Projector Guide

Projectors are a perfect way to interact with your audience and present real time information. With outstanding images created by the latest generation projectors they also can be a superb home entertainment solution. Home theater projectors are best for viewing Sports and DVD movies. If you watch mostly regular TV, an LCD/DLP projector may be an expensive option as the bulb would need to be changed after 1,000 to 2,000 hours of viewing (some projectors now have upwards of 3,000 bulb life; and this continues to improve). Also, make sure you have the proper room size for your projector.

Choosing a projector boils down to: What you want to watch (and where), Portability (if necessary), Brightness, Contrast Ratio, Pixel Density, Color Reproduction, Inputs, Screen, and Price.

Home Theater Projectors

Also known as:
Multimedia projectors, video projectors, TV projectors, home cinema projectors, DVD projectors, HD projectors and HDTV projectors.

We understand that each home theater is unique, so we recommend contacting a Powerseller NYC specialist with specific questions about your space. This will get you started.

1. How bright is bright enough for my home?
2. How much do I need to know about image quality?
3. Should I install my projector or set it on a tabletop?
4. What is native aspect ratio?
5. Is there more to look for?

How bright is bright enough for my home?

Brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. For home theater projectors, brightness typically ranges from 700 - 2000 lumens or more. Your viewing environment will be a big part of determining how bright your projector needs to be. Dedicated home theaters (rooms with controlled lighting and no ambient light) will not require as much brightness as a space with ambient light from windows or other household lighting.

Powerseller NYC recommends the following lumen outputs:

• Dedicated home theaters need 1000 lumens or better.
• Rooms with some ambient light should have at least 1200 lumens.
• Spaces with high ambient light need about 2000 lumens.

How much do I need to know about image quality?

The three most important factors to consider when looking for image quality are native resolution, your source material, and brightness uniformity. Currently WVGA (854x480), ¾ HD (960x540), and WXGA-H (1280x720) are the most common home theater projector resolutions. A WXGA-H projector has about twice the number of pixels of a WVGA projector. More pixels mean a sharper looking image, and better compatibility with high-definition sources.

• Available 16:9 resolutions WVGA 848 x 480407,040 total pixels
• WSVGA (or 1/4 HD)964 x 544 524,416 total pixels
• WXGA-H 1280 x 720921,600 total pixels
• WXGA 1366 x 7681,049,088 total pixels

What you are watching will make a big difference in the quality of your image. A low-quality signal into your projector will most likely look like a low-quality signal when projected, and on a larger screen may be even more noticeable. For best results, you should try and match the native resolution of your source material. A progressive scan DVD player is typically a 480p signal, while HDTV signals are still not totally standardized, although 720p or 1080i seem to be the most common. Projectors designed for home theater applications will usually include some kind of video scaling technology which improves the appearance of non-native signals. Brightness uniformity will also affect the overall quality of your image. Uniformity is the percentage of brightness carried from corner to corner and edge to edge of your image. A higher uniformity rating means better consistency throughout your image. For the most consistent images, look for a uniformity rating of 85% or better.

Portable

These projectors may also be referred to as laptop projectors, travel projectors, presentation projectors, PowerPoint projectors, PC projectors, multimedia projectors, video projectors, data projectors, and digital projectors.

Portable projectors can be an invaluable tool for mobile workers to use. They can be used in a variety of settings and help eliminate the need for carrying extra documents. Ideal portable projectors combine compact size and weight with a variety of connection options to allow a mobile worker to use it at any time or location. Portable projectors that are easy to set up and run will save time and frustration. Try a variety of projects before buying to see which one suits you best.

Brightness Levels

It’s important to consider the brightness levels that the projector provides. Brightness levels are measured in ANSI lumens. For small rooms 1000 to 1100 lumens is the minimum and these work in darkness or moderate light. For large rooms such as large conference rooms, small auditoriums with more ambient light, 1500 lumens or more is required. Mobile projectors with higher lumens rating are best for mobile workers as it gives them the ability to use the projector in a wider variety of settings.

Connections

It's important to note you should check what connection options are available with portable projectors. As with anything, the more connections options you have available - the better. Cables which you should have are a VGA cable, composite video cable, S-Video cable and M1-A connection. the M1-A connection combines a DVI connector with USB. Ethernet and USB ports on the portable projector should also be considered. Also take a look at our inputs and outputs section.

