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Tips for buying a home theater projector
Home theater projectors are simple in concept but complicated in execution. If you want that movie theater feel, nothing comes close to a projector. But before you pull the trigger and purchase one, consider these few tips.
Tips
- Look for projectors based on performance of: Resolution, contrast, brightness and scaling.
- Look for projectors with a very high performance scaler built in.
You will get great savings by not needing to purchase a scaler in the future.
- Understand the differences between the most expensive projectors and the least expensive projectors. The differences may not be that important to you.
- Save money by considering a non-1080p projector.
Make sure you can see a difference in a 1080p projector. If your source material will not be 1080p and you will be sitting more than 2 screen widths from the screen, your eyes won't be able to see the difference.
- Check if a manufacturer is overstating the projector specs.
You have to view the projector in action, with real settings and adjustments to know for sure.
- Know which input you will be using.
Many of the older projectors don't have HDMI or DVI with copy protection. So if you want to save money and get an older or office related projector, make sure it supports your sources output.
- Demo as many projectors as possible with as many different source material as possible.
HD almost always looks great, but DVD may not.
- Know your viewing environment.
Projectors need venting room, distance to the screen, light control and temperature control.
- Know your viewing schedule.
Normally, a projector is not well suited to frequent casual viewing. A flat screen or just a standard TV is best suited to the news in the morning.
- Projectors use bulbs and they cost $500 or more and don't last as long as they are spec'd.
Usually you'll get ¾ of the total spec'd hours or less.
- Budget realistically.
Projectors need other components to be used in a home theater: screen, sound system, platform to project from, possibly a scaler to improve the image.
- Read the forums and see what issues people are having with the projector you are considering.
- Bring a dvd that represents the type of material you will be viewing to a store that is demoing a projector.
Warnings
- Take user reviews with a grain of salt. Usually when people buy a projector and then write a review of the projector, it's very soon after the purchase. They are excited and see only the good.
- Sometimes the experts are looking too closely and over analyzing details you would never even have noticed or care about without professional calibration equipment.
