What brightness level do I require?
Brightness with all digital projectors is universally measured in ANSI Lumens. Traditionally the brightness level for dedicated home theatre projectors ranges from 1100 to 2000 ANSI Lumens. Your viewing environment will be a major factor in determining how bright your projector must be. In a dedicated home theatre (ie... dark rooms for cinema-like experience), a high brightness level is not required nor recommended. Most dedicated projectors do not go higher than 1600 Lumens. A higher brightness level in a cinema-style room will result in an overpowering display and decreased colour reproduction/quality.
For many, home theatre applications is just one of the uses they have purchased the projector for. In these cases we recommend the Multi-Use or Multi-Purpose projector ranges offered by brands such as BenQ and Mitsubishi. Multi-use projectors are designed for data projection, TV projection (ie watching the football in a lit room), and home theatre. These projectors are generally cheaper, offer a higher level of brightness, however overall image quality is lower compared to the more expensive dedicated home theatre projectors offered by brands such as Panasonic and Sony.
How much do I need to know about image quality? [top] For a dedicated home theatre room, there are 2 main quality factors to consider before making your purchase. These are:
Native Resolution
Contrast Ratio
A Native Resolution is essentially a measurement for the number of pixels being projected. The most common measurements are
SVGA - 800x600
XGA - 1024x768
WVGA - 854x480
WXGA - 1280x720 (High Definition 720p)
WUXGA - 1920x1080 (Full High Definition 1080p)
The most common resolution for home theatre applications is WXGA. This resolution will result in a widescreen high detail image. In some circumstances a widescreen image is not possible and therefore a projector with a standard native resolution of XGA is recommended.
Contrast Ratio is another important feature of a home theatre projector. Contrast defines how far the whitest whites are from the blackest blacks. If the peak white value is significantly different than the peak black value the signal is said to have high contrast resulting in well defined sharp colour's. A contrast of 1000:1 means that the blackest black on the image will be 1000 times darker than the whitest white.
For a dedicated home theatre projector, that will be used in a darkened room, a high contrast ratio greater than 2000:1 is required. For data projectors and some multi-use projectors a high contrast is not required as ambient light in the room reduces any ill-effect that a low contrast may cause. If you plan to use your projector mainly in a lit or even semi-lit room, the contrast ratio is not of vital significance.
What is native aspect ratio? [top] The most common aspect ratio's are 4:3 and 16:9. For home theatre use it is recommended that a projector with a native 16:9 aspect ratio be used. This is because the vast majority of DVD's and HDTV is encoded in the 16:9 format. Some projectors with a native 4:3 aspect ratio have the option to change to 16:9, however these projectors will simply crop the image to size resulting in a smaller image.
Should I ceiling mount my projector? [top] Before you begin the search for your home theatre projector, make the choice whether you would like to mount your projector to the ceiling or place it on a shelf or tabletop. Most projectors can easily be attached to the ceiling using a universal projector mount and cabling can be inbuilt into the ceiling by a qualified electrician.
Placing your projector on the ceiling will reduce the change of damage and creates a more 'classy' look. Before purchasing, we ask that you please contact our sales staff to make sure the projector you want is ceiling mountable. There are a few projectors that cannot be mounted traditionally using direct mounting holes and therefore may require a bracket or basket style holder.
If you wish to place your projector on a table or on shelving it will allow you to move the projector around easily and even take it with you to friends/family homes. Obviously once in operation please ensure the unit is clear from dust and that the projector cannot be easily knocked. The projector should never be moved once in operation or within 10 minutes of shut down. During this period the lamp is extremely hot and even slight movements can weaken it. Lamps are not covered under standard warranties and must be taken care of.
Are There any 3D Projectors? [top] 3D is a very new entrant in the projector and even TV market. There are currently three 3D standards:
Direct 3D - For connection to a Bluray Player, or games consoles
nVidia 3D Vision - For connection to a 3D enabled PC for 3D games & blurays
3D Link - For connecting to a 3D converter box like the 3D-XL for games movies and presentations.
What Inputs/Connections should I use?[top] Many people do not really consider the importance of having the right inputs. You should pick a projector with the right connections for your equipment.
