Replacement for TV, Projector or New TV?

techlead on 14/04/2020 - 13:49
Last edited 14/04/2020 - 14:25

I need to replace my TV and I'm looking at whether to buy a new TV or go with a projector.

I know that projectors are not as good in bright light, I would be mostly using it at night, so that's not an issue. I can easily adjust the screen size with a projector. Projector technology seems to have matured enough to a point where it is a viable option for replacing a TV.

What do you guys think? Should I go with a new TV, if so, got any model suggestions or go with a projector, if so, model suggestions? Budget is up to $2k.

I already have a decent soundbar which I plan to use with the setup, either TV or projector. I usually use my TV by casting my laptop to it to display streaming sites.

Poll Options expired

  • 29
    Buy a TV
  • 8
    Buy a projector
Electrical & Electronics Projector TV

Comments

  • obit11 on 14/04/2020 - 13:56

    Get a nice 65" 4k TV and be done with it. TV tuner and apps for Netflix, etc inbuilt. No need for additional devices.

    • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 14:00

      I do like the idea of being able to project a 128" screen onto the wall though. I usually use my TV by casting my laptop to it.

  • toomuchdogfur on 14/04/2020 - 14:14

    $2k will get you a very good 55" or 65" 4k LCD TV, or a decent 75" one, likely with change to spare for a basic soundbar as well. Pop open OzBargain's TV tag and you'll find plenty of them.

    That same $2k will get you a mediocre projector (possibly 4k but more likely 1080p, bulb instead of LED, etc), and you'll still need to buy a projector screen to squeeze the best picture quality out of it. And then you'll need mounting hardware. And some time to install it on the ceiling properly. And then some long cables to route to your devices. And you'll definitely need a soundbar as projector speakers are bad, and in the wrong position (vs a TV where you could still get away with inbuilt speakers if you wanted to save cash).

    So you'll be giving up a lot of things (installation convenience, contrast ratio, resolution, etc) in exchange for raw screen size. If you have your heart set on a projector, I reckon you should save some more cash so you can have a decent setup with one.

    Edit: To provide projector examples, check out a known merchant for one and notice how 4K projectors start around the $2k mark. Add at least $700 more for the screen and you can see how quickly costs can blow out!

    • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 14:19
      +1

      Nah, the Benq TK800m is great. 4K, HDR, Bright enough to use in the day, $1599 at Costco. I'm not using a screen, I'm using a blank wall. It's fine. I've got it mounted in a cabinet, no mounting hardware required. 10 minute set up, amazing screen. I'm using a soundbar for the sound, but the onboard speaker amazingly isn't terrible.

      • toomuchdogfur on 14/04/2020 - 14:24

        Fair, I don't doubt that's a good projector and a good price!

        My point was more that you'd need to spend a lot more to get everything set up cleanly and properly (screen to maximise contrast ratio, mounting hardware to get the projector off the ground, cabling runs, etc).

        Whereas with a TV, you can just plop it down on a stand and go. You can get it to a real clean setup if you want (wall mounting, sound system) and still fit under $2k.

        Edit: Hah, and I see you've fleshed out your comment while I was replying. Good to see both sides of the coin here. :)

        • ItsMeAgro on 14/04/2020 - 17:58
          -1

          need to spend a lot more to get everything set up cleanly and properly (screen to maximise contrast ratio, mounting hardware to get the projector off the ground, cabling runs, etc)

          People mount TVs to a wall and run the cables through too, these days. Similar job and cost.

          Neither TVs nor projectors need that, both work great without any such installation, so it's not a valid comparison point.

          One costs around $1500 for 200 inches, the other costs around $2000 for 55"-75" inches.

          If you care at all about the watching experience projector wins easily.

          (To be fair, most people don't, they only watch news and reality TV and kids shows - they only buy bigger sizes to keep up with the Joneses)

      • SBOB on 14/04/2020 - 19:30

        4K, HDR
        I'm not using a screen, I'm using a blank wall

        Then the image you're seeing sure ain't HDR and the quality/resolution will be reduced due to wall texture.
        A quality screen makes a big difference to the projector image quality.

