Buffalo_Booker

Hey all,

I am in the process of buying a new home and wanted to put in a new "theater/gaming" room in the basement and use a projector because I would be able to 100% darken the room. After a bit of searching this is the list of components I came up with. Please comment on any aspect of it as well as suggest better/alternative selections. My budget is roughly $1500-2000 USD.

Projector:
Panasonic PT-AX200U

Amazon.com: Panasonic PT-AX200U 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector: Electronics

Receiver:
Sony STRDH700 or STRDH800 (Difference is 5 watts per channel and the A/V sync is fixed at 60 ms for the 700 and variable at 300 ms....no idea what A/V sync is...)

STR-DH700 | Home Theater A/V Receiver | Sony | Sony Style USA

Speakers:
(No clue thus far, suggestions please)

Screen:
I think im gonna go with the paint on projection screen product..."goo" is what I think its called...mainly because it will never be moved...

Cables:
All HDMI

SPOOKFORCE

I didn't think using a projector was a good idea for gaming because you can get 'image ghosting'---images that don't move for periods can be 'burnt in' (ghostlike--faintly)---recently had this same theory put forward at our local JB Hi-Fi

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Dante

But ghosting happens to LCD TVs as well, I don't think it's a huge problem. But then again, i've never used a projector set up.

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Buffalo_Booker

I guess gaming isn't the main reason for the projector, but it would be cool to play... Mainly I want a nice screen and sound for movies and football games.....

abc

mmm no that happens on plasma TVs lol not DLPs

upsides to projectors:

it's big,
looks good,
sounds impressive when talking about it in pub

downsides:

they are very expensive (the bulbs. you have to replace them frequently. check prices too, it has been known that some replacement BULBS are MORE expensive than the actual projector)
lower contrast? lower brightness? smaller range of colours?

and of course the golden rule of resolution. at the moment your having about 560 - 720~ pixels upscaled to 1080 and then you're stretching those 1080 pixels over roughly 27 inches (for a 42" screen) If you get a 150" projector you are then stretching those 1080 pixels another 5 times. Lemme put into context how bad that is:

an average PC screen is 90 pixels per inch,
an average "HD" (lol HD my a**) TV is 40 pixels per inch,
a 150" projector would be 11 pixels per inch (yes I did do that maths right. And yes a human hand with a pencil can draw a "higher definition" image than a 1080p projector)

Oh and we are talking about a rectangle not a square so the TV will be AT LEAST 16 times (=4^2) better quality in terms of pixels per inch.

Resolution is the reason why you CAN get a TV that is TOO BIG.

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This is getting repetitive.

Buffalo_Booker

I understand I think....I have a 32" LCD that works great for gaming and I just want a TV where I can have 10-15 people over for sporting events and such and something that would have the ability to produce a pleasing (not the best resolution ever) picture.

Also the resolution reduction would be super noticable if you stood real close to the screen. But the seating is going to be prolly 15-20 ft away.....If you sit too close in the movie theater you can see the pixelatioin (not sure if thats a word, but i assume u get what I mean)...

Finally, Im not going for super preformance. I simply want something that is viewable, and possibly playable.

Also about the bulb replacement thing, I plan on buying 2 replacement bulbs with the initial purchase so I am hoping that provides me with at least 4-5 years of good use...and If I have to buy a new bulb every 12-18 months...I can handle that.

SPOOKFORCE

I know it happens on plasma.
But it can definitely happen on DLPs too

Just do some quick google research to confirm

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Pittski

any type of tv can leave image burn, except with projectors its more the internal fan system over heating causing shit to happen with hole bunch of componets.

Here in the US you can get a 50 inch LCD 1080P television for like a grand, Vizio's are right with Samsungs now, I currently have a 42 inch Vizio for which i got for 700 about two years ago.

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Buffalo_Booker

Yea...I got a 32" Vizio right now....a friend bought a 42" vizio and when put side by side next to a 42" panasonic the cheapness is easily seen... I am looking to go like 100-120" size screen....mainly for group watching/gaming.

fishdude19

i have seen a projector used for gaming at my old school which was pretty cool but i guess its pretty expensive.

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[GOD4]cooldude19 ps3

iHaaZee

You should ask NoQ from AoA about that booker, I remember when I played with them he had the whole projecter hook up!

TheLighterDark

I have a projector downstairs, but it isn't HDMI compatible, make sure yours is.

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Buffalo_Booker

Thanks for the input......

Comatoes

I've always been interested in getting a projector but I don't think I'm in a position to get one since, I just have anywhere to put it.

However, someone mentioned "ghosting" happening with plasma TVs... I was really considering picking up a 50" HD Plasma on Black Friday, this year. Is that going to be a mistake? I'm going for something that's going to be good for gaming... that's why I'm here. =P

Currently, I'm using a 32" LCD HDTV but all these Black Friday deals are tempting and I literally moaned with excitement when I got out a tape measure and measured diagonally what a 50" would be like in comparison to the 32" I have now.

Are you talking about "ghosting" in the sense of a static image being permanently burned into the screen if it stays in one place for too long or are you talking about "ghosting" in the sense that the image may stutter when trying to keep up with fast paced movement on screen? Because of it's the latter then I don't want one...

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