Choosing A Home Theater Projector: Key Features

I will tell you about all the advantages and disadvantages of cinema projector and show you what to look for when buying.

Image Quality

The image quality is the most important parameter of the projectors. You don’t think of the other shortcomings of the projector when you see on the screen a clear picture with correct color balance. This general concept combines the following characteristics of the projector, such as:

• technology of construction of the projection
• resolution
• Lens Features
• light intensity.

Standard solutions

Rather difficult to find a projector that would be demonstrated in economy mode high contrast between the lightest and darkest areas. Most models of the brightness of the regime is not enough to watch a movie in the daylight, but the windows have black out anyway. If you want smooth playback of dynamic scenes, then pay attention to the vertical frequency – if the 120 Hz you will achieve the best results. The most affordable home theater projectors are based on DLP technology, which is accompanied by a parasitic “rainbow effect”. As a rule, cheaper models cinema projector show the most pronounced manifestation of this effect. The image quality doesn’t develop only permission. It can make a difference and 1920 × 1080 pixels, and the best picture will have a model with a resolution of 1280 × 720. Yes, the difference between HD Ready (720p) and Full HD (1080p) can be critical when comparing TVs and images that convey the projector, the audience is perceived differently, so the difference in resolution is barely noticeable. It is worth noting that the current Full HD projectors have recently become available and demonstrate excellent picture even in an unobscured room.

Projector Screens

Gathered to organize a home theater projector on the basis know that the video being played need somewhere to project. Of course you can send the projector and the wall, but first it must be a specialized paint matte white paint. The most correct option purchase of the screen to the projector with a special coating, thus you get the best picture quality.

Types of screens Projector

• Matt white, with the value of the gain of reflection – 1, marking MW (Matte White).The material is made of fiberglass surface finish – vinyl. Such screens for projectors do not affect such factors as the brightness of the image. This type has a “brother” M1300, which is made entirely of vinyl with a gain of 1.3 reflection that enables us to understand more about the brightness of the reflection of the screen.
• For more enhance the brightness screens are used with a gain of reflection 2-2.5 (type Datalux, Pearlscent, HighPower, Glass Beaded). These screens are returned to 2 times as much light as they contain in their composition small reflective elements. This type of screens should be used together with projections whose brightness is low.
• The screens used to enhance the contrast of gray surface with a gain of 0.7-0.9 reflection. Use with the screen better bright projector. Gray color helps to achieve a deep black, and mikrovkrapleniya based on glass and aluminum increase the brightness of reflection.

Projector Imaging technology

LCD vs DLP

Modern projectors used LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and DLP (Digital Light Processing) for the imaging technology, which vary according to the principle of formation.In DLP technology performs the role of a pixel micro mirror. Before a set of ‘pixels’ a rotating filter which is divided into color segments. Light transmitted through the filter is incident on the mirror and reflected from them on the screen and LCD technology uses a matrix that highlights the reflected light from the mirror system (diagram below). Each mirror and a color filter matrix takes on only one of the three primary colors. Specifically, these two technologies have both advantages and disadvantages: for example, LCD-projectors provide vivid colors and DLP-projectors have higher contrast. Cons of LCD-models it is worth noting a shallower depth of black color, while the DLP-projectors – the presence of “rainbow effect”. Learn more about the pros and cons of both technologies, I’ll tell later. It should be noted immediately that in modern devices, these shortcomings are almost unnoticeable.

LCD technology uses a matrix system is illuminated with reflected light. Each mirror and a color filter matrix takes on only one of the three colors. In DLP-projectors role pixels perform tiny mirrors, which is set in front of a set of rotary filter, divided into color segments.

LCD

• Benefits . High brightness without reducing the color gamut. Stable on geometry image.
• Disadvantages . Individual immunity. On some models – a rainbow effect.

DLP

• Benefits.  The deep black color, a little distance between pixels. Resistance to fading.
• Disadvantages . Cheap models burnout polarizer responsible for the blue color.