        Projector, great for image size, but you do sacrifice image quality (you're stretching the same source 2x,3x,4x bigger )

        • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 20:00
          +1

          What are you saying about the quality of my wall?

          • SBOB on 14/04/2020 - 20:05

            @[Deactivated]: That it's the same as every other gyprock wall out there.

            It's got texture, which results in diffusing of reflected light, which in turn means a reduction in contrast ratio and viewable detail.

            It's also likely applying a colour shift (due to wall colour and reflectivity) and a loss in dynamic range

            In summary, it's not a projector screen designed to not do any of these things ;)

            • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 22:41

              @SBOB: What kind of shitty Metricon home do you think I live in? These walls are 130 year old hand skimmed laven plaster. Covered in 2.4gain projector paint. Ok. That last part was a lie, it’s just normal grey house paint. But the image is amazing, and the resolution certainly isn’t affected by inconsistencies in the plaster. The image looks HDR, but you’re right in that a projector screen would be better in terms of absorbing more of the light, it reflects a little too much.

  • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 14:16

    Looks like everyone prefer a TV over a projector.

    Any model suggestions?

  • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 14:17
    +1

    I just bought a nice BenQ TK800M from Costco, I now have a 200 inch 4K HDR screen. Costco are the cheapest in Australia, $1599. It's way better than my Samsung 65inch 4K TV. I should probably put that up as a deal.

    • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 14:38
      +2

      Just checking the specs of that, it looks very good.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 22:22

        It really is

    • ShortyX on 14/04/2020 - 14:39

      Gees, you must have a big room with the required ~7m throw distance for 200 inch!

      • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 14:51
        +1

        3.3m for 100", which is reasonable for me.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 16:14
        +1

        Not quite 200 inches, it’s from 5 metres

  • Ryanek on 14/04/2020 - 14:24

    Projectors are good for movie/sport sessions. It's not really good for short daily use because it takes a while to heat up and load.

    With a budget of 2K I suggest you get an LG Oled, they're great for dark rooms.

    • ESEMCE on 14/04/2020 - 15:12
      +2

      Takes 30 seconds I'd estimate for my Epson TW-5600 to get to operational brightness. Most TV's take a good 10 seconds to start up themselves, the warmup time really isn't a reason against a PJ IMHO.

      I have had both TV and PJ for more than 10 years, slowly upgraded over those years from an XGA to 720p widescreen to 1080p (and from a 68cm CRT to 46" Plasma)
      You simply cannot beat a Projector for screen size.
      If they even make TV's the size of my ~130" projection, they're certainly not in my price range!

      The only valid reasons to not buy a projector are
      1) the cabling
      2) the mounting position (ceiling or Table/cabinet)
      3) the projection area, and your viewing position (no point projecting a 130", or greater, screen if half of it is projecting onto the side walls of the room or if you sit 3m from the projection requiring you to rotate your head to see from one corner to the other)
      4) globe replacement

      Would highly recommend to OP to use the Projection calculator here https://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.c…
      to evaluate whether a certain projector might work in the intended space.

      • Ryanek on 14/04/2020 - 15:53

        I have an Epson projector too and sorry but 30 seconds is heaps for a casual TV session. Don't you ever just walk into a room and turn on the TV to see what's on?

        Not only that, you usually need a TV receiver, AV receiver and some smart device to watch online content. Like I said… hassle!

        • ESEMCE on 14/04/2020 - 16:13
          +1

          Don't you ever just walk into a room and turn on the TV to see what's on?

          Can confidently I can say "no, haven't done that for a good 5 years"…
          You must be one of the few people left watching broadcast TV for anything except Live Sport (I know what time the Sports I am interested in commence).
          (EDIT: I'm not having a go here, just pointing out that I think most people have transitioned to using streaming as their primary entertainment option, Broadcast TV is increasingly a distant second)

          TV receiver, required for Broadcast TV, but can be almost 100% replaced by the smart device listed below.
          AV receiver, good and recommended but not actually required.
          Some smart device to watch online content, yep, I'll give you that one, but personally as a hater of Smart TV interfaces, you need one for a TV as well, Chromecast FTW IMHO.

