| Search AudioEnz | |
| Articles | |
|
Current
reviews |
|
| News | |
| Community | |
| Buying | |
| About AudioEnz | |
About AudioEnz |
Buying a projector
Questions and answers on the big picture
By Michael Jones
August 2003
The hottest area of home theatre today are video projectors. There’s plenty of confusion about projectors, so here’s some typical questions and answers.
Why should I be interested in a video projector?
If you like movies, then you’ll notice a big difference between
a movie theatre and home: the screen size. No TV or plasma can compete
with the sheer size and scale of a projected image. There’s no
bigger “wow” factor in home theatre than a big, high quality
picture.
What are these different types of projectors?
There are three main projector types; CRT, LCD and DLP.
CRT (cathode ray tube) projectors are the original and, arguably, still
offer the best picture. CRT projectors use three large tubes to project
the image, in a way similar to your TV. Even entry-level models are
expensive so, as this is an introductory article, we’ll leave CRT
projectors here.
LCD (liquid crystal display) projectors are normally small and light. They work on similar principles to the LCD computer screen you may be using to read this article.
DLP (digital light projection) projectors are the up-and-coming technology. DLP projectors use thousands of tiny mirrors on a small chip, along with a spinning colour wheel, to project the image.
So which projector
type should I buy?
Between LCD and DLP projectors it’s a toss up – they both
have virtues and vices.
LCD projectors can offer a bright and sharp picture with rich and vibrant colours. The biggest potential problems with LCD projectors are the “screen door” and dark levels.
LCD projectors have a fixed amount of pixels. When blown up on a screen these pixels may be visible – much like viewing through a fly screen. LCD projectors can have problems with darker areas, reducing blacks to a hazy grey and being poor reproducers of shadow detail.
DLP projectors can be very bright and contrasty, with a vivid picture. There is also less pixilation that with LCD projectors. However some people can see “rainbows” (colours following movement on screen).
Others find that their eyes become sore and headaches develop after a few minutes with a DLP projector.
Most people appear to be unaffected by either. Ensure that you (and any others likely to spend time watching your projector) spend some time looking at the model under consideration for purchase before spending your money
Do I need a dark room for watching movies with a projector?
A movie will look much better in a darkened room. Dark scenes and areas
in a movie are badly affected by extraneous light. If your lounge has
lots of light coming in from outside, then your image will look washed
out and lacking contrast. For best results, you need a darkened room.
I
have a projector at work for presentations. Can I bring it home to
watch movies?
Sure you can, but you might be disappointed with the results. Office
projectors are designed to output high levels of light (as presentations
are often in lighted rooms) with stationary scenes. Bring that projector
home to watch movies and you’ll find the picture lacks contrast,
the colours look funny and images will break up with movement.
A projector for movies needs high contrast, rather then high light
output, and needs to be able to handle quick scene movements.
Do I have to buy a screen? I’d rather use my painted white
or cream wall.
You don’t need a screen, but you’ll never get the best from
your projector without one. Look at it this way: there’s a good
reason why most retailers use a specialist projection screen in their
demonstrations – the picture looks better. The retailer’s
use a screen to help sell you a projector. You should use a screen
for
the
best picture.
Can I watch TV with a projector?
Sure you can, and many TV programs (particularly sports) look great
blown up onto a large screen. You’ll need an external TV tuner, such
as one found in your VCR or Sky box.
Don’t sell your telly though. You’ll prefer watching some
programs on the small screen – do you really want to see a 2m
high newsreader?
Are there any ongoing costs?
Yes. The bulbs in a projector don’t last forever and they are expensive
to replace. Many last for 2000 hours and can cost between several hundred
to two thousand dollars to replace. To put this into perspective, watching
movies for 10 hours per week means that the bulb should last for around
four years.
Want to discuss this? Try the AudioEnz Forums
Want to comment on this review? Click here for Feedback