My Media room + advice on a projector?

[DamonH]

The builder finally got the sheetrock up in my media room and I'm starting to get pretty excited! It's going to get pitch black in there if I want it too. On the advice of an earlier thread, I pre-wired for a projector with HDMI, component, and DB9 cables. I'm trying to decide on a projector though. Since I've kind thrown the budget out the window on the house, I'm having to skimp on equipment for a little bit. I'd like to get a projector under $2000 to start out with, and then move up later. I realize this will probably only get me 720p HD, but that's fine. I was set on the Mitsu HD1000U until I realized it probably won't work for me due to where my projector will be placed. Looks like I'm going to need something with lens shift since my ceiling is sloped and the projector will be about 13 feet from the screen and 6-7 feet off the ground. Any suggestions?

On with the pics!

This is the entrance & equipment closet from inside the room:
http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF3895.jpg

Front wall where I'll put my screen (not sure what I'm going to do on the screen yet, probably a permanant DIY screen):
http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF3894.jpg

Back wall with projector cables:
http://www.damonh.net/casa/newhouse/images/DSCF3893.jpg

[Tiny Tim]

make sure you run all of your cables and if possible get the builder to make it easy to access that part of your attic in case you need to run more cables in the future. looks good though!

[diablo rojo]

Should be a nice room. What are your plans beyond just the projector? Seating, sound (obviously in-wall), decor?

[Mychael101]

Infocus IN76 its a 720p has plenty of lumens and gets great remarks, its a bit pricey but projector prices are going down quickly. However, a lcd projector may be more appropriate since many have lens shift that can aid in install instead of using the digital keystone that degrades the picture quality. And Carada screens FTW if you want a great screen, or hit up the fabric store for some blackout cloth stretch it over a frame and paint it with BEHR Silverstar.

[DamonH]

Should be a nice room. What are your plans beyond just the projector? Seating, sound (obviously in-wall), decor?

Not sure yet. It's going to all be pretty simple at first, and we'll update things as we get time/money. I've already got a black leather couch to go in the room, and that will suffice until we can get those theater recliners. I haven't even thought about a receiver yet.

[Nick Chapman]

Search for a used Panasonic AE900U. This will have plenty of lens shift for what you need. Buy a new bulb when you get it, and you'll have about 1k in it. Plus it's one of the better projectors under 2k. Panasonic replaced this model with their new 1080p unit. So the AE900U has been discontinued.

Nick

[Nick Chapman]

Isn't the hole for your center channel a little too high?

[diablo rojo]

I was wondering the same thing.......but I guess he could get some in-walls that are "aimable".

[line-em-up]

This projector was on WOOT yesterday for, I think, $1200. It does HD. Just keep an eye out and it will probably show up again real soon.

InFocus ScreenPlay 7210 HD DLP Projector
by Wootbot Thursday, August 9 12:00 AM
Woot

Hey, look, the Infocus Screenplay 7210 HD DLP Projector is back! Once again, it’s even cheaper than it was last time – despite the fact that it remains one of the best home-theater projectors on the market today. It’s like that thing Matthew McConaughey’s older-dude character said in Dazed & Confused about how he keeps getting older, but the chicks stay the same age. Only not sleazy, or potentially illegal, or…well, OK, it’s not that similar at all. We just like thinking about Dazed & Confused.

And we like watching it on the ever-cheaper Infocus Screenplay 7210 HD DLP Projector. If you’ve been here before, you’ve probably seen this 720p hi-def, high-end, high-value pitcher-shooter before. You’ve probably marveled at its 2800:1 contrast ratio and 1100 ANSI lumens. You’ve been titillated and intrigued by tales of its deeep DarkChip 3 blacks. (Yes, “deeep” with three e’s – it’s just that black.) You’ve assumed the phrase “Carl Zeiss optics” was a misprint. And your eyes have goggled at the ludicrously puny price.

And then you decided it was still too expensive.

So it’s back, cheaper than ever, now somewhere south of half its list price with all the same potent entertainment powers. It’s like that thing Matthew McConaughey’s older-dude – oh, wait, we said that already. Point is, we can’t be sure the Infocus 7210 will ever again be available at this redonkulous low price. Jump on it while you can. Act now – supplies are limited. Carpe projectorum. For all we know, this will be the last – the very last! – time we’ll be able to sell this eye-popping projector at this eye-popping price.

Unless there’s a next time.

Save 20% on screens, mounts and accessories at Infocus




Warranty: Two-Years Projector, 90-Days Lamp

Features:


HDTV-ready DLP projector (digital TV reception requires a separate HDTV tuner)
Widescreen 16:9 native aspect ratio (can also display 4:3 material)
0.8 720p DarkChip™ 3 from Texas Instruments®
Native resolution: 1280×720 (720p)
Faroudja FLI2310 DCDi de-interlacer with 3-2 pulldown processing
Contrast ratio: 2800:1 (full on/off)
Light output: 1100 ANSI lumens
Auto-calibrating 7-segment, 5x-speed color wheel
Pre-calibrated to 6500K
Digital keystone correction (±20° vertical, ±9° horizontal)
Maximum Screen Size: 132”
Reverse image settings for ceiling mounting and rear projection
Compatible with NTSC, PAL, SECAM, PAL-M or PAL-N signals
Custom-designed all-glass Carl Zeiss optics
1.25X manual zoom/focus lens (long-throw)
220W/250W dual-mode UHP lamp (3000-hour rated life for 220W setting, 2000 hours for 250W)
Lamp (dual mode): 220-Watt UHP (3000 hours); 250-Watt UHP (2000 hours)
Actual lamp life may vary based on the ambient environment. Conditions that may affect lamp life include temperature, altitude, and rapidly switching the projector on and off.
Illuminated remote control
13-1/4”W x 4-1/4”H x 12-1/2”D
weight: 9.5 lbs.
Video inputs:

1 composite video
2 S-video
2 HD-compatible component video (accepts 1080i/720p/480p/480i signals)
1 “M1-DA” (compatible with HDMI, DVI-HDCP, RGB analog, or component — each requires an adapter cable)
1 HD15 (compatible with HDTV RGB, component or computer signals)
1 D5 component (compatible with HDTV, EDTV, standard TV sources, and, with an adapter, RGB SCART)
RS-232 port
Two 12-volt minijack trigger outputs (to operate an electric screen)

[NeedleSharp]

gotta love woot