          TV tends to be used in the day, PJ at night. So I guess it's a convenience thing in that I don't need to close the curtains.
          If I had to choose one though, PJ every day of the week!
          I can live with closing the curtains on the rare occasions the TV is used in the day.

        • ShortyX on 14/04/2020 - 16:37
          +1

          Don't you ever just walk into a room and turn on the TV to see what's on?

          Ok boomer.

          …sorry, couldn't resist! ;)

  • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 15:01

    Another issue is warranty. Do TVs usually have a longer warranty?

    • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2020 - 16:17
      +1

      No

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 14/04/2020 - 16:00
    +1

    I voted for projectors but I'm biased. Always had them, love my current one. If a manufacturer releases an affordable wall mountable 140" panel TV then I'd likely change my opinion.

  • Richardc on 14/04/2020 - 16:01
    +1

    How big is your room, I got a mijia laser short throw and very happy with it.

    • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 19:20

      Living room is 7m by 12m

  • newak on 14/04/2020 - 16:48
    +3

    I have both a projector and TV and I will always go with projector. Go with the BenQ TK800M. Watching during the day is no problem.

  • ItsMeAgro on 14/04/2020 - 17:47
    +2

    The popular vote will always go with TV because half the population mostly use their TV for news, keep the kids quiet, dancing with the chef and Australia's next top block. 95% of people have never even seen a modern home theatre projector in action.

    If you care at all about:

    • Films and cinematic shows/games
    • Image quality
    • Level of immersion in the experience
    • Value for money

    The projector always wins. By miles.

    All the arguments against it:

    • Hard to install (Nope: you can mount it - like many people do with big screen TVs anyway - or you can just have it on a shelf or table)
    • No good in daylight (Nope: it's 2020, projectors are bright enough to be watchable in daylight, and have been for years. Just not as great contrast as in the dark. TV is better for open-window daylight, but they don't look quite as good as they do in the dark, either)
    • You need a good sound system (Your TV does too, if you care enough about the quality of the experience to be spending more than $300 on the display)

    If you don't care about what you watch, get a 32" no-name TV for $200.

    If you do care, get a projector. My $700 projector blows my mates $2000 55" OLED TVs out of the water. No comparison.

    You can get a good 4k HDR projector around $1500 AUD right now. No brainer.

    • SBOB on 14/04/2020 - 19:26
      +1

      My $700 projector blows my mates $2000 55" OLED TVs out of the water. No comparison.

      For image size sure

      But not a chance a reasonable price projector (and screen…don't tell me you're projecting directly onto a wall??) is going to out do an OLED for image quality

      • ItsMeAgro on 14/04/2020 - 21:48

        Yeah my phone screen is OLED too. I'm not going to watch a movie on it.

        It doesn't matter; the best 55 inch OLED image is just nowhere near as good a viewing experience as a 100" image.

        TV owners often say "that's just a matter of personal preference/opinion" to make themselves feel better about spending more for a much worse display, but it's not really; the point of good colour, good contrast, high definition, and large screen size, are all to draw you into the story by allowing you to see the detail better; the locations, the subtle emotional tells in faces, etc, to trick your subconscious into thinking you are there with the characters, to make the film a more immersive and compelling experience.

        And a 100" inch image, fully 4 times the area of a 50 inch one, is a far more immersive and compelling experience than the very high contrast and very good black levels a (much-more-expensive) high-end TV can produce. It's really a night-and-day difference.

        Screens used to make a big difference in projector images ten years ago, when brightness was many times lower. Nowadays there's not that much difference between an off-white wall and the best screens. I use a wall. I'd never go back to a TV.

