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Should I Get a Projector or 85" TV for My Man Cave?

Al Griffin  |  Aug 4, 2016

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Q I am looking to replace the 65-inch Panasonic plasma TV in my man cave/theater room with a larger, high dynamic range-compatible Ultra HD model that would be used for watching sports and movies. I was considering a Samsung 85-inch LCD, but am also looking into a projector like the JVC DLA-X550R, a Sound & Vision top pick. When all is said and done, I believe that the cost would be the same: roughly $8-10,000. My room is 30 feet long by 20 feet wide, so I have plenty of wall space for the new screen. What display should I buy? —Chris Amaral

A Since your room is a man cave, I’d say get a projector. To me, man cave implies an utter absence of aesthetic or lifestyle considerations that might interfere with the quest to get the biggest, best picture possible. It also means stuff like dartboards and mirrors embossed with the Jack Daniel’s logo, but that’s not our concern here.

There’s only one 85-inch LCD model I know of that meets your specifications: Sony’s XBR-85X850D, which costs $8,000. The 85X850D can deliver a bright enough image for watching sports with the lights on — important so you don’t trip over barstools on your way to the kegerator. It’s also high dynamic range-compatible (HDR10 only) and features Sony’s Triluminos tech, which will let you enjoy the extended contrast and color available on Ultra HD Blu-rays and select programs from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and Vudu.

In this case, the downside to Sony’s $8,000 LCD is...it’s only 85 inches. You can get a bigger image for much less money. For example, the JVC DLA-X550R you mention is both Ultra HD and HDR-compatible and puts out an impressively bright image for its $3,999 price. That bill will increase when you add a projection screen and ceiling mount, but it doesn’t have to be by much.

A brand-name 110-inch diagonal screen can cost in the $3,000 range for an ambient light-rejecting model and $1600 range for a standard model designed for dark room viewing , but there are other options. Companies like Visual Apex , for example, sell 110-inch fixed-frame screens for as low as $250 that provide satisfactory video performance. Add in another $100 for a projector mount, and you’ll have saved plenty of cash — enough maybe to buy a vintage pinball machine.

COMMENTS
jnemesh's picture
Submitted by jnemesh on August 4, 2016 - 8:39am

Remember, you DATE your projector, you MARRY your screen! You might replace your projector in 5 or 7 years, but your investment in a good screen will last you 15-20 years or MORE!

If you are going to be watching sports a lot or having other activities going on in your man cave while the screen is in use, you should go with the ambient light rejecting screen! You DO NOT want to have a washed out picture if you are watching a ball game with the lights on! I recommend the "Black Diamond" or "Slate" screens from Screen Innovations. We have a Black Diamond in our showroom and I have a Slate screen at home...both are EXCELLENT at rejecting ambient light, and even in a room with a SKYLIGHT, I am able to use my projector in the middle of the day! WELL worth the money!

Tangential's picture
Submitted by Tangential on August 4, 2016 - 1:19pm

http://www.soundandvision.com/content/should-i-trade-my-projection-setup...

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Warrior24_7's picture
Submitted by Warrior24_7 on August 5, 2016 - 2:19pm

"Since your room is a man cave, I’d say get a projector. To me, man cave implies an utter absence of aesthetic or lifestyle considerations that might interfere with the quest to get the biggest, best picture possible. It also means stuff like dartboards and mirrors embossed with the Jack Daniel’s logo, but that’s not our concern here."

The guy was the wrong person to ask.

cinemasavvy's picture
Submitted by cinemasavvy on August 11, 2016 - 5:01am

What floats your boat the most? If its sports and video gaming, the TV will give match up with bright lights and also give you better off-axis viewing, depending on the room layout. If you've got a bar in the back of the room you can go multiple monitors too. However, if you are mostly a move buff, nothing beats a projector and the right type of LCR speakers mounted behind the right type of screen - where they should be. These are two very different uses. You have to pick one wow factor and decide from there.

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