Pros and Cons of High-Def Home Theater Projectors

The falling cost of high-definition home theater projectors has made them more accessible for the general market and they are now a reasonable alternative to flat-screen televisions. Before going ahead and purchasing one, however, it is important to consider your expectations, how often you will use it and any compromises that may be required. The following points will help you make an informed decision.

Pros

The enjoyment of a big-screen movie theater production in your own home and at your convenience.

Many of the modern projectors are small and light and can be transported to a friend's home for parties etc. It should be borne in mind, however, that some compromise on the quality of picture should be expected if the projector is used in less than ideal environmental conditions. Also, if you intend to mount the projector on the ceiling and also transport it elsewhere it is advisable to get a quick release cradle/mount and have spare cables to use rather than having to dismantle the installation each time.

If the projector is only used for movies and other special events then the lamps will last for up to 4 years (based on usage of around 8 hours per week). However, if you intend to use the projector as a replacement for your standard television see the Cons section.

Price reductions mean that some projectors are available for less than a premium flat-screen television.

A projector and screen do not have any detrimental effect on the audio produced as they are “acoustically invisible”. In contrast, a large television interferes with the sound waves and block or misdirect them.

TV programs are increasingly being transmitted in HD quality so the opportunities to view high quality images using the projector will also increase over the next few years.

Cons

When watching lower quality sources (e.g. a tv channel not broadcast in HD) any imperfections in the image will be magnified. Some projectors have built-in image scaling to help combat this.

The quality of image from the projector is best with little to no ambient light. This may make it necessary to invest in better quality window coverings or place the projector in a specifically designed theatre room.

For the best quality image a separate viewing screen is required. Projecting onto a blank wall is possible but generally produces a low quality image. Either fixed or retractable screens are available. Retractable screens can be easily stored when not in use to prevent damage but can be very expensive.

With very large screens the picture quality is not uniform for all viewers – a viewer sitting off to one side of the picture will have a lower quality of image than one directly in front of the screen. It is therefore necessary to consider the compromise on size of screen versus quality of image for all viewers depending on the size of the room it will be installed in.

If you use the projector as a replacement for a standard television the bulbs will need replaced more frequently and this can be expensive (approx $150-$300 each). If you purchase spare bulbs at the same time as the projector use them for a short time (4-10 hours) as the manufacturer’s warranty is valid from the date of sale not the date of use and failure is most likely in the first 10 hours.