Buying advice: Front projectors

These display devices can provide the biggest picture, but they aren't ideal for everyday use

For a truly theater-like experience, you can't beat a front projector paired with a screen that stretches 100 inches or more diagonally—about twice the size of most plasma and LCD HDTVs. You can get excellent high-definition picture quality in a jumbo size for about the same price you'd pay for a big-screen flat panel.

With a front projector, you're not locked into a specific screen size as you are with every other type of TV. 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 200 inches by moving the projector closer to the screen or farther back, and using the zoom control.

Technically display devices rather than TVs, projectors require additional gear to provide you with entertainment. To get TV programming, you must connect an external tuner, such as a cable or satellite box. For movies, you can hook up a standard or high-def DVD player. You generally have to provide an amplifier or A/V receiver and speakers, because most projectors don't have built-in audio capability. When speakers are included, they're generally not of the highest quality, so you'd probably want to use a sound system anyway.

Despite their advantages, front projectors aren't the best choice for typical, everyday viewing. The picture from a projector looks best in a dark room, because any light that falls on the screen reduces contrast and washes out the picture. Your best bet is a room with blackout window shades. Even at night, you have to keep light from nearby lamps from hitting the display surface.

Also, the need to add a screen, speakers, and a TV tuner increases the cost and complexity of set-up. In addition, a projector's bulb typically needs replacement every 2,000 to 3,000 hours or so.

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. Among the best-selling brands of home-theater projectors are Epson, JVC, In Focus, Mitsubishi, Optoma, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, and Sony.

Prices for front projectors have dropped considerably over the last few years. There are now 720p HD models that cost about $1,000. Models with 1080p resolution are more expensive ($2,500 to $6,500 or more), but that's only half the price they were just a couple of years ago.

Two companies, Epson and Optoma, offer all-in-one home-theater projectors with either an integrated or outboard DVD player and built-in speakers, plus a screen. These are somewhat easier to set up and use.

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

How to choose

First make sure that a front projector is the right choice for your viewing needs. If you can deal with the logistics, you can enjoy a high-quality, theater-like experience at a reasonable cost. Here's what to consider in choosing among models:

Go for HD

If you're going to the effort of setting up a front-projection system, we highly recommend an HD model—a 1080p unit if budget permits. Rapidly falling prices have made them much more affordable, and the higher quality will be clearly visible on the larger screens. A low-cost everything-is-included model would be suitable for casual movie viewing.

Weigh the pros and cons of LCD, LCoS, and DLP projectors

In general, projectors using LCD technology haven't been as good as DLP models at reproducing true black, but recent improvements have enabled some LCD projectors to do quite well. LCoS projectors, from companies such as Sony and JVC, are becoming more common as prices fall, and some are outstanding.

When watching a DLP front projector (or rear-