TV Projector

Runningfast

Hi,

not being technology savvy I am looking for advice.

I would like to replace the tv in one of my rooms with a projector.  Can anyone point me towards projectors that are worth considering?

I want to be able to watch normal tv as well as the usual now tv, netflix, prime and blue ray dvd etc. 

Thanks

neilmcl

Budget, 4K or not, standard or short throw?

Sandtree

Why are you wanting a projector?

Many projectors have no sound capability and so do you already have a system to deal with input switching and sound or does your budget have to cover this too?

Bigphil1474

I bought an Optoma HD141X years ago. Still going strong. It does have a built in speaker but sound quality is fairly poor so use a sound bar. My projector will play any source with an HDMI cable.
Having said that, we mainly just use it for movie nights and big sports events. They aren't that quiet. Mine is unnoticeable once you get into the movie, but watching all TV on it wouldn't be so good IMO. I also have a projector screen on one wall which is retracted when not in use. The projector goes back in it's box when finished with. I did think of mounting it on the ceiling, but the OH put her foot down.
As mentioned above, you need to decide whether you want short throw. Mine is normally 4 metres from the screen and is about 180 inches picture. You can get short throw ones that will do a big picture, but they tend to cost more. 
Mine will do HD and 3d movies (better than cinema 3d in my opinion), but you should consider whether you want 4k as well. To watch a movie I need a source connected to the projector (normally blu ray player), the sound bar connected to blu ray player, and woofer is wirelessly connected to the sound bar, and a good sized projector screen (or a plane wall would do, but not as good).
You need to shop around to see what's in your budget and suits your needs. Makes like Optoma, BenQ, Sony, Epson are usually pretty good. You want to go to a specialist website really and see what's about (avmaster and the likes). I bought mine via Amazon warehouse, so cost about £100 less than new and only had a damaged box. Still cost around £400 with the screen. 
So, do you want quiet, HD, 3d, 4k, short or long throw, picture size, built in sound, wireless connectivity, android connection etc. etc. Richer sounds used to have a viewing room so you could see for your self - might be worth looking on their website when lockdown ends. It's a minefield tbh, and it took me 6 months to decide on what I wanted. I wouldn't ditch my TV though.

Sandtree

Projectors are no way near as bright as a TV and so most people use theirs only in a darkened room which is fine for movie night but may not be ideal if its a TV replacement. Some projectors are brighter, but often more expensive, and you can get Ambient Light Rejecting screens that help alot in light rooms but are very expensive for good ones plus the last time I checked there are no ALR screens for short throw projectors.

Just FYI a "short throw" projector sits just in front of the screen and almost throws the picture upwards, its relatively new tech, catching on fairly quickly but budget models can have horrible picture distortion/motion blurring etc. Normal or "long throw" are intended to be on the other side of the room and project onto the screen horizontally, can be seen as more invasive and creates the challenge of getting cabling to it, but means less image manipulation by the projector so one less thing for your budget to be spent on.