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ProjectorsYou are here: Electronics >> ProjectorsUpdated December 2007Projector basicsWhile they share many common characteristics, business projectors and home-theater projectors serve very different functions and have very different audiences. For business users, projectors have mostly taken the place of the overhead projectors of yesteryear. Mobile professionals hook up a projector to a computer, projecting an image on a large screen or wall for presentations. The DVD player in your computer or a component DVD player can project movies or video demonstrations. Most business-oriented projectors weigh between 2 and 10 pounds, and usually come with carrying cases and wireless remote controls. The maximum resolution of business projectors is usually SVGA (800 x 600 pixels) or XGA (1024 x 768 pixels), although widescreen business projectors with WVGA resolution (854 x 480 pixels) are also available. See our separate report on business projectors for more information on these. Budget home-theater projectors with WVGA resolutions are also available, and those are fine for watching DVDs or standard-definition TV. But given the steep drop in prices for HD-capable models, these projectors are not the relative bargain they once were. Instead, reviewers say you should look for a projector that's at least capable of displaying a 720p HDTV signal at its full resolution (1280 x 720 pixels) if you want the best home-theater experience. Some 720p projectors actually have a native resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels. Those projectors are also able to display full frame computer XGA signals (1024 x 768 pixels) at their native resolution without cropping or compression. Projectors capable of displaying 1080i or 1080p HDTV images at full resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) are now widely available as well. While these are still expensive compared to 720p models, rapidly falling prices make them a viable option for home theaters. See our separate report on HDTV for more information about HDTV resolutions. Home-theater projectors don't have their own tuners (so they can't display television signals from an antenna), but they can display HDTV signals from a cable box or satellite receiver. Look for at least one HDMI input. HDMI connections are all-digital and are the preferred way to send high-definition signals from one piece of equipment to another. In addition, HDMI is compatible with HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a copy-protection scheme incorporated into new high-definition DVD players. DVI connections are also all-digital, and some projectors have HDCP-compliant DVI inputs instead of HDMI. Be aware that an inexpensive adapter can convert a DVI input to HDMI. You'll often see projectors touting their brightness and contrast specifications. Brightness, measured in lumens, is absolutely vital for business projectors that are used in conference rooms with standard lighting, but it is also very important for home-theater projectors. While the image created by any home-theater projector will be adversely affected by excess ambient light, a brighter projector will generally fare better. The contrast ratio refers to the difference between the darkest black and brightest white in a projected image. A higher contrast ratio means that dark scenes will be darker and more cinematic. Keep in mind that manufacturer brightness and contrast claims are almost always inflated, but they at least give you a starting point to compare projectors. All projectors use lamps that must be periodically replaced. Average lamp life is about 3,000 hours, and replacement lamps cost $250 and up. A few models have long-life lamps rated to last longer. Although projectors have warranties that range from one to three years, lamps are usually only under warranty for 90 days. Projector technologies: DLP, LCD and LCoSWhen you start shopping for a projector, you'll immediately notice that there are two main projector technologies on the market: digital light processing (DLP) and liquid crystal display (LCD). Historically, DLP projectors boasted better contrast and black levels, while LCD projectors had better color saturation with less fan noise and lower operating temperatures. Because of improvements in both technologies, those historic differences have narrowed. LCD projectors still have a brightness advantage, but DLP projectors tend to be a bit smaller because the technology takes up less space. There are some other significant differences between the two technologies that could make one or the other more suitable for you. Single-chip DLP projectors (all but the most expensive DLP projectors fall in this category) suffer from what is known as the "rainbow effect." Because of the way these DLP projectors generate