Equipment, ergonomics and energy consumption

When choosing a projector, consider the following factors:

• Support the lens shift feature
• built-in sound quality
• noise levels in rabote
• power.

Most models have built-in speakers projectors with similar characteristics. They certainly will be perfect for viewing any movie, but for a good home theater sound system is needed. Noise and heat present in all projectors. Dependence of the noise from the cooling system of heating is not always observed.

Simple cinema projector

Standard solutions projectors you will not find the lens shift feature that allows more comfortably place the projector in the room. No dynamic iris to mute the light bulb to produce deeper blacks. Two-time optical zoom is available only in select models. This option allows you to put the projector closer to the screen and zoom in. Most modern projectors in this category are able to display an image on a screen diagonal of 2.5 meters at a distance of approximately 3 meters. A good indicator of energy consumption must be located in the vicinity of 240 W / h, and the brightness is about – 2,000 lumens.

Top models of projectors

Typically, the top solutions projectors should have the richest functionality: shift lenses, dynamic iris, good optical zoom and much more. But there is a decent luggage options is not at all expensive models. The lack of lens shift leads to difficulties in the projector and the proper setup. If necessary, make available pre-motorized drive the projector remote control to them. Of the best models for equipment and energy consumption, I would note Epson EH-TW6100. Wishing to obtain a budget option for home theater,  BenQ W750 is the ideal choice.

The main characteristics of home theater projectors

The minimum distance from the screen to the viewer and the projector.  Recall that the optimal value is when the viewer on the screen located no closer than 2 screen height. When installing the small screen to the projector minimum distance to it is 2.5 meters. When deciding where to position the projector, if you do not have to allocate for these purposes a separate room to mount the projector on a strictly central axes relative to the screen, you will need a projector with a mechanical displacement of the objective lens. Also offset lenses come in handy if you decide to mount the projector on the ceiling.

The level of illumination of the room will determine the light intensity – brightness projector . For comfortable viewing of the film light output  from 1000 to 1200 lumens  is enough. A few more bright projector is required for viewing 3D content, given that in a 3D-glasses picture looks dark, not to mention the television signal in low dim. It is particularly important to pay attention to the power of the projector lamp in her power and the light output in the economy mode. If the projector will run in economy mode, the power and it will consume less and the lamp life will be longer. And most importantly, there will be less noisy projector, as with decreasing brightness is reduced and the need for intensive cooling of the lamp.

Do not forget about the contrast, which is determined by the brightness ratio between the lightest and darkest area of ​​the image. The undisputed leader in this parameter are DLP-model – in this technology begins ratio of 1500: 1. Even the low-cost models often it is 2000: 1 and higher. By contrast, modern LCD-projectors provide a contrast of 500: 1 – 800: 1 or even less. For example, even in models brightness of 2,000 lumens and cost about 50,000 rubles, it is only 400: 1. By contrast, as well as the brightness depends on how long the picture will be comfortable for sensing the level of growth as the background light, as well as how it is rich in colors and halftone.

The images resolution format  that will be supported by the projector are determined by the video source. It depends both on the playback device, and from the media file. If your video file is FullHD resolution, and the resolution of the projector is 1280 × 720, the final resolution of the image is 1280 × 720 pixels. Do not forget about the necessary interfaces input image.

Lamp life a very important point, as the lamp is the most expensive part of any projector. In modern models of projectors, this figure is in the range 2000-4000 hours, it will be enough for 3-4 years with frequent home use. All projectors are equipped with counter work that pre-warn you of the need to replace the lamp. Replacement can be delayed by using economical operating mode – when it is used the power consumption is markedly reduced by reducing the brightness (e.g., for use in dark conditions). This mode helps to reduce noise from the cooling fan, which reduces the speed.

Personally and subjectively want to see that is a slight lead over the LCD-projector DLP-decisions on the quality of the image. Not to mention that the LCD projection technology developed by Japanese company Epson, and the first device based on this principle was established more than a quarter century ago, and all this time the technology significantly improved and refined.