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General discussion

Digital Projector Questions - I need more insight

Sep 6, 2005 2:06AM PDT

All:

My wife and I are considering putting a front projector with screen in our home. Best Buy/Magnolia Home Theater came over last week and suggested the following items (see below). However, as I read these posts and the CNET ratings, I'm more confused as to which front projector we should go with.

* InFocus 7205 for $4000
* Stewart Filmscreen 93" mounted wall screen for $1500

Costco has an Optoma package that costs about $2000 less and I can get a Da-Lite 93" screen from them for $500. I would appreciate any help/insight.


I'd also like insight into projection screens as there don't seem to be too many ratings on those on the net (i.e., Stewart Filmscreen, Da-Lite). Later I'll provide the rest of the specs on audio recommendations.

Discussion is locked

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Digital Projector Questions - I need more insight
Sep 6, 2005 2:22AM PDT

There is a lot more involved is setting up a front projection screen system. I have seen the one at Costco,
it is a bare minium type of setup.
Here is a link to a company I have used in the past. There is a button in the tool bar "tutorials" click on it and do some reading. Hopefully this will clear up some of the confusion. Repost if you have other questions. John

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What is the link?
Sep 6, 2005 6:04AM PDT

jcrobso, there was no link in your post. Please repost it.

PS - According to CNET, the InFocus 7205 gets a very good rating and we are supposed to go back to the Best Buy/Magnolia store to see it in action. However, I've noticed it was discontinued and many of the online stores don't carry it. Should this be a concern for me?

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I TO WANT TO TAKE THE PLUNGE
Sep 6, 2005 4:44AM PDT

Iam thinking of buying the SONY VPL-HS51 I found one for $2895 and with the screen and installition about $5500 I have heard nothing but rave report on this unit and I did see on and the picture was awsome I plan on using a small standard t.v. behind the screen and run my v.c.r anogolog cable and lazer disk player then run my dish 811 hi-def sat system and DENON 2900 d.v.d. to the projector this way I only have to run power and 1 d.v.i. cable to the projector. I found that if you feed your hi-def using the d.v.i. port gives you a stunning picture good luck stewart norrie you may email mw at cadillacstew@aol.com

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in that price range....
Sep 6, 2005 7:32AM PDT

I would suggest the Sony VPL-HS51 over the 7205. Here is a comparison between the two.

http://www.projectorcentral.com/parts_compare.cfm?pid_29=2219&pid_74=2605

You'll notice the major differences are that the sony has lens shift & the infocus has digital keystone. The sony has networking. The sony is LCD & the infocus is DLP. You might be suprised at the contrast ratio the sony touts, but its not exactly accurate. The variable lens aperture trick it uses might allow for that total difference between the brightest possible pixel & the darkest possible pixel, but its not 6000:1 in the same frame. Its still very nice & the picture is supposed to look really good even in dark scenes (ala Lord of the Rings, Matrix, or Sin City).