Expansion Options

Portable projectors that include CompactFlash slots are very beneficial for mobile workers. The inclusion of a CompactFlash slot enables you to either run a presentation from a CF card or a wireless connectivity to the projector with an 802.11 CF card. Some portable projectors are available with multi flash memory readers which of course provides the widest range of options and benefits to mobile workers.

Remote Control

Remote controls enable you to control and make adjustments to a presentation from a distance. Some portable projectors may also have remotes which can control the mouse on a PC or laptop. These may require an additional cable connection to work. Whenever possible try the remotes before making your purchase to ensure ease of use and how responsive the controls are. The smaller and more compact a remote is does not always mean it will work the best.

Size & Weight

Always check the dimensions and weight of portable projectors as there are cases where the term "portable" is used but the actual projector including cables and other accessories can weigh in excess of 7lbs. The ideal portable projectors should weigh less than 4lbs and be compact to fit in a laptop carrying case securely. Take your laptop case with you when looking at portable projectors and try packing them with your other gear. Ensure that you can fit all your mobile gear safely and securely.

Conference Room

Models in this category might also be called multimedia projectors, digital projectors, office projectors, overhead projectors, presentation projectors, PowerPoint projectors and PC projectors. Projectors meant for larger venues may be called auditorium projectors, sanctuary projectors, church projectors, trade show projectors, concert projectors and large screen projectors.

Analyze Your Presentation Environment

First, examine the nature of your presentations. If you want your audience to be able to take notes or refer to written material, you will want the lights to be on, and you will therefore want a conference room projector that produces enough light to allow for this. A low lumen rated projector may cost less, but you will have to project your image in a darkened room if your unit has a rating of anything less than 1,200 lumens.

Tips for Success

The two main types of conference room projectors are DLP and LCD, and each have their relative advantages. DLP units can be much lighter and more portable, and they handle color exceptionally well. They also do very well in presentations that must be made with the room light on. LCD projectors are less expensive, but do present clear images.

For video presentations however, DLP technology is superior. Portability is often an issue in conference room projectors, since it may be necessary to move them from room to room. Lightweight projectors can be found that are less than five pounds, which still have many advanced features and good quality images.

When choosing your conference room projector, you may also wish to consider factors such as resolution and brightness, based on its intended use. A low-end SVGA projector will cost the least amount of money, and will be good for basic Powerpoint presentations, but you will need a projector with a higher resolution for more detailed graphics.

Also take into account the size of your conference room and the degree of ambient lighting when making your decision. A projector with a higher lumen rating would be more appropriate for a larger room.

Classroom Projectors

Models in this category might also be called education projectors, training projectors, presentation projectors, PowerPoint projectors, PC projectors, multimedia projectors, video projectors, data projectors, and digital projectors.

The hardest thing you have to do is to think about the following:

1. Where is the ideal position for your screen?
2. How far is the farthest student from that screen?
3. Where can you position the projector?
4. How do we narrow the list?
5. The final step!

Where is the ideal position for your screen?

This may seem like a strange question, because the ideal position will clearly be at the front of the classroom. However, sunlight, room light, and light colored walls, floors and ceilings can have a profound negative effect on the quality of the projected image. Ideally you want the screen placed where the least amount of sunlight and room light will strike the screen. Being able to cover windows and turn down lights is ideal. Having dark walls, ceilings, and/or floors will also help as they reduce the amount of reflected light striking the screen.

So darken your room as best you can and take a look around. Where is the darkest area that you could reasonably use given the room constraints? You may find that a corner of the room may provide more shelter from ambient room light than the center of a wall. Sometimes just darkening the area behind the screen can help improve perceived image quality.

How far is the farthest student from the screen?

The answer to this question will determine how large a screen you need. Generally speaking the height of the screen should be about 1/6 the distance of the farthest student. For example if the farthest student is 30 feet away, then the screen height should be 5 feet (60 inches).

Where can you position the projector?

Ideally you want the projector located where your students cannot intentionally or unintentionally block the light from the projector by their movements or look directly into the projection lens.

