What is a home theater projector, how to choose and connect

At home, you can watch movies not only on the TV screen, but also with the help of a projector. To use it, you need to prepare the screen. The image is transmitted by the device usually through a special matrix that works through the light. The main advantage of such projectors is that they provide a larger image than most television screens. This device transmits information received from an external source. It can be a flash drive, a computer connected with a cable, or another.
Using a projector has the following advantages:

1. When viewing, you can easily adjust the screen size.
2. Ease of assembly during installation.
3. The small size of the device.
4. Comfort of such viewing for sight.
5. The relative cheapness of the device compared to other systems used for watching movies.

The projector can be used as a computer display when properly configured and installed, particularly for video games.

However, when buying a projector, you need to consider its disadvantages:

1. The projector is not suitable for displaying television programs.
2. If the brightness is insufficient for viewing in daylight, the room must first be shaded.
3. To ensure high quality sound, you will need to additionally use a speaker system.
4. When using pendant models, it is necessary to make fine adjustments to obtain a high-quality image.

Make sure the projector is set up correctly before use.

Why you need a projector in your home theater system

Projectors can be used to watch movies, create presentations, display images for comfortable viewing. At home, you can use it to watch videos on the big screen, and in some cases play computer games. As technology advances, picture quality is getting better, getting closer to what you can get from a TV screen.

How does a home theater projector work?

There are various types of projectors on the market, each with their own strengths and weaknesses that must be considered when choosing. If we consider the display technology in detail, it looks like this. There is a lamp inside the fixture that provides powerful illumination during the show. As light passes through the optical system, it is split into three colors, green, red and blue. Then the light passes through the modulator, which can be liquid crystal or in the form of a micromirror matrix. It has a pixel structure, allowing you to build a high-quality image.
The control unit is designed to work with the pixel matrix. Image focusing is performed by using a lens that gathers streams having different colors together and finally forms an image.

What types of projectors are

There are mainly three types of projectors on sale: LCD, DLP and LED. Next, each of them will be discussed in more detail.

LCD projectors

These devices are the most affordable. In them, the image is formed using a liquid crystal matrix. The popularity of such projectors is largely due to the affordable price. This technology has been further developed in the form of 3LCD, the main difference of which is the use of three liquid crystal matrices instead of one. These models provide higher quality but are more expensive.

DLP projectors

This type is similar in price to LCD projectors, but provides higher image quality. Such a device, using a mirror matrix, smooths out the imperfections of the image and makes it more lively and impressive. However, such projectors have a drawback, which is commonly called the iris effect. It implies that rings of several colors can form around objects moving on the screen.

LED projectors

The devices in question can be used with various types of lamps, which increases the choice. They provide high quality of work and at the same time save energy.

How to choose a home theater projector

The design of different types of such equipment can vary significantly from each other. One of the most important elements of such equipment is the lamp used. The quality of lighting largely determines the level of comfort when viewing. High-pressure discharge lamps are often used as the light source. Their main disadvantage is relatively rapid wear. Typically, replacement is required after 2000-4000 hours of operation. In some cases, their resource can reach 8000 hours. In practice, replacement has to be done after 3-4 years, and in some cases more often. In order to extend the life of such lamps, manufacturers began to use UHP technology. In these lamps, a discharge is used for illumination, which occurs between tungsten electrodes. These lamps are compact and at the same time provide an even and intense glow. This ensures high quality color reproduction.

These lights gradually decrease in intensity as they wear out. Service life often does not exceed 2000 hours. Changes were made to their device that helped to partially compensate for the problems mentioned. HCX lamps also have a relatively short lifespan that is comparable to that of other types of projection lamps. Metal halide lamps create light by discharging an electric arc that is created in a gas under high pressure. They differ from UHP lamps in the composition of the gas in which additives are made that improve the quality of spectral radiation and contribute to its uniformity. As a disadvantage, a gradual loss of quality is noted as the service life expires, which can reach up to 50%.
P-VIP lamps are considered the highest quality compared to other varieties. Their service life is 6000-8000 hours of operation. An important feature of such lamps is a constant brightness throughout the entire period of use of the lighting device. Xenon lamps use compressed Xenon to fill the bulb. Such lighting fixtures provide high power and intense luminous flux. High power and quality of work led to the fact that they are used for projectors in cinemas.
The use of gas-discharge lamps due to their inherent shortcomings is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Instead, LED lighting is gradually becoming more and more popular. The use of LEDs made it possible to increase the service life of the device, increasing it to 20 thousand hours. Such lighting fixtures make it possible to carry out a high-quality display without special requirements for the surface on which the display is performed. The disadvantage of such lamps is not enough strong luminous flux compared to other types of lamps.
Laser lighting devices projectors give excellent picture quality on a home theater [/ caption] Laser lighting devices work with high quality, have a long service life, but are expensive. Therefore, the most attractive option can be considered hybrid lighting, which combines the advantages of laser and LED. Home theater laser projectors – the best projector models: https://youtu.be/zPlD_Edkrp8

