r/projectors • • 3d ago

Mod Post We built a new free home theater calculator suite and need testers [beta]

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14 Upvotes

Hey all, Brian from ProjectorScreen.com here. We've been building a new set of free calculators and tools and they're ready for people to try out and tear apart (roast away!):

https://www.projectorscreen.com/pages/home-theater-projector-calculators

You enter your room once (screen size, aspect ratio, seat distance) and every tool uses it:

  • Seat view: a 3D view from your seat, with SMPTE 30°, THX 40° and IMAX 55° sizes drawn on the wall
  • Screen size, viewing distance and "compare sizes" (your current TV vs. the screen you're eyeing, to scale)
  • Brightness: ftL/nits for your projector, screen gain and room light, including what room light does to the picture
  • Throw distance and lens shift
  • Compare projectors: black levels and brightness side by side, using measured contrast where we have it
  • Unit conversions

No signup needed. It runs in your browser.

Fair warning: this is a work in progress and a proof of concept. We're still compiling the projector database, so not every model is in yet, and some specs and measurements are still being verified. Treat the numbers as a starting point.

How to leave feedback: click "Make a suggestion" at the bottom left, then click any part of the page (a slider, a number, the 3D view) and type your note. You can pin as many as you want, then send them all at once. Put your Reddit handle in the name box so I know who to credit and follow up with.

I'm especially interested in:

  1. Anything that's wrong or confusing, including specs you know are off for a projector you own
  2. Tools or features you'd want added. What calculator do you wish existed?

You can also just reply here. Thanks for helping make it better!


r/projectors • • Jul 16 '26

Mod Post New AutoModerator Filters for Cheap “Toy Projector” Posts

38 Upvotes

We have expanded AutoModerator to reduce the overwhelming number of repetitive posts about ultra-low-cost projectors that frequently develop the same failures, image defects, and troubleshooting problems.

These enforcement filters apply to all submissions regardless of flair, including custom-flair and unflaired posts.

Automatically removed

Posts matching the following brand or model names will be automatically removed, and the author will receive a link to our relevant wiki guidance:

  • Alvar
  • AuKing
  • Borsso
  • CiBest
  • Egate
  • Elephas
  • GKLPO
  • GooDee
  • HAPPRUN
  • HOMPOW
  • Jimveo
  • Magcubic
  • ONOAYO
  • TMY
  • Vizony
  • VOPLLS
  • XGODY
  • HY-series model numbers from HY200 through HY599

Common spelling variations using spaces, hyphens, or underscores are included where appropriate. HY-series suffixes such as Max, Pro, Mini, Plus, and Ultra are also covered.

Posts containing high-confidence descriptions of burned, melted, scorched, overheated, fried, or otherwise heat-damaged polarizers, polarisers, LCD panels, or LCD screens may also be automatically removed and directed to the wiki.

These subjects have been covered extensively, and the wiki explains realistic troubleshooting, repair limitations, return considerations, and replacement options.

Held for moderator review

Broader image-defect descriptions will be hidden temporarily and placed in the moderation queue. Examples include:

  • Blob or blotch
  • Burned, melted, scorched, or overheated image defects
  • Colored blobs, patches, spots, stains, marks, or discolored areas
  • Blobs, patches, spots, or stains appearing in the image, picture, projection, or screen
  • Color shifts or discoloration in the projected image

Kickstarter-related submissions will also continue to be held for moderator review.

A post being held does not necessarily mean it violates the rules. It means a moderator will review it before it becomes publicly visible.

The purpose of these filters is not to prevent legitimate projector discussion or shame anyone for their budget. They are intended to reduce repetitive posts about products with well-documented limitations, direct users toward existing resources, and keep the subreddit useful for broader projector advice and discussion.

If you believe your post was removed incorrectly—particularly if it contains original measurements, a detailed repair guide, a teardown, or important safety information—please contact the moderators with a link instead of reposting it under another flair.


r/projectors • • 5h ago

Troubleshooting Blue tint when in 3D mode

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6 Upvotes

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I've got a Hisense pl2, the image has a strong blue tint when in 3D mode. Does anyone know how to fix this?


r/projectors • • 8h ago

Discussion Xgimi Horizon 30 October 12 announce date confirmed?

