View Full Version : what should i buy in the uk?
the_wolf
08-24-2005, 07:40 PM
I'm going to buy a projector for home film and tv. It'd be nice if it could work on my pc but that's not essential. I need it to be front projection onto a pull down screen or maybe wall to begin with. It must also be HDTV compliant so that I get some good years out of it.
This is my first post so it's kinda a big question...
What projector should I buy?
I live in the UK so it would need to work to our 'standards'. I don't have a cinema room so it would be in the living room, but I only watch films in the evening anyway so it's usually dusk/dark or raining, I think it's about 2 meters to the wall, never more than 3. Any advice on projectors/systems would be great.
Thanks.
the_wolf
08-25-2005, 09:52 AM
I should also say I have up to £1000 which is about $1000.
I can't remember if the UK uses PAL, but you'll need a set top box (STB) that is PAL (or whatever) compliant and has HD output (component video or better).
The projector will need to be able to accept the output from the particular STB used in the UK.
£1000 is about US$1800, so you may be able to get an HD FP. You need to be careful with FPs because many of the less expensive ones are not true HD (ie 720P or 768P), rather they may be 540P, etc.
the_wolf
08-25-2005, 01:13 PM
Thanks for teh reply 57U. We do use PAL and I should have been clearer with my currencies, I meant that £1000 over here buys what you can get for $1000 in the US. I'll look into HD FP. Any other suggestions/comments always welcome.
the_wolf
09-05-2005, 10:58 AM
http://www.projectorcentral.com/nec_lt240k.htm
Maybe I'll get this one. Any one see a reason why not?
1. It's not 16:9 (HD is).
2. It's not HD - 768 vertical lines in 4:3 translate to about 580 lines in 16:9.
Lots of people "accept" these sorts of specs if the price is right.
the_wolf
09-05-2005, 12:29 PM
Thanks 57U, I'll look into it some more. I realise it was 4:3 so would have black bars at the top and bottom but as it had HDTV as an input hoped it would accommodate.
The vertical line shortage is a big enough prob to put me off though. The search continues...
the_wolf
09-05-2005, 01:31 PM
http://www.projectorcentral.com/InFocus_Home-ScreenPlay_5000.htm
have i hit gold with this one? not the brightest I've looked at but i think it ticks all the other boxes...
the_wolf
09-13-2005, 07:31 PM
ok so the SP5000 is still the best i can see. if i was to throw a few hundred extra quid at this should i look at a different front screen projector or do i need to spend another grand to make much of a difference?
i want to keep this baby beyond it's bulb life, and it's a whole chunk of change so any advice is welcome/needed. :bow:
