The Perfect Projector
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Here's some things to look for in a projector:
1. Resolution
Ours is 1024x768 (XGA). The 800x600 (SVGA) are cheaper, but you're more likely to see the individual pixels on the screen. The next higher resolution was something like 10 times more expensive. Beware of "maximum resolutions" listed. If a projector claims a max of 1280x1024, it is just the maximum signal you can feed into it. Its actual display resolution is usually less. Get the specifics before you buy.
2. Display Technology
Pretty much all projectors are either LCD or DLP. LCD is basically just shining a bright light through a laptop-type screen. DLP is a matrix of tiny digitally controlled mirrors (one mirror per pixel). LCD is supposedly better for displaying computer data and DLP better for video. DLP also gives better contrasts (blacks are actually black instead of grey). Our projector is DLP.
3. Brightness
Our projector is rated something like 1900 lumens in economy mode (which is what we use). I think this is plenty bright enough for a good picture. I'm not sure what a lower bound would be though.
4. Throw Length
Different projectors require different distances from the screen to produce the same size image. I changed from my initial choice of projector to a slightly different model from the same manufacturer in order to get a slightly longer throw length so the projector could be further back instead of in the middle of the room. You'll have to measure your room to figure out what's right for you. It might not matter as much in your configuration. Projector People has a handy calculator that shows you how large of an image you'll get for each projector at different distances.
5. Inputs
You're supposed to get the best picture by using component inputs (separate red, green, and blue signals). The next best is S-video which separates the chrominance and luminence. Third place is
composite which just lumps everything into one signal. (This is the standard RCA cables that most devices have.) Again, it's up to you which one these (and how many of them) is important to you. We have the
DVD player connected to the component input and the VCR connected to the composite input. If you have another device (like an A/V receiver) that can switch between inputs, you really only need one input on the projector. We also have a VGA extension cord connected to the projector (and run to a shelf) in case we ever want to display the computer. Some projectors allow you to do picture-in-picture with two sources (usually the VGA and one of the video inputs).
6. Fan Noise
Again a matter of personal preference; at least one of us is very sound sensitive so this is an important feature for us. The projector that we picked out is one of the quietest at 29dB. We had previously been around a projector that was 42dB and you have to speak up to be heard over it. It's pretty annoying.
7. Contrast Ratio
This is basically how many shades of grey you get. Our projector is rated 1600:1. Again, I don't know how low you can go and still have a nice picture. I think I read somewhere that 1000 was a good number.
8. Keystone Correction
This is a nice-to-have. If your projector is mounted slightly off-center, you can use this to have the projector correct the trapezoid shaped image you'll get to into a rectangular one. You don't want to have to do too much correction however, or picture quality degrades.
Additional things to consider:
We mounted the last projector on the ceiling. We happened to have a beam in that room and the beam completely hid the projector from view from most places in the room. It was really neat! Our next house will be temporary, so we are going to put it on top of a bookshelf. In the house after that, we are going to build the projector into a box, so that it cannot be seen and is protected from flying toys, etc. Projectors will accommodate for mounting at different angles. We debated between a pull down screen and a premade screen. We went with the flat premade screen and really loved it. It looked like artwork, and we titled it, "Polar Bear in a Snow Storm". We used the projector television for viewing our computers, etc., too. We really had quite a lot of fun with it. We could even take it outside and project it onto our wall for a really huge outdoor movie night. Great screens can be purchased from Projector People. Our screen that we got from them was a Dalite Perm wall Da-Mat. It can be made in a custom size. There are sizes and qualities for all budgets.
At our next house, the walls are white already, so we are going to project straight onto the wall and see how we like it. We know people that have purchased "projector paint" and painted a portion of their wall with it. It is a special paint that is supposed to make the picture look the best. It could be fun to do this and paint a frame around it, then maybe frame other colored square/rectangles/shapes throughout the rest of the room. Show your creative side!
We found Projector Central to have a lot of good information about specifications of various projectors, mounting brackets, and screens. Don't believe their prices though. They list MSRP which is usually more expensive than you can find them online.
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