an image, a small percentage of viewers see occasional flashes of color. Only a small number of viewers are bothered to the point of annoyance by the rainbow effect, and most people aren't even susceptible to the phenomenon. However, until you try watching a DLP television, there's no way to know if you are affected. In addition, many DLP projectors are finicky about where they are placed relative to the screen, making finding a suitable location trickier than with an LCD projector. Higher end DLP projectors often incorporate lens shift, which lets users slightly reposition the lens up, down, right or left, which makes finding a good spot for the projector a little easier. LCD projectors tend to suffer from what is known as the "screen-door effect" -- images sometimes look like they would if you were viewing them through a screen door. However, advances in LCD technology have minimized the effect, and it is really not much of a factor in 1080p projectors. Experts say DLP still has the upper hand in black levels and contrast, therefore producing the most cinematic image. LCD projectors still hold a slight price advantage over DLP projectors with similar image quality and features. The third projection technology is liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS). LCoS technology first debuted on top-dollar theater projectors and is now available on some sub-$5,000 models. While there are still relatively few LCoS models, they generally fare pretty well in reviews thanks to their outstanding picture quality. That's especially true of LCoS projectors that offer 1080p resolution. Experts say LCoS benefits from great black levels and contrast, and freedom from the rainbow effect. However, while prices are dropping, LCoS projectors remain significantly more expensive than other types. Budget home-theater projectorsAccording to Sound & Vision magazine's Al Griffin, at their current prices, 720p projectors are an "incredible deal." These are HD-capable, but they don't have the very highest resolution. That makes them a good deal for non-picky viewers, and for those who plan to sit a fair distance from the screen. This type of projector is also excellent for watching DVD movies. No 720p home-theater projector gets more positive recognition from critics than the venerable Optoma HD72 (*est. $1,420) . This 720p (1280 x 768 pixels) DLP projector has earned praise from all quarters for its excellent performance. ProjectorCentral.com's Evan Powell goes as far as to call the Optoma HD72 a "reference quality projector." Thanks to the use of the Texas Instruments (TI) DarkChip2 DMD (digital micromirror device) DLP chip, black levels are called “good,” with critics saying that very dark areas look rich and deep. Among the Optoma HD72's other positives is the use of TI's BrilliantColor feature, which makes it easy for novices to adjust the color characteristics of an image without having to do serious calibration. At the same time, videophiles have plenty of controls to tweak as needed. Downsides include some uneven grayscale performance and shadow detail that doesn't quite match that of the very best projectors. ProjectorCentral.com and ProjectorReviews.com both comment on the limited range of the supplied remote control. Reviews note that the Optoma HD72's lens shift is not adjustable, which can make it a little challenging to install in some rooms (a typical shortcoming of DLP projectors in this price class). In the end, however, all agree that in terms of value and performance (for its price class), the Optoma HD72 is hard to beat. Those on a tighter budget might want to consider the Optoma HD70 (*est. $1,000) . ProjectorCentral.com's Bill Livolsi notes that the HD70 and HD72 are similar. The big difference is in resolution. The HD70 is a 1280 x 720 projector, which means that XGA or WXGA data images (such as from a computer) must be compressed for display, while the HD72, with its 1280 x 768 resolution, can display those signals without compression. Of course, if you won't be using your projector for viewing anything but HD video, that's a distinction that should not matter too much. Otherwise, Livolsi says the Optoma HD72 just edges out the HD70 in some areas. Blacks and shadow detail are slightly better in the HD72, but that is only noticeable if the two are viewed side by side. Livolsi also noted more color gradations with the HD70, primarily due to its 8-bit color processing, versus 10 bit on the HD72. Reports diverge on color accuracy, with some saying it is pretty good and others finding it off. Image processing is a mixed bag, with the HD70 able to handle 480i content (such as standard definition TV) pretty well, but struggling when fed 1080i (such as high-definition TV signals). The Perfect Vision's Scott Wilkinson notes that light output for the Optoma HD70 is "lower than