Home Theatre Projectors
Before we begin, it is important to note that every home theatre is unique. If you have any particular queries concerning your setup, we strongly advise you to contact us at New Dawn Audio visual.
What brightness should my projector have?
The brightness of a projector is measured in ANSI lumens*. Projectors for home theatres typically start at around 1000 lumens and go up to 2500 lumens and beyond. The amount of lumens your projector requires is determined by your viewing environment. Home theatres 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.
New Dawn recommends the following lumen outputs:
· 1000 lumens or more is required for dedicated home theatres.· At least 1500 lumens should be present in rooms with some ambient light.· Around 3000 lumens are required in spaces with a lot of ambient light.
Tip: Manufacturers often assess projector lumen levels based on data output rather than video. Video generally has a lower lumen output than data.
What do I need to know about image quality?
Projector resolution, source material, and contrast ratio of the projector are the three most significant elements that influence image quality.
Projector Resolution
The most common Home Theatre Projector resolutions are now 4K UHDTV (3840 2160) and HD (1920 x 1080). A projector with 4K resolution (3840 X 2160) has about four times the amount of pixels as a projector with Wide HD resolution. More pixels imply a crisper image and improved interoperability with high-definition sources.The quality of your image (Resolution) will be greatly affected by what you are seeing. When a low-quality signal is sent to your projector, it will most likely produce a low-quality image. On a bigger screen, this is even more obvious.
Source Material
You should strive to match the projector’s native resolution to the native resolution of your source material for the best results. Your Blu-ray player, DSTV, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, generally broadcasts a 1080p signal. Although 720p and 1080i appear to be the most popular.So, how does this affect your decision to buy a projector? Projectors with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 are designed to provide all of the rich features included in a 1080p transmission. When fed a 1080p signal, wide XGA projectors will provide excellent images, but not as good as their 4K equivalents. However, unless you were projecting a very big picture, perhaps three meters diagonal or more, it would be difficult to see the difference between the two.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio of a projector is the final consideration. The difference between the blackest black and the whitest white in a picture is referred to as contrast ratio.A projector with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio is not always five times better than one with a 2,000:1 contrast ratio. The contrast ratio does not take into consideration how the projector renders all of the shades of grey in between the darkest black and the brightest white.
When projected on a large screen, parts of the picture will “blow-out” and seem pixilated if the projector cannot display certain shades of grey. Look for projectors with a larger number of control options. Multi-colour processing technologies, such as Brilliant Colour and sRGB modes, will let you fine-tune the projector’s display to your preferences.
What is native aspect ratio?
Projectors have a native aspect ratio since they are a fixed resolution display device. For projectors, the most popular aspect ratios are 4:3, 16:10, and 16:9. That is, the chip within the projector is formed in the appropriate 4:3, 16:10, or 16:9 ratios. Consider the chip to be a tiny replica of the picture that will appear on your screen.
Dedicated Home Theatre
The 16:9 aspect ratio is primarily intended for usage in home theatres. This is due to the fact DVD, Blu-ray, and HDTV signals are broadcast or encoded in the 16:9 aspect ratio. 16:9 aspect ratios are preferred by home theatre aficionados because they are closer to the original 35mm film format. Widescreen images can be seen on 4:3 projectors, although there will be letterboxing (little black bars that appear on the top and bottom of your image).
What about 3D home theatre projectors?
In recent years, 3D projectors have come a long way. Almost all home theatre makers now provide 3D models. The cost of content is decreasing, and it is becoming more widely available.
What about lamp life?
Lamp life for LCD and DLP projectors is generally 2000-4000 hours. This parameter refers to the lamp’s ‘half-life,’ or the point at which the light is half as bright as when it was new. The lamp will continue to function at its half-life, but its brilliance will progressively deteriorate. Longer bulb life equals less money spent on projector maintenance.
Lamp replacement costs should be considered into your projector purchase if you want to use it to replace your present television. Replacement lights cost between R 3500-R 8000.In comparison, the great majority of lasers and LEDs are certified for 20,000 hours or more at full power, and 30,000 hours in Eco mode.