What characteristics to look for

When choosing, you need to carefully study the various characteristics of the projector. Following is noteworthy:

1. The brightness of the light source should be sufficient for comfortable viewing of films. It is recommended to choose models that provide illumination of 1000-2000 lm.
2. It is necessary to take into account the format of the resulting image and the proportions of its sides . For a home projector, use 16:10 or 16:9.
3. It is worth paying attention to the uniformity of illumination of the entire screen . There should not be darker or too light areas. The technical specifications use a parameter that is equal to the ratio of brightness in the center of the screen and at its edges, but it is not always indicated.
4. It is necessary to take into account the presence of noise during the operation of the projector . It usually comes from the ventilation system used in the instrument. You need to be sure that the sound will not interfere with the comfortable viewing of the movie.
5. You need to check the contrast level . It has a significant impact on the quality of viewing in shaded rooms. If you plan to view in good lighting, then you need to take into account the brightness to a greater extent. It is believed that for comfortable viewing, this characteristic should be in the range from 1000:1 to 2000:1.

Since the projector displays files from external sources, it is important to consider what kind of cable or flash drive connectors it has. In the latter case, the demonstration of the video file can take place without connecting to a computer.

Which projector to choose for home theater – TOP best models for 2021

To select a projector, it is convenient to use the rating. With it, the user will be able to choose the appropriate option or find his own, which suits him better.

Optoma HD144X

This is a budget projector that provides high-quality video display. Viewers like the high definition of the image and the visual comfort of the display. However, as a drawback, it should be noted the limited color depth and the lack of a wireless interface. Full HD resolution is provided here, there is a high brightness of the image. The projector has a USB port. The device supports MHL and HD. When showing fast movements, a rainbow effect may occur.

Optoma W308STe

This projector can be used even in small spaces thanks to its short throw optics. It can change the aspect ratio when showing in accordance with the video being shown. The projector can be used not only for video display, but also for computer games. There are a variety of, including automatic settings that provide high image quality. As disadvantages, the lack of depth of black and the appearance of the iris effect are noted.

JVC DLA-N5

This projector is considered one of the most popular home theater projectors. It provides high contrast, but is inferior to competitors in the maximum brightness. Due to the low latency of the response, this device is also suitable for gamers. Provides 4K video quality and best-in-class HDR content playback. As disadvantages, brighter angles during the display and relatively high cost are noted.

Epson EH-LS500

This ultra-short throw projector uses laser technology to deliver a high quality display. The power of the luminous flux is provided, reaching 4000 Lm. The model is designed to be installed at a short distance from the screen. There is not enough black depth here. High response speed will make this projector attractive for gamers. The luminous flux can be adjusted in a wide range depending on the specific use of the device.

Epson EH-TW9400

This device can provide high-quality display at various installation distances – from close to the screen, and at a distance. Viewers can view content in Full HD. Optics can be controlled automatically.
The disadvantages include weak black depth, the presence of noise during operation, as well as a relatively high cost. Here, video is shown in 4K, but processing is performed that converts it to Full HD. Buyers note the high quality of the image received on the projector. How to choose the best home theater projector as of 2021: https://youtu.be/L5QWSNIquP0

Instructions and diagram for connecting a home theater to a projector

To prepare for watching movies with the projector, installation is required. To do this, you will need to do the following:

1. You need to hang a screen on which the film will be shown . At this stage, it is important to choose the right place and set the right distance to the projector. It must be remembered that the screen should not fall on the light of external sources – for example, stars or street lamps. If necessary, you will need to use blackout curtains or blinds in the room. The height of the bottom edge should be comfortable for the audience. Usually it is in the range of 62-92 cm.
2. You need to choose a place to install the projector . To do this, it can be put on a bedside table, hung from the ceiling or placed on the floor. When installing, you must ensure the distance to the screen specified in the technical documentation. Usually it is determined in relation to the diagonal of the screen. The next step is to mount the projector. To do this, it is installed and provided with a suitable location height.
3. Now you need to configure the equipment . First of all, you need to fine-tune the focus. Most models have a built-in electronic adjustment function. You need to adjust the clarity and sharpness, and then check how good the image is on the screen.

After making all the necessary adjustments, you need to see how they will look on the screen and achieve the maximum available quality. Another video about connecting the projector plus a review of the Epson EH-TW6700 home theater: https://youtu.be/3-wsz82TBCg Good luck with your purchase.