What to look for when buying a projector?

but I'm just about out of time here. Be patient.

I have told my friends that if they have 6k, I can build them the ultimate HT that will blow away the local theater in every regard, assuming a typical sized room. This includes your cabling, radio freq remote, modular rack, you-name-it.

However, this is a big game, or a big puzzle. So many unknowns, one of which is where a person might compromise.

For instace, 11ft is not much space at all! Then, you should realize viewers should definitely get away from the back wall if audio is of importance. Then you ask yourself, is audio important?

38% of room length is the accepted starting point for best acoustics in a room. If you followed that, then you could sit 6.8 ft from wall. In which case, a 60" plasma is the WTG.

Well, lets say you want to fit max viewers... and will totally sacrifice audio...

then I would ask you, how's your HVAC? With all the components, say 4 viewers in a small room, its going to get incredibly stuff... mebbe...

and another big thing is budget. Some people spend on the actual looks, some spend on performance, like myself. If willing to go cheap... here's one that costs only $2260 all in
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=896437

OTOH, the components' performance would be pitiful to me, because Im quite spoiled now. Just showing you that are many ways to skin a cat, and that there are many different types of cats.

re specs: careful

lumens is often WAY over-rated. Then you have brands like mine where its accurate, but everyone thinks it must be weak. Not the case.

Stay away from DLP, or be very careful, because of very limited zoom and shift. Stick with LCOS if you can afford it in this room, or LCD if you cant.

Darker is better for all walls, period.

HT rooms are desired to be even more dead than music rooms. Think of future acoustic treaments, if its important to you. Small room means greater need for bass trapping, FWIW.

Also, 11ft and 120" is too much IMO, EXCEPT if you are going anamorphic. This can blow your budget to high hell. OTOH, the new Panny 3000 has preset focus points/shift, so that you don't need the uber expensive anamorphic lens on a sled.

hope this gets you started, or at least brings to light some serious considerations you should think about to begin with.

I'll be around. Either later tonight, tomorrow, or weekend. Im here almost everyday.

cheers,
jostenmeat

To get an idea of what to look for, I would check out projectorcentral. You can search by the screen size you want to project, the throw distance, resolution, brightness, etc. The simplest search to get you in the right direction is your throw to screen size.

That will get you on the right track on what to look for. I wouldn't worry too much about brightness if it is a dedicated room as I'd imagine lighting is very controlled. You will probably have to reconsider the screen size for the room if 11' is all you have to work with.