Using an Epson BrightLink for a basement theater setup?

[mamamaglione]

My neighbor has been clearing out some old classroom gear and offered me an Epson BrightLink 595Wi for cheap. I know these are meant for schools, but the short throw and resolution seem like they could work for my basement theater project. The only thing is, I can't find many people using them for movies or gaming. Can anyone guide me?

 

[greenbellpepper-3]

Funny enough, I picked up a BrightLink 595Wi from a school auction last year for my garage movie setup. I don't think It's built for home theater though. Colors are decent, and it handles 1080p pretty well. Just don't expect deep blacks or killer contrast. For casual movie nights, it's a budget win for me.

 

[Respawningthroughlife]

It's cheap so you shouldn't expect the world's best experience. You also might want to consider a proper audio setup for a better experience. It probably wouldn't be my first choice, but it's a pretty decent one.

 

[ProjectorGuy77]

You might want to check the fan noise too. Classroom projectors often run loud since noise isn't as much of a concern there. In a basement theater, that could be distracting during quieter scenes.

 

[cinephileX]

You might want to give it a shot if it's affordable. The short throw feature is great for basements, but keep in mind that the color and contrast are more geared towards classrooms than movie watching. There could be some input lag for gaming too. If you tweak the lamp mode and color settings, it might perform quite well

 

[AirSpncr]

Just stick it near the wall or screen, forget ceiling mounts or long cords. HDMI (and MHL) keeps your video input clean from streamers or consoles. Only mess with the touch controls if you're feeling creative.

 

[redh0r$3]

They are right! Just make sure to check if all the parts are still there. The only downside is that it does not support 3D and you might see a minor drop in quality when playing movies at higher resolutions.

 

[Hambletons]

That's a cool find! I actually helped my sister set up a basement movie space with a repurposed Epson 595Wi. It worked surprisingly well once we disabled the interactive features and tweaked the color settings. The short throw is perfect for tight rooms, but you might want external speakers.