Home Theater Projector Buying Guide

What to Look for in Home Theater Projector

You may already have a big screen TV but you can take your home theater experience to the next level by upgrading to a home theater projector. It just makes for an authentic cinema feel right in the comfort of your home.

However, with so many options available out there, it can be tough to find the one that suits your taste, needs, and budget. In this post, we’ll discuss what you should look for in a home theater projector.

Let’s Talk About Lumens

Lumens are the measure of light output from a projector. The higher the lumens, the brighter the image will be. When shopping for a projector, you’ll want to make sure to get one with a high lumens rating.

Unfortunately, there are no industry-wide standards when it comes to measuring lumens. This can make it difficult to compare different projectors. Some manufacturers may measure lumens differently than others, so it’s important to do your research before buying one.

A slight difference in lumens won’t be enough for you to notice any significant difference in image projection quality. But if they vary by more than 10 percent, you might notice a big difference.

So, generally, get as many lumens as you can.

Light Source

Projectors need a light source to project images. It can be LED, Laser, or UHP lamps. Each one has its pros and cons.

LED – these lamps offer an extremely long life span, from 10,000 to 30,000 hours. They’re also dimmable so you have more control over the projector’s lighting output.

Laser – These ones are brighter than LED projectors but they do not last as long as the former. And they are noisier.

UHP – These ones are the most common lamps in today’s projectors, thanks to their lower cost and great brightness levels. They also last about 10,000 hours before needing replacement.

3D Glasses Not Included

3D projectors are a great way to take your home theater experience to the next level. With a 3D projector, you can watch movies and play video games in stunning 3D graphics.

There are a few things you should know before buying a 3D projector, though. First, not all projectors are capable of displaying 3D content. You’ll need to make sure to get a 3D projector model if that’s what you’re looking for.

Second, not all 3D projectors require glasses to view the 3D images. Some models come with built-in polarizing filters that allow you to view the images without glasses. However, most models do require 3D glasses in order to view the images in three dimensions.

Some 3D models require you to buy and use your own glasses in order to watch in 3D, while others come with their own rechargeable or even disposable 3D glasses. Make sure to read the product description before buying a projector if this is important for you.

Lastly, make sure that you have plenty of room in front of your projector if you plan to use it to watch 3D movies or play video games in 3D. Each eye needs to be able to see the entire screen without obstruction, so make sure that there are at least 66 inches (5 1/2 feet) of open space in front of the projector for each eye.

Aspect Ratio

In most cases, your projector will be projected onto a flat surface. So, you want to make sure that the image is filled up completely and clearly on that surface. You do that by choosing the correct aspect ratio for your projector.

The aspect ratio is the ratio of width to height in which an image with rectangular shapes is displayed. Standard aspect ratios are 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10.

You can set this in your projector’s menu under “Image Reset” or “Aspect Ratio”.

Most new projectors will default to the widescreen (16:9) format, but check that yours does if you plan to use it for viewing widescreen images.

Inputs and Outputs

Your projector also needs to be equipped with inputs and outputs that will allow you to connect it to your component cables, game consoles, TV boxes, DVD players, laptops, computers, tablets…..etc. Please check the manual or product description before buying a projector that its inputs and outputs are compatible with your devices.

Image Quality

A digital projector’s image quality is largely dependent on the technology that allows it to project the images onto a screen or wall. There are three types of projection technologies: LCD, DLP, and LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon).

LCD projectors use liquid crystals and a bright light to project images, but they’re usually not as bright as DLP or LCoS models.

DLP projectors use mirrors and an optical semiconductor called a DMD chip to create images. The light source passes through each of the millions of tiny mirrors that cause the image to look like it’s reflected on the glass.

LCoS models use liquid crystals and lasers to project images, making them the brightest type of projector available. However, they are also the most expensive.

One important consideration for all types is the contrast ratio. This is the difference between the brightest color on your screen and the darkest color look.

Final Thoughts

In order to make the best possible choice for your projector, you need to know how it works and what features are important. You also want to consider whether or not 3D is important if that’s something you’re looking for in a home theater experience. Lastly, be sure to read reviews so that you can learn from other customers’ experiences with any model before making a purchase decision.