One solution is to mount the projector on the same wall as the projection screen or very close to that wall, as this removes the projector from the seating area. This can be done with short throw wall mount projectors or short throw projectors. Unfortunately there are not a lot of projectors that can provide this solution and they tend to be more expensive than more traditional projectors.

If you decide that short throw and short throw wall mount are not your best solution, you have a considerable number of projectors from which to choose. These traditional projectors can be mounted on the ceiling, on a platform suspended from the ceiling, or a table, but at a farther distance from the screen than the short throw projectors.

Let's take our earlier example where our farthest student is 30 feet away from a screen that is 60 inches high and look at classroom/conference room projectors with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, less than $2000, with 2000 to 3000 lumens of brightness, and capable of projecting an image that is 60 inches high.

How do we narrow the list?

First you need to define how far from the screen you want to place the projector. This decision may be driven by the location of light fixtures, air conditioner vents, desks, or other any object that might interfere with the installation of the projector or the light path from the projector to the screen. This "throw distance" that you select will narrow the number of projectors that can meet your requirements.

For the purposes of this discussion, let's assume you want to place the projector 10 feet from the screen, which is a third of the distance of our farthest student. We now have a shorter list of projector candidates. Feature Search showed us all the projectors that met our specific requirements.

Features

Blackboard Mode - projectors with this feature allow you to project onto a wall, white board, or chalkboard. This is handy if you don't have an electronic whiteboard as it allows you to annotate the image. However, there is a down side. While projectors with Blackboard Mode can optimize the image quality by analyzing the projected surface, there is loss of image quality and brightness. For the best image quality, there is no substitute for a good projection screen.

Zoom Lens – the advantage of a zoom lens is that it allows you to change the size of the projected image without moving the projector. This is particularly handy when installing a projector as you don't need a precise installation as long as you mount it within the throw range of the projector. If you can mount it at the center of the projector's throw range, it will give you the best performance and allow you to switch to a smaller or larger screen in the future.

Wired or Wireless Networking – if your school is networked, one or both of these features may be of interest to you. Networks can detect the removal of a projector and thereby give an early warning on theft. Networks can also allow you to share information from a number of resources and alert you to problems or routine maintenance requirements of each projector.

Large Venue Projectors

Models in this category might also be called auditorium projectors, sanctuary projectors, church projectors, trade show projectors, concert projectors and large screen projectors.

Large Venue Projector Rentals kick up both brightness and performance levels compared to your standard projector. New large venue projectors use a multiple bulb system to boost the brightness. Ultra-high brightness of up to 10000 lumens makes sure that anyone can see your presentation. High contrast ratios (greater than 1000:1) make sure that your images are beautiful and rich in color. Large venue projectors are great for staging events, conference centers and corporate meetings, training classes, large auditoriums/churches, government institutions and more!

LCD Projector Technology

An LCD projector basically works by passing a powerful light source through a transparent LCD chip made up of individual pixels (which displays the moving video image) and projecting that image through a lens to a large screen.

By using a combination of three LCDs to produce a final image, LCD projectors are capable of billions of colors and smooth grayscale gradations. The resolution of the image is determined by the number of pixels in the LCD panels used. Currently LCD panels offer resolutions as high as true HD (1920 x 1080) for home theater applications. New panels promise resolutions as high as 4K (3840 x 2160).

A reliable, sophisticated technology with universal appeal, 3LCD is the world's most popular projection technology, delivering high quality images for the most demanding business and consumer audiences.

Aspect Ratio

Screen Aspect Ratio is basically a measure of the horizontal length of a screen, in relation to its vertical height. In other words, a traditional screen has an Aspect Ratio of 4x3. This means that a traditional television has a screen that is four units long for every three units in height. Converting these units into inches would result in measurements of 4-inches by 3-inches or 8-inches by 6-inches, and on-and-on.

By the same token, on widescreen television (such as today's HDTVs), the Screen Aspect Ratio is 16 units long for every 9 units in height, or 16-inches by 9-inches, 32-inches by 18-inches, etc... A 16x9 screen aspect ratio thus results in a wider image display that a 4x3 aspect ratio. This wider image display allows both movies originally filmed in widescreen and new, widescreen television programming, to be displayed more accurately.