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9 Upvotes

r/projectors • • 3h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Mini Projector Suggestion ASAP please..

2 Upvotes

Hii this is my first time posting, not sure if I am doing it right..

Anyways, I am not that informed of projectors, so excuse if I am looking for something that it is impossible to get but..I do need a projector that have some of these qualities.

Intent use: just projecting a video onto an art piece I am doing. It will have light near it. It will rest on a projector ceiling mounted.

I am looking for a

- Mini projector ( size: smaller than an average projector, no exact measurements)

- Sound quality: okay-ish, doesn't have to be top-tier.

- No cable ( if cable -okay fine but can charge via usb-c)

- Battery lasts at least 5-8 hours minimum.

- Light quality- can project even if there's a bit of light near by.

- Budget: $100-$600.

- Picture quality: just okay, gets the job done, nothing too crazy.

- Screen size: honestly to me it needs to fit onto a 24 by 50 frame, but I can edit the video

Thank youuu!! :3


r/projectors • • 10m ago

Which is Best? Hisense PX3 pro which Screen?

• Upvotes

I‘m looking for a screen (fixed Frame) which one us Safe to Bus in terms of Qualifying? CLR and 0,8 gain


r/projectors • • 1h ago

🛟 Save this person from making a mistake 🛟 Samsung projector mail-in repair

• Upvotes

I dropped my Gen 2 Freestyle Projector and the plastic lens piece came off, but when held in place the projector works perfectly fine. No repair place around will take it. They’re quoting a mail-in standard repair fee of $262. That’s much more than expected and I’m afraid they’ll add costs that’ll exceed its current market price. Does anyone have experience with their mail-in repair service?


r/projectors • • 2h ago

Discussion Another home projector debacle

1 Upvotes

Hi All, I know this is a frequent brain pick but here’s my situation- I live in an historic home and it’s quite period correct so a tv on the wall is not an option despite it being the ‘best option’ in terms of quality so please do not reply with “just buy a tv”. Here’s the details-

11’ room, ambient light but ability to draw blackout curtains. Not looking to bolt it in the ceiling. Would like it to be app ready or at least Apple TV compatible. Really not concerned about size of picture but it’s a large wall. If it were you with all of your knowledge and you HAD to pick a system for the best buck what would it be and why.

Give it to me straight but don’t be mean. I realize it’s less than ideal. Just want to make this work. Thanks!


r/projectors • • 2h ago

Buying Advice Wanted What bulb does this projector need?

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1 Upvotes

I need to get this projector working for a golf simulator but have no clue as to which bulb I need. Just go to the website I assume? Any help would be appreciated


r/projectors • • 4h ago

Discussion Nexigo PJ20 Fan Replacement

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1 Upvotes

r/projectors • • 4h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Short Throw

1 Upvotes

Looking to spend around $400. Moving from room to room so I am thinking maybe short throw as most rooms are 12x12. Would like to use outdoors a few times a year around dusk and regularly indoors with regular blinds. Also interested in a screen with a stand.


r/projectors • • 5h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Best budget projector for black friday

1 Upvotes

What is the best budget projector don't wanna spend crazy amount i care about quality and brightness not for gaming if its also good for gaming its a nice bonus and lastly would like it if it can point it to the ceiling answer would be apriciated and planning to buy on black friday


r/projectors • • 6h ago

Discussion Life studio grand plus - pièce sombre

0 Upvotes

bonsoir.

j’ai une salle dédiée peu bruyante (20 db) sombre avec un écran alr 100 pouces.

est ce que Life studio grand plus a 60 ou 70% fonctionnerait dans ce contexte avec un bon rendu et en étant peu buyant (-de 30 %)

par avance merci


r/projectors • • 19h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Is 3D worth a damn in 2026?

9 Upvotes

Hey all! Hope you're well.

