Creating a Home Theater Without Breaking the Bank
Movies, Netflix, our favorite TV dramas—there’s an unending number of reasons to sit on the couch and watch TV these days. And thankfully, technology has kept up with our binging habits. However, there might be a better way for customers to watch their favorite shows than traditional big-screen television: projectors!
Projectors give you the screen of a large TV, but they’re lighter and inch-per-inch cheaper than TVs and they have the bonus of mobility. Whether your customers are building a fantastic home theater in their basement, want to experience the feel of a drive-in in their backyard, or want to watch movies on the go, a projector is ideal for them.
Types of Projectors
The first thing that should be considered when getting a projector is the type your customer needs. The different types vary in price, so it will be a major limiting factor to their purchase.
Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors use a series of small mirrors reflecting the device’s light source. They’re known for sharp images and don’t require filters. The DLP lamp lasts around 2000 to 4000 hours.
A Liquid-Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projector projects images by reflecting light off 3 individual panels. They produce the highest contrast ratios and are best for dark environments with screen sizes limited to 130 inches maximum. LCoS projectors are large and aren’t made for portability. Like the DLP projectors, the lamp will last around 2000 to 4000 hours.
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector is the middle ground between a DLP and LCoS projector. Unlike a DLP projector, the LCD projector requires a filter that might need servicing periodically. The LCD lamp lasts between 2000 and 4000 hours.
Finally, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) projector uses a series of LED lights to make a projection. LED projectors generally have better color than the LCD version, it consumes less power, and has nearly no maintenance costs. They’re also smaller than the other kinds. However, they’re not as bright as either the DLP or LCD options so they’re not good in a room that has a lot of ambient light. The LED lamps have a 20,000 hour or more lifespan.
Specs
In addition to the type of projector your customer wants, the specs of each projector can also guide a prospective buyer towards what projector they should get. Things like brightness, resolution, and available inputs are major things to consider.
Available inputs can vary from projector to projector and be key to what projector a customer purchases. High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and digital visual interface (DVI) inputs are relatively standard across all modern projectors, but there are other options that may or may not be included. Potential inputs may include but aren’t limited to a universal serial bus (USB), video graphics array (VGA), and secure digital (SD) card, as well as the option to connect to Wi-Fi. If your customers are planning on gaming, watching movies, or using a Fire TV stick, they’ll want to make sure they have enough connection options.
Projector brightness is measured in ANSI lumens. Most home projectors start at 1,000 ANSI lumens and can go all the way up to 3000 ANSI lumens. The more lumens, the brighter the image will be. Customers should consider where they want to use the projector. Rooms with a lot of natural or lamp light should have a brighter projector to see the image properly. If they’re using it in a basement or room with little light, a lower brightness will be ok.
The resolution is also listed as pixels. Most projectors are 1080p or 4K. The 1080p means the projector can project up to 1920 x 1080 pixels. 1080p can also be considered high definition (HD). 4K means the projector can project up to 3840 x 2160 pixels, considered ultra-high definition (UHD), best for large screens. A 4K projector will be more expensive than a 1080p version, which can be a barrier for some people.
Zoom and lens ratios allow customers to figure out the range of size screens the projector will work with, and the distance needed between the two devices for image clarity. Projecting onto a screen is a “throw”. The throw distance is how close the projector is to the screen and the lens throw ratio means customers can know the space requirements for the projector to show an optimal image.
The contrast ratio goes along with brightness and is the difference between black and white. A higher contrast ratio equals a more detailed picture quality. This can also be affected by ambient light, like brightness.
Last, but not least is the noise produced by a projector. Fans cool the projector while in use but can be noisy, interrupting the viewing experience. Noise levels are measured in decibels (db) and the higher the value, the louder the noise. Generally, 30db is acceptable, however, some projectors are 19 to 25db. If the noise becomes a problem, there are projector hush boxes to buy or build that can help.
Other Guidance
So, your customer wants a projector and knows what room it’s going in and all the specs they want. What next?
There are a few more things to consider before buying, namely if they’re going to use a screen. They could go with a wall, if it’s big enough and white, but that isn’t necessarily the best option. Any bump creates a shadow, any nicks or scratches will show up in the image and generally mess up the crisp view they’re going for. A screen is better for a projector, especially if the customer doesn’t have a plain white wall.
It’s time to consider where the projector will be set up again. Not only will the customer need to think of the zoom and lens ratio, but also the distance between the screen and the potential viewers. A screen that’s too big can be hard to see completely, especially if the viewers are too close. Projectors can deliver images as small as 40 inches or as big as 300 inches diagonally. There are various calculators online to find a good distance, but there’s no such thing as a “perfect” distance. Unfortunately, it’s a trial and error and a bit of intelligent approximation.
Something else your customers should think about is whether they plan on keeping their projector in one place inside, or if they want to watch movies outside or on the go.
If your customer wants an outdoor projector, they’ll need to keep in mind that it’s not like an outdoor TV and shouldn’t be stored outside. It should be protected from cold, heat, and moisture to remain in working shape. Higher lumens are ideal to see the image against daylight.
There are also mini projectors. Full-size projectors have more size to fit finely tuned technology to make higher-quality images, so why would someone want a mini projector with less crisp images? They’re cheaper than a full-size projector, running between $50 and $500 depending on the model.
Also, they’re lighter and easier to carry, meaning users can take them on the go for traveling. They’re quick to connect when in a hurry and the light bulbs can have a lifespan of between 20,000 and 30,000 hours, though with a shorter battery life, you’re limited to how long you can watch before recharging.
Conclusion
Projectors are a great way for customers to watch their favorite shows and movies or to create their own home theaters for less than a large TV. As long as they keep in mind the specs they need to optimize the room they use it in, they’ll have various options.
Petra has both full-size and mini projectors, as well as screens and kits available so no matter what your customer needs, you’ll be able to fulfill it for them. If you’d like to see all of Petra’s products, visit order.petra.com.