Projector

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Get a projector. Bigger is better if you have the space for it. If you are able to darken the room sufficiently, the projector will best a television every time. Sure, the television with its smaller screen may be sharper, but the huge image of the projection screen more than compensates. A 40 inch flat screen monitor is probably sharper than your local cineplex.....but the cineplex with its huge screen wins every time because of its sheer size. Bigger is better and you'll never go small again. Remember, the whole idea of home theater is to emulate a comercial theater if you have the room to do it...
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DB,.........he is well in the range of a projector that will throw an image that big. I have a projector that I paid only $1,200 new and it throws a beautiful high definition picture. It throws a 240 inch diagonal picture in 4:3 aspect ratio for television and a 220 inch diagonal picture in Blu Ray. It is very bright at 3,000 lumens. But, the room has to be theater dark.

I have 73 inch Mitsubishi 1080p television. It has a beautiful picture. Still, it is no contest with my projector and screen for sheer movie enjoyment. When Shaq comes to LA at the Staples Center to play the Lakers, he's only 7 ft tall in person if I'm lucky enough to be sitting courtside. At home on my screen, Shaq is 12 feet tall in high definition and I'm courtside for every game at home. You won't get that effect on a 73 inch screen television.

If OP does his homework, he can get there.

I believe ProjectorPeople allow you to return the projector if you don't like it. Projector Central has the specs for every projector and screen known to man.

If OP does his homework, he can get there.

Big is where its at. Why do you think televisions sets have gotten bigger over the last 25 years? I remember when a 25 inch set was all the rage.....then, 32 inches, then 40 inches. The televisisons got bigger because people want it bigger.

Go big young man.
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.....thank you Unsound, that link was very informative...now I can move my chair a foot closer to the screen.
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DB, He can get a very good projector that will show a great picture on a 150 inch screen for his $2,000 budget. And no, the picture will not be washed out or lacking in detail. Those projectors are out there, he just has to do his homework. Before I did my own home theater I thought that I had to spend megabucks for a good projector. After a lot of homework, legwork, trial and error I finally got there. You have to see the projector itself.....the prices and specs don't tell the whole story.
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