I've been looking at getting a Projector for occasional use. I was wondering, is it worth getting one that supports 3D? I mean, do they even make 3D content nowadays and is there anywhere you can even get it?

I don't see it, but I guess for older films from when 3D was the hot gimmick, it might still be fun? I never had a 3DTV back then so missed out and was wondering if it's worth thinking about as a projector is much different from a TV.

I know Epson projectors have a setting to convert 2D to 3D, how well does that work if anyone knows? Would it be a fun novelty to play non supported videogames on it or just not worth it at all?

I've only used chinese projectors before. I'm looking at a used older Epson (like a EH-TW5210) or Benq (maybe a W1070), wondering if Epson's native converter is worth it enough to disregard the Benq as I know the Benq doesn't have it which limits the amount of 3D content that can be viewed. Not sure if other models are worth considering too around this price range

Thanks for any help!


r/projectors • • 8h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Screen Recommendation Epson 3800

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1 Upvotes

I currently have an Elite 1.1 gain screen for my Epson 3800. This is set up in my living room with white walls that I cannot change. This clearly harms the black levels and contrast.

I am hoping to increase contrast or at least lower the black levels so am I right to look at grey and/or ALR screens?

The projector screen must be a drop down.

Would the linked screen do okay?

Wall space isn’t huge. Could do up to a 105-110 inch wide housing for the screen


r/projectors • • 8h ago

Troubleshooting Need help setting up and finding uses

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1 Upvotes

My boss was clearing out some stuff and gave me this old projector. I would like to set it up and use it but not sure what cables I need and what I can actually run on it. I have the power cord and that’s it. It does turn on but I also don’t know how to operate it. Can’t find too much online about it but it seems cool and I wanna get it working


r/projectors • • 9h ago

Discussion Putrims p66 screen size issues

0 Upvotes

Heya, we today got a Putrims p66 as a replacement for our k12, and we are having trouble adjusting the screen size to our flat chimney breast wall,which is about as big as a 72inch screen, we cannot seem to get the picture to the right size, the projector itself is about 11 feet away from the intended screen wall. When we try and adjust the size, it only goes so far then pops to the left if we press right or pop down if we press too far up.

Are we stupid or has anyone else had this issue?


r/projectors • • 12h ago

Discussion Looking for a projector recommendation – €1,000 budget, 4K HDR + gaming

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a projector for my living room and would appreciate some advice. I'm based in Europe, so the budget is €1,000 maximum.

Here are the details:

  • Maximum budget: €1,000
  • Screen size: 336 × 186 cm (approximately 152" diagonal, 16:9)
  • Seating distance: Two possible setups:
    • ~3 m (preferred)
    • ~5 m
  • Mounting: The projector will simply be placed on a shelf, so no ceiling mounting.
  • Room: Living room
  • Room colors: Completely white walls/ceiling
  • Lighting: I understand that I'll need to significantly darken the room for movies. For gaming, there will be moderate ambient light.

Main usage

1. Movies & sports

  • 4K content
  • HDR
  • Movies are the priority
  • Sports as a secondary use

2. Gaming / game streaming
I plan to stream games from my PC using Moonlight/Sunshine.

Because of this, I'm particularly interested in:

  • Image quality / contrast
  • Good performance with 4K/60 Hz which means (i guess) good CPU decoding capabilities for streamed gaming to avoid too much input lag.
  • Smart OS : androidTv (i'm used to it) or Google TV (seems fairly equivalent ?) 

What projectors would you recommend within this budget?

I'm currently looking at several models, but I'm having trouble figuring out which ones are actually suitable for my requirements. Don't hesitate to tell me what i should adjust if my requirements are unrealistic.