ideal," meaning the HD70 is best used in dark rooms and with smaller "6 feet across" screens, but otherwise is a tremendous bargain. "If you’re on a budget but crave the big-screen experience that only a front-projector can deliver, you’d be hard pressed to find a better value," Wilkinson writes. Reviews agree that the more upscale Optoma HD73 (*est. $1,910) is an excellent projector for watching movies, but that it asks for a lot from the user in return. According to ProjectorReviews.com, the HD73 is one of the least bright projectors currently offered. That means it is really only suitable for dark viewing rooms and is best paired with small (sub-100 inch) screens. Projector placement is also finicky in tests. However, the Optoma HD73 includes several enhancements that could make the costs and limitations worthwhile. First, this home-theater projector uses TI's DarkChip3 DMD DLP chip, which produces blacks that are deeper and inkier still than the DarkChip2 noted above. Scaling and deinterlacing are a step better than the HD72 thanks to the presence of Faroudja DCDi processing technology. Also, the color wheel spins somewhat faster, which can help reduce -- but not eliminate -- the rainbow effect for those who can see it. (Rainbow effect in DLP projectors makes a small percentage of viewers see quick flashes of solid color on the screen.) For even less, consider the Mitsubishi HC1500 (*est. $885) . ProjectorReviews.com's Art Feierman has compared the Mitsubishi to the Optoma HD70, giving the Mitsubishi the overall nod. Though black levels and shadow detail are described as only average, Feierman says the Mitsubishi projector has a clear edge in brightness and a small edge in sharpness. He is also impressed with color performance, especially the Mitsubishi HC1500's ability to reproduce accurate and believable flesh tones. Critics note only a few negatives. The Mitsubishi HC1500 is a 1280 x 720 projector, which makes it great for viewing HD video, but not for displaying data or presentations. More significantly, like every budget DLP projector mentioned thus far, the HC1500 lacks lens shift. That means finding a suitable and convenient location for the projector can be tricky in some viewing rooms -- a problem that's complicated further still by the relatively small 1.2x zoom. But, as ProjectorCentral.com's Evan Powell writes, "If your installation can accommodate the limitations of its zoom range and fixed throw angle, you will not find a better picture for the money under $1,000 at this time." While DLP has had an advantage over LCD in the eyes of critics and enthusiasts for a while now, LCD has been making strong strides and appears to have largely closed the gap. One standout is the Panasonic PT-AX200U (*est. $1,300) . Reviews say that the Panasonic projector makes a number of small refinements to last year's well-regarded PT-AX100U, plus one big change: it sells for substantially less. Like its predecessor, the PT-AX200U includes Smooth Screen technology to help smooth out pixel structure. Experts say that this technology eliminates any sign of screen-door effect (a pixilated effect sometimes seen with LCD projectors), even at close viewing distances, though ProjectorReviews.com notes some slight image softness. Light output is excellent, and a "light harmonizer" feature adjusts light output depending on ambient light. LCD technology does not have the same placement limitations as DLP, and the long 2x zoom helps ensure that the Panasonic PT-AX200U projector can be used in just about any viewing room. Beyond price, the Panasonic PT-AX200U has a few noteworthy upgrades over the older PT-AX100U. It sports an additional HDMI input. There's also a pre-programmed game mode for displaying games that might otherwise be too dark if the projector is left in its normal setting for viewing video. The projector's buffer is also reduced in the game mode, reducing lag time for better game play. The Sony VPL-AW15 (*est. $1,310) is another LCD home-theater projector that's gotten some positive attention from critics. It bested two competitors in a shootout among three budget projectors at Sound & Vision. Al Griffin says that this Sony projector has a lot going for it. Viewing images on a 100-foot screen, he says the image is crisp, and adds that the auto iris feature, which adjusts light output with image content, really improves image contrast in dark movies and delivers deep, inky blacks. However, unlike the Panasonic LCD projector above, screen-door effect is visible and distracting at close viewing distances. Image uniformity is also not good; this showed up as pink and green tinting in dark scenes of black and white movies, but not at all when viewing color programs. Best 1080p home-theater projectorsA resolution of 1080p is currently the holy grail in HDTV. That's because 1080p televisions are