It is always an intelligent decision to opt for Home Theater Projector over any other kind of display. Even after a revolution in the technology of display panels from LCD to Plasma to current LED type, these systems stand nowhere in comparison with a Theater Projector. One cannot think about installing a wall sized LED monitor which might require an entire army of technicians to install; not to mention that front door needs to be re-laid.
On the other hand, newer Projector systems are much more compact and might not even require a user manual for installation. The only major disadvantage with these systems is that you need to replace the lamps at intervals. However, you can do with this very minor inconvenience considering that movie tickets for entire family is also not a very economical option nowadays.
So, following are the main points one should keep in mind before selecting an advanced Home Theater Projector:
1. The Technology
Basically there are three types of Projectors available in the market viz. LCD, DLP and LCOS. LCD projectors are prone to pixelation. The provide a good contrast in dark backgrounds however, better color rendition is available only in white background. Only after numerous adjustments in the projector’s settings you can get an optimum display.
DLP are the popular type of projectors as these are much compact and face no such pixelation issues as encountered with LCD types. The latest of all these are LCOS type of projectors which are much costlier than the above two types. These projectors sure have better resolution and optical sharpness, though the lamp life is quite restricted making them even more costlier in long run.
2. Price
The high end projectors (LCOS types included) start from $3000 and may go as high as $10000. While the popular consumer type LCD and DLP Home Projectors are available below $1000 range.
3. Features
It is good to go through some reviews to get a little knowledge about the projector’s performance one are planning to buy. You can always go for a projector with higher Lumens as these perform reasonably well in brighter rooms. Ordinarily, a projector with 1000 Lumens would work pretty well for homes. Resolution is another factor which should be taken care of. HD support is mandatory nowadays and make sure that the projector is at least capable of playing movies at 1280×720 native resolution. You can also compare the lamp life as a feature for selecting a Projector.
4. Support
Make sure that the projector belongs to a well known brand with proper service support in your locality. The lamp requires timely replacement and it is not wise to go for a little known cheap Chinese projector whose parts are not available in the market.
5. Installation and Usage
Usually, the system could be easily installed even if one is planning a fixed overhead installation in a hall, as the systems are not as heavy as they once used to be. The screens should be preferably non glossy and slightly grey in color as these provide a balanced contrast and saturation level as compared to a white screen. Carpeted rooms are preferred for better acoustics. At the same time these carpets also serve the purpose of absorbing dust, which causes hindrance in the projection.
Newer systems are very compact and have a tightly secured unit which keeps the dust away. Moreover, the lamp inside this unit maintains a high vacuum. Hence, it is wise to take help of a repair guy for replacement of bulb if you are not able to follow the instructions in the manual. Last but not the least, make sure that you know what is covered under warranty and for how much time.