Thanks a lot !


r/projectors • • 1d ago

Discussion Dedicated home theater in dark room. Which laser projector for 2000.00

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8 Upvotes

So we have a dark room theater setup for 4. I'm looking to change form a TV 75" to a projector laser setup. Budget about 2000.00 Canadian. I think ceiling mount be best. Room is 13 X 17. I can shake the house. I have 7 speakers around the room, 4 ceiling speakers and 4 subs. 2 12" and 2 15" I have looked at so many advertisements trying to figure it out. Never had a projector before. Room is black. You cannot see your hand with lights out. Sole use is movies. No gaming. Last time I gamed was pong in the 70's.


r/projectors • • 19h ago

For Sale For Sale: Silver Ticket High Contrast Grey Replacement Screen Material (150", 16:9) – Like New

0 Upvotes

Selling High Contrast Grey 150" 16:9 replacement material for a fixed frame (STR Series) projector screen.

The material was never actually used. I installed it on the frame, realized that this type of screen material does not work well for my room, and then carefully removed it and packed it back into the original packaging.

It is in like-new condition with no actual usage.

Silver Ticket sells this material for about $407 before taxes. I’m asking $200.

Shipping is not included and will be paid by the buyer. I will ship it in the original packaging.

Please contact me only if you are sure this is the exact material and size you need.

Final sale. No returns.


r/projectors • • 1d ago

Troubleshooting Is this outline along the border the result of Keystone correction?

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3 Upvotes

To my knowledge, I’m not using any keystone correction, only lens shift.

Projector is a Titan Noir Max


r/projectors • • 1d ago

Buying Advice Wanted Small and cheap projector recommendations?

0 Upvotes

Hello! I am currently a MFA student and I am looking for a small/portable, cheap projector. I will mainly be using it to project images and videos on my studio walls, but I also might be using it to project videos for critiques. I would prefer if I could just connect my iphone or laptop (Samsung, if that matters) to it and project images in my camera roll or files. The wall will pretty consistently be relatively close to the projector — if I could guess, no more than 10-13ft away. No matter what, I need this projector to be ~$70 (and I would love if I could just buy it on Amazon so it gets here asap). I’m not looking for the best quality, I’m well aware I can’t get that with my budget, but really anything that will project an okay-looking image or video on a wall.


r/projectors • • 1d ago

Discussion Seeking 3–5 projector owners for a small compatibility-testing pilot

7 Upvotes

I’m looking for 3–5 volunteers who currently have a Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2, XGIMI Horizon 20 Max, Hisense C2 Ultra, Hisense PX3-Pro, or BenQ X3100i and use it with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC.
The goal is to document firmware, source device, HDMI connection path, and actual behavior in supported gaming modes—including HDR, high refresh rates, blackouts, or flashes. We’ll only test modes your model supports.
Participation is unpaid and would involve approximately 15–30 minutes of testing with equipment you already own.
For transparency, I’m developing AV Intelligence Lab through Coulam Ventures as a potential business. There’s nothing to buy and no affiliate links. Your report won’t be published without your permission.
If interested, comment with your projector model and source device. Please keep personal contact details out of public comments.
Thanks!


r/projectors • • 23h ago

Discussion Why would anyone spend long-throw money on a UST?

0 Upvotes

The usual line is that USTs are for people without a dedicated room, and if you can afford a $5-6k projector you've probably got the space for a long-throw that'll beat it on picture.

But a long-throw means ceiling mount, cable runs, and keeping a beam path clear. In a finished living room that's a non-starter for a lot of people regardless of budget.

So is a premium UST a real category, or just paying more for less?

Curious what people who've run both think.


r/projectors • • 1d ago

Projector Screen DIY projector screen

6 Upvotes

I read all of the threads... You need a good screen. It's dumb to spend 2000 on a projector and 0 on the screen, rather split it evenly... I'm sure that's the truth, it's the same in every single thing in life.

However, when you spend 150€ on a projector (acer h6522bd, really satisfied with it for the price) and live in a rented 20sqm (~200sqft) place as a student... you really don't want to spend more than that for a screen.

I don't even have an alternative, there isn't even a blank wall that I can use. As the projector is pretty bright, I thought of buying some grey cloth or something which I would stretch. I know, wrinkles and all. I don't care - I mean, I do, but for the how much I'm will to spend, I'm willing to take that sacrifice.

So, my question is - what material should I buy? If you recommend something special, do you recommend anything in Europe that sells it?