capable of displaying every line of the two prevailing HDTV image resolutions -- the highest of which is 1920 x 1080 pixels. Other TVs, including the 720p projectors discussed above, have to scale down any 1920 x 1080 content -- including most HDTV broadcasts -- to fit the display's native resolution. While viewers won't notice a huge difference between 720p and 1080p in a small HDTV (42 inches and under), the difference in resolution becomes more apparent when the image measures more than 50 inches or so. While 1080p projectors remain more expensive than most 720p options, the gap is closing fast and 1080p projectors are quickly becoming more affordable for those looking for the best possible home-theater experience. In fact, Evan Powell at ProjectorCentral.com says, "The biggest story of the past two years in the projector industry has been the rapid collapse of 1080p pricing." Until now, much of the charge toward lower prices has been led by manufacturers using LCD or LCoS technology. DLP, however, has charged to the front, led by the sub-$3,000 Optoma HD80 (*est. $2,700) . It receives lots of positive comments for both value and performance. Accolades include a Certified & Recommended award from Sound & Vision magazine and one of just three Editors' Choice awards from ProjectorCentral.com. "I want to restrain myself from using too many gushing superlatives," writes ProjectorCentral.com's Evan Powell, "but it will be difficult, because the HD80 is simply a magnificent projector for the money." Al Griffin at Sound & Vision is less effusive, but concurs: "The Optoma HD80 1080p DLP front projector is one I'd be thrilled to have installed permanently in my home." Price alone might have been enough to thrill reviewers, but all report that the HD80 delivers the goods when it comes to picture quality. Powell compliments the contrast, black level, sharpness and color, saying they combine to create a "riveting home theater experience." He adds that the HD80 outputs enough light to accommodate a variety of screen sizes and room settings. Griffin largely agrees, but says brightness is only "adequate" for dark-room viewing on a 100-inch screen. He adds that there's a bright lamp mode that increases brightness considerably, but that also increases fan noise -- which isn't all that quiet to begin with. He also says that some minor false contouring (producing blobs of color in what should be gradual gradations) is also seen on rare occasions. Like many DLP projectors, the major shortcoming here is finicky installation requirements. Like Optoma's budget priced 720p DLP projectors, you won't find lens shift, and the zoom lens is limited to 1.2x, greatly restricting placement. Griffin said that for a 100-inch screen, the placement range was only 13.5 to 16 feet away -- "a tight squeeze." The more expensive Optoma HD81 (*est. $4,000) is a full-resolution DLP projector that's met with good, though less enthusiastic reviews. Audioholics.com's Clint DeBoer compliments the picture quality, saying the HD81 is a "bright, colorful and visually stunning projector." He notes that the projector uses TI's more advanced DarkChip3 DLP chip, which produces blacks that experts say are even deeper and richer than those from projectors using the DarkChip2 DLP chip, discussed above. DeBoer is also impressed with the Optoma home-theater projector's separate outboard video processor, which includes a wealth of signal inputs. However, his testing revealed a few operational glitches, and he is disappointed in the short zoom range and lack of lens shift, which, again, makes installing this projector tricky. ProjectorCentral.com's Bill Livolsi is also impressed with the Optoma HD81, especially at its current street prices. He also notes that despite the presence of an advanced outboard video processor, upscaling performance with 480i material (converting the resolution of standard TV to fit the available pixels) is less than ideal. The Sharp XV-Z20000 (*est. $7,000) is another 1080p DLP projector that gets excellent reviews overall. However, two reviewers (CNet.com and Home Theater magazine) note that colors are just slightly inaccurate. Furthermore, other 1080p projectors perform as well for far less. The BenQ W10000 (*est. $3,700) is another 1080p DLP projector that fares well in several reviews, and its price is much more in line with competing 1080p projectors. Strong points are excellent performance including great color, black levels and brightness. The biggest negative we've seen in reviews is that connectivity is not great and includes just one HDMI input. In addition to installation challenges, DLP projectors are a non-starter for users who can see the rainbow effect. Though that's only a very small percentage, it's no consolation if that percentage happens to include you. For users susceptible to the rainbow