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Consumer - Home Theatre Buying Guide - Projectors
Not sure how to buy
a projector or what projector to choose? We've put
some information together to help you learn a little
bit about projectors and what you need to know when
buying one.
What
resolution do I need?
Projector resolution is measured
in pixels which are tiny squares that make up the
image of a picture. The more pixels there are, the
sharper the image will appear. Knowing how you will
use your projector will help determine the resolution
you will need.
SVGA Projector Resolution = 800
X 600 pixels
SVGA is adequate for watching movies, DVDs or TV,
however it may show "jaggies" when trying
to show computer graphics or PowerPoint slides.
XGA Projector Resolution = 1,024
x 767 pixels
XGA has nearly become the standard for business applications.
It can display data, graphics or video without any
problem. Not only that, but most notebook computers
have a native resolution of XGA, which means the projector
will not have to down convert the data.
SXGA Projector Resolution = 1,280
x 1,024 pixels
SXGA is even better resolution. Those who need larger
images and/or extra-sharp detail should consider an
SXGA resolution projector.
UXGA Projector Resolution = 1,600
x 1200 pixels
UXGA provides very high resolution providing superior
detail. UXGA-native resolution projectors are rare,
and usually cost quite a bit more.
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Home Theater:
SVGA is adequate for home use - watching TV or movies. |
Business or Educational Room:
Will need at least XGA, possibly SXGA resolution to
show computer displays. |
Large Venue: Will probably need SXGA resolution because
of the size of the projected image. |
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How
much brightness do I need?
How big of room you will be using
your projector in, how much lighting control there
is, and how much ambient light is let into the room
will help determine the brightness you will need.
Because you may have a room that is very small and
the lighting is poor, or the room size with the light
available do not match up, an adjustment of brightness
will need to be made to accommodate for both factors.
The size of picture you are projecting and the material
of the screen you will use, also play a part in brightness
level you'll need. Brightness in projectors is measure
by ANSI lumens. |
Conditions for low brightness (under
1500 ANSI):
Small rooms, controlled lighting |
 Controlled
lighting: No windows, no need for any light. A brightness
under 1500 should be adequate. |
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Conditions for medium brightness (1500 - 3000 ANSI):
Medium size room such as a boardroom or classroom (light
allowing for note-taking), somewhat controlled light |
 Somewhat
controlled lighting: Allows for note taking. We recommend
a brightness between 1500 - 3000 ANSI. |
Conditions for high brightness (3000+ ANSI):
Large room or venue, no light control
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 Poor
light conditions: Too much outside light - assuming
windows cannot be covered. We recommend at least 3000
ANSI. |
Small room: Under 1500 ANSI should be adequate
for a room this size. |
Medium-sized room: For a room this size, we
would recommend a brightness between 1500
- 3000 ANSI lumens. |
Large room: For a large venue we would recommend
having a brightness of 3000 ANSI or higher. |
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How
picture size affects brightness
In general, the larger size image
you want to project, the higher brightness you will
need to project that image. Generally, when the size
of image is doubled, the brightness will need to be
quadrupled. Note that picture size is measured diagonally.
Here's an example: A projected
image of 100" with 2,000 ANSI brightness, would
need to be about 8,000 ANSI lumens for a 200"
picture size.
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What
is the difference between LCD, DLP, and LCoS/D-ILA
Technology?
LCD: Liquid Crystal Display
Generally less expensive
Superior color saturation
More light efficient
DLP: Digital Light Processing
Developed by Texas Instruments
Higher contrast which can make images appear brighter
than they really are
Sharper images
Smoother gradation of colors and grays LCoS/D-ILA:
Liquid Crystal on Silicon/Direct Drive Image Light
Amplifier
LCoS Developed by IBM/D-ILA Developed by JVC
Higher contrast
Improved white balance
Competitors to DLP technology
Keep in mind that no matter which
projector technology sounds better, that just looking
at brightness specs and contrast ratios can be deceiving.
Often times projectors with higher contrast ratios
look brighter than they actually are. The best way
to choose which chip you want is by seeing live comparisons.
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Other
things to consider
Lamp Life: Replacement lamps are
one of the things that are generally not looked at
when buying a new projector, but if cost is important
to you, then the lamp life and replacement lamp cost
should be looked at. Generally, lamp life is between
1,000 to 2,000 hours. Some lamps can have lower or
higher lamp life than that, but regardless of the
lamp life, the cost of a replacement lamp can be anywhere
between $250 - $10,000 for the large venue projectors.
Extra Features: Many features are
available for projectors such as network capability,
wireless capability, security controls, changeable
lenses. Please speak with a professional to find out
more.
Warranty: Most projectors come
with either a one year, a two year, or a three year
warranty. However, these warranties usually do not
cover the lamp life. Lamps usually have their own
warranty of around 90 hours. If a lamp is bad, it
will usually fail within that time frame. Also, be
aware that with different manufacturers, there are
different warranty programs. For example, some have
a program where the manufacturer will replace your
projector if it fails within the warranty time - within
24-48 hours. Or, some will provide a temporary projector
if your projector is in need of repair and will not
be available at the time of a presentation. Nevertheless,
don't forget to look at warranty features available.
Some manufacturers will sell extended warranties,
and a good idea is to buy from a dealer that is authorized
to service your brand of projector.
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Our
Recommendation
So what projector should you buy?
It depends upon the application, where you will be
using it, the quality you will settle for, and the
various features you want. Our recommendation at TV
Specialists, Inc. is to come in and speak to a specialist
with experience in this field. Our salesman know how
to help you in making the best choice for your application,
and they can also show you side-by-side views - of
the same image with different projectors - so you
can make the ultimate judgment for yourself.
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