What do I want?

[Lefteris]

Hi everyone!

I don't know much about projectors, especially when it comes to pick one.
What do I need in a projector?
Contrast?
Resolution?
Connectivity?
Brightness?
Fan noise?
LCD / DLP (All the chipsets - I've lost count)?
Wall / Screen?
If screen, penetrated for sound, or not?

If I was to have a sufficiently dark environment, but a low ceiling and a lower budget, if it worth the fuss?

Thanx guys, I know you'll help a rookie out!
:beer2:

Cheers!

arty:

[Brandon B]

If I was to have a sufficiently dark environment, but a low ceiling and a lower budget, if it worth the fuss?

Absolutely. But the low budget probably rules out the perf screen.

Tell us your budget, how your room is laid out (screen size, seating distance, PJ location), what things you will be watching most(HDTV SDTV DVD sports?), and then we can provide meaningful advice.

BB

[Lefteris]

alright, my budget is 3000 Euro, with something extra to give if it's worthwhile. the room is 40 m2 and less than 3 m high. I'll be watching exclusively DVDs. I REALLY hate the fan noise, and am willing to make a sacrifice on brightness, in order to have better color projection & seperation. I think that preety much draws the picture! So ? ? ?

Thanx Brandon, Cheers mate!

[Brandon B]

Mmm. Don't know European prices, but I'd be looking at the following:

Sony HS51 - High contrast LCD with dynamic iris, US price is $3500 list
InFocus Screenplay 5700 and 4805 - DLP machines, the latter being their newest low end machine.
Panasonic AE700 - High contrast LCD with dynamic iris, price somewhat less than Sony
Yamaha LPX510 - another nice LCD, alhough lower contrast than any of these others.

Are you up to speed on all the issues with DLP vs. LCD?

BB