Anybody using a projector instead of a TV?

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W3H5

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I'm buying a BenQ DLR projector to repalce my crappy TV and just wondered if anyone had tried this. It's not a home cinema type thing, just a mid-range general purpose machine. It does support 3D (if you have the glasses which are soooo expensive) and is fully compatible with HD systems although not a 'full' HD Projector itself. I was mainly wondering about frame refresh rates and picture quality related issues. I'm sure a TV will offer a better quality picture but for my budget this is the easiest way to get a really large (150" or so) screen. If anybody has knowledge on this subject please post it here.
Thanks.
 
I used a projector for a while but there are some major downsides you need to take into consideration.

First, unless you have a very bright projector, it is almost unusable in a room with a lot of uncontrolled ambient light.

Second, depending on the light source projectors can be very loud due to cooling issues.


All that considered, projectors can be great value for money because of the screen sizes are pretty much unlimited as long as you have enough room between the projector and wall/screen.
 
My living room is large enough for it but the noise is 25db. The lamp is 130w and it has 2700lumens. I can cut out most natural light with the curtains. I think I'll do a trial run on a projector I have a work before i buy!
My friend had one hooked up to a 360Xbox and that works quite well, it's an old office type one too.
Thanks for the advice.
 
~2000 Lumens won't cut it if you have a fairly bright room and can't cut much light out. My new apartment has skylights and it was a pain with my old projector that had 2500 Lumens. Upgraded to 6500 lumens and will never look back.

Don't worry too much about the fans in the projector being loud, if you have a sound system that will definitely drown out the fan noise.

EDIT: Also, if you want a "150" screen or so" you better make sure the projector is bright enough for it... that and that you also have room for it (unless you're getting a short throw projector of course). Try looking up a projection calculator online and see if you can fit it in your setup, not sure if any of those take into account how many lumens a projector can output but I'm sure there's a guide somewhere online.
 
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I have some pretty heavy curtains on the main windows so with them drawn it should be pretty dark.
Did you replace the bulb with a more powerful one to increase the lumens?
I think my sub will drown out the buzzing of a fan no problem.:D
 
I checked out the manufactures website to look up on throw range and stuff. Seems my living room should be large enough to get a decent size projection.
Any info on upgrading the lumens would be great.👍
 
shem
I have some pretty heavy curtains on the main windows so with them drawn it should be pretty dark.
Did you replace the bulb with a more powerful one to increase the lumens?
I think my sub will drown out the buzzing of a fan no problem.:D
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Projector bulbs are designed for a specific model (or model range), upgrading to a more powerful bulb would be dangerous as it would produce more heat than what the projector was originally intended to withstand. I haven't heard of any projector with this capability, I may be wrong but I don't think this is possible.
 
I used one long for GT4, I think it was awsome. But as the other say, room have to be dark and it can get noisy.

Did not really bother me..
 
I'm using an older model Acer (X1160) projector, runs at 800x600 I believe (but does a decent job downscaling the HD input so it doesn't look all that bad). Just close the curtains and I'm good to go. Runs fine at 60hz and is bright enough for my taste (2000 Lumen).

One thing to note when going out to buy a projector is to look out for one of two things: Either it needs to have an HDMI port or support component input. If you get one with the latter, don't be surprised if the projector itself doesn't actually have RGB inputs but just features a VGA port. In that case you can either go to the shop and shell out $20+ or so for a component->vga cable or make one yourself out of old parts you might have lying around the house (I happened to have an old VGA cable and some S-Video->Component cable that came with my PC's GPU).
 
My friend got a projector and used it for everything - TV, xbox, films whatever but the bulbs only last like a few months then you got to pay £200 for a new one!
 
Yup my friend has and Full hd projector and in a pitched black room it is fantastic. That and a racing pod and you won't want to leave again. Almost real road under yr ass... :)
It brought me into top 300 in last GT Academy!
 
Something no one mentioned yet. HDCP. If you have a projector that has a DVI port you can use an HDMI->DVI cable but if the projector isn't HDCP compatible, it won't work. If you run into this you could try using Component->VGA->DVI (or Component->DVI). You can output games 1080p in component (as I used to do with my setup) but I don't think it will output movies in 1080p through component. You could also get an HDCP stripper (HD Fury for example) but those are fairly pricey.

So keypoints:
Bright enough for your application
Inputs
HDCP compatibility
 
I used to have one awhile back but it was only useful in the dark. Other than that, it was pretty cool. I used it in my backyard once and used my garage door as the white screen. I didn't measure anything but just imagine a TV the size of a two-car garage door.
 
