Plasma or projector?

Hi, I am new to the forum and I would like to make myself a nice home theater set up. The question is: plasma or projector?
Budget: Under $5000
If I got a plasma it would have to be 58 to 60 inches.
I would like to have a very clear, bright picture even when there is some light in the room, can I get that with a projector?

What are your thoughts? Any specific models?
Thanks

[lcaillo]

You need light control to use a projector effectively. If you cannot control the light virtually completely, get the PDP. The real question is, what do you mean by "some light?"

lcaillo wrote:

You need light control to use a projector effectively. If you cannot control the light virtually completely, get the PDP. The real question is, what do you mean by "some light?"

Just maybe a lamp or something so it is not totally dark. I would not mind having no lights for movies, but I might have a light on when playing video games.(I forgot to mention that in the first post sorry)

Thanks for the quick reply

[lcaillo]

If you are willing to design very controlled lighting, you could easily use a projector. I would budget for quality lighting that you can control and for painting the room in dark, neutral colors, particularly the ceiling and the end with the projector. Even if it meant getting a less expensive projector. Do your self a favor and also budget a calibration by a professional. I would take something like a Mits 4900 with proper room design and calibrated over units several times the price in rooms with the wrong lighting and paint, uncalibrated. No contest.

lcaillo wrote:

If you are willing to design very controlled lighting, you could easily use a projector. I would budget for quality lighting that you can control and for painting the room in dark, neutral colors, particularly the ceiling and the end with the projector. Even if it meant getting a less expensive projector. Do your self a favor and also budget a calibration by a professional. I would take something like a Mits 4900 with proper room design and calibrated over units several times the price in rooms with the wrong lighting and paint, uncalibrated. No contest.

Alrighty, thank you. That sounds good to me

[jerome]

I would also recommend that you go for a projector if you have a room large enough to use it.

As Leonard correctly pointed out, light control is very important when using a screen with low gain. And this is also valid for plasma TVs.

Otherwise, you could take a look at screens with high gain, like the one XScreen manufactures (www.xscreen.com). I have no idea of how much they costs (probably nor cheap)but you will get a top-of-the-line picture, even with day light in your room...

[Mike P.]

Xscreen is expensive. A 80 inch screen is $2000 and a 100 inch screen is $2800.

[lcaillo]

High gain screens are always going to have hot spots. Stick with lower gain in general, or pay the $$ for more projector.

Mike P. wrote:

Xscreen is expensive. A 80 inch screen is $2000 and a 100 inch screen is $2800.

Wow, I didn't even realize screens cost that much, I guess I won't be getting a high gain

Thanks for the info!

[jerome]

Xscreen screens, like most high gain screens, are specials: you can actually use them without much light control in your room. Not so many people buy them, I think that's why they are so expensive.

Low gain (<1.2) screens are much cheaper. Many good brands and models to choose from. If you're going for a projector solution then I recommend that you buy a very good screen (white or light gray, according to your room, projector and preferences).
But these low-gain screens are probably 3 or 4 times cheaper than the high-gain ones.