Projector Buying Guide

Projector terminology

Before considering what type of projector to buy, you'll need to know how to decipher product description pages. First, projectors use three different technologies:

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

DLP projectors shine light onto a chip with microscopic mirrors, each mirror being one pixel of the projected image. The light is then reflected through the projector lens onto a screen. A DLP projector produces deep black and high contrast ratio with no screen burn. The light source can last as long as 60,000 hours, and you can use it almost continuously without losing image quality. The projector lamp does burn hot, however, and must be properly cooled down to get its full lifespan.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

LCD projectors have tiny crystals embedded in the screen which glow red, green or blue when hit by an electrical charge. Varying the charge varies the color intensity; varying which crystals get charged varies the color. LCD images have higher color saturation and sharper images and are excellent for viewing details. LCD projectors work best for shorter usages, a few hours per day. Many LCD lamps are rated at 2,000 hours use, but proper cool-down can extend that life expectancy considerably.

Liquid Crystal over Silicon (LCoS)

A new variation on established themes called LCoS projectors. Like DLP projectors, they shoot light at a reflective surface; like LCD projectors, they use liquid crystals to control how light is reflected to form each image pixel. LCoS projectors generally have a high-quality picture with what many call a more natural image. Rainbow effect doesn't happen and screen burn is rare. An LCoS projector doesn't do a very good black and is generally heavier than other models. Lamps are expensive and tend toward a shorter lifespan; because the devices are new, finding qualified service techs may be tricky.

Each technology has advantages and disadvantages; which type to select is usually based on specific features, which are closely related to their price. Features include:

Resolution: The pixel count projected to the screen; technical types use alphabetic designations; consumer electronics vendors use pixel counts (number of pixels, listed horizontal by vertical):

• VGA or 640x480: Common in early generations of computer monitors, these have mostly gone the way of the dinosaur.
• SVGA or 800x600: Good enough for low-cost consumer electronics; users generally upgrade to XGA when they can.
• XGA or 1024x768: The most popular resolution, according to recent surveys; good enough for any use.
• WXGA or 1280x800: XGA in widescreen format; very good for standard definition home theaters.
• SXGA or 1280x1024: The resolution for high definition TV or detail-oriented professional presentations, such as architecture or engineering.
• UXGA or 1600x1200 / QXGA or 2048x1536: The resolution you need if your home theater is the size of Radio City Music Hall.

Brightness: Light output determines the visibility of an image in a room. Measured in lumens, projectors range from about 200 to 10,000. If you need to view the image with room lights on, you'll want a projector with a higher lumen count. Home theater projectors rated at 1,000 to 2,000 lumens are suited to a dark room. Business or education users who have lights on during presentations will prefer projectors rated 2000-3000 lumens. Still higher numbers are needed when in very large or very brightly-lit amphitheaters. Many projectors offer variable brightness (a dimmer switch, if you will).

Contrast ratio: Measures the difference between brightest white and darkest black of an image. LCD projectors start around 400:1; LCoS projectors about 600:1 and DLP projectors at 2,000:1. Higher contrast ratios produce more defined pictures: 5,000:1 is very good; 10,000:1 is very impressive; 20,000:1 is very expensive.

Projector buying tips

There are several ways to use projectors, each with its own considerations:

Mobile presenter
For the salesperson, consultant, after-dinner speaker or others who rarely present in the same place twice, the prime projector consideration is portability. Other points to consider: a variety of connections (cable, computer, wireless), variable brightness and versatility enough to work in a large hall or small office.

Business
Managers and executives in the conference room or boardroom will likely be more satisfied with ceiling- or wall-mounted projectors. Size isn't an issue, but you want the device out of the way. Key points: a quiet fan and good speaker connections; brightness of 2,000 to 5,000 lumens; computer or wireless connection; high resolution (WXGA or SXGA) and high-contrast ratio if technical documents or lots of text will be displayed.

Non-profit
Every year, more schools, churches, libraries and other community groups are using interactive, technology-based programs. Not-for-profit operations always have price (or the name of someone they can hit up for donations) on their minds, so SVGA or XGA projectors will be serious cost-conscious contenders. In fact, basic home theater projectors are good enough for most uses. Mounting or portability will depend on the situation; some groups have just one media room, some will need to use their projector in several rooms in sequence or at the same time. Key points: brightness of 2000-5000 lumens; quiet fans; good connectivity (especially audio); locks or other accessories like those used for computer security.

Home theater
The home theater projector user wants real movie-theater quality; excellent color, detail and sound. WXGA or SXGA resolution is where you should start, and the ability to project big images is a major plus. Key points: brightness above 2,000; contract ratio above 5,000:1; good color saturation; great audio connections. The simple truth for a true home theater aficionado: Spend what you must to get the projector you want and don't look back. Your years of viewing pleasure will long outlast the time you remember the bill.

Additional projector components

Lamp
This is a major consideration, as lamps can cost hundreds of dollars to replace. You want a lamp with a long service life. Many projector lamps list 2,000 hours; this is good. Some high-end models list a life of 60,000 hours; this is impressive and pricey. Be sure to take care of your projector lamp to maximize its life and have a spare handy, since no one can know exactly how long any individual lamp will last.

Screen
A good projector screen is necessary for the best viewing. Four basic options are available:

• White wall: The least expensive projector screen option is not to buy one, just paint a wall white. This is even simpler for apartment dwellers, as the management has probably already done it for you. Obviously, this is also the lowest picture-quality option.
• Free standing: Also called tripod projector screens, it's like the ones that wandered from classroom to classroom in elementary school. This projector screen is inexpensive but not aesthetically pleasing.
• Wall mounted: These projector screens bolt to the wall and retract when not in use. Some include motors for automatic raising/lowering; some mount behind covers to hide the mechanism and are unnoticeable when retracted.
• Fixed-frame: This projector screen looks like a flat-panel television without any electronics; it's light enough to mount on almost any wall.

Gain: describes the reflectivity of the projector screen and viewing angle; 1 is comparable to a white-wall type screen. You can find gain as high as 4, though 2 is generally the max. There is a trade-off; as reflectivity increases, viewing angle decreases so you can't sit way off to the side of the projector screen and still see a good image.

Size: Like resolution, this is expressed as a ratio of width to height: Square: 1:1 -- square projector screens are not very common with projector TVs, but they are available. Fullscreen: 4:3 -- like a standard television, these projector screens can switch between full and widescreen with very little loss of watchability. Widescreen: 16:9 -- most high definition television and movies are shot in this format, so get a projector screen that doesn't short-change you with lots of blank space top and bottom.

Projector care

Do: Wipe the projector exterior clean with a lint-free cloth dampened with a little isopropyl alcohol (or, better yet, a 50-50 isopropyl-water mix) then wipe dry. Get a can of air and blow the dust out of any openings. If the room gets a lot of dust, pet dander, etc., use an air purifier. Consider a dehumidifier if working in a humid climates. (Both are available in the Overstock.com home store!)

Do not: Turn off your projector. (Instead, turn the lamp off, let the fan run until the lamp is cool to the touch; then shut down.) Expose consumer electronics to extreme temperatures or rapid temperature changes. Connect directly to the power grid. (Use power protection -- a surge protector and a UPS.)

Other projector features

Some accessories to consider:

• Carrying cases for portable projectors
• Lenses, including wide angle, telephoto, zoom
• or mounting kits for wall or ceiling
• Remote controls
• Wireless adapters to connect your projector to your media center PC or intranet

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