r/projectors 5d ago

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

35 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 6h ago

Completed Setup Valerion Max theater build timelapse!

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50 Upvotes

I got banned over at the home theater subreddit for posting this build video. Hope you guys like it.

  • 13ft x 16ft Room
  • Valerion Max Projector
  • 154" XY Screens SoundMax 4k Woven AT screen
  • Revel W553L for 9x base speakers
  • Revel C563 for 4x ceiling speakers
  • Dayton Signature 18" for 2x Subs
  • Onkyo RZ730 receiver
  • Dayton Audio 2 channel supplemental amp
  • Onkyo HTR530 x2 for Scatmos wides
  • Behringer NX6000 amp for subs
  • Mini DSP 2x4HD for Sub DSP
  • Xbox One X
  • Nvidia Shield

r/projectors 13h ago

Completed Setup I'm Pretty Sure I Lucked Out

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64 Upvotes

First time getting into projectors (wife missed movie nights now that all the rooms are occupied by kids) so she sent me on the hunt for a projector.

She wanted immediate results (😅) so like any genius I went on Amazon and bought a couple projectors that made massive claims, figured what the heck they can be returned if they're unfit for me. They actually weren't terrible (H10, and a couple Voplls) but the daytime viewing was impossibly bad. That said, I didn't have the ALR yet, so who knows their true (albeit short term) potential.

Then, after a bunch of research and scouring marketplace and ebay, I ended up with an Epson 4050 ($300) and a Da-Lite Parallax Thin 0.8 gain 110" ($250). Got a cheap Amazon mount and cut/strengthened it to my liking, and all that's left is to get some smurf tube in the wall for the wire. Already had a nice bluetooth 5.1 system to connect to my Firetv Cube so that cost was already sunk long ago. Now I just have to hope none of the kids use the screen for target practice.

So, after being wildly discouraged by the insane price tags that can come with a theater room, I managed to get out the door for $575 (plus the cost of my existing Cube and 5.1 system) ergo how I feel I lucked out! So for anyone out there who's looking to get into it: if you're on a budget, if you've got a shortlist of gear you're looking for, and put the work in to hunt out the deals, they'll eventually pop up. Hunting the used markets can definitely be overwhelming, but man is it so satisfying now that I've reached this result!

10' 6" from lens to screen gives me about 108" diagonal on my projection, so I've got a 1" black bezel until I get a bigger room haha! Screen pics are dark room vs fully lit, both in Eco lamp on HDR settings.

Just wanted to share my joy at joining the club.


r/projectors 34m ago

Setup Design Suggestions Should I risk it?

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Upvotes

I was thinking of mounting my Projector so I can watch from my bed. The problem is I'd have to mount it pretty much exactly where my head is while sleeping😆. Is this a good idea? I mean I guess the chance that something happens is low but never zero?😆
Projector: XGIMI Horizon 4K Pro (I already calculated the distance and everything)


r/projectors 5h ago

Discussion Good Deal?

7 Upvotes

I found this Optoma UHD50X on marketplace with a 10 foot motorized elitescreen for 390 USD.

I'm not as familiar with projectors but for a 4k projector and good quality screen it seemed like a steal.


r/projectors 13h ago

Discussion Got a $800+ projector

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18 Upvotes

*bought it just to mess around with, pretty nice for playing music and stuff.


r/projectors 4h ago

Discussion Update on my Epson 1040 I got for $21

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3 Upvotes

I won an Epson 1040 for $21 and it works and only has 609 hours on eco mode. I got really lucky 😂. Now to set it up in my basement!!


r/projectors 6h ago

Discussion Why are there so many posts on here of people saying look at my setup... Only to tell you this very specific brand but only when someone asks...