The hierarchy of video quality:
- Best Quality
Digital High Definition video
DVI or HDMI
- Good Quality
Analogue High Definition Video
Component or
VGA (15pin D-sub)
- Basic Quality
Analogue Low Definition Video
S-Video or Composite video
What else should I look out for when buying? [top]
There are some cheaper projectors ($600-$900) being advertised by some retailers as being great for home theatre. These offer low resolutions and generally offer extremely poor image quality. At Just Projectors, we have declined offers from our suppliers to sell these as we feel they simply do not offer the quality that is required for home movies.
If you are interested in a discount alternative to some of the more expensive home theatre projectors, please call our office (1300 739 131) and speak to a qualified team member. Many projectors are available starting at approximately $1200 that may be suitable depending on your operating environment.
Before purchasing, whether from us or a competitor, please feel free to contact us to discuss the projector you are thinking of purchasing. We like to ensure you are getting the projector that's right for your needs. Many AV resellers and even some home theatre specialists only hold some models and therefore attempt to sell what they have in stock.
At Just Projectors we have a massive quantity of stock available, stored in distribution warehouses across Australia. We are therefore never pressured to sell one particular model or 'what we have lying around'.
What projectors do you recommend for home theatre? [top]
There are two main categories for home theatre, the first is Dedicated Home Theatre and the second is Home Movies (or multi-use). Dedicated home theatre projectors are those designed for optimal performance in a 'cinema' style room. They are traditionally fixed in the one room and rarely moved.
The second category of home movies (or multi-use) projectors are designed for both movies and data presentations. These projectors are great for watching the movies, sporting events, games consoles and even business presentations. They usually offer a higher level of brightness so are quite good for day time viewing or when the lights can't be turned down.
Below are some projectors we recommend for home theatre. If you are after units for a brighter room please click here to go the the multi-use page where we have recommendations for brighter situations.
Optoma HD67 High Definition DLP Home Theatre Projector
Optoma has made yet another strong performer with the HD67. This little powerhouse offers a high definition resolution of 1280 x 720 together with a massive 4000:1 contrast. The High definition resolution will give you great detail while the high contrast ratio provides good reproduction of dark shades and strong blacks. A feature that makes the HD67 stand out this is also one of the first home theatre projectors which can be upgraded to work with 3D movies using a 3D-XL box ($499).
The HD67 is one of the first DLP projectors to feature an amazing 6 segment colour wheel running at 3X speed ,ensuring awesome colour reproduction and eliminating the chance of seeing the rainbow effect visible in older model DLP projectors. Most DLP home theatre projectors on the market operate using a 5 and sometimes a 4 segment colour wheel.
With all the inputs you'll ever need, such as the 15pin D-Sub, Composite RCA, S-video, the new HDMI v1.3, and Component, the HD67 is very easy to connect to your dvd player or other theatre products. Additionally Optoma has included a 12v relay so you can connect certain motorised screens to the projector that can automatically lower or raise when the projector is turned on/off.
If your after a great high definition home theatre projector, that isn't going to cost you the earth, this is it!
BenQ W1100 Full Definition DLP Home Theatre Projector
BenQ have always been a big player in digital projectors and with the release of the W1100 they have filled a very big hole in the market. This projector offers a speaker system inbuilt! The W1100 allows you to quickly and simply setup with a bluray or DVD player, a HDMI cable and YOUR SET! It doesn;t get any simpler.
They haven't just glued on some speakers to a basic projector. The speakers are pretty decent similar to decent TV speakers.
This projector will give you one of the sharpest native widescreen pictures available with an exceptional
1080p
resolution. That is a massive amount of detail quite a bit ahead of the current media. This will allow you to take full advantage of the newer Bluray discs offering the full definition resolution.
The BenQ W1100 offers a respectable 4,500:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks and well defined colours. Additionally the brightness is quite high for a home theatre projector even on the theatre mode this projector can operate in a room that has some ambient light (though we recommend a dim room for best results).
The BenQ W1100 also offers a decent 1.5x optical zoom, allowing the projector to be positioned either very close or far back from the screen without changing the image size. A great feature for those with limited mounting positions.
