TV Vs Projector

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silkman

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I visited the Homemakers Expo last week and all the Home theatre guys I spoke to there recommended a projector over a TV.
I have a 5mX3.5 m room (Screen will be placed on the long end). My viewing distance would be about 3.8m.
My TV/projector would be used for mostly movies,sport on DSTV- very occasional gaming.
My budget is around R35K.
I would appreciate if you guys could weigh in on the debate whether I should go for a TV/Projector.
Thanks
P.S budget excludes speakers, amp which I have already
 
Last edited:
silkman said:
I visited the Homemakers Expo last week and all the Home theatre guys I spoke to there recommended a projector over a TV.
I have a 5mX3.5 m room (Screen will be placed on the long end). My viewing distance would be about 3.8m.
My TV/projector would be used for mostly movies,sport on DSTV- very occasional gaming.
My budget is around R35K.
I would appreciate if you guys could weigh in on the debate whether I should go for a TV/Projector.
Thanks
P.S budget excludes speakers, amp which I have already
Click to expand...

A friends owns the Panasonic PT-AE8000U. The image it projects is jaw dropping
 
Obviously a salesman will recommend a projector over a tv cos hey they cost alot more ;)


Get a 720p or 1080p for a start.
Make sure you have blackout curtains installed. - This is important because external light will affect your viewing experience.
Find out about the price of the replacement bulb.

Good luck, im planning this in my bar room, now only if the inlaws can move out.
 
I was told the projector costs way less than a tv. Just looked at dionwired website- Hisense 84inch TV costs R150 000!
I'm thinking I can get the same size screen, very good projector and more or less same quality picture for WAY less. Am I correct?
 
silkman said:
I was told the projector costs way less than a tv. Just looked at dionwired website- Hisense 84inch TV costs R150 000!
I'm thinking I can get the same size screen, very good projector and more or less same quality picture for WAY less. Am I correct?
Click to expand...

I watched Avengers on a 120" screen and it absolutely destroyed ANY LED, LCD, Plasma TV I've seen

Get the Panasonic!! :)

It also has LCD panels and isn't that cheap DLP crap
 
silkman said:
I was told the projector costs way less than a tv. Just looked at dionwired website- Hisense 84inch TV costs R150 000!
I'm thinking I can get the same size screen, very good projector and more or less same quality picture for WAY less. Am I correct?
Click to expand...

LOL well those new 4K monsters will cost about the same as a small car.You are correct, an LCD projector will trump that tv, plus you dont need special transport for that TV.
The projectors can throw a 120" screen size, so its way bigger than the 84".
 
For the screen size a projector is significantly less than a TV

BUT

A quality projector is going to cost an arm and a leg

1) Native resolution - I wouldn't go anything less than 1920X1080
2) Lumens - 2000 a min (Shouldn't be a problem though)
3) Lamp hours - usually about 2000, lamp becomes dimmer towards the end of its lifespan, costs an arm and a leg to replace

If you will use it every day for the usual TV viewing stuff, rather get a TV, if its just for an odd movie, and some sport, and you can afford the replacement lamp down the line, Projector FTW :D
 
A projector installation makes a lot of sense, given the size of screen, if you are planning a dedicated theater room.

If that's the case, then remember that a dedicated room is also about seating, audio, light control etc - creating the theatre effect, and requires a fair amount of planning (you don't want visible wiring, etc,etc) and expense. I was into them for many years, also because projectors were the only way to get a large picture (42" plasmas were Rk150!).

Large (64"+) LCD/Plasma screens are now so cheap that I think its harder to justify a projector setup given the additional costs, unless its a dedicated HT room.
 
Segg said:
For the screen size a projector is significantly less than a TV

BUT

A quality projector is going to cost an arm and a leg

1) Native resolution - I wouldn't go anything less than 1920X1080
2) Lumens - 2000 a min (Shouldn't be a problem though)
3) Lamp hours - usually about 2000, lamp becomes dimmer towards the end of its lifespan, costs an arm and a leg to replace

If you will use it every day for the usual TV viewing stuff, rather get a TV, if its just for an odd movie, and some sport, and you can afford the replacement lamp down the line, Projector FTW :D
Click to expand...

igeorge said:
A projector installation makes a lot of sense, given the size of screen, if you are planning a dedicated theater room.

If that's the case, then remember that a dedicated room is also about seating, audio, light control etc - creating the theatre effect, and requires a fair amount of planning (you don't want visible wiring, etc,etc) and expense. I was into them for many years, also because projectors were the only way to get a large picture (42" plasmas were Rk150!).

Large (64"+) LCD/Plasma screens are now so cheap that I think its harder to justify a projector setup given the additional costs, unless its a dedicated HT room.
Click to expand...

These guys know their stuff, my room is going to be dedicated, got a 47" tv in the lounge for day to day viewing.
 
I have had a projector for a couple of years and have just left it behind in my place that I sold. I definitely think the main thing to consider is what you are going to use it for. I used mine for everyday viewing. The thing with it is although you can watch in a moderately light room and the picture is ok, you really need to close the curtains and switch off (or at least dim) the lights to get a really great viewing experience. If you are going to use a dedicated theatre room as previous posts have mentioned then there really is no comparison - the projector wins every time. If you are using it in a general everyday type of setting.... then it still probably wins purely because of the size picture you can show although the brightness etc can become an issue. Bulbs can add a significant cost to projector ownership although they should last a fairly long time. I had to replace mine once but it was covered under warrantee because the life was significantly fewer hours than suggested. I am having the same debate for my new house that is currently being built and am yet to decide 100% on getting a new projector or a nice decent led (65" or so). 8 series sammys are R40K.

Good luck with your decision.
 
Batista said:
Thats the first thing to look at when getting a projector...;)
Click to expand...

My friend only uses his on weekends and random movies nights and is on 200 hours in one year. If you use it the same as his you will be upgrading before buying a replacement bulb
 
Thanks for all the replies people. 200 hours in a year seems very less.
about 3 hours a day at 300 days a year, I would need 900 hours a year!
 
silkman said:
Thanks for all the replies people. 200 hours in a year seems very less.
about 3 hours a day at 300 days a year, I would need 900 hours a year!
Click to expand...

That's 3-4 years if going according to the suggested bulb life. I've heard of people doing 4000-5000 hours
 
I'm running a Full-HD DLP Projector. It is currently projecting a 2.6mtr diagonal image :) It's use for movie nights and the occasional X-Box game.
 
My LG 720p LED projector @ 100" has been my daily TV for over a year now. It's on 5 hours a weekday and 12+ hours on weekends. I'lll never be able to watch movies on small 42/50" again. The lamp also lasts for more than 30 000 hours so no replacing necessary. Only issue is that you need quite a dark room to enjoy it.
 
Penquin said:
Only issue is that you need quite a dark room to enjoy it.
Click to expand...

That's why they make sense in dedicated theatre rooms...not 'living rooms', where the screen is on, but it's not the exclusive focus. The 'issue' with dedicated rooms is that they tend to be 'exclusive', in the sense that all the people in there are watching the movie, not some watching, some reading and kids playing on the floor. The lighting needs to be low to make the picture pop.

It's one of the reasons I left the dedicated HT behind when we moved 7 years ago - I preferred a more family friendly setup, which large LCD/plasma can provide. However, make no mistake, nothing beats a HT though:)
 
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