When buying a front end projector, is it best to buy the projector first and then a screen? even it's free?

Question

I have been shopping around for dlp front end projectors to use in my apartment. There are some models that come with an 80" free screen and mount which is all I would really need for now as I live in an apartment.


But, I am thinking that I should by the projector first and try it our on my wall. then either buy a screen or build one.

The throw distances seem to vary alot by model and I think that will play a part in which screen size to get.

I would hate to buy a projector because I get a free screen and mount via mail in rebate (plus shipping of $50) only to find out I really don't need one or want a bigger one instead.

(I have an off-white wall that is very smooth and may do just fine as a screen, but I won't know til I test it)

Answer 1

In theory yes, it would be better to get the pj and throw it up on the wall to determine exactly what screen size works for you and your room. However, it seems silly to turn down a "free" screen if they are willing to throw that in.

However, be careful, a lot of times they just mark the pj up and make it seem like you're getting a free screen or not, especially if you're buying it from a pj manufacturer like Epson, Infocus, etc direct from there.

There are a gazillion pj deals out there so I'd check around on the net first and get a good idea of the different pj's around and pricing. www.tigerdirect.com usually has a lot of good deals on pj's especially if you can wait a few weeks for a $$$ rebate.

You can also use this calculator for your specific pj to determine if it will work for you. What pj are you looking at?

http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm

weeder

Answer 2

Hi.The first requirement to consider is what would be better -a projector with a short throw lens or one with a long throw lens.This will determine how close to the screen the projector will be ,and if it matters to you or not The projector manual will tell you the minimum and maximum screen size you can have.This will be determined by the length of the room and the width of the wall where you locate the screen.My home theater room is 26 feet long x 15 feet wide. so i was able to calculate the size of the screen i would use . The screen size i chose was a 16 : 9 widescreen 10 foot diagonal screen which was 9 feet wide x 5 feet high .This allowed me to put my 2 front speakers 3 feet from each side wall next to the edge of the screen. If you put the speakers right next to the side walls they will not sound right because you will get too many reflections from the walls.Hope this helps . I f you want to know any more just send me an email.