Buyers' Guide: Projectors

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Nothing beats a projector for the ultimate cinematic experience. You can connect a DVD player, set-top box or games console as you would with any TV set, but enjoy a picture which could measure up to 300in, all at an affordable price. Best of all, a projector can be relatively small and mounted discreetly on your ceiling.

The picture size is dependent on the projector's distance from the screen, so the further away the bigger it gets. You'll need to measure up to see what can be achieved in your own home, but most models should produce a 100in image from about 10ft away. For the best results, the room should be dark.

Most projectors are noisier than TVs due to the cooling fans for their lights, and the bulbs may only last about 2,000 hours, costing £200 to £400 to replace - always ask. But what else can give you a 100in picture for £1,000 to £2,000?

We'd recommend models with true widescreen image chips to maximise the resolution of widescreen material. And if you want support for high-definition, buy a model that has HD resolution and either a DVI or HDMI plug equipped with HDCP.

There are two projector technologies and they both have pros and cons, but ultimately the choice is down to personal taste.

LCD projectors
LCD projectors are closest to slide projectors in that a bulb shines through a coloured panel and into a lens. The coloured panel in this case is a transparent LCD. The colour is normally very good, but contrast and black levels can be poor, while the individual pixels on lower-resolution models may be visible as tiny squares.

Budget LCD projectors employ a single colour panel, while better models sport three for red, green and blue light. These so-called 'three-chip' projectors offer better quality and are recommended.

DLP projectors
Digital Light Processing projectors employ a panel covered with tiny mirrors. These reflect light onto the screen to make the picture. This system can produce far greater contrast and deeper blacks, and doesn't suffer from visible pixels or the tiny gaps between them.

DLP does have one big weakness, though. To generate a colour picture, a spinning wheel with coloured filters is placed in front of the chip. As a result, a rainbow effect can sometimes be fleetingly seen onscreen, especially when you blink quickly.

Some people see this more than others, so always view a DLP model before buying. Three-chip DLP projectors solve this problem, but they are prohibitively expensive.

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See also:

Buyers Guide: Soundcards and Speakers

A better soundcard will give you higher quality audio, and good speakers will enhance your listening pleasure. Here's how to make sure your system produces great sound  01 Dec 2004

Buyers Guide: Monitors

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the best type of monitor but, given a few basic technical requirements, in reality it comes down to what you like the look of  15 Feb 2006

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