Home theatre projector buyer’s guide part II

Written by Published | Rapallo AV Team

Overview

In part 1 of our home theatre projector buyer’s guide we answered 4 questions:

  • •Which aspect ratio do you want?
  • •What resolution is best for you?
  • •How bright should it be?
  • •How much contrast do you need?

 

In this week’s blog we will cover:

  • •LCD or DLP or Lcos?
  • •What are your installation constraints?
  • •What is your budget?

What is the difference between LCD and DLP? 

  • •DLP, or digital light processing, uses tiny mirrors to reflect light toward the screen (an “on” pixel) or away (an “off” pixel). Most models use a color wheel (literally a spinning wheel) with color filters to create sequential color.
  • •LCD stands for liquid crystal display, is very similar to the technology found in most TVs. LCD projectors use three liquid crystal panels, each tasked with creating an image using just one of the primary colors (red, green, and blue). All three are projected on the screen at once, so you see a full color image.
  • •Also worth mentioning is LCoS, or liquid crystal on silicon. This is sort of a hybrid between LCD and DLP. It uses liquid crystal chips with a mirrored backing. So they’re reflective, like DLP, but block light using liquid crystal, like LCDs.

 These technologies come with their own plusses and minuses. In short: DLP projectors are very popular due to their higher colour saturation, better contrast (see earlier) and better image stability. The often talked about ‘rainbow effect’ is typically a problem of the older models.

LCD’s on the other hand have more accurate colours and at the moment seem to offer greater option choice. Currently, LCoS is offered by JVC, Sony and Epson and has been described as the most “movie” or “cinema” like experience. They are typically more expensive than their LCD or DLP home theatre counterparts. All three technologies have some very highly performing projectors, so for most people choice more or less comes down to what brand you gravitate towards, rather than whether the projector uses LCD or DLP technology.

 

What about Installation?

The best projector on earth is useless if it doesn’t fit in your home theater or lounge. To make projectors easier to use in a variety of rooms and help them accommodate different screen sizes, many projectors now incorporate long zoom lenses and physical lens shift.

A zoom lens is able to make the projected image larger or smaller by shifting the internal optical elements of the lens. This allows a projector to deliver the desired image size from a range of throw distances. Some projectors have a very limited zoom range. On the other hand, some projectors have such powerful zoom lenses of 2.0:1, or 2.0x, meaning that the maximum image size is double that of the minimum image size. Such a lens provides a lot more flexibility to create the image size you want from the place you want to locate the projector.

Though long zoom ranges offer great flexibility, the projector’s potential light output usually drops somewhat if you use the telescopic end of a long zoom lens.

In your search for the right projector, first determine the size of the image you want on the wall. Then use the Projection Calculator (see above) to see if the model you are looking at will create that size image with the room size and throw distances you have to work with.

Another feature that makes installation easier is lens shift. Lens shift is the ability to move the projected image up or down, left or right, while keeping the projector stationary. This makes it a great deal easier to place the projector where you want it, and adjust the lens so that the image fits your screen perfectly. If you do not have any lens shift capability, you will need to take extreme care to position the projector at the precise location demanded by its fixed throw angle.

Ask anybody who has to install projectors and keep them running about what they hate most about the job, and you’re likely to get an ear full of their fear and loathing of having to change lamps every year or two. The rude fact of life for conventional projectors is that their lamps burn out after approximately 3,000 hours of use, and start to dim even sooner than that.

Some projectors now use an LED-based laser light source. That means there are no fans and no filters to replace and under constant use will last over 20,000 hours. Apart from a considerable saving in future light bulb expense, there is the convenience of not having to worry about the replacement and much less calibration and adjustment during the lifespan of the projector.

What will it Cost?

Cost is always a key factor in shopping for projectors. Here are some general price guidelines for home theater projectors in today’s market:

  • •$2000 or less: Even under $2000, there are some truly amazing home theater projectors available. The least expensive ones are the 1280×720 models (also known as 720p). They display DVD and Blu-Ray extremely well, and some cost as little as $700. However, there are some 1920×1080 (or 1080p) models that have dropped below $1,500 as well. This creates an interesting situation, since there are 720p and 1080p projectors at the same price point. Generally speaking, the 720p projectors will have more features and (likely) higher contrast, while the 1080p projectors will have the benefit of higher resolution, but are likely lacking in extra features and placement flexibility. Which one you choose is a question of what’s more important to you.
  • •$2000-$6000: If you have anywhere from $2000 to $6000 to spend, you are in the price bracket dominated by 1080p projectors. Many of the most popular projectors at Rapallo fall into this price bracket, including highly flexible 1080p LCD projectors and single-chip DLP projectors with superb contrast. These days, the most fierce competition occurs in the $2500-$4000 price bracket, so if you can afford something in this range, your options are almost limitless.
  • •$6000 and up: This is the playing field of the 4K projectors and of course, many high-performance 1080p projectors coupled with high-definition signal sources available at or beyond this price. This range is devoted to products for the video connoisseur, who values the latest improvements in picture quality and is willing to pay extra to attain them.

The ultimate advise: avoid buyer’s remorse. If you are not certain, contact the Rapallo staff to help you make the decisions. They are more than happy to advise you on the best options for your requirements.  Rapallo now has its lab in East Tamaki, where it can demonstrate certain models depending on availability and given some notice.

Once you buy a projector, sit back and enjoy it. The video quality on all home theater projectors today is vastly superior to what anyone had just a few years ago. So immerse yourself in the drama, comedy and excitement of the movies being shown on the largest screen you’ve ever had in your home. After all, entertainment is what home theater is all about.

Happy hunting!