[John151]

Help me think through this please.  I currently have a 110" 4:3 screen and a JVC SX21 D-ILA projector in the basement.  I have been very pleased with the set up, except for the following items:
1)  Despite being in the basement with one small window, the projector is really only good when it is dark outside and the basement lights are off.
2)  People walking on the main floor above can shake the projector, which jiggles the picture.
3)  The PJ is rather loud. 
4)  Due to family disagreements on what to watch on the family room TV, I end up watching the news and history channel on the big screen in the basement.  As a result, the PJ is getting way more use than originally intended and I have been through several lamps already ($400+ per), which gets expensive. 

Because the screen is 4:3, and the bulbs are expensive, I have been telling myself that if the projector ever breaks, I will convert to a large Plasma (65”+).  Well, guess what, my projector is now out of service.  The issue could be a failed lamp , but the error codes are not consistent with a burned out lamp (not even getting error codes at the moment).  I hate to spend $400 on a new lamp just to find out that my PJ needs fixing.  I also am not certain that the PJ is worth fixing given that it is nearly obsolete.  I am also not certain that I want to continue feeding this thing $400 lamps. 

Given the above, what course of action would you take? 

[youravhandyman]

I think it depends on your budget.  If you can afford it the Sharp 80" LED goes for about $4500 and is the largest direct view screen you can get for working man money.  Otherwise a 65" plasma can be had for $2k.  The 85" and 103" plasma's from Panasonic are really targeted for the commercial market and carry a price to match. 
Hard to fault you for your thought process on this being a plasma fan myself.  The 65" Panny looks awesome at a friends house with similar light issues.

[jermmd]

Buy the best projector you can for under $1k and replace it every 5 years. That's my plan.
I have a big plasma and it isn't nearly as good for watching movies and sports. It does have 3D which is a fun gimmick but not ready for the masses as far as I'm concerned.

Joe

[Phil A]

Over time, I've become a big fan of projectors.  I have one (1080p DLP) in the main system and one (720p LCD) in the secondary basement system.  The basement system projector is probably about 4 years old and the one in the main system is a few years older than that.  I had an analog 720p projector in the main system for about 8 years and still had hundreds of hours of bulb life left when I sold it.  I don't watch tons of TV so for me it is an easy decision.  If your TV is one day and night, it may not be the same for you.  My friend who used to work at the high end store and is a die hard plasma fan was blown away by my main system projector a few years back.  For around $1k give or take, you can get a nice 1080p projector now.

[youravhandyman]

Seems the group is telling you projector.  Any way to move the projector to the back wall and build a shelf to help with the floor shaking?  Maybe search your projector options based on lamp cost.  If money was no option there are the LED projectors now.
I still say PLASMA

[Bob in St. Louis]

+1 Projector. 

[Big Red Machine]

If my 1080p PJ took a crap for other than the bulb, I would consider that big LCD or LED tv as it would be slightly more dough but have zero noise.  I'd hate to lose the size but I only use the HT for movies on the weekends anyways (and pro football).

[drummermitchell]

We use a 52" DLP tv(she's 6yr. old)and a newer 42"LED in the bedroom.
I(notice that I said I not we)have a PJ downstairs which we watch movies and I watch concert Blu dvd's also.
If the X-9 crapped I would surely buy another.
For me tv is news, a couple of programs,or odd movie.
Now the big screen(118X52)is for selected viewing .Definitely a WOW factor for me,just something about Cinemascope screens that take you in to the scene more than a tv.

[Old timer]

Buy the best projector you can for under $1k and replace it every 5 years. That's my plan.
I have a big plasma and it isn't nearly as good for watching movies and sports. It does have 3D which is a fun gimmick but not ready for the masses as far as I'm concerned.

Joe

That's my thoughts as well. Nothing like a decent projector, IMHO.

[ajzepp]

With the number of excellent projectors under $1k on the market, I'd definitely stay with projection. I couldn't imagine being without mine.

[kenreau]

I've been contemplating possibly adding a projector/screen to my media room, but have yet to see/experience one that has a sharp and clear (HD like) picture. 

I have a 5 year old commercial grade 50" panny plasma monitor that, even at 720P, has not been substantially beat by anything I've seen.  My seating position is 10 feet away. 

I have several friends with projector systems and, other than the 8' to 10' screen size, they all produce a slightly grainy picture that reminds me of 1970s era film in old movie theaters.  Its not even close to the sharpness I see on a monitor.  Do (or can) projector systems, properly set up, deliver as sharp a picture as a monitor?  I suspect the friends projector systems I've seen may have sub-optimal screens, but I'm only speculating.

Thx
Kenreau

[ajzepp]

I've been contemplating possibly adding a projector/screen to my media room, but have yet to see/experience one that has a sharp and clear (HD like) picture. 

I have a 5 year old commercial grade 50" panny plasma monitor that, even at 720P, has not been substantially beat by anything I've seen.  My seating position is 10 feet away. 

I have several friends with projector systems and, other than the 8' to 10' screen size, they all produce a slightly grainy picture that reminds me of 1970s era film in old movie theaters.  Its not even close to the sharpness I see on a monitor.  Do (or can) projector systems, properly set up, deliver as sharp a picture as a monitor?  I suspect the friends projector systems I've seen may have sub-optimal screens, but I'm only speculating.

Thx
Kenreau

Up until my most recent projector upgrade, I felt that the PQ from an entry level projector wasn't as good as my Samsung LCD. That's all changed now. Even on my cheapo 120" Elite screen, images look incredibly good. Blurays, DirecTV channels, VUDU streams, you name it...looks fantastic.

The quality of the screen certainly plays a large role in the PQ...I don't know what your friends have in terms of screen and projector, but the current offerings in the world of projectors can put out some very impressive images.

As for the grainy quality, keep in mind that some films are intentionally shot that way.

I like having both a flat screen and a projector available, and with the massive price drops in both areas it's more feasible now than ever before to have both. I love the look of a plasma image, but when it comes to movies and sports you just can't beat a big, bright, beautiful 1080p 100"+ image.