How to Choose a Home Theatre Projector
- 1). Decide how much light your room will have when you are using your projector. Rooms with ambient light will require a brighter projector to produce a good quality image, meaning that you should focus on a projector's rated lumen output. Conversely, in a darker room, you will need less light from your projectors, making its light output less important.
- 2). Identify what resolution you need to have. Projectors are available in a number of resolutions, although two of the most popular are 720p and 1080p. If you will be watching a lot of lower-resolution material, a 720p projector may be adequate. Conversely, if you either plan on watching a great deal of 1080p material, or plan on sitting relatively close to the screen, you should look at a 1080p projector.
- 3). Measure your room and the distance between your projector and screen. This distance is called a throw distance, and will determine which projectors you can use. You should also consider the placement of your projector. Projectors with lens shift are more flexible in terms of where you can put them than projectors with fixed lens positions.
- 4). Choose between LCD and DLP. The best way to do this is to look at the image produced by a DLP projector. They are prone to something called the "rainbow effect," although it is invisible to the majority of the population. If you see it and are bothered by it, though, you should only consider an LCD projector. If you do not, either technology can work well for you. LCD projectors typically offer quieter operation than DLP projectors, but DLP projectors are frequently a little bit brighter and less prone to internal dust.
- 5). Consider what additional features you need. Higher-end projectors will frequently offer better picture quality, as well as more light output with less noise. They can also offer additional inputs, as well as easier configuration and placement through such features as motorized remote-control zoom, focus and lens shift. Some projectors offer built-in audio or even a built-in DVD player, making them self-contained home theater units.
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