The W1100 has a component and dual HDMI inputs making it easier to wire it up. A long lamp life of 4000 hours on economic mode for low running costs and the Genuine Australian model also comes with an 2 year warranty on the projector and 12 months on the lamp.
For an entry level 1080p home theatre projector the W1100 definitely fits the bill.
Epson EH-TW6000 Full Definition LCD 3D Home Theatre Projector
After the massive success of the EMP-TW3600, Epson has released the EH-TW6000 Full Definition projector. This projector will give you one of the sharpest native widescreen pictures available with an exceptional
WUXGA 1920 x 1080
resolution. That is a massive amount of detail quite a bit ahead of the current media. Most DVD's and even digital TV are encoded in standard definition but the newer Bluray discs are coming out now and offering the full definition resolution which the Epson TW6000 takes advantage of. The Epson EH-TW6000 is equipped with whopping 40,000:1 contrast ratio for the blackest of blacks and well defined colours. The TW6000 is also incredibly quiet with a barely audible 24dB noise rating, way under the average rating of approximately 30-35dB.
Traditionally the LCD projectors have been excellent for colour reproduction but have fallen short with a lower contrast than the DLP alternative. As mentioned above, this Epson unit offers a massive contrast ratio exceeding that of 98% of all others on the market. Epson has managed to do this using a new filter (or Iris), that increases the contrast substantially while still maintaining the benefits of excellent colour reproduction.
The EH-TW6000 offers Automatic Vertical keystone correction so if it is tilted up from a table or down from a ceiling mount it will automatically correct the image. As a bonus the EH-TW6000 also offers a manual horizontal keystone correction which allows the unit to be off centre to the side of the room. The Epson TW6000 also offers a 1.6x optical zoom, allowing the projector to be positioned either very close or far back from the screen without changing the image size. A great feature for those with limited mounting positions.
We found the image excellent with standard definition images as well as HD content. But when a Full definition Bluray disc was played it really came into it's own. The detail in the recording takes full advantage of the 1080p full definition resolution and though the contrast and colour are just as good as on a standard def DVD the detail made a remarkable difference. 3D movies take it to the next level again giving you the large size of a projector with a crystal clear 3D picture. Being the new 480hz 3D technology it is also brighter than older 120 or 240hz models. This is truly the technology of the future.
Additionally Epson have equipped the TW6000 with dual HDMI inputs making it easier to wire it up. An extra long lamp life of 5000 hours and a cheap lamp ($299rrp) for low running costs and the Genuine Australian model also comes with an 2 year warranty on the projector and 12 months on the lamp.
Epson EH-TW8000 Full Definition LCD 3D Home Theatre Projector
As a high end home theatre projector we've found the Epson EH-TW8000 is one of the best. It offers a massive set of features starting with the full high definition resolution with a very sharp picture. The extremely high "Ultra Black" contrast of 200,000:1 makes for inky blacks and excellent shading, while the new D9 12 bit LCD panels offer excellent vibrant colours.
The major advantage of the high end model is the fine frame system that artaficially ads extra frames into the video signal providing better performance with fast motion great for action movies, sport, and games. The TW8000 also has the new 3D projection feature with 2 sets of active shutter 3D glasses included and the ability to convert 2D signals to 3D.
It's fairly bright at 2400 lumens so doesn't need a pitch black room to operate. This also is a massive advantage with 3D movies which decrease the brightness substancially.
The EH-TW8000 also provides the advantage of horizontal and vertical optical lens shift allowing for off centre installation without any resolution loss as you would see with digital keystone correction. As an added bonus the 2.1x optical zoom lens allows the projector to be positioned either very close or far back from the screen without changing the image size. A great feature for those with limited mounting positions.
Though bright the TW8000 offers a quiet noise level of just 24db ensuring it isn't a distraction is a quiet scene of a movie. The feature list continues with a motorised lens cover to ensure the lens is protected from dust or scratches. Epson have also backed it up with a 3 year warranty and a 12 month warranty on the lamp. The EH-TW8000 is definitely a winner if you're after a high end home theatre projector.
