What to look for in a high definition projector

High definition projector aspect ratio

This is really a no brainer. Make sure that your high definition projector has a 16:9 aspect ratio (as opposed to a 4:3 aspect ratio). High definition projectors designed as home theater projectors will be designed to handle high definition so they will be 16:9 or widescreen format. The traditional 4:3 size aspect ratio is still a common choice for business projectors, but not home theater projectors.

High definition projector resolution

This one is a bit more controversial, at least for the time being. There are two choices - 720p or 1080p native resolution. Both of these resolutions are considered high definition. Until recently 720p was pretty much the standard choice for a high definition projector. As 1080p is quickly becoming the standard resolution of most new flat panel tvs, it has also affected the projector market as well.

Prices have rapidly decreased to the point where a 1080p projector is a serious option for shoppers. So why the debate? Isn't the higher resolution automatically better? Yes and no. All other things being equal, yes 1080 lines of resolution is theoretically better then just 720, just as 720 was better then 480.

On the other hand the location of the viewer to the screen is important to know. A general rule of thumb is that the average eye of the typical viewer will not notice much of a difference between 720p and 1080p if they are sitting 1.5 times the screen width or greater away from the screen. As you move closer to the screen you will tend to start noticing the pixel structure and this is when you can really benefit from 1080p.

The other thing is that there just is not much 1080p content available. Blu-ray is in 1080p and if you currently have a Blu-ray player or intend to get one in the near future you will want to seriously consider going with a 1080p projector to get the most out of your player. High definition television is currently being broadcast in 720p or 1080i so you do not need 1080p to view this content in it's intended resolution.

There is no doubt about it. 1080p is here to stay and a year from now the debate will probably be a moot point as most projectors will probably be 1080p, but for now you need to decide if it is worth the premium cost to have a minimal improvement for your system. If you suspect you will have buyers remorse you can save yourself the anguish and get a 1080p now for peace of mind. On the other hand as prices continue to fall you could get a great deal on a 720p now and upgrade in a few years for the same cost as buying a 1080p now.

Native resolution is one of the more overrated considerations when buying a projector. A high quality 720p projector is certainly going to outperform a low quality 1080p projector. There are many other important considerations such as picture sharpness, brightness and contrast levels.

Brightness

The home theater projector's brightness level, measured in ANSI lumens, is another very important consideration. This becomes more important depending on your viewing environment. If your room has a lot of ambient light (through windows for example) then it is essential to have a bright projector. If you intend to use your projector strictly for movies in a room with no light then it may not be your primary deciding factor.

I once was told that lumen rating is the best way to tell the quality of the picture that you will get. That simply is not necessarily the case. A home theater projector's goal is to produce the most lifelike picture possible with vibrant colors, sharp detail and deep black levels. Projectors designed for business presentations need higher lumens/brightness level because it is needed to make presentations in areas with ambient light, however if you took that projector home and tried to watch a football game in high definition on a 10 foot screen with that same projector it would look horrible, trust me I know from experience.

As a general rule of thumb 1000 lumens should be sufficient for a dedicated home theater with complete light control. A room with high ambient light on the other hand will want 2000 or more lumens in order to project an image adequately, where a room with some ambient light will want 1400 or so lumens.

Contrast ratios

Another important consideration is the contrast ratio which is the difference in brightness between the deepest black and whitest white. A higher number means a higher contrast.

Contrast is what gives your image a lifelike quality. A projector with high contrast can produce deep blacks with good shadow definition whereas a projector with lower contrast will appear more gray and washed out and will lack the depth that is needed in order to produce stunning images.

So what contrast levels do you need? This is a bit of a tough question. There is no black and white answer to the question as contrast ratios are measured slightly differently from company to company, but again as a general rule of thumb 2000:1 is a good starting point for entry level projectors. A 5000:1 ratio will give better blacks and shadow details and is common in a midrange projector. A 10000:1 contrast ratios and above are obviously better yet and are capable of producing deep, lifelike, almost 3d images.

One thing that you will come across if you study the contrast ratios of different projectors is a dynamic iris. A dynamic iris is built into many projectors to improve the contrast by automatically opening the iris in order to achieve the whitest whites and closing it to achieve the darkest blacks. Keep in mind that a projector with a dynamic iris will generally measure their contrast based on the whitest whites and deepest darks based on the variations of the iris so this can tend to make the contrast ratios misleading on some models.   NEXT

What to look for in a high definition projector (part 2)