8mm Forum: Digital Projector Question

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Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on October 14, 2018, 12:34 PM:

Looking for a recommendation for a projector for no more than $300 that has no rainbow artifacts and a decent picture for a small room with a big white wall. How does one attach powered bookshelf speakers if there’s no AUDIO OUT jack only Audio In? It’s not for gaming - just to show DVD’s and/or tv in the den.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on October 14, 2018, 01:40 PM:

Brad, if your worried about rainbow effects you must stay well clear of any DLP projectors and go with LCD. Epson makes excellent LCD projectors, and an entry level Epson may be your best bet. But you may need to hook into an external amp and speakers to get any sound. But, I think you will need to spend about $600.00 to get something you will be happy with. I do not recommend purchasing a used digital projector as you are likely to have to buy a new lamp which could easily run $300.00 to $400.00.
Here is a new HD Epson on sale for the next 5 days for $549.00(with built in speaker!) from Projector People, who are a superb company to deal with:
https://www.projectorpeople.com/Epson-Home-Cinema-1060/Projector/41881
Here is a review of the Epson 1060 by Projector Central.
https://www.projectorcentral.com/Epson-Home-Cinema-1060-review.htm
As you can see it is rated top in its class, and will provide you with a superb picture. It has a built in speaker but no external audio out, so if you want to use an external amp and speaker system you just do the normal thing and go directly from the DVD audio output to the amp.

[ October 14, 2018, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: Paul Adsett ]

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on October 14, 2018, 05:24 PM:

Nec are very good, and a good 2nd hand WXGA one gives more zoom or shape options and are quieter than the epsons.You should get one with little lamp use and many have a 7.1 zoom, very handy for rear of the room projecting

Though the Epson Paul links is superb for the cash but only a 1.2 lens and sits close to the screen.

Most decent NEC`s will have a simple audio out via a 3.5mm jack , the next like up on the Epsons do to.

My sons WXGA NEC looks easily as good as my epson WUXGA little over 1080p, and the NEC has much better escope image wise, it also does`nt lock you in to things 1080p image wise.

Some NEcs are sold with a 5 year warrenty on odd offers etc so you can get a year old one with 4 still left and they are superb on dealing with that if needed.

Good luck, whatever you do.

Best Mark.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEC-3600-Lumen-WXGA-LCD-Projector-NP-ME361W/263944528669?hash=item3d7451e31d:g:0CgAAOSwPAxaPFTC:rk:8:pf:0

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on October 14, 2018, 06:42 PM:

Thank you, fellas. On my way to check out all the links you’ve provided.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 14, 2018, 10:53 PM:

I have an Epson VP and we get a lot of enjoyment out of it: as I've said before, it doesn't give the same kind of hobby satisfaction as showing film, but it is great as a means of home entertainment. The experience is a lot more immersive than a normal sized flat screen TV, and the sound is great through my mixer and cinema sound system.

The lack of audio out jacks is a minor pain in the butt. Most of the time I just plumb the video player's audio out into my mixer. The only times it becomes a bigger issue are the rare occasions we want to watch a broadcast event (Winter Olympics, for example). I don't want to have to run HDMI and audio cables across the floor so I put in an audio splitter in the HDMI line from the cable box:

HDMI Splitter

This extracts the audio from the digital video signal and presents it as line level analog audio on RCA jacks. I just plug this into the mixer and we're in business.

Mark is right: if there was any one change I would make to this projector it would be the ability to sit further back from the screen.

Then again if I left the 2 inch lens in my 16mm machine, it would come pretty close to being out in the back yard!

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on October 15, 2018, 04:38 AM:

I like it if an LCD projector has the handy simple 3.5mm jack out, and just take mine to an old plug in amplified 2.1 computer speakers set up, cost me £8 delivered ages ago and sounds fantastic.

That goes from my sons NEC no worries via the 3.5mm jack

The NEC also has the 1.7 zoom range which is really so handy.

My own Epson I take the sound out of my Sony Blu Ray player via its RCA one jack out to a converter, about £5 that then goes to two RCA`s or a 3.5mm set up.

But the sound on the NEC is great anyway, the Epson, OK but very slightly tinny.

I`d recomend looking for one of the NEC LCD ones ( not the DLP ones ), and a quite high lumems, then on the 3 stage eco lamp setting they are absolutely silent and the lamp lasts for ages.

You should pick up an M range one with the 1.7 lens WXGA, half HD but looks easily as good for around $200 up.

Good luck if you try for one.

Best Mark.

PS to me my sons NEC one looks more filmie slightly than the epson just out of interest. Its also much more forgiving of older B+W sources etc.

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on October 15, 2018, 06:11 AM:

Having read the specs of the Epson 160 I noticed the following:

'The HC 1060 doesn't support 3D and it scores lowest in the group for black level and contrast, which limits its usefulness for traditional home theater'.

Personally, I'd save bit more and give myself a greater choice of models. I have an Epson projector that has 3D capability that has proved to be absolutely superb with blu-ray discs. My blu-ray recorder is permanently plugged in to my Yamaha amplifier and I enjoy a 6' picture, the biggest the room will allow. If possible, demo what you intend to buy and get some advice. Spend a bit more and avoid disappointment.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on October 28, 2018, 10:54 AM:

Hi, With reference to Marks comment about short throw lenses on video projectors I would like to make a couple of points.
1.I have had 2 Epson projectors. The first was an EMP 51 which ran for 10 years and the lamp failed after just over 1,000 hours. I then replaced it with an EH-TW3200 because it upscales to high definition, and seemed a better option due to the high cost of replacement lamps. Both models have a wide zoom range and ceiling mounted in the "Retro Roxy" about 16ft lens to screen giving a picture width of 4ft6ins. "academy" and up to 9ft6ins in Scope.
2. You can also extend the length of throw by attaching a large diameter 1.5X video telephoto lens as you would a scope lens on your cine projector. I used one on the EMP 51 and and earlier Sony 200E which used a 12v 50watt Halogen bulb with integral reflector. Obviously not good enough for scope but all of my VHS tapes were 4X3 or pan and scan. The use of the telephoto lens was suggested by Keith Wilton, and I got mine cheap from "Cash Converters". It was marketed by "Jessops". I have another one 2X by Aico but the lens diameter is 40mm and is too small for my projectors. It would be quite suitable for some of the newer small projectors around. Incidentally all sound outputs are routed through a Yamaha A5 amplifier. Ken Finch.

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