.

I think I still prefer the 16:9 screen for the mixed viewing we do (including games). I somehow prefer (or simply have got used to) black bars top and bottom than on the sides.

The Epson is probably the current projector I'd buy, but if I wanted a 2.35:1 screen I'd probably go with the Panny.

I have a Sony VW60 projected on a 106" motorize screen in front of a 50" Kuro plasma(both iso calibrated). Other than movie on blu-ray, I mainly use my Kuro. The black level, 3D feel from the Kuro is unbeatable! The porjector give more film like viewing experience which I dun like that when watching anything other than movie. I am so regret not grabbing the 60" Kuro when they still available!:(

About the only problem I have come across with using my projector is my wife. She likes to knit while watching tv so likes to have a light on.

About the only problem I have come across with using my projector is my wife.

A sentiment shared by so many men ;)

Back on topic, we use the projector much more than I expected. I would never want to give it up. The 50" looks so small!

About the only problem I have come across with using my projector is my wife. She likes to knit while watching tv so likes to have a light on.

Well the sales guy at the AV dealer said he helped build a home theatre for his brother and when the bulb died his brother was calling him everyday for a week as to when he was going to get the bulb. I guess when the second bulb went his wife was calling asking for the bulb as she was watching pretty much all TV on the projector. He indicated that they didn't watch the 46" TV above the fireplace anymore. I guess they decided to buy the spare bulb after that.

Thanks for the Mitsu model number. I'll do some research on that.


I guess it comes down to finding out how much the bulbs on these various projectors goes for vs the cost of a TV. Now I know a TV has a life expectancy of about 50,000 hours which should last 20 years or so but it seems like people are changing their TVs every couple of years like iPhones it seems. Personally I would buy a TV to last me a long time unless it was broken or on the brink of dying at an time.

Have to do more math into how much it costs for the bulbs and see how much time on the bulb people are typically getting.

So what type of screen are people typically getting? He suggested a fixed screen to get best picture quality but I was thinking the motorized/pull down so I could put the TV behind it. Size and aspect ratio?


What would be handy is if we posted a sticky poll at the top of this forum with actual life of the bulb and perhaps another one as to which size is your screen and aspect ratio. :)

I just went through the same process of purchasing my first pj system and can advise that, although I'm pleased, I believe a pj (unless paying some fantastic figure) will never be as clear and sharp as a good LCD or Plasma. With that said, it all depends on your expectations. I have a Sony XBR2 70", and recently purchased for behind a drop down screen a Samsung PN58B850. Both have great pictures, but are not as big as the 120" screen I'm using with the Epson 8500ub. The pj is truly a new experience, and has that wow factor. Since it is in my basement, which is mostly for my kids, I don't watch anything but HD/BD movies on it. However, my kids enough watching tv, and playing games on the 120" screen.
As for screens, after talking to several different reps., and quite frankly feeling they were not that sure of the true value in a moderately priced screen, I took a chance on a Grandview motorized screen which was almost 1/3rd the price when considering the included features. It is my first screen, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it appears fine.
Have fun during your research process, and good luck.

IMO, the quality of screen is as important as the quality of the projector.

Don't make it an afterthought and don't spend big bucks on a projector and then cheap out on the screen.

Remember you might have a PJ for 5 to 10 years but you will likely have the screen for 20 years.

The best screens are fixed for reasons that are discussed elsewhere but pull-down and motorized have a better aesthetic since you can hide them. Fixed are also cheaper because there are no motors and moving parts.

I think the best value is a fixed Carada screen. My 100" screen is the equivalent of the best in the business for much less money.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

As I required a motorized screen, which is more expensive than a fixed with the same material, I found myself reluctant to pay more for the screen than the pj. As this is my first pj, I thought to find out how the overall set-up felt, and could (and no doubt will) upgrade in the years to come. As for "20 years", I remember thinking I would have the 60"xbr Sony purchased, at the time, for allot of $, forever, satisfying my needs. Technology improves, and prices come down. I am now 2 tv's (58" & 70"), and a pj later. All which were purchased for less than the 60" Sony those not so many years ago.

I just went through the same process of purchasing my first pj system and can advise that, although I'm pleased, I believe a pj (unless paying some fantastic figure) will never be as clear and sharp as a good LCD or Plasma. With that said, it all depends on your expectations.

Agree, if the source is cable or satellite, but if the source is blu ray, I think the picture quality is as sharp as you want it to be.

I guess I need a good calibrator

I havent used mine yet really,, still finishing up details in the basement,, although i did try it out,, getting excited... furniture comes in this weekend.. but I think i might get hooked on watching everything on it.. the picture quality is amazing,, my projector is about 15~16' back from the screen,, I just set it up on a 6' ladder just to test.. i could move it foward a bit but not a whole lot.
I'll have to start my own thread from start to finish pictures.. its been a fun journey.. heres a preview...
Thats a 106" screen..
One thing i wish about the screen was that it would be a cinegrey but when you get a deal you take for what its worth..

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs136.snc3/18350_270558481169_509451169_3253074_721285_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs136.snc3/18350_270558476169_509451169_3253073_6491010_n.jpg

I bought a 50" plasma and a 92" projector when I set up my theatre room. After 2 months I sold the plasma as I never watched it.

Now I only use the projector. I find I watch TV less as I only turn on my projector if I plan on watching 2 or more hours of TV (due to the turning on/off of the lamp). So I end up only watching TV 2 or 3 nights a week. If I had a plasma I think I would watch it alot more as it can be turned on and off frequently.

Technology improves, and prices come down.

I don't really think projector screen materials are going to improve dramatically or come screaming down in price.

My point is that you are likely to have your screen far longer than your projector so don't be afraid to spend extra and get a good quality one.

I figure on 5 to 8 years for my projector but at least 15 to 20 years for my screen.

For me, I've had my screen for about 9 years, as well as my Sony projector, which was just replaced with the Panny 4000.

As for usage, I use the projector mostly for movies and gaming, while using it once in a while for special events on satellite, like the upcoming Olympics hockey in HD.

Norm

I was looking at the Panasonic ae4000 but was upset to hear the Cdn prices. I came across a refurbished hd 65 a 720p dlp projector. I figured I would use this projector until the bulb went and then consider upgrading. The hd65 aswell as some other Optoma units have a superwide feature that change the aspect ratio of the movie to fit the screen properly without black bars for 2.35, 1.85 etc ratios . I'm quite impressed with it and really enjoy not having to adjust the zoom for different aspects. Right now I'm using a 1/8" cutler white hardboard screen ( $12.99) but it does have a bit of hot spotting, I will experiment with painted screens after the room it completed.