The Increasing Need For 16x9 Televisions

As the impact of DVD, DTV, and HDTV (especially flat panel LCD and Plasma TVs) becoming more of a factor in TV purchases, the consumer now needs to decide between purchasing a television with a traditional 4x3 aspect ratio (mostly tube-type), or the new DTV widescreen televisions with a 16x9 screen aspect ratio (most flat panel LCD and Plasma, or LCD and DLP rear projection sets).

Televisions with a 16x9 screen aspect ratio is more suited to the increasing amount of 16x9 and other widescreen programming available on DVD and HDTV broadcasts. However, consumers are used to the traditional 4x3-shaped screen.

Resolution

A projector's resolution (or more precisely, its "native resolution") is simply the number of pixels that it has available to create an image. The higher the resolution of a projector, the more pixels it has. Projector resolution is designated with either one or two numbers. A typical two-number resolution might be listed as "1280x720." The first number indicates how many pixels there are in each horizontal row, and the second number is how many pixels make up each vertical column. Often, a projector's resolution will be referred to by one number, such as "720p" or "1080p." This designation refers to the vertical resolution, or the second number in the two-number designator, while the "p" refers to progressive-scan, which simply indicates that the entire picture is displayed at the same time. Generally speaking, the higher the resolution, the more the projector will cost. Projectors come in a variety of different resolutions, including the following:

  -1280x720: Most 1280x720 projectors offer very good to excellent DVD video quality. They also do a beautiful job of displaying 1080-line video, such as the 1080p found on Blu-Ray discs or the 1080i of broadcast HDTV. Street prices on the most aggressively priced models have dropped below $700, so this excellent resolution format is easy to get into from a budget perspective.

  -1280x768: This is a hybrid resolution that combines the ability to display 16:9 video in 1280x720, as well as standard computer resolutions XGA (1024x768) and WXGA (1280x768), in native form without scaling. If your viewing material includes both video and computer data or Internet surfing, this format will allow you to see the computer data signals in their clearest, unscaled form. A variant of this format, 1280x800, can display 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x768, and 1280x800 signals natively.

  -1920x1080: The ultimate high definition format; it will display HDTV 1080i signals, as well as 1080i and 1080p signals from Blu-ray disc players, all in native format without any scaling. The least expensive 1080p projectors are now less than $1,000, while higher-end models range from $1,500 to over $10,000, with a "sweet spot" of excellent performance around $2,000 to $3,000.

Contrast Ratio

What is Contrast Ratio

Contrast Ratio is the difference between the whitest white and the darkest black colors that the display can show. Generally speaking, the greater the contrast the better the screen and the subtlety of colors it can display.

Contrast ratio is often used when describing TVs. A high contrast ratio, such as 4000:1, signifies a better color representation (bright images will appear better against a darker background) than a lower contrast ratio, such as 2500:1. A 3000:1 contrast means 3000 times brighter than black. Typically, you want to purchase a projector or flat-panel TV with a high contrast ratio. Below are examples of different contrast ratio's.

Low Contrast

When contrast is low, images appear washed out. Parts of the image may become difficult to see clearly. Projectors with contrast ratios of less than 500:1 typically provide low contrast.

Simulated image of low contrast

Medium Contrast

When a projector provides good contrast, images are clear and attractive. Projectors with contrast ratios ranging from 500:1 to 1200:1 typically provide medium contrast.

Simulated image of low contrast

High Contrast

With high contrast, images are ultra crisp with vibrant colors. Projectors with contrast ratios exceeding 1200:1 typically provide high contrast. DLP TM (DDR) technology projectors currently offer these high contrast ratios. Additionally, some LCD projectors are able to offer high contrast ratios as well.

Simulated image of low contrast

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Pixel Density

Pixel Density is important, especially for LCD/DLP units. As stated earlier, LCD and DLP-based video projectors have a fixed number of pixels on their display chips. If most of your viewing is HDTV, get as high a native pixel count as possible. A native pixel count of 1024x768 is sufficient for DVD. However, 720p HDTV signals require a 1280x720 pixel count to give you a one-for-one representation of a 720p signal while, as mentioned earlier, a 1080i HDTV input signal needs a native pixel count of 1920x1080 for a one-for-one representation of the 1080i signal.

