We've borrowed a pal's projector a few times for movie night with the kids and I'm just doing a bit of a feasability check to see if it's worth getting something we can use ourselves. A quick google shows a whole range of stuff and I'm a bit lost as to where the best value lies. Here's my use case:
- plugging in apple TV to watch (mostly kids) movies. As long as it's not all fuzzy and crap we're not too fussed about definition
- we're not going to use this all the time, a couple of times a month probably. So cheap is good.
- our mates projector is a bit noisy. I'm hoping newer ones might be quieter.
Are the cheapo ones on Argos (or similar) worth it or should I be looking elsewhere. Are second hand projectors worth looking at?
Any advice gladly accepted.
Big issue is you need to look at is the lumens, otherwise you'll need total darkness to watch a movie. I bought a used Epson EB-585WI - ultra short throw, so we just pop it on a stand in front of the wall, about 2 feet away. We've also got a 100 inch electric projector screen that we roll down. It's just under HD resolution but looks incredible. Connect to some decent speakers and you are off.
It's great outside as well. Just use a laptop to connect or any hDMI source.
This gets good reviews. £151 for Black Friday.
There's also loads of links to similar on the page.
As it's Amazon, you will have no bother getting a refund if it's crap.
Can provide recommendations as I'm in the market for one of these too. Saving for later.
I've looked at those cheap Epson projectors (eBay) and quoting units with approx 3500hrs use already. I guess - given the price vs what they cost new - that they might not have a huge amount of running time left before needing a new 'bulb'? (is that how they work?!).
I just want something I can send a signal to / stream from, as well as route the audio via my big AV amp.
Google how much replacement lamps cost. They typically are around £75 - £200 for a generic copy to an original inside.
Easy enough to replace. Older projector lamps have a life of around 3000-5000 hours iirc, when they go they go with a loud pop!
My current projector lamp seems to be rated for 15,000 hours, which seems incredible fingers crossed it gets there or thereabouts.
Thanks for the vid @Cougar. His top recommendation doesn’t seem to be available in the UK but the meat of the vid shows just how much of a crap shoot it is buying the Amazon ones.
Im swinging towards a refurb one from eBay. Not an ideal home cinema solution but will get some life out of some older tech. Even if they only have a few hundred hours left on the bulb they will probably keep us going for a few years!
Thanks for the vid @Cougar. His top recommendation doesn’t seem to be available in the UK but the meat of the vid shows just how much of a crap shoot it is buying the Amazon ones.
Im swinging towards a refurb one from eBay. Not an ideal home cinema solution but will get some life out of some older tech. Even if they only have a few hundred hours left on the bulb they will probably keep us going for a few years!
They are stupidly cheap though, would anyone expect a £30 projector to be any good?
My Epson came without a bulb. An original from Epson was about £65
They are stupidly cheap though, would anyone expect a £30 projector to be any good?
Not those ones but there are plenty in the £100-200 bracket and I’d imagine some of them are good enough. I don’t have the patience to buy & try til I find one that doesn’t suck though.
Thanks for the vid @Cougar. His top recommendation doesn’t seem to be available in the UK but the meat of the vid shows just how much of a crap shoot it is buying the Amazon ones.
Im swinging towards a refurb one from eBay. Not an ideal home cinema solution but will get some life out of some older tech. Even if they only have a few hundred hours left on the bulb they will probably keep us going for a few years!
I've found the second-top 'Umbolite' unit under different branding on Amazon for <£40, but I too am swinging towards the idea of a refurbed fancier projector. Even 1,000-1,500 hours remaining bulb life would last me 6yrs+ using it once a week for a 3-hr movie!
r/budgetprojectors on Reddit is worth a look, although it skews American, and some people's idea of budget is not mine.
The other thing to look at would be a cheap massive TV - TCL do some 85-100 inch models under £1000, and having seen one in the flesh at someone's house they are 1. massive and 2. actually pretty decent picture. Just check you can fit it in your room as they are massive. (Did I mention how massive they are?)