Projector buying guide

Introduction:

A projector can be a great investment for your home entertainment system. Not only can they be used to watch movies and sports, but they can also be used for business presentations and gaming. With all of the different projectors on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. That’s why we’ve put together this projector buying guide. We’ll help you find the best projector for your needs, and we’ll give you a few tips on how to get the most out of your projector.

Application - what do you want to use the projector for?

When it comes to choosing a projector, the first question you need to ask yourself is what you will be using it for. The following are three main categories with some sub-divisions:

1. Projectors for use at home-For your home cinema, we recommend a projector with a 16: 9 format resolution as most movies are available in this format. If you are looking for a projector that can also be used in a business setting, then read on.

2. Portable projectors-These are small and lightweight projectors that can be easily carried from one place to another. They are perfect for giving presentations in meeting rooms or on the go.

3. Installation projectors-These projectors are designed to be permanently installed in a fixed location, such as a meeting room or classroom. They are larger and heavier than portable projectors, but they offer superior picture quality.

Brightness - How bright should your projector be?

When it comes to brightness, there are a few things to consider. The brightness of a projector, also called light intensity, is measured and displayed in ANSI lumens. This measurement tells you how much light the projector can put out onto a particular surface. In order to determine how high the light intensity should be, you must first pay attention to the conditions of the environment in which you will be using your projector. For example, is your room dimmable? The brighter the ambient light in the room, the brighter your projector should be.

Contrast – giving depth to your image

The contrast ratio is an important spec to look out for when you're projector shopping. It describes the difference in the brightness of black and white. So, for example, if you have a contrast ratio of 1000:1, the brightest point is one thousand times brighter than the darkest point. This makes images look sharper and more realistic, as opposed to appearing washed out or flat. The higher the contrast of a projector, the better it will be at displaying detailed images.

Resolution / Format - how many pixels does your projector need?

When it comes to resolution, you'll want to decide based on the resolution of your devices. If you're mostly watching movies or TV shows, you'll want a projector with a native resolution that matches or is higher than the resolution of your device. For example, many laptops have a resolution of 1920 x 1080, so you'll want a projector that can natively output at that resolution or higher. If you're using your projector for business presentations, you'll want one with a higher resolution than SVGA (800 x 600). WXGA (1280 x 800) is a common resolution for business presentations, as is XGA (1024 x 768). Keep in mind that if you're not using a projector with the same native resolution as your device, the image quality will be lower.

Volume - How much noise will a projector produce?

If you're looking for a projector to use in a dedicated home cinema, then noise level might be a major factor for you. You'll want to choose one that produces as little noise as possible so you can enjoy your movie experience without any distractions. However, if you're using your projector for business purposes in a small room, then volume might not be as important to you. In that case, any projector that produces less than 30 dB of noise would be acceptable.

Technology – which technology is suitable?

When it comes to technology, there are two types to consider when choosing a projector: DLP and LCD. DLP projectors use DLP-based projection technology, which is a reflection-based system. The image is generated by millions of small mirrors that reflect the light onto the screen. This type of projector is becoming increasingly popular due to its high contrast ratios, fast response times and excellent picture quality. LCD projectors use LCD projection technology, which is a transmission-based system. With LCD projectors, the white light from the projector lamp is split into the three basic colors, red, green and blue. The light passing through the respective color filters will create the image on the screen. This type of projector is generally less expensive than DLP projectors and can be smaller in size.

Features – which features should your projector have?

When it comes to choosing a projector, there are a few key features to consider. The first is the zoom. Many projectors have an optical zoom of 2x, which gives you more flexibility in terms of where you can install the projector in your home cinema setup. The second feature is keystone correction. This allows you to adjust the image at the top until the trapezoidal distortion is compensated, making the image appear straight. The final feature to look for is move the image horizontally and vertically without distortion. This ensures that the image remains clear, regardless of the projector's position relative to the display area.

Connections – analog or digital

There are two types of projector connections – analog and digital. The analog interfaces include VGA, S-video, composite video, and component video. The most commonly used today is VGA. Today's digital connections are HDMI and DVI. When choosing a projector, it is important to make sure that it has one of these two connections.

Conclusion:

A projector can be a great asset to any home – whether you’re looking to watch movies and TV shows or give presentations and speeches. But with such a wide variety of projectors on the market, it can be tough to determine which one is right for your needs. That’s where this buying guide comes in. We’ll walk you through the different factors you need to consider when purchasing a projector, so you can find the perfect one for your unique situation.