Front-Projectors

But they are probably not the best choice for everyday use

For a truly theaterlike experience, you can't beat a front projector paired with a screen that stretches 100 inches or more diagonally. That's about twice the size of a plasma TV, with image quality that's just as good and prices that are comparable, starting at about $2,500 for a high-definition (HD) projector designed for home-theater use.

But front projectors aren't the best choice for typical, everyday viewing. They look best in a dark room, and the need to add a screen, speakers, and a TV tuner increases the cost and complexity of setup.


WHAT'S AVAILABLE



In years past, the only real choice for a big-screen home theater was a bulky CRT-based projector that cost tens of thousands of dollars. Most new projectors are compact units using LCD, DLP, or LCoS technology--the same display technologies used in rear-projection microdisplay TVs. Among the best-selling brands of home-theater projectors are BenQ, Epson, InFocus, Optoma, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, and Sony.

Technically display devices rather than TVs, front projectors require a separate screen (or a smooth wall) as a display surface. You can vary the picture size--from about 50 inches to about 300 inches--by moving the projector closer to the screen or farther back, and using the zoom control. Consequently, you're not locked into a specific screen size as you are with every other type of TV. The images are best viewed in dark rooms, so you need to turn off lights or use blackout shades for daytime viewing.

To get TV programming, you need to connect an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box. For movies, you could hook up just a DVD player. In either case, you generally have to provide speakers, because most projectors don't have built-in audio capability. Even when speakers are included, they're generally not of the highest quality, so you'd probably want to use a sound system in any case.

Front projectors can be placed on a table or other flat surface and stored when not in use. Most can also be mounted to the ceiling. If you mount the projector, be sure to place it at the distance recommended by the manufacturer, angled to prevent the rectangular shape of the image from being distorted. Hiding cables and wiring behind walls or above the ceiling may require construction work. Price ranges from $1,200 and up for enhanced-definition (ED) models to $2,000 and up for HD models.

Don't confuse home projectors with the cheaper models designed for conference-room use. Those units, which sell for less than $1,000, might have lower resolution, which won't give you the detailed, big-screen TV images most home viewers want. Data projectors also tend to lack typical TV features, such as aspect-ratio controls (including zoom or stretch) or the more common color controls.


HOW TO CHOOSE



First make sure that a front projector is the right choice for your viewing needs, given the logistics involved. These devices have special requirements, but if you can deal with them, you can enjoy a high-quality, theaterlike experience at a reasonable cost. Here's what to consider in choosing among models:

Go for HD. Enhanced-definition models have lower native resolution (the number of pixels that make up an image) than HD units. That limits image quality, especially on larger screens. If you're going to the effort of setting up a front-projection system, we recommend an HD model. An ED projector could do if cost is paramount, but plan to sit farther away to compensate for the coarser images.

Weigh the pros and cons of LCD and DLP projectors. In general, projectors using LCD technology aren't as good as DLP models at reproducing true black, but some LCD models do quite well. As with rear-projection TVs using DLP technology, you may experience a "rainbow effect" when watching a DLP front projector. This is a flash of color that may be visible mainly when you move your eyes across bright objects on a dark background. The rainbow effect isn't obvious, but once seen, it can be annoying. Take a video with high-contrast scenes to the store so that your family can see whether it's a problem. All DLP projectors using a single chip (including all models in the Ratings online) are affected. Only the priciest DLP units avoid the problem by using three chips to produce red, green, and blue.

See which model suits your room arrangement. Before buying a front projector and screen, figure out how you'll set up the room. The room dimensions and anticipated seating positions will influence what screen sizes are practical. Some projectors give you more flexibility in where you can place the projector to get a certain image size; see what the manufacturer recommends. The larger the image you want, the more distance needed between the projector and screen, though the projector's zoom feature will provide some flexibility here. Also consider where you'll sit to watch the TV. With a 110-inch screen and an HD image, the optimal viewing distance is about 14 feet.

Check the inputs. Consider where you'll place and connect the cable or satellite box that will serve as the TV tuner, a sound system, and probably a DVD player or recorder. All the tested models have the usual analog inputs, such as component-video, and some add HDMI or DVI digital inputs. If you want to use the projector for playing games, make sure it has a computer input.

Think about the screen. In our tests, we used a 110-inch screen that cost $400. It has a matte-white viewing surface 41/2 feet high by 8 feet wide. There are screens with more reflective finishes designed to enhance brightness, but you might compromise the wider viewing angle of a matte screen. Other so-called dark screens are designed to enhance contrast by improving black-level performance, but they do take a small hit on overall brightness.