Home Theater projector suggestions, please

[NFATrustGuy]

I'm looking to set up a home theater in my basement. I'll be able to control some of the ambient light, but not all of it. My screen will be 105-120" diagonal and the projector will be approximately 15' from the screen. I'm not interested in 4K or 3D. I'll probably use it in equal parts for sports, movies, and regular TV. On average, it'll probably see less than 4 hours of use per week.

I've been Googling around all day and I think I know less than when I started. The choices and variables are overwhelming. I really need to stay below $2000 on this. So far, the Epson 1440 seems fairly attractive and is within my budget.

Somebody pointed me to a great 65" plasma flat screen a few years ago, so I thought I'd ask again for the projector purchase.

Thanks in advance.

Rod

[mb504]

This is a better search tool.
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm

Or with the parameters that you already stated, plus I constrained it to HD:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/proj...sort=%24&sz=15

Has 41 on the list. I'd probably go for the brightest I could get for my budget.

[Grant H.]

My brother and I have the Viewsonic PRO8200.

I use a Favi 120" white screen, and my brother just uses a smooth white wall.

The projector works fantastic for us. We have used the PRO8300 at church, where the environment is much brighter, and it works well too.

We have both used our projectors for a LOT of hours, and we are both on the original bulb.

Well within your budget, and when with an HD signal provides a fantastic image.

[asmo]

BenQ is what I use. Not incredible, but damn good for the price.

[cableguy11]

I just picked up an Optoma HD26 from best buy. Not a lot of features, but I really have not messed with it that much. Hooked up the blu-ray and threw on Star Wars for the kids on my daughters B-day..they thought it was the best thing ever!! It works pretty darn good for what I needed it to do, plus it was on sale!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/optoma-1...FZEBaQodQikOvA

I had this one in my list on Amazon, but I do not exactly remember why I chose it. Plus it's on sale to!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/optoma-1...&skuId=1584026


-Art

[NFATrustGuy]

Thanks for the tips. That projectorcentral site is a wealth of information.

I think I'm going to get my screen installed along with all the necessary wiring before I actually buy a projector. Most places have at least a 30 day return policy so I can test the projector in my actual installation to make sure it works. I'm planning on a motorized flush ceiling mounted 120" screen, so that'll take a bit of time for me to install. I'll also need to fish a 30-50 foot HDMI cable from my home theater receiver to the ceiling where I'll mount the projector along with getting 110VAC to the location.

I guess at this rate, I'll be lucky to make opening day for the 2017 Broncos season!

[cableguy11]

Don't forget the sound!! I can tell you for sure the projector speakers are not going to cut it!

[NFATrustGuy]

@ Art: Absolutely. The house has 6 speakers installed in the walls. I've yet to hook them up to anything to see how they sound.theres no center channel in the front, but I have easy access to the backside of the front wall, so adding a center channel shouldn't be an issue. I'll also need a sub, but they're pretty non-directional so I should be able to work that in somewhere.

@ Mr. Foxtrot: I'll keep searching, I guess. The screen I've found so far is about $675. I need to do some poking around to see what kind of room I have in the HVAC soffit that runs along the front wall. I really don't want to tear up a bunch of drywall, so I'd probably be willing to compromise on the whole flush-mount in the ceiling concept.