What you need to know before buying a projector

A new projector in your home can transform your TV and movie experience and make Friday nights at home even cozier. But how do you choose the right projector? Here’s a brief explanation of the specifications of our projectors and how to find the right one for you and your needs.

We have put together this checklist, which can be useful to consider when choosing the right projector for you:

• Budget
• Where and how you will use the projector
• Placement in the room
• Accessories

BUDGET

With projectors, as with most other products, a higher price often means a better and more complex product. Finding a balance between your budget and the performance you want from a projector is therefore important. A cheaper and lighter projector is easier to move around and take with you, but may not have the same technical capabilities to be used in a large meeting room, at a disco, or in a lecture. It is now possible to find good projectors suitable for home cinema without having to pay too much money.

WHERE AND HOW YOU WILL USE THE PROJECTOR

How you plan to use the projector changes the conditions you should look for when choosing one. How big is the room it will be in? How far from the wall can it be placed? How much detail and contrast do you need? As we mentioned earlier, the needs are very different if you want to watch your favorite movies on a big screen at home in a dimly lit room, compared to giving a presentation in a large, brightly lit room. The different projectors also require different maintenance and have lamps with varying lifespans.

Here we have compiled some of the things we believe are important to consider when choosing a projector, so you pick the right product for your needs.

Technology

There are three main technologies used in projectors - DLP, LCD, and LED.

DLP (Digital Light Processing) uses a chip made of tiny microscopic mirrors and a rotating color wheel to assemble an image. DLP projectors deliver sharp images, do not require filters, have better response times, and offer 3D capabilities. The lamp's lifespan is rated between 2000-5000 hours.

LCD projectors use liquid crystal displays; they have no moving parts and are often cheaper. If you are on a budget, a single-chip LCD projector is ideal, while a 3-chip LCD display offers better color saturation, lower noise levels, and performs better for movies.

LED projectors have lamps with a lifespan of over 20,000 hours. These projectors offer better colors, lower power consumption, and virtually no maintenance costs. LED projectors are often smaller and generate less heat.

Brightness

We measure projector brightness in ANSI lumens. If you want a projector for home use, you should choose one with a brightness of between 500-2000 lumens. If you're using the projector in a bright room, you'll need higher brightness than in a dark room. It might also be wise to get a projector with higher brightness if you plan to use a larger screen.

Lower brightness doesn't necessarily mean a poorer picture, but higher brightness makes the screen easier to see in rooms with poor light control. With lower brightness, it might be advisable to use the projector in rooms where the light can be dimmed. At 2000 lumens and higher, the projector handles daylight and larger sizes much better and is therefore also suitable for larger rooms and performs better for presentations and meetings.

For use at concerts or similar events, it is recommended to use projectors with at least 3000 lumens.

Throw Distance and Zoom

These indicate how flexible a projector is in terms of placement, specifying what distance yields what image size and what adjustment options you have. A large throw distance means the projector must be placed further away from the screen to achieve a desired image size.

Contrast Ratio

The contrast ratio refers to the relationship between the darkest and brightest parts of an image. The desired contrast ratio depends on the type of projector you are looking for. For example, the very best LCD projectors have a ratio of 6500:1, while the best DLP projectors have a ratio of 3000:1.

Resolution

HD (1280x720 720p) and Full HD (1920x1080 1080p) are the two most commonly used resolutions for home cinema. HD is often a bit more affordable, but Full HD has a higher resolution. Since Full HD provides better sharpness and depth, it is often recommended to opt for this solution.

Connectivity Options

It's a good idea to consider what you want to connect the projector to before making a purchase. All projectors today should come with an HDMI input, ensuring you can connect most digital home products like DVD players, Blu-ray players, etc. If you need to connect the projector to other types of connections, it might be wise to double-check what other connections the projector supports.

What about a portable projector?

Small portable projectors are perfect for those on the go. They are suitable for anyone who wants something easy to carry and will use the projector for small gatherings. The more you demand from your projector, the larger and heavier it becomes. So, when choosing a portable projector, it's wise to consider what you need it for and how light you want it to be.

PLACEMENT IN THE ROOM

Consider where you plan to place the projector before finding the right one for you. The projector's zoom and throw distance are important for knowing how close or far the projector can and should be placed from the wall it will project the image onto. This affects both the quality and size of the image itself.

ACCESSORIES

There's a wide range of accessories that can enhance your projector experience! Once you've planned where the projector will be, make sure you have long enough cables. You can use cable organizers and cable ties to keep the room tidier.

Most projectors come with built-in speakers, but if you want a good sound experience, it might be worth checking the specifications to see if connecting the projector to external speakers could elevate your home cinema to the next level.

A screen is a recommended accessory for most projectors. Screens will be smoother than walls and can provide better reflections as they are typically designed to work with projectors. A screen can also help solve issues like the light level in the room.

If you prefer to use your wall instead, that's also possible. It's recommended to use a wall that is as smooth as possible and painted in white or light grey.