        • SBOB on 14/04/2020 - 22:20
          +1

          the fact you think you're 700 buck projector, projected onto a wall, gives good quality colour, contrast and definition means I have to take your perception of image quality as a bit 'flexible'. For $700 your projector wont even be 4k, so you're comparing a 4k screen against a non-4k projected image thats 2-4x the size…

          I've had both, I've worked in AV sales (in the past) for over a decade.

          For the same $, projects do image size amazingly.. If the size of the image is your definition of 'immersive' then so be it.
          They will never take the same source and produce better colour accuracy, detail or dynamic range against a decent OLED or LCD in a side by side comparison, especially when you're producing the picture just up against a normal household painted gyprock wall in a regular home lounge room

          Also, screens still make a huge difference to colour accuracy, dynamic range and detail, and no-one setting up a decent home theatre projection based system just 'projects up against an off-white wall' if they want the best picture quality..

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 14/04/2020 - 19:51

    I have been into projectors for years, and don't know what people are on about with image quality being better for your price point…
    The contrast ratio is dismal, the screen-door effect is annoying especially as the image gets larger. Sure, go brighter for powerpoint presentations, but otherwise brighter means washed out colours like you've never witnessed before.

    Projectors are good for a short thrill, but you may start to get a bit over what you are giving up to get a bigger picture.

    There's a reason everybody plays cartoons or video games on projectors to give demonstrations, it's because this image style makes it hard to pick when colours and tones aren't right. When you switch to TV or non-animated films you realise the compromise you have made.

    • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 20:42
      +1

      How does the performance fair at night? I mostly use the TV late afternoon and evenings, so not in bright light.

      A projector will never get those deep blacks like an OLED TV can, but would it come close in the evening?

    • ItsMeAgro on 15/04/2020 - 09:47
      -1

      contrast ratio is dismal, the screen-door effect

      I guess you stopped using them quite a few years ago; the contrast isn't as good as an OLED, but it's good enough for some basic HDR now. And the screen-door effect? That hasn't been a thing for ages.

      • SBOB on 15/04/2020 - 11:21

        I guess you stopped using them quite a few years ago; the contrast isn't as good as an OLED, but it's good enough for some basic HDR now

        in a non light controlled lounge room? projected onto a wall..'basic' HRD?
        The dynamic range of projectors in this range is in no way close to what a 65" OLED or decent LCD screen can produce.

        projectors do big screens well, that is their purpose… they aren't going to compete ($ for $) if someone wants detail, colour accuracy or dynamic range. Its just not going to be comparable. Especially in a lounge room against a wall…

        Stop pretending like your $700 project is some miracle machine.

  • ShortyX on 14/04/2020 - 20:53
    +1

    OP - hope this helps.

    TV is a 65" Hisense 4K HDR LED and projector is a BenQ W1090 1080p DLP on a 120" screen. Projector screen size is great for movies & TV shows albeit colours are a little washed out.

    For gaming though, I use a 24" monitor.

    • techlead on 14/04/2020 - 22:09

      Thanks so much, that helps!

    • ESEMCE on 15/04/2020 - 10:29

      These are not good comparisons… Exposure needs to be locked to make any comparison. Even then it wont reflect actual in-person experience.

      EXIF data has been stripped from the photos by IMGUR but it's obvious that the Projector photo exposure is significantly boosted thereby washing out the blue/grey background completely.
      Unless your projector is faulty, there is no way it is actually presenting Blue as Grey per this photo.

      • ShortyX on 15/04/2020 - 11:49

        Good point. For my own curiousity, I'll try to take better comparison photos with a DSLR on locked settings.

  • Zxie8 on 14/04/2020 - 21:08
    +2

    Buy both, tv for normal use, projector for watching movie at night

    • ItsMeAgro on 15/04/2020 - 09:44

      Yep, if you have a cheapo $250 TV or laptop for watching when the quality doesn't matter, like kids TV, daytime watching, etc, you don't need a big-screen $2000 TV.

      You can spend $1600 and get the 4K projector for movie/game/premium TV-series watching in the evenings.

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