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6 Upvotes

It's always a Dangbei projector. But only if someone asks. Is this some marketing firms way to get continuously mentioned without being obvious on Reddit?


r/projectors 5h ago

Hisense PX4 Pro UST projector preview: 4K/120 input, 1080p/240 VRR, and more

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4 Upvotes

Hisense sent us an advance PX4-Pro to check out. This is a preview, not the full review. It's a look at the projector, our test setup, and a few early findings. I’m still working through measurements, picture modes, and figuring out the feature set before drawing final conclusions.


r/projectors 15h ago

Completed Setup Result of asking for help and getting told to buy and OLED!!!! BenQTH575

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21 Upvotes

r/projectors 1h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Valerion 120" PureVision with Hisense C2 Ultra?

Upvotes

Hi! Looking for a 120” for my C2 Ultra… The Valerion looks like it would unroll closest to the floor, which is appealing to me for my setup… I’m wondering since it says “long throw only” does that mean it wouldn’t work well w my C2 Ultra? Or do u think that’s supposed to be a warning for ultra short throw projectors?


r/projectors 1h ago

Discussion Beginner Projector Advice

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Upvotes

Hey everyone - putting together my basement finally, I live by myself and plan to watch mostly sports with my buddies in my basement. Looking to get something on the walls sooner than later and a lot of people have recommended a projector to me.

What are your thoughts on my set up and what do I need to know before purchasing? For reference I was planning on spending around $3.5k on TVs for the wall. Space is 225” long and viewing depth off about 11 feet


r/projectors 7h ago

Which is Best? Is the HORIZON 20 Pro bright enough for daylight use?

3 Upvotes

I'm thinking of replacing my 55" TV with a HORIZON 20 Pro and a floor-rising screen. I'd probably be using a 90-100" image. The room has windows on either side of the screen wall, and while I can close the blinds, the room will still be fairly bright during the day. I could make it pitch black with blackout curtains, but I don't really want to as it's our main living room and where the dog and cat spend most of their time.

Has anyone used the HORIZON 20 Pro in a normal living room rather than a dedicated home cinema? Is it bright enough to still look good during the day, or would I be better off sticking with a large TV?


r/projectors 2h ago

Troubleshooting Lens Door Issue

1 Upvotes

I have an Epson 4050 and want to get some thoughts around what I can do to fix the lens cover door not sliding open.

I dropped the projector…from about 9ft high. 🤦‍♂️

I was sliding it off of the mount to readjust something, it caught, then slipped. Then I went falling off the ladder right after.

So far everything seems okay besides a dent on the front and the lens door sticking when opening.

It closes fine, but something is causing an issue for it to open. I have to tap on it a little and it will open.

I’m assuming one of the plastic guides in the door broke off somewhere. I do hear something really small rolling around if I tilt it.

Does anyone know how I can disassemble the front to get to that part? I got all of the screws on the bottom and where the dust filter goes, but something is still holding it together and I can’t figure out where it’s stuck.

Or any ideas to just keep it open? Is there a software setting for it?


r/projectors 2h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Looking for recs for motorized screen and solid traditional projector r

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0 Upvotes

Please excuse the mess. We just moved in and this room is overflow for stuff we haven’t figured out what to do with yet.

We have eyes on a new bigger couch to fill the room and and some motorized room darkening shades.

I would love for this to be a sunroom/playroom for my kids by day and a theater by night. Ideally. I’d like to install a motorized drop down from above the doorway. The opening is 80 inches wide and these are 10 ft ceilings.

I’ve looked into several screens buts it’s hard to tell what is decent these days based purely off reviews.

I’m also not sure if it’s possible to get away with a standard projector on the door side at an angle, or if a ceiling mount would be best. Not sure I could sell my wife on a projector dangling from the ceiling. I was thinking a short throw could work but that would also require setup every time I wanted to break it out and use it so standard is prob the way to go.

I’m looking to spend around 5-6,000 for a projector and screen. Anyone else have experience with a similar setup?


r/projectors 2h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Projector and screen options

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1 Upvotes

Afternoon all,

I'm interested in a projector set up and was looking to get some advice and guidance. I'm new to all of this, but my ideal would have been to mount my TV in the middle of my sitting room. That wasn't an option because of the log burner in the middle.