Tip: If you get a spare lamp with your projector, try using it for a few hours before storing it somewhere cold and dark. Warranties for lamps begin on the date of purchase, not the date of usage. A lamp will generally fail during the first 4 to 10 hours of operation if it is defective.
What about Laser Projectors?
With a 4K projector, you can now sit near enough to the screen to fully immerse yourself while still getting a razor-sharp image. The resolution is also useful for displaying anything that requires a lot of detail, such as graphics, engineering, and satellite photos.Is purchasing a 4K projector worthwhile? Yes, we believe so! A 4K projector allows you to sit closer to a larger screen and the image will be crisper, in addition to displaying more detail onscreen. However…
Not all “4K” projectors are the same.
While some projectors can display real 4K resolution, others can receive 4K content and use techniques to increase the quality of an HD display.
There are at least 8.3 megapixels in a native 4K projector, with no pixel overlapping. If you require the highest resolution, you will need a genuine 4K projector, which has roughly 8 million individual pixels and will display light onto your screen without any overlap.
A pixel shifting 4K projector employs chips with less than 8.3 megapixels that are fired several times with pixel shifting to provide the impression of 8 megapixels. This works so effectively on many DLP projectors that any spectator would struggle to see the difference in resolution from a native 4K UHD (8.3 megapixels) imager.
Should I install my projector or set it on a tabletop?
If you want to use a projector in your home or office there are several options for how it should be used. The best option is to ceiling mount or simply put it on a tabletop when in use. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Ceiling Mount
Ceiling mounting your projector will keep it out of the way and give your viewing area a more professional look while also keeping it secure. Mounting the projector in a fixed location will also save you time when it comes to setting it up for each usage.
If you intend to ceiling mount your projector, you must first determine the set distance between the projector and the screen. This is due to the fact that throw ratios vary amongst projectors. The throw ratio is the connection between the distance of the projector from the screen and the width of the picture. For example, if your projector is positioned on the ceiling 6 meters away from your screen, your picture will be bigger than if it is only 3 meters away.
Table Top Mount
Most video projectors are light and portable, weighing less than 5 Kgs. That means you can bring your ‘large screen TV’ to friends’ and family’s houses, or host an outdoor movie projected on the garage door, without having to move anything. However, you will have to set up your projector for each usage, and your main viewing area will not have the polished appearance of a professional installation. If you opt to use tabletop projection, look for a projector with a low fan noise level. For ‘whisper quiet’ fans, aim for 30dB or less. Because the projector will be visible, you may want to think about the whole product’s external aesthetics.
Tip: New Dawn Audio Visual recommends, you should buy your projector first, then your screen. Install your projector first, and then choose the screen that best suits your needs. This also allows you to ensure that the projector fits your requirements.
Is there more to look for?
Deep Colour
HDMI cables formerly only supported 8-bit colour, which provided a paltry 16.7 million colours. DEEP Colour has 10, 12, and 16-bit capabilities, allowing for 2,800 trillion colours. This greatly expands the number of shades available for each hue, thereby eliminating banding. Look for projectors that can display DEEP Colour or are HDMI 1.3a (or above) compatible.
Frame Interpolation
The standard frame rate for most films is 24 frames per second, or 24p. When compared to the average TV show, which is shot at 30p, or 1080i HDTV, this is relatively sluggish. Newer home theatre projectors use frame creation technology to handle this. These intelligent projectors evaluate the changes between frames and replace them with new ones. The ball or automobile appears to travel more smoothly across a wide display with these additional frames.
Should I upgrade my audio?
You will not be able to utilize the projector’s built-in speaker. It is like purchasing a Porsche and putting wheelbarrow tires on it. The music will never be able to match the breath-taking visuals. A SONOS ARC Sound bar or receiver with speakers would be preferable. For a true home cinema experience, connect them all through HDMI or Wi-Fi.
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