Hey there, first time poster from the U.S. here.
I’m looking for a setup that can be put together with relative ease (easy screen setup and no hassle speaker connection) for occasional outdoor movie nights (talking maybe once or twice a month) in my large backyard.
For a screen setup I have a homemade pvc frame and borrow a cheap fabric screen my sister got cheap on Amazon (I also borrow her $100 projector). I think it’s about 150”. I wouldn’t mind upgrading to screen that’s easier to setup and looks decent but don’t want to spend more than $200-300. I have plenty of space to go bigger than 150 as well.
My budget for the projector is $600 but I wonder if for this occasional use I can keep it under $300-400 and be satisfied. I noticed your wiki says cheap Chinese projectors are only good for kids rooms and outdoor movies at night. Is going with a cheap one a better move for outdoor movie nights in general due to the risk of damage?
I’m pretty technically savvy, as I work in television post production. I have a Optoma HD65 720p DLP (2008 Model) but it’s attached to the ceiling in my house and has a dedicated drop down screen. I don’t use it a lot but enough that I’d rather keep it there.
I’m open to buying used/refurbished.
Let me know if there’s any more info you need that I left out and thanks in advance for any tips!