PowerLite Pro Cinema 6030UB

There was a reason I qualified my statement. 1080p DLP projectors using the .65" 1080p chip, have better black levels than any Epson below the 3200/3800 series. The 6030 was a $3,000 projector when new. It was not one of the 'cheap' Epson models. It also has very good contrast as is typical for the 5000/6000 series models from Epson. Better than the .65" 1080p DLP projectors which were on the market. In fact, I have been very critical of DLP for not improving contrast on their models since that 1080p chip was released. It was one of their best products ever delivered. But, while DLP was sitting still, Epson did major improvements on their higher end models and they looked a fair bit better than the DLP competition of the time.

my 6030ub gets pretty black...and thats coming from a person who owned a optoma

Look for used ones. It may take a while to get a good deal but I ended up getting an Epson 6030 with only 11 hours on the entire unit, not just the bulb for $200.

I bought the $60 dollar one and it was reasonable for watching low stakes entertainment. It crapped out 3 days into it. I bought a used $200 Epson 1080p 3D capable one and haven’t regretted it. (dont remember the model)

The PT-AE4000 was a *great* projector in its day, and that’s why it still impresses people — especially in a dark room. For $60–$200, I’d say it’s a solid deal **if** the lamp hours are low or recently replaced. At the higher end ($300–$400), I’d personally start looking at slightly newer Epson UB models instead. Just keep in mind it’s a \~15-year-old projector: brightness is modest by today’s standards, parts are aging, and replacement lamps can cost as much as the projector itself. Totally fine for movies in a light-controlled room, less ideal if there’s ambient light. As for wall vs screen — a white wall *works*, but even a cheap fixed-frame or pull-down screen will noticeably improve contrast and uniformity. You don’t need ALR at this budget, just a basic matte white screen will be a big step up. If you’re open to alternatives, used Epson 6500UB/8500UB/8700UB or later Panasonic AE models are worth a look. New cheap projectors may be brighter on paper, but image quality usually isn’t comparable.