My old Benq 1080p DLP projector is still working but lamp life is very high and I can’t source a lamp replacement easily.
What are the thoughts these days on lamp vs laser and more standard throw vs ultra short throw?
What do I want?
crisp images/good contrast and saturation (current DLP colours are a bit undersaturated)
4k
darker black levels
more power efficient than a lamp (around 300W)
quieter fans
good connectivity without having to use an AV amp (not that I currently have the Pioneer AV amp in the loop)
Not really bothered by in-built apps but if unobtrusive I guess it’s a bonus
Cost?
Tricky one - anything around 1k would probably be better than what I have currently.
Don’t have tens of thousands to splash out but would probably extend to 3-4k for something with a likely good lifespan/support.
The laser projectors certainly outperform lamp projectors for linearity of picture edge to edge.
However, I would question whether a projector is needed unless you are going beyond 80" screen size… and even then I might set the bar at 100" minimum.
The reason is that the picture quality on televisions is so vastly good these days and generally outperforms a projector for contrast and colour. Not to mention:
costs less
can watch TV without another box - ditto record TV
Can be used in any light level
Has no fan noise
I used a projector for years but because of the reasons above, going from an 80" screen to a 55" screen was, although smaller, an upgrade in picture and functionality. Just mount the TV flat on the wall and it might as well be a projection screen. I think the cost was less than the projector it replaced and every other benefit more than made up for the reduction in screen size.
A new OLED TV is certainly on the cards to replace a dreadful Samsung 4k TV.
I would like a more modern projector to stick in my ‘AV room’ though and while I appreciate the quality of modern TVs I just enjoy a big screen experience without having to have a massive TV, even if it could be wall mounted. My setup is fairly simple with the old projector projecting from a stand behind the sofa onto a wall which works surprisingly well. Nothing fixed, so portable if I want to move it. AV purists are probably aghast that I haven’t got a dedicated screen and haven’t ceiling mounted the current one. Horses for courses I suppose, but it outperforms the 4k 55" Samsung all the time even at 1080p.
I also quite like the fact that projectors are to sum extent ‘dumb’ displays though appreciate that may have changed - prefer to have my own video sources (AppleTVs and BluRay players) than use in-built apps on TVs which have become too fiddly to setup/configure as I want them.
Having the main system in there for stereo audio duties is great. Used to have a full surround setup but can’t be bothered to set it up again at the moment.
If projecting onto a wall, you may need to coat it with a screen paint. The current quality projectors have high contrast and shine whites more brilliantly than older LCD bulb protectors. Most quality projectors need a suitable screen that is actually a sort of matte medium dark grey surface to allow for deep blacks to hit HDR requirements and reduce glare.
You usually need to match the specific screen or paint with the luminescent and contrast ratio of the projector. Whereas and older bulb projector would probably have relied on a brilliant white and highly reflective coating.