effect, projectors using LCoS or LCD technology are a better choice. Unfortunately, you won't know if you are one of the unlucky few until you try viewing a DLP projector or rear-projection TV in person. Sony was the first to bring a more modestly priced 1080p projector to market, and though it's not the bargain it once was, the LCoS-based Sony VPL-VW100 (*est. $6,735) remains available. CNet.com's Gary Merson says that the Sony VPL-VW100 projector delivers top-notch video quality with just about any source. High-def DVDs and HDTV broadcasts all look great, with excellent black levels, and even standard-definition TV shows look good. The Perfect Vision's Jonathan Valin adds that the picture looks sharper than most, but that its brightness level is more suitable for screen sizes of 85 inches or less. Some reviews note that colors are not the most accurate, but that they generally look good. That projector has been joined by the Sony VPL-VW200 (*est. $15,000). We have not yet seen a professional review of this projector, but an article at Gizmodo.com notes that differences include a better native contrast ratio for improved blacks and shadow detail. There's also support for 120 fps frame rate, which is supposed to eliminate artifacts such as image softening during fast motion -- though the success of that has been mixed at best in HDTVs that are using other technologies, such as LCD flat panel HDTVs. There's also an Ethernet port for streaming video and other multimedia content from a computer. Whether all of that is worth the price -- more than double that of the still-available VPL-VW100 -- is an open question we hope to address when the professional reviews begin to come in for the Sony VPL-VW200. Sony also offers a couple of less expensive LCoS projectors. Critics say that the Sony VPL-VW50 (*est. $3,500) delivers a picture that is very good, but not perfect. Black levels and contrast are first-rate, and colors are appealing, although some tweaking may be required to get things looking the best. On the negative side of things, different reviewers had different -- and sometimes sharply contrasting -- quibbles. For example, ProjectorCentral.com's Evan Powell and ProjectorReviews.com's Art Feierman call the image soft, yet CNet.com's Kevin Miller says that HD content appears quite sharp. Sound & Vision magazine reviewer Al Griffin notes some serious uniformity issues, but we did not see that complaint echoed anywhere else. Several reviewers note that this is not the brightest projector available, meaning it's best for more modest screen sizes of 80 to 90 inches. While the Sony VPL-VW50 remains current, Sony has also introduced its eventual replacement, the Sony VPL-VW60 (*est. $5,000) home-theater projector. In a review at Home Theater magazine, Geoffrey Morrison does not find that all that much difference between the two projectors. The biggest change is a much higher contrast ratio specification, but Morrison points out that while the contrast ratio is better on the Sony VPL-VW60, the specification itself is greatly inflated because of the action of the auto iris. Morrison also notes that image processing seems to be slightly improved. The bottom line is that the Sony VPL-VW60 performs slightly -- but only slightly -- better than the Sony VPL-VW50 projector. With its currently lower street prices, that leaves the Sony VPL-VW50 as the better buy -- if you can find it. Availability on both projectors is tight at the moment. JVC 1080p LCoS projectors also meet with a fair amount of acclaim. The JVC DLA-RS1's (*est. $4,990) claim to fame is its outstanding image quality. For example, Peter Putman at HDTVExpert.com says that color, grayscale tracking and gamma performance are all excellent, as are black levels and contrast. Some image softness is seen, but is not considered a major problem. ProjectorReviews.com's Art Feierman is even more effusive, calling the JVC DLA-RS1 the best overall projector he's seen for under $10,000. JVC has announced the home-theater projector's eventual replacement, the JVC DLA-RS2 (*est. $8,000). That projector had not begun shipping as of press time and we've not seen a formal review of it. ProjectorReviews.com's Art Feierman got a sneak peek at one and reports that there are a few significant changes. The biggest appears to be a doubling of the contrast ratio, resulting in even better black levels. "Although I couldn't compare them side by side, black levels appeared improved from the RS1, which already had, what most have considered to be, the best black level performance of any under $10,000 projector." JVC's "Procision" line of high end products includes two home-theater projectors: the JVC DLA-HD1 (*est. $5,500) and JVC DLA-HD100 (*est. $8,000). We've seen lots of great reviews for the DLA-HD1, but availability is very, very tight. Thomas J. Norton at