How to Pick a Home Theater Projector

Recent technologies have made home theater projectors more readily available and somewhat more affordable. A home theater projector can recreate more of the atmosphere of the silver screen and make a family room actually feel like a mini-movie theater. There are several different basic designs of protectors, so you need to know a little bit about them to pick a home theater projector for your needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Pick a Home Theater Projector

1. Decide how you'll be using your projector and set a budget. The highest quality projectors can go for as high as tens of thousands of dollars, but these projectors are not portable. You'll also need to budget for quarterly maintenance of the projector to keep it in good working order.

2. Consider different brands of digital-light projectors if you want to add one to your theater but have a tight budget. Be sure to test one of these machines in a quiet environment, because some models have very loud cooling fans.

3. Look at cathode-ray tube projectors if your budget is limitless. These large projectors often provide some of the best image quality once they are properly set up and adjusted. Additionally, CRT projectors have very low maintenance costs and probably will only need service every 3 or 4 years.

4. Try to test several projectors side by side in the same lighting conditions. Using the same video sequence, you'll want to compare the contrast of light and dark colors and note how well the projector displays very dark scenes. Some stores may have a few projectors set up for you to see how they differ.

5. Double check the brightness rating on projectors to be sure they'll be bright enough for home theater use. Brightness is rated in units called "lumens" and a home projector should have a rating of at least 1000 lumens.

6. Look for projectors with high resolutions if you want to play high-definition movies. A 720p HD movie needs a 1280 x 720 resolution while a 1080i signal requires a 1920 x 1080 projector resolution. You'll also need to pick a projector with an HDMI or the appropriate input for your high-definition signal.

Tips & Warnings

• Some digital-light projectors are designed only for office and conference work. While you could use one of these for a home theater application, the picture quality won't be as good as an actual home theater projector.
• Some manufacturers will let you return a projector if it does not meet your expectations. You'll generally only be able to do this with projectors you buy directly from the manufacturer and you'll likely be charged a restocking fee.
• Don't forget to budget for a screen if you don't have one already.