Projectors

About Projectors 

TVs and projectors are a vital part of home entertainment and business set-ups. Whether hosting a business seminar, movie night or gamer party, a projector can enhance the experience. 

Projectors offer a larger screen size compared to 4K UHD TVs and even 8K UHD TVs, with many models delivering the similar or same display quality. At the same time, their compact size allows for more flexibility of use. 

Projectors Applications  

Most projectors can manage any type of media, but some models are more suitable for specific use. 

Home Theatre Projectors 

Home theatre projectors emphasize high contrast and image quality, with deep colour saturation. They are designed to mimic a real movie theatre experience; hence most models will deliver their best in dark environments. However, it’s possible to bypass the issue by combining a high-brightness movie projector supported by a reflective projector screen. Such settings can work well in moderate ambient light. 

Home theatre projectors should feature a quiet fan for less background noise and HDMI ports for easy connections. 

Business Projectors

A business projector is also called a multimedia or data projector. It’s typically brighter than home theatre projectors, designed to work in environments with overhead lighting and ample windows. Business projectors are primarily made for displaying static images but suitable for multimedia too. Portable size is convenient for travel and meetings, easy to set up and adjust.

Pico Projectors

Pico projectors are the most compact, designed to fit into a briefcase or purse, weighing less than 1.5kg. Still, they are also powerful enough for sharing multimedia content, from business conferences to sports and movies. The small size also allows for a very long lamp life.

Types of Projectors

Technology

Typical projectors display uses either digital light processing (DLP) or liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, while liquid crystal silicone (LCos) can be found in high-end models. All of them provide a crisp image and natural colour palette; however, each has its own benefits. 

• DLP technology delivers strong contrasts, accurate image display, and smooth flow suitable for fast-motion streams such as sports. Premium models come with a 3-chip DLP to provide superior image quality. Projectors based on DLP are compact and lightweight, which is especially prominent on Pico models. 
• LCD-based projectors deliver brighter output suitable for use outdoors or in well-lit rooms. Images are clear, with sharp contrasts, strong details, and excellent colour brightness. The key advantages of LCD over DLP projectors are silent operation and energy efficiency. Three-chip technology is included in most LCD projectors.
• LCoS technology is mostly available only on premium models. It’s a combination of DLP and LCD projectors that takes the best of both technologies to deliver superior properties. 

Light Sources

Projectors need to be powered by light sources. Common varieties include a standard lamp, LED light-emitting diode, or laser.

• Standard lamp bulb is the most affordable solution - but also with the shortest life span of 3,000 to 5,000 working hours.
• LED bulbs provide a more extensive colour palette with better control, and a more quiet operation mode than standard lamps. It can also last up to 20,000 hours. Energy-efficient LEDs are widely used in Pico projectors, and typically require no fan for cooling.
• Laser is a convenient, premium solution with minimal maintenance requirements and no bulb to replace. It provides exceptional brightness and colour levels, with high contrasts. 

Projector Brightness

Brightness is measured by lumens. A high number of lumens ensures sufficient brightness at a given distance and displays vivid, colourful images in any lighting.

• White light output marks the total amount of white light the projector can emit. It doesn’t measure colour levels. 
• Colour light output determines the brightness of projected colours, namely red, yellow, and blue (RYB scale). A high number means a more vibrant display. 

For best results, colour brightness and white brightness should be compatible and deliver a balanced contrast. A high lumen rating is beneficial for business projectors, to compete with existing light levels in the environment. For home projectors, brightness should be sufficient to deliver rich colour contrast without compromising on dark-scene details.

Projector Resolution

Resolution is the total number of pixels a projector has the capacity of displaying. More pixels means more density, enabling the crisp, detailed images on larger screen sizes. A higher resolution also allows the viewer to sit close to the screen without being disturbed by a pixelated image.

Projector resolutions range from minimal 480p over full-HD 1080p up to 4K Ultra HD for superior displays. However, for best results, it’s recommended to match the projector resolution to video source resolution. A full-HD home projector will work best with a standard Blu-ray player. If the primary streaming source will be a laptop screen, a projector should have the same image format. 

More Things to Consider When Buying Projectors

The throw ratio is the proportion between desired screen size and the distance the projector needs to be placed. The correct calculation of throw distance is crucial if the projector will be mounted permanently.

A 3D-ready projector can connect with other 3D-compatible devices to deliver a 3D experience on a big screen. Some models come with built-in 3D capability, while others need a 3D emitter.

Both business and home theatre projectors each have their set of inputs and outputs. Business projectors come with VGA and USB inputs, sometimes with DVI or HDMI. Home theatre projectors should feature at least one HDMI input, optionally accompanied by VGA, USB, and an SD card slot. Separate audio outputs will allow easy connection to home audio systems.