Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 Multimedia Projector
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HDTV Front Projector Buying Guide
Front projectors are not a new TV technology. They’ve been in homes and night spots since the 1970s, when cathode ray tube TV screens were limited to 27 inches. A front projection TV can give you an immersive movie-theater experience in your home, and if you’re looking for “the big picture,” you’ll find that front projector HDTV prices are in line with smaller plasma HDTVs, and cheaper than the largest HDTVs. Still, front projectors require a little extra work to set up, and they’re not for everyday use, but they can deliver images over 100 inches diagonal with ease. Not sure what to look for? Pronto’s HDTV Front Projector Buying Guide can help point the way (see also HDTV Buying Guide, Plasma TV Buying Guide, LCD TV Buying Guide, Rear Projection TV Buying Guide).
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Know What You'll Need
Front projectors are not complete TVs. You’ll need a TV tuner, a DVD player, a sound system, and a screen or a white wall to make a front projector work.
Find the Technology that Suits You
LCD, LCDoS, and DLP all have strengths and weaknesses in front projector HDTVs. Let your eye be your guide.
Limit the Image Size
While front projectors can display images up to 200 inches diagonal, they perform best with a picture between 80 and 110 inches.
Set Up Once
Each time a front projector is moved, you need to readjust the settings. Use a ceiling mount or pedestal that can’t be jostled, and try to set up the front projector in a dark room.
Consider a Screen
A wall painted matte white will provide an adequate viewing surface, but a high-gain screen can improve the image quality of your front projector.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We recommend the Optoma HD81 ($3,999). Native 1080p resolution and superior image quality make this a standout in its price range. You’ll need to set it up carefully and center it relative to the screen, as there’s no vertical lens shift to compensate for an installation problem. Three HDMI inputs and two sets of Composite Video jacks deliver more connectivity than most front projectors on the market, and it handles both SDTV and HDTV with ease.
experts say
CNET - The editors at CNET rated Sharp’s XV-Z2000 Projector as their top front projector. Supporting 1080p resolution, solid black levels, and dual HDMI inputs, this front projector can handle an array of television formats, but you’ll need to adjust the lens manually. Source: CNET.com
Projector Reviews - An all-in-one front projector has most of what you need to get started, and projectorreviews.com named the Toshiba ET20 Projector as its Best In Class. This front projector has built-in speakers, and an optional DVD player, but it’s best feature is its short lens, which allows this front projector to be placed closer to the wall or screen. Source: projectorreviews.com
Projector Central - “The JVC RS1 Projector is a 1080p resolution, D-ILA-based projector with extremely high contrast, very low fan noise, and the same pixel-free image with virtually perfect color processing we are used to seeing from JVC, all for a supremely competitive price of $6,295. The DLA-RS1 is without a doubt the finest projector JVC has ever made for the consumer marketplace.” Source: projectorcentral.com
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of front projection HDTV?
Tvpredictions.com says “Flat-screen HDTVs get the buzz, but many Home Theater enthusiasts prefer the front projector which can display a high-def image over 100 inches on a wall screen. And Quixel Research says in a new report that front projector sales are still rising despite the growing demand for the sleeker flat-screen set.”
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all HDTV Front Projectors) |
| $ | Front projectors still remain one of the more expensive HDTV choices. The entry-level range, from $1,300 to $2,500, offers front projectors with 720P resolution and few features. The picture quality will be good, but you’ll sacrifice built-in ATSC tuners and lens adjustment features than can compensate for installation problems. Good Pick: Mitsubishi HC3000U |
Compare prices at 2 stores $990 - $1,499 |
| $$ | Look for solid performance from front projectors in the $2,500 to $5,000 range. Pay attention to black levels and contrast ratio, and look for native 1080i resolution. A fuller suite of features, including automatic lens correction, is available in these front projectors, and models at the higher end will support 1080p. Good Pick: Optoma HD7100 |
Compare prices at 11 stores $1,346 - $1,682 |
| $$$ | If you’re fanatical about picture quality, front projectors over $5,000 will deliver the best HDTV picture available in this format. Optimum image sizes are a bit larger in these front projectors, and the newest models offer alternative lighting technologies that eliminate the need to replace lamps. Look for dual ATSC tuners, multiple HDMI inputs, and high contrast ratios. Good Pick: Sony VPL-VW100 |
Compare prices at 20 stores $3,884 - $8,999 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
720p
One of the high definition television (HDTV) standards. It uses 720 lines of resolution and is progressively scanned, meaning that every frame is displayed in its entirety.
1080p
The highest possible resolution of HDTV, 1080p uses 1,080 lines of resolution, progressively scanned.
DLP
Developed by Texas Instruments, Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology uses an image projected on millions of tiny mirrors. Early DLP front projectors used a single chip and a fast-moving color wheel to deliver the image. Higher-end sets have three DLP chips, one each for blue, green, and red.
HDMI
High Definition Multimedia Input is the new standard for connecting high definition components. It’s bundled cables can carry more data than other connection options.
Lamp Life
The average life of the light used in a front projector. This typically ranges from 2,000-3,000 hours.
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display is a transmissive front projector technology that works by shining a light through red, blue, and green displays.
LCDoS
Liquid Crystal Display on Silicon shines a light through the three LCD display chips. The light then bounces off a mirror and back through the chips, creating a sharper, more vivid front projector image.
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