I'm looking to add a TV, large computer monitor, or similar to our living room for PC gaming, XBox gaming, and movies.
I assumed that a projector would be washed out whenever the room's lights were on. Which would be a hassle for people who wanted to be in the living room at the time but were doing other activities.
I went with an Epson 1060 (which is a fairly budget option) and it's freaking awesome. I was afraid it would be dim in full sunlight, but it's not a problem at all. My screen is next to two windows and even in full daylight with the lights on it is super bright and visible even while in eco mode (which is dimmer than regular mode). Fully replaced my TV and at a much much lower price point than the biggest possible LCD. Also, replacement bulbs are ~$60 bucks and I have yet to replace one after ~2 years.
Added bonus is the option to install a powered retractable screen, which make the TV all but disappear from the room when not in use.
When the room is dark it's absolutely amazing, like being at the movies. When lights are on it is quite washed out. Still usable but not as enjoyable. Since the projector sits in my bedroom it's not much of an issue to always have the lights off but in a living room I can see that being a hassle.
Once you get the projector and screen (they do make a difference) I could have gotten several (cheaper) modern TV's but the experience of the projector is what I love. One thing as a new buyer I wish I knew was how much heat projectors can generate. My bedroom is fairly small and this thing can really heat the room up to sometimes an uncomfortable level after long viewing sessions.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-Elite-Kuro-PRO-150FD-60-108...
That thing used to be 7000+ CAD. Even more when they first came out. In between legs at school I sold them in Calgary.
I’ve had to replace the bulb once in about 4 years. Or rather the timer went off to warn me and I replaced it — bulb was still working though. New lamp was fairly cheap too IIRC, $40, maybe less?
And I can take it with me, or outside in my backyard for a movie night. I probably won’t ever go back to smart or dumb tvs
It is fun having a >100” screen with a laser projector. I haven’t seen any of the new ones in person, but plan to get one some day.
I throw cult movie nights and recently ditched the projector for a 42” screen - by the time there were 15-20 people in my living room, the heat of the projector made us keep windows open in Canadian winter.
Not to mention the usability issues during daylight, which make a projector (there’s a lot of light in my living room) mostly useless 50% of the time.
The large black rectangle has its own use - it clearly defines where the screen is occupying space, something you’ve gotta configure for a projector.
Unless you are privileged af enough to have a room you can dedicate to a home theatre setup - (in which case, good for you, housing/rent prices here in Toronto make that out of reach for me even as a low triple digit salary individual, four times higher than most of my similarly aged friends) - a projector’s disadvantages far outweigh its benefits.
Even if visibility wasn’t a glaring issue, the heat is practically unbearable. Worst idea I’d had was to try it in my bedroom as a TV replacement. :P
I went through several models of projectors in an attempt to see if any of them would be tolerable, but no.
Large TV’s emit heat as it is; but it’s really like a small heater in a room on low, instead of an industrial scale heater.
Also, side benefit of no large black rectangle :)