Advice on buying a TV projector and getting rid of the TV?

If you are looking for the best do-it-yourselfer home theatre, it would consist of:

1. Your current two hi-fi stereo front speaker system [without need for a third channel speaker since you do not want to upgrade your older hi-fi amplifier to handle digital surround sound] placed just below your TV viewing screen. Cost: $16.00 for extended quality audio wires for across-the-room connectivity.

2. One Infocus ScreenPlay [SP] 4805 DLP front projector [click on the "Picture" link for a home theatre image]* casting a 92" diagonal 16:9 high contrast [2200:1] image placed on a coffee table. Cost: $580.00 for a refurbished unit; replacement lamps sell for $330 and last some 3,000 to 4,000 hours. *Picture of actual home theatre setup showing "A Good Woman": http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/e6/32...

3. Special motion picture quality screen paint provided by GooSystems.com. to create a 130" diagonal grey colored screen. Cost: about $150.00 [including shipping]

4. One standard progressive Toshiba DVD player. Cost: $75.00 new.

5. One digital/HD TV cable subscription to Times-Warner. Cost: $65 per month.

6. Repositioning of a large 5-seat livingroom sofa to a distance some 12-13 feet from the viewing screen. Cost: None. Only when you can get someone nearby to help you move furniture.

7. Set of darkening drapery placed on windows near the projection screen. Costs: About $50 worth of material and of course, we hung up the drapes ourselves.

In conclusion, the total cost of the Do-It-YourSelfer Home Theatre: about $871.00!

and, the final outcome is that OMG - WOW look on the faces of your neighbors when they are invited to see an HD quality sports event projected onto a 92" diagonal screen!

Good luck!

No problem....If you go for an LCD projector make sure it is a multi-media one and not just data...A good make...big choice..I lean towards mitsubishi... hitachi...or sanyo at a push..

wireing is a easy all explained in the hand books...

When it come to mounting the projector it is better if you get someone who knows about the install side of things..because the best way to have them is hanging from the ceiling..they can be mounted on a shelf or table but they are likley to get knocked..which in turn moves the immage...I know this because I install these as part of my job

As for the picture ..you can buy a pull down screen...a bit like a blind...( £50 ish ) it is just like a blind ..light weight but is designed to display projector immages on.

The only 3 big draw backs 1.. the cost of..the projector..it will cost over £500..you can't go to cheap as you will be dissapointed with the picture....2..and replacement bulbs ( £250 ish ) try to buy a projector with a spare bulb in the deal....

3 the picture is not as sharp as you smaller tv..but you gain more than you lose..

If you do go ahead and buy one..Please try to remember to clean the filters it helps with the bulb life..

I hope this has not put you off...I have one in my house hooked up to sky..dvd..sound system and my pc its great you would not go back to a small tv again

Projectors can be expensive , and you will need to keep the room pretty dark too. If it was me i would go for an LCD tv that will hang on the wall.My advice is find a shop where you can try out these products and compare them.After deciding which product you want , find a shop that will give you the best deal.

Get a copy of 'What Home Cinema?' or 'What Hi-Fi & AV?' Magazine and look at the reviews and buying guides. Then try to find a bargaing in the sales or on ebay.

Remeber to do a deal as sales in this market are though at the moment. It's the quiet "Lets go on holiday rather than watch movies" season!

I think ebay could be the place to look ! you could get it very cheap, obviously if you are looking to get new ones then you are looking at spending quite few hundreeds, so if you want a new ones , Dixons, Maplin, Comet, Currys, even Argos ,will provide a wide range of products.

Have fun!

Panasonic and Hitachi do a few good ones. they tend to be expensive, but you do get an excellent (and very large) image.

http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/pj-tx300-i1414.h...

http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/pt-ax100e-i1550....

http://www.cramptonandmoore.co.uk/ptae700-i592.htm...