If a projector's pixel count is less and it accepts HDTV input signals, the signal is scaled to fit the number of pixels on the chip. In addition, some projectors also upscale a lower resolution image to match a higher pixel count on the chip. Scaling can work both ways. Check specifications for this capability.

If the projector has a good built-in scaler, the image should look smooth, and fairly consistent, no matter what the input source is (however, other factors, such as a poor film source print, degraded VHS video, and degraded color or gray scale consistency on the source material can affect results). Scaling cannot correct for poor source material, but can make your source look as good as it can look, based on the projector's native pixel field. There are also outboard video scalers and processors than can be used, which are often preferred in high-end video projection installations, especially if the projector is being used to project a very large image.

Brightness (lumens)

Projectors use a rating called Lumens to put a value on how bright their machine is. Without getting into all the technical explanations and assuming that all manufacturers use the same methods, this is a simple guide as to what brightness will work in what situations.

A few common truths about projecting no matter how bright your projector is.

• The darker the room or situation the better your image will look
• Using a true screen will give you significantly better results than a painted wall or other makeshift surface.
• No matter how bright the projector, the sun will cut through the image
• Higher contrast graphics are easier to read when delivering text
• The bigger the screen, the less apparent brightness you will have.

Low Lumen (Under 1000)

A projector under 1000 lumens should be used in controlled light situations. In situations where only text is going to be displayed, using high contrast graphics (black background, white text) you will be able to get away with some more light in a room, such as class rooms where students need to take notes while watching. Projectors in this range will not be high res and more than likely disappoint you if you are looking to set up a home theater. I would reserve these for instructional purposes.

Mid Lumen (1000 – 2500)

Projectors in this range will certainly be more forgiving as it relates to extraneous light. Still the darker the better, but these will be better for situations where you can not control light and need some light for instructional purposes. These projectors will fill many needs adequately and will generally be compact, portable and easy to set up.

Mid-High Lumen (2500 – 5000)

Projectors in this range are going to give you a good picture in about any interior space with the main lights off. Sunlight will still effect the picture, but a room with shades drawn will look good. These machines tend to be more on the professional side and may have special power requirements and may be a bit heavier than lower lumen units. Additionally set up may be a little more technical. Be sure to understand what you are buying.

High Lumen (Over 5000)

These projectors will work in about any situation and may be over kill for some. These machines will probably be professional and have special power requirements and may be a bit heavier than lower lumen units. Additionally set up may be a little more technical. Be sure to understand what you are buying.

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.

Inputs and Outputs

RF

aka radio frequency; antenna;
cable; screw type; F-pin

Used For:
Antennae, VCRs, cable and satellite
boxes

Lowest

Component Video

aka component; Y, Pb, Pr; Y, Cb, Cr;
broadband component; 1080i; 720p; HDTV

Used For: HD and DVD Video and Consoles. Blu-Ray, Other Sources

High

HDMI

aka High-Definition Multimedia
Interface

HD cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, HDTV tuners, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, game consoles, computers, other HD sources

Highest

DVI-D with HDCP

aka DVI-D; Digital Visual Interface;
High-bandwidth Digital Content
Protection.

Used For: Computers; older HD cable and satellite boxes, HDTV tuners and DVD players

Highest

FireWire

aka IEEE 1394; iLink

Used For:
Some HDTV tuners, D-VHS VCRs

Lowest

RGB

Connections can also be made through
RCA or BNC-type connectors, and
adapters are available between all of them.

aka PC, computer, VGA; 15-pin D-sub; RGB-HV

Used For:
Computers, video processors

Medium

S-Video

aka DIN 4

Used For:
Cable and satellite boxes, S-VHS VCRs, DVD players, game consoles

Medium

Composite Video

aka yellow video; video; A/V (when combined with audio jacks)

Used For:
Cable and satellite boxes, VCRs, DVD players, game consoles

Medium

Screen

Screens come in various fabrics, sizes, and prices. You could use that old 8mm film projection screen or just put up a sheet, but to get the most out of your projector, spend money on a good screen. The type of screen that's best depends on the projector, the viewing angle, the amount of ambient light in the room, and the distance of the projector from the screen. Consult a video screen dealer.