Confused... Projector or Plasma???????

"Byfo":

I am with "55dok" on this one. Unless you need a viewing area that is greater than 65", I also think that a plasma set is the best way to go. You can get almost as much effective viewing area as you would with a projector and screen system and they're MUCH easier and simpler to install (though with a massive plasma screen, it is still best that the installation is handled by a professional installer).

I, myself was getting ready to buy an LCD set earlier this year (a Toshiba 42HL67 42" LCD set), but then, I became concerned with the refresh rates that these sets exhibit as well as black level (and to a certain point, viewing size and distance) and decided in the end, plasma was the way to go (I will be getting a Panasonic TH-42PX77U).

You may agree with the same thing after you have weighed the fact that you may have to have a projector and screen professionally installed and calibrated.

A 63" to 65" set should just about do it for you. And as "55dok" has said, plasma sets are available in even bigger screen sizes, but it's going to take more gases and better engineering to make a plasma set bigger, and in the end, you're going to pay a BIG premium for all of that additional engineering and viewing real estate.

Good Luck and Happy Shopping......

--Charles--

Plasma - New Panasonic 1080p. Good picture and price.
Projector - Optoma HD-80 best value vs performance. 1080p 10,000 : 1 contrast. I own one and did my homework before a final purchase. The best projector for the money. Well above competition and equal to projectors costing double and triple of its price.
Check this website:
http://www.homeaudiovideoadvisor.com/Projectors.asp

How dedicated is the space and how much are you going to use it?, also is light control an issue? If it is dedicated and for serious movies and HD programing with no need to watch in a really bright room then for sure the Projector is the way to go, there is no substitute. On the other hand if it is a hard room to control light, casual veiwing of general programing in a multi use space the Plasma is a more suitable (but small size) option.
I just went through this exact dilema and went with a Panasonic 720P projector to be installed soon, my father has the Panasonic 58in unit on his space at 12 ft it is a fairly good size but at 16ft........a bit small, I am gong to be 12ft from my screen and run 92in.

Byfo,

At 16' away, 60" is WAY to small. I use a 70" set @ 12' and am at the lowest size by THX rec's, @ 16' you'll want well over 100", so plasma is right out! Go the projector route you will not be sorry.

I have both a dedicated theater room with the JVC RS-1 1080p projector and a family room with the Pioneer Kuro 150FD (1080p plasma.) The primary seating area in the family room is 15' away from the plasma and I daily regret not having a larger screen. The farthest seating area (I have three rows) in the theater room is 22 feet away from a 108" screen and that row is the least desirable view. What I have learned in my experience is that bigger is much better and that 1080p only allows you to sit closer and have a larger screen. The best view in my house is the first row in the theater room, which is 14' away from the screen.

Good luck