CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

I want to put a pj in the other room for the kids to play video games on. I want something cheap but with a halfway decent image. I have no idea what to look for or where to start or what to avoid for that matter. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:06 am Post subject:

What's your actual budget? Your idea of "cheap" could be completely different from mine.

What kids? I don't think you've ever mentioned kids before, Jeff!

SC

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Yeah Steve my idea of whats cheap is probably a lot less than yours. About a hundred bucks or so. I got kids coming over for thanksgiving and Christmas. Nieces and nephews and such.

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

$100? Would you get something new for that?

Now you state cheap but half way decent image, you say cheap is approx $100 or so... Come on now!!!

At the end of the day, its kids playing video games, the cheapest decent quality portables will do what you want.

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

Sounds like it's time to hit Craigslist, Jeff. I don't remember where in Ohio you live, but I looked at the Columbus CL and I saw several digitals in the $100-125 range. That's the only way you'll get anything in your price range.

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:34 am Post subject:

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 2:53 am Post subject:

You can find a $100 projector on eBay but they are few and far between

CasetheCorvetteman · Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 6326 Location: Australia

This is for kids playing video games, if youre going second had, any old heap will do...

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

I found a Marantz 4000 dlp several years ago for $400. It was a great pj for the price, as it was only used for a couple of days for an art exhibit. Fortunately for me, I live in large metro area that has a better chance of finding a good bargain like this.

416ray4538 · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 517 Location: near Toronto Ont

Check out an office supply store and look at the pjs for presentations. You'll have to come up a few bucks but you'll also have the thing for a while.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

Troy, Piqua, Sidney, Vandalia Ohio I know its not much money. Its just 8 year olds playing xbox. If its a big image they will love it.

TheVerge · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 928

You can buy a lot of 2 or 3 infocus x1s off eBay.

Will work for playing wii and decently reliable.

stridsvognen · Guest

Check out the lamp price before buying anything, most likely you will need to buy a new lamp.

I think you need to stick to DLP.. Benq seems pretty decent.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

There was a generic pj at the local pawn shop for 55 dollars but it looked like a glorified flashlight and I don't know enough to make a decision, they don't do returns so I didn't bite.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:23 pm Post subject:

**kal** · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject:

$100 won't buy anything new that is any good.

Your only option is to buy something fairly old and used that was many thousands when new. The issue will be getting replacement bulbs and the cost of the bulbs will likely be more than the projector.

The other big issue is that because you're buying used you'll need to know what's a good projector and if the asking price is fair. It's impossible to say "buy a model XXX that was out in 2004" because you have no idea if you can find one.

Something like the Infocus X1 is probably a good choice at around $100-150. Pick up a bulb too for $100 or so.

Kal

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:03 pm Post subject:

Buy a high dollar older projector and use it 'till the bulb blows then buy another projector. Then flog the old one off for $40.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject:

I'll jump in here, having just sold 40+ 10 year old 720p LCD projectors on eBay for $20-350.

All of mine were Sanyos save for a couple of Epsons and one Sharp. All with horrendous contrast ratios, like 400:1. The ones with a high lumen output (3500+) went for stupid amounts of money, there's one guy who I think is a reseller that literally spent $2K with me buying every one I had. The 2000-3000 lumen ones went for $75-125 or so.

if you're getting LCD, you really need to check for proper whites. I've seen a bunch with blue bleeding after they get worn (none of the Sanyos did), but for gaming, these LCD Sanyos were perfectly acceptable to me. Watching a movie.. not so much. I'd personally get an LCD over a DLP, but I am sensitive to rainbows. I bought 5 X1s once for $100 and every one had a squeaky color wheel. Non repairable, you can't get parts for them whatsoever.

Realize as well that if you're buying a digital for $100-150, you'll be doing well if you get a couple of years out of it.

the big E · Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 1928 Location: speedwell Tn.

I have a older LCD projector that has RCA and VGA inputs if you want to get it

It works I just have no use for it(I prefer dlp in the digital projectors) nice and bright and has been in storage pretty much since I got it so if you want it shoot me a pm and we will work out the shipping and payment details