I would only use a projector for light gaming the cost of the bulbs can be outrageous depending on what manufacturer and model you buy. You might also want to look at the differences between the high, mid, and lower end projectors. As the rainbow effect is rampant in the single chip DLP projectors along with black level and contrast issues. The opposite applies to the high end which have anamorphic lenses and usually contain 3 DLP chips, and in more recent years LED bulbs that contain the Rainbow effect. Well any way good luck on your purchase, and as a good tip look to monoprice for that long HDMI cable and powered pass through depending on the length of cable your running.
 
necroticart
I would only use a projector for light gaming the cost of the bulbs can be outrageous depending on what manufacturer and model you buy. You might also want to look at the differences between the high, mid, and lower end projectors. As the rainbow effect is rampant in the single chip DLP projectors along with black level and contrast issues. The opposite applies to the high end which have anamorphic lenses and usually contain 3 DLP chips, and in more recent years LED bulbs that contain the Rainbow effect. Well any way good luck on your purchase, and as a good tip look to monoprice for that long HDMI cable and powered pass through depending on the length of cable your running.
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Projector bulbs last pretty long. The one I've got has been running since I bought it (I have about 2000 hours on it).
 
Depending on the projector your bulbs life span is going to be in the 2000 - 4000 range, The 4000 I quoted is in an eco mode of course. If I were you I would get a replacement bulb soon seeing as most bulbs go dark at the 2000- 2500 mark.
 
necroticart
Depending on the projector your bulbs life span is going to be in the 2000 - 4000 range, The 4000 I quoted is in an eco mode of course. If I were you I would get a replacement bulb soon seeing as most bulbs go dark at the 2000- 2500 mark.
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I've got one ready whenever the one I'm using is about to go.
 
Yep, 2000-2500 is about where they tend to go. They go fast too, usually within about 8-10 hours of you noticing it really start to dim. I had 3 models over the years, but with the amount of TV and gaming I do, the bulb costs were just insane. I'd go through at least 2 a year. I switched to a DLP TV with a service plan that covers bulbs with the 5 year warranty, so I know I'm covered. On my second bulb with that TV now. Wanted to go flat panel, but I couldn't pass up the price on the DLP at the time for a 61"er when it would have only netted me a 37-40" flat panel at the time.
 
I checked for the HDMI port before ordering (already have the high-speed cable). I can get new bulbs pretty cheap because I'm a stones throw from Taiwan where they make the model I've ordered.
The Manufacturer specifies that it is HD compatible but I'm not expecting full HD from the model I've got coming. They also say it's 3D ready but I really dont want to shell out 70pounds or the equivilant in dollars for a pair of specs!
All the posts here are really helpful so thanks to everyone.
 
Tried the projector and will never use a TV again! Cooling fan noise is minimal, the bulb is pleanty bright for my living room and the HDMI input works fine. Got the PS hooked up, laptop and the 5.1 dolby. (plus a USB fan base to keep the heat down)
All I need now is the DFP wheel; bye bye fat slice of salary next month!
 
I used a standard definition acer projector with my ps2 for 4 1/2 years and racked up about 1400 hours on the bulb. It was only about 2000 lumens, and needed a dim room. I now have a high definition 3d ready acer which has 3700 lumens brightness ($900 aus). I still play it in a dimm room, but it is much brighter and clearer than the old one. Projectors are all about size, and the fact that they are kind to your eyes, because with a tv, the light source is being directed at your eyes. I use a screen size of 1.5 meters wide by 0.9 meters high, at a distance of 1.2 meters from my eyes. This may sound rediculous, but it scales to about 80 percent life size. At this size, you move your head to look into the corners, and you are completely imersed and conected to the rig. The affect is totally believable. I can play this for hours, where as when I was using a 68cm CRT tv, I got eye strain after a couple of hours. Projectors, as far as Im concearned, give the ultimate picture, but there are compromises with convienience and space. I dont see bulb costs as an issue. My new acer has a bulb life of 3500 hrs, I think. That is a serious chunk of time.
 
I have a BenQ projector in my bedroom which i use for films and gaming (but i also use the downstairs HDTV 50% of the time. I only put a dozen or so hours on my lamp life every week so to get from the hourage that I bought it at (900) to the max (3000 in eco) then its going to take years, and i only paid £60 for it.

I would say that due to the low contrast ratio its not good for GT5 night races, and films of a dark nature (Like AvP2)
 

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