For the price range you are talking about you would be wise to lower your expectations a bit. Any projector with respectable performance will likely cost quite a bit more than you indicated.
When it comes to technology you often get what you pay for (provided the pool of choices are known name brands). Spend more, get better features and output quality (generally). Spend less and you get whatever comes at that price point.
You could opt to buy a high quality used projector it will do a better job but the downside is the lifespan of the lamp is already shortened through use by the existing owner.
Nothing will substitute for doing your own research and seeing he picture with your own eyes. Regardless of what anyone says about which one you should pick YOU are the one who has to live with it (for better or worse). In this situation it could be worth the price of a subscription to Consumer Reports if they happen to have researched the current crop of projectors.
Its also important to consider the cost of the replacement lamp as it relates to the overall expense in purchasing the projector. If you have a $1,000 projector and a lamp that costs $300-$400 it might be difficult to justify.
Last but not least if you want a mostly unbiased opinion you could talk to an AV installer. Not the kind that sells you stuff, more like the kind of guy who focuses making an income from installing equipment not selling it. These guys usually have an informed opinion without being as pushy and biased as the sales goons at the big box stores.
Good luck!