UltimateAV.com echoes the majority when he says that the projector is bright and compelling, and can make even standard-definition material look enough like HD to fool an average viewer. The JVC DLA-HD100 is brand new and we've seen no professional reports as of the time of this update. The most significant difference between it and the DLA-HD1 appears to be a doubling of the contrast ratio (to 30,000:1), without resorting to Sony's iris trickery. Look for a report on this projector in our next update. While LCD technology has long been criticized for issues such as poor black levels and contrast, along with visible pixel structure that make it appear as if the picture is being viewed through a screen door, reviews say that the latest 1080p LCD projectors do not have these problems. In our last update, the Panasonic PT-AE1000U 1080p projector was lauded for delivering great performance at a budget (at the time) price. Now, that projector has been replaced by the Panasonic PT-AE2000U (*est. $2,700) , and critics are again lauding it for delivering better performance at an even more attractive price. Like most 1080p projectors, pixel structure is very tight, making screen-door effect a non-issue. But to make sure, Panasonic's Smooth Screen technology is used to eliminate it completely. ProjectorCentral.com's Evan Powell says that despite the presence of Smooth Screen, the Panasonic PT-AE2000U is the sharpest 1080p projector he's seen to date. The projector's performance with high-definition material is especially exceptional, Powell reports, though performance with standard definition is only average. Reviews also say that black levels are surprisingly deep -- able to compete with DLP -- as is contrast, which means the home-theater projector is good at showing details in shadows. Initial reports say that color is also outstanding, though one reviewer struggled with out-of-the box issues on a pre-production sample he received. The Panasonic projector's long zoom length and high degree of vertical lens shift means that placement is very flexible, but using extreme zoom and shift settings decreases overall brightness and brightness uniformity (although brightness is much improved compared to its predecessor). Ergonomics, features and connectivity are all good. In terms of value, the Panasonic PT-AE2000U home-theater projector's chief competitor is the Sanyo PLV-Z2000 (*est. $2,500) . However, most reviews place that projector a step behind. Both ProjectorCentral.com and ProjectorReviews.com compare the two projectors head to head. Evan Powell says that the Sanyo PV-Z2000 isn't a bad performer, and is a reasonable value given its lower price. Still, he concludes that if you have the cash, the Panasonic PT-AE2000U is worth the difference in terms of contrast, color saturation and brightness. However, the Sanyo projector is a much better standard-definition performer and a compelling choice if your viewing habits include a lot of SD DVDs. CNet.com found some issues with color accuracy, but again says that the Sanyo PV-Z2000 projector is a very good value. Finally, Epson has a pair of nearly identical 1080p LCD projectors. The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 (*est. $2,500) is another good budget performer and is noteworthy for being the first 1080p projector to break the $3,000 barrier (although it now has plenty of company). Reviews agree that performance falls short of more expensive 1080p projectors, but not by that much. The biggest issue is in the area of black levels and contrast, but the projector still does a respectable job in that regard and displays a very good HD image overall, according to reviews. We saw a little disagreement among reviewers on image sharpness. ProjectorCentral.com, for example, says it is very good, but ProjectorReviews.com says there's room to improve, compared to the competition. Everyone agrees that the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is relatively noisy. The Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080 is essentially the same projector, but is sold at a premium and only by professional installers. Epson has also announced an update -- the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080UB/PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080UB. The projector has not yet begun shipping, but the street price for the home version is expected to be under $3,000. Important Features: ProjectorsHere's what experts say to consider when buying a home-theater projector:
Image size and brightnessManufacturers usually specify a minimum and maximum image size for their projectors. Note that these are theoretical numbers that often have little to do with how an image will actually look. Typically, at the high end of the scale, the image will not be bright enough to look very good, while at the low end of the scale, images might actually be too bright. For a projected image to look first rate, it needs to have "sufficient brightness," which is defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) as between 12 and 22 foot-Lamberts (fL), with an ideal of 16 fL. That recommendation is for a dark room such as a movie theater or a home-theater room with good to great light control. You’ll of course need a brighter image for a typical living room -- figure 25 to 35 fL. Image brightness is determined by a number of factors, most notably projector brightness, screen gain, image size and the distance between the projector and screen (the throw distance). There are a number of good calculators on the Internet that do the math for you, making specific recommendations on optimal screen size. One of the best we’ve seen is at ProjectorCentral.com. That calculator includes a database of almost every past and present home-theater projector. The calculator lets you easily experiment with different throw distances and diagonal screen sizes to see how the two interact to influence screen brightness. It also reports other important information such as maximum room lighting levels for the intended use, recommended seating distances from the screen and more. We used Projector Central's calculator to figure optimal screen size and throw distance for the projectors included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Of course, these will vary according to the lighting conditions in your room. The Optoma HD72 and HD80 and Panasonic PT-AE2000U will look their best (at 16 fL) with an image size of around 110 inches (measured diagonally). The Mitsubishi HC1500 and Panasonic PT-AX200U will look good and have the same brightness at 125 inches.
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
* Also see our Comparison Chart.
Experts say that the falling prices of high-definition front projectors are nothing short of astounding. It's now possible to get a good performing 720p projector like the Mitsubishi HC1500 for less than $1,000, and great performing projectors like the Optoma HD72 or Panasonic PT-AX200U for just a little bit more. The drop in prices for 1080p projectors is even more dramatic, with great options available at less than ten percent of their cost of just three years ago. Examples include the DLP-based Optoma HD80, which has floored critics with its performance and value, and the Panasonic PT-AE2000E, a top performing LCD projector that's nearly as good, but without the installations issues and rainbow effect of DLP. Availability issues and prices prevent us from currently recommending LCoS projectors like Sony's new VPL-VW60, but critics love its picture quality.
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Digital front-projectors create the largest images at the lowest cost, but have limitations that don't make them suitable for many people and situations. Rear-projection TVs start as small as 42 inches, and screen sizes of 65 inches and larger are available, but they are bulkier than a flat-screen TV or a projector screen. Plasma and LCD TVs are thin and can be hung on a wall, but screen sizes are smaller. See our reports on televisions , plasma TV , LCD TV and projection TV for more on those technologies. Our report on HDTV has more information on high-definition formats. We found several terrific articles and buyer's guides outlining the types of TVs and explaining HDTV technology. The HDTV Resource Center on Sound & Vision's website delves into the different display types available, discusses the different technologies used, explains precisely what is and what is not HDTV and explores issues like scaling, deinterlacing, contrast ratios and others, and why they are important. Consumer Reports also has a good guide to the types of televisions and to HDTV, as well as a discussion on the pros and cons of front-projection TVs and how to choose one that's right for you. However, you must be a website subscriber to read these articles. Many projector and HDTV-centric sites provide information on the different types of projection TVs and the ins and outs of setting up a home theater. For example, the Primer on Large-Screen Technology at HDTVExpert.com talks about the different display technologies and their advantages and disadvantages. Choosing Home Theater Projectors: LCD vs. DLP Projectors at ProjectorReviews.com is a head-to-head comparison of the two most popular technologies for home-theater projectors. Gizmodo.com is a great site to visit to keep up with the latest news in all things related to consumer electronics, including front projectors. Manufacturers' sites can provide you with more specific information and specs for a model you may be considering: Advertisement
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ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
