Home Video Projector Guide
Big Screens, Big Choices: Projector vs. Plasma
If budget constraints have been delaying your purchase of that large-
screen plasma TV you've been lusting after, there is another home
theater format you may wish to consider: a new home projector and a
large white screen. When used in conjunction with a high quality video
source such as cable, satellite, a DVD player, a computer or a game
system, the results can be truly amazing. And the overall cost amazingly
low.
Projectors: Cheap, Simple and Portable
The new crop of home theater projectors can provide you with a bigger
picture than is now possible with even the largest plasma set, at a
fraction of the cost, especially when you're comparing it on a cost-per
-square-inch of viewing-space basis. The cheapest projector will run you
less than $1,000 plus another $200-$600 for a special display screen.
You could easily pay thousands more for plasma set, depending on the
brand and size.
Projected picture size, with quality roughly comparable to that
delivered by plasma technology, can be well over twice the size of a 42"
screen, for approximately 50% of the cost of the cheapest 42" plasma set
now sold. Savings are even more dramatic as you move up in plasma screen
size, where a matter of inches can cost you thousands of additional
dollars. Add in the facts that a projector can weigh less than five
pounds and be easily moved from room to room, and portable screens can
be stored when not in use, and you can see the appeal, especially if you
need mobility and space is at a premium.
Projection: What it's all about
If you've ever sat in a business meeting and watched somebody hook up
their laptop to a projector, displaying their latest PowerPoint
presentation big enough for everybody in the boardroom to view at once,
you've already been exposed to the basic idea. However, the new
dedicated home use projectors are a quantum leap forward in the quality
of picture presentation and sound reproduction. DLP and LCD, the two
main picture projection technologies, have reached the level of
development needed to serve the discerning video enthusiast looking for
a high-quality home theater viewing and listening experience.
Two Projector Types: DLP & LCD
Essentially, consumers end up choosing between these two technologies:
LCD, which passes light through three LCD glass panels to project the
video image, and DLP, which uses a newer reflective-surface chip made up
of countless tiny mirrors to produce its video image. When used in
conjunction with high-quality, digital-image sourcing such as DVD
players and PS2 players, both types of projector can provide excellent
movie, TV and game presentation in mega-jumbo image size. The effect,
when coupled with a powerful surround-sound system, can indeed place one
in the thick of the action in the comfort of one's own home. As is
always the case, it is best if the potential buyer can actually
experience the two technologies in a side-by-side viewing test. But
failing that, a rule of thumb might be that the less you are able to
totally control the lighting situation in your chosen viewing room, the
more you should consider a DLP set. DLP tends to have a higher total
brightness level and therefore offer maximum viewing quality in
situation of higher ambient light.
Other Factors to Consider
Three other measurements important in choosing a home projector are:
SVGA vs. XGA — this refers to the total number of pixels making up a
projector's screen image. There's no need to equivocate, the more pixels
the better and sharper the image quality. SVGA has an 800 x 600 pixel
count. XGA's pixel count is considerably higher: 1024 x 768. All things
being equal, get the highest pixel count your budget allows.
Brightness — the brightness of a projector is measured in ANSI lumens.
The more lumens the brighter the screen image. Again, it's generally a
good idea