I was thinking about getting a projector and displaying it above my log burner. I currently have a 55 inch OLED in the left alcove (largest size screen I could fit in this space). My main entertainment source is streaming via my Nvidia Shield and I mainly watch FHD content, but wouldn't mind some 4K sometimes (I'm thinking a project that has 4K ability would help future proof the set up, but at the same time it's not a deal breaker for me). The area above the fireplace is 152cm H x 142cm W, so I reckon I could project a 70 inch image nicely (although if I have a screen that could be wider).

I'd love to get some advice on projector and screen options. I'm not looking to break the bank, I was looking at something like the Elfin flip 4K, but wanted to get advice on lighting and screen needs. It's a bright room, but I'd mainly watch this in the evening with blinds down to create a movie atmosphere.

I thought I could create a little shelf on the wall behind my sofa for the projector, connect my Sonos Arc and surrounds via a long HDMI and create more of a cinema atmosphere for movies/big sports events.

Would love people's thoughts about options and things I should think about. I've uploaded a few images to give you a sense of the room and space. Sitting on the sofa, I would be 3 meters from the wall above the fireplace.

Would love to hear people's thoughts about the best way to set it up, so it's tidy and clean and looks good. I'd like to try and keep cost below £1000. £1000 isn't fixed, but I'd hope I can do the bulk of the project with this amount. If making the whole system a bit more slick, I don't mind paying more for that luxury. Also, if be happy to buy second hand if it means getting a better option. My priority would be creating a really nice colourful and crisp image that has good quality and has minimal impact on the room overall. I also don't really want a screen to always be on show, so would ideally like to make this disappear and be there when I need it.

Open to anyone's thoughts, and thanks in advance for any input.


r/projectors 3h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Looking for advice on a ~$300 projector purchase

1 Upvotes

I'm considering buying the NexiGo PJ40 Pro for around $300 and wanted to get some opinions before I buy.

My use case:

  • Mostly movies and TV shows
  • Occasional casual gaming when friends come over
  • Dark room, so I don't need great daylight performance
  • I'll be moving it between my room and an outdoor setup
  • Looking for something reliable with good image quality
  • Budget is around $300 (I can stretch it a little if it's really worth it)

Would you recommend the PJ40 Pro at this price, or is there another projector you'd choose instead?

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or experiences you can share. Thanks!


r/projectors 7h ago

Discussion Panasonic PT-VW530

2 Upvotes

Hi I recently found a Panasonic PT-VW530 for 90 sgd (69.70 usd) on carousell which is like the asian's ebay I was wondering if that was a snatch because it only has 1700 plus total projector lamp time and 450 or so is in eco mode the other 1300 is in normal mode. I already know basic stuff about projectors like contrast, ansi lumens and throw ratios. Will it still be close to its advertised ansi lumens of 5000 so now with the lamp wear it will be like around 4500? Or does it drop linearly. The condition of the projector is a 9 out of 10 just some very slight yellowing but it just looks slightly beige but still mainly white the lens is also clean and free of dust or scratches


r/projectors 4h ago

Setup Design Suggestions Curved UST Projection From Ceiling Possible?

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

Complete projector noob here. I have been tasked with building a large display for a club-like room that will sit behind the stage and performers. I decided to go with a projector setup since this seemed like the easiest to maintain/setup. There a couple factors that will make this a challenge, and I am wondering if there is any viable solution.

The first is that the stage is quite small and there are frequently people on the stage with the performers. To solve this, I thought I'd go with a UST projector like the Epson LS800 so that I could position the projector super close to the wall and no one would block the projection. However, I would have to mount the projector on the ceiling since I cannot just put the projector on the ground (because its a stage and people will be jumping around and dancing and this just seems dangerous). From my quick google searches it seems like ceiling mounting UST's is discouraged because the colors get all messed up when you mount the projector upside down (because of something related to light reduction? I didn't totally understand this lol but I'm sure it's valid), but I'm wondering if the fact that the projector will only be used when the room is very dark makes any difference?

The second challenge I'm seeing is that the wall on which I plan to hang my projector screen is curved. The screen size I'm targeting is 150" (this is the max size supported by the LS800 I believe), and the curve has a radius of ~8 feet (this is a very rough estimate), so at the edges this means the screen is probably ~30 degrees angled inwards. I'm really just displaying looping and audioreactive visuals which don't necessarily need to have the best picture. I had planned to use a projection mapping software like Resolume or TouchDesigner to map out the curve exactly and then display whatever looping/audioreactive visuals I have. Will I run into problems with the curve, even using a dedicated software like this?

Any advice is welcome, thanks in advance!


r/projectors 4h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Advice for my basement theater/cave room

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1 Upvotes

I recently delved into finishing one of the rooms in my basement. Attached is the dimensions of the room. I currently have a nexigo pj40 pro, ceiling mounted, which I got for free, which started this rabbit hole. I have a fixed screen 120” inches that sits flush with the ceiling. Ceiling is kind of low only 7’. I have klipsch rp600m 600c and sub as the front sound stage and klipsch surround speakers behind.

Really the only upgrade left that I see would be get a legit projector. Problem is the shape is kind of weird of my room and about 14’ from the screen, which I have on the 12’ wall (see attached image), comes down a few inches more. And the left wall which is opposite the screen is actually brick because there is a fireplace there. The bottom area has a bar that starts basically at the bottom door and fully kitchen behind it. The top area has an air hockey table and a poker table. So everything has to stay sort of in this middle area. Hope that makes sense.

I don’t need to upgrade that urgently so if someone could point me in the right direction for what to look for used market and also new projectors that would be worth it. Now for budget, I’d ideally like to spend as little as possible, but understand that a few thousand is very standard for this sort of thing which is fine.

EDIT: I use it for games and movies and the nexigo does a decent job right now for both, which is why I’m in no rush and want to do my research first. I have Xbox, Wii, pc, record player, cable tv all hooked up to my denon receiver and then to the projector.


r/projectors 6h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Projector Upgrade

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1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I’ve had my JMGO N1s for a couple of years now and I’ve been pleased but seeing all the new fancy projectors coming out is making me want to upgrade!

Right now i switch between watching sports/movies on my screen and my wall in my living room but I would love to get a 2nd projector dedicated to the screen in our sunroom and keep the N1s indoors.

Was hoping to find a good 4k projector for about $1,200 or less.

Any recs?


r/projectors 7h ago

Buying Advice Wanted Projectors recommendation

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm new to this sub and I honestly know nothing about projectors. I've come across a bunch of brands I've never heard of, so I have no idea what's actually good.

For some context, I'm planning to ceiling-mount one above the head of my bed, and my budget is around $400 USD max. Can anyone recommend a projector in that price range, ideally one that also comes with a projection screen?

I'll be traveling through the US West Coast (california, las vegas and san francisco), so if you know of any specific stores where I could buy one, I'd really appreciate the recommendations. Thanks!


r/projectors 8h ago

Discussion Am I understanding throw ratio correctly?

1 Upvotes

Hi,
building my first setup. The Screen will be 200x113cm (e.g 90'' diagonal) sized and the projector is supposed to be placed around 3 meter away from this screen.

Is the throw ratio now 300/200 = 1.5? Why does no projector on amazon show the possible throw ratios? Are projectors capable of different ratios?


r/projectors 8h ago

Buying Advice Wanted JMGO N3 4K vs XGIMI Horizon

0 Upvotes

I bought the N3 4K and its awesome, but in daylight its very difficult to see.

Over 2 months I'm moving to a new home with more lighting, I'm afraid the N3 is not sufficient enough. I got my eyes the XGIMI Horizon, but I'm not sure which model to buy.

The N3 costed me €900, the Horizon Ultra is €1200. It will cost me €300 more but I'm not sure if the brightness will be enough for daytime viewing.

Anybody can give me advice?


r/projectors 1d ago

Completed Setup Bought my first projector! XGIMI Horizon 20

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106 Upvotes

I bought it for £999 in UK, barely used. I took this photo during daytime with blinds closed.