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My First OverHead Projector

I have been playing with the idea of finally adding an overhead projector to my dedicated music listening room. The room is 17.5 w x 26 L x 9 h. I have two sets of speakers in the room, (1)Magnepan 3.6's which are approx six feet into the room from the short wall and four feet from the side wall, (2) Klipschorns which sit in the corners of the same short wall.

I could hang a screen on the short wall and have about six feet of viewing space between the 3.6's. Or, if I run the projector I can easily slide the Maggies to the side and open-up the entire space (which I do often when playing the KHorns).

Question is, what projector should I consider? I would consider buying something used to get started. Also, what is a good screen option?
stickman451
unsound
7,329 posts
 
I'd suggest buying new, there are some real values out there. Better to get a new bulb and a warranty. Some people dump fairly new units with pixel problems, geometry distortions, dust blobs, etc. on the used market. I'd also suggest waiting on the screen for a couple of weeks. Though the picture won't be nearly as good without one, it will give you some time to tweak and decide just what size you really want.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Myself and 4 close friends have bought 7 total units from $2000 to $10,000 used with never any issue. You can have bad luck but the experience has shown me that its not an issue. Just do your homework and trust your gut. Buy used and save some serious coin!
unsound
7,329 posts
 
At under $2K a replacement bulb could cost a significant % of the original outlay.
programmergeek
322 posts
 
I would look at the epson 5010 or 6010 at 2400 lumins it is one of the hot projectors right now. Panasonic 7000 is nice same chip they use the epson chip. Jvc 4k are really nice but not much light output. However there are a lot of factors, screen size, 3d? Ambient light? I tried to pm you but could not I have a couple you may be interested in. But I don't want to get in trouble avs form has more info over there but people are also not as open they tend to brag about what the own.
panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
519 posts
 

I have a BenQ 3550, a nice 4K pixel-shifting projector from about 2020. The TK860i is a close replacement for under $2,000,  and the somewhat more expensive 4550i is an LED unit that kinda owns the $3000 price range right now. My next buy. 

The Epson 5000 series were notorious for bad power supplies (I went through 3 before calling it quits). Panasonic has always provided good value and reliability, if not class-leading performance. 

Two things to consider: bulb type projectors put out about as much heat as a room heater, if your room isn't well ventilated, you may get pretty warm. You can spend a ton of money on a screen, or make a perfectly good screen by painting a piece of 5X9' MDF trimmed to 9X16 ratio  (google 'painted projector screen' for paint mix) and hanging it from a French Cleat for about $200. You can also get 'you assemble' kits in larger sizes in the $500 range. 

Screens are a mystery, what with gain, ambient light rejection, etc. If your room is dark, you likely won't need ALR, but if it has significant ambient light, the an ALR screen helps, but note that they can hot- spot on axis. 

At 110" diagonal in my theater, I can tell you that no direct view TV even comes close. And for sure, as the screen gets bigger, the difference in 4K becomes very apparent. 1080 material will always look kinda soft and off-focus. with a 4K projector though, your AVR should upsample to a good facsimile of 4K.

 

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