Projector Review

Projectors produce the biggest pictures

Prices on many high-definition digital projectors -- once the realm of only the most expensive home theater setups -- have fallen to the point where they are now a practical alternative to other types of big-screen TVs. Quality mainstream high-definition (HD) digital projectors cost about as much as good plasma or LCD HD sets. (See our reports on plasma TVs and LCD TVs for more on those technologies.) However, since digital projectors are capable of producing images of more than 100 inches (measured diagonally), they deliver far more picture for the money. Of course, to complete a home theater you'll need an audio system and a screen (a white wall can work in a pinch).

This report focuses on widescreen projectors with enough resolution to display high-definition signals from a cable box, satellite receiver or high-definition DVD player. Lower-resolution projectors are also available. These are best for business presentations and watching the occasional DVD because their resolution is too low to do justice to HDTV. Most are not widescreen models. These are covered in our separate report on business projectors.

For this update, we found lots of helpful projector reviews. The reviews at ProjectorReviews.com go on for pages and are packed with tons of technical information. ProjectorCentral.com does a similarly excellent job. The reports posted at AVGuide.com are also very good, and many projectors -- particularly higher-end models -- are covered, but the site is a pain to use. Two British sites, TrustedReviews.com and TechRadar.com, publish lots of projector reviews, and many of the projectors covered are also available in versions for the U.S. market. While ConsumerReports.org also covers a good number of models, discussion is brief and their latest update is growing old. You can also visit CNET, Sound & Vision magazine and Home Theater magazine to read a smaller number of detailed home theater projector reviews.

In the past, we've generally found that video projectors based on digital light processing (DLP) technology were a preferred choice for their balance of performance and price, despite some serious shortcomings of their own, such as limited installation options. If you glance through our ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed picks this time around, you'll see that's no longer the case. Notably, LCD projectors, formerly considered a budget choice, have moved to the head of the class. Price, indeed, is one reason. Another is that LCD technology for video projectors has improved to the point where image differences are small to non-existent, except for extreme high-end projectors. Because of that, experts now largely prefer LCD projectors for budget and mid-range home theaters.

Compared to other types of television displays, including LCD TVs and plasma TVs, home theater projectors produce the largest image at the lowest cost, but require good control over room lighting as well as an external tuner or other video source (such as a Blu-ray player, DVD player or cable box), and most require a separate audio system. While a white wall will do in a pinch, you'll need to budget extra for a screen. Projectors can throw an image that's 100 inches or more (measured diagonally), much bigger than the typical -- or even very large -- LCD or plasma TV.

Of course, you'll need a pretty big room, and there are other setup issues. For a permanent installation, it's best to place the projector on a high shelf or drop a shelf from the ceiling. You can place it on a coffee table as well, but consider that people and pets might sometimes block the image. Some technologies have built-in limits on where a projector can be located relative to the screen. Plus, you'll need to run cords to your speakers and cable box or satellite receiver. You'll also need to replace the projector's lamp in about 3,000 hours at a cost of $250 or more.