Lazer Hdtv

Issues To Consider When Purchasing A Home Projector

Ambient light -- Projectors with a lower brightness are perfectly adequate for lights-off presentations. However, if you present in rooms where ambient light is difficult to control, or if you want the advantage of presenting to your audience without turning off the lights, you'll require a projector with an output of at least 1, 500 lumens.

Audience size -- The size of your audience also affects how bright your projector needs to be. Larger audiences require larger images, which also require higher lumen output. For larger presentations, brighter projectors outputting 2, 000 lumens or more are quickly becoming the industry standard.

Ceiling Mounting -- When mounting a projector, you have to be certain that the area of the ceiling you would like to drop your mount from can support the additional weight.

Ceiling mounting your projector will get it out of the way, creating a more professional look, and keep your projector more secure.

If you plan to ceiling mount your projector, you will need to know the fixed distance between the projector and your screen. This is because different projectors have different throw ratios. The throw ratio is the relationship between your projectors distance from your screen and the width of the image. As distance from screen increases size of picture increases, and vice versa.

Color Reproduction -- Color Reproduction is another factor. Check for natural flesh tones and color depth. Check how colors look in the brightest and darkest areas of the image. Check the degree of color stability from input to input. Everyone has a slight difference in color perception and what looks pleasing. Look carefully.

Color temperature -- A color temperature memory can be a valuable feature in home theater spaces, such as living rooms, that are used both day and night. The memory allows you to have a setting for brighter color during the day, and richer color at night

Contrast Ratio -- High contrast ratios deliver whiter whites and blacker blacks. A projector may have a great Lumens rating, but if the contrast ratio is low, you image will look washed out. Contrast ratios of at least 1, 000:1 are good, but 2, 000:1 or higher is considered excellent.

Economy mode -- An economy mode is a relatively new feature that allows you to minimally reduce light output. This reduction conserves lamp life, decreases energy consumption, and lowers the noise level of the fan. Light output is often reduced by as little as 20%, but when used regularly it can help to nearly double the life of the lamp. The noise reduction is especially useful in smaller dedicated theaters.

Picture-in-Picture -- You can double your fun with the picture-in-picture feature that is available on many projectors. Be sure to find out if the projector you choose handle two simultaneous video sources before you let this feature tempt you.

Price -- Although prices continue to come down for all types if video projectors, be prepared, by the time you buy your projector, installation mount or table, screen, and cables you will spend between $3, 000 - 10, 000 dollars for a mid-range setup. Of course this doesn't count any interior design costs you may want to incur and the cost of rest of your home theater system.

Projector Remotes -- Not a glow in the dark remote, a backlit remote so you can see without having to bring up the lights. Look for intuitive menus. Particularly those that allow you to easily adjust color fidelity, choose between HDTV and NTSC broadcast, and easily switch your video sources. Full function remote controls are also a plus if you want to make your life a little easier. With or without these special features, most of today's projectors contain intuitive, user-friendly menus and one-touch video source 'switching'

Ventilation -- Projectors do not operate well if they are not properly ventilated. They can shut down while in use and lamp life is shortened if they don't get enough air. In order to prevent these problems be sure to mount your projector with plenty of distance from the wall and avoid placing the projector near air conditioning or heating units. You should also avoid using the projector in a smoky environment whenever possible. Of course, it is also important to follow the manufacturer recommended maintenance, including regular filter cleanings.

12v screen trigger -- If you plan to invest in an electric screen, a projector with a 12v screen trigger will allow you to raise and lower the screen with the projector remote. The coolness factor speaks for itself here.

Fan Noise -- Consider a projector with less fan noise. Aim for around 35dB or less for 'whisper quiet' fans.

Lamp Life -- LCD and DLP projectors typically have a lamp life between 1000-2000 hours. This specification is actually referring to the 'half-life' of the lamp. The half-life is the point where the lamp is half as bright as it was new. The lamp will still work at its half-life, but it will continue to gradually lose brightness. Longer lamp life means less expense in maintaining your projector. If you are planning to use your projector to replace your current television, lamp replacement cost should be factored into your purchase. Replacement lamps run approximately $200-$400. If your projector will be used primarily for watching movies and special events, lamp life will not be quite as important. But you may still want to factor the cost of a replacement lamp into your purchase. The average projector used in this manner runs approximately 8 hours a week. Lamps typically last between 1000-2000 hours. The average projector used for movies and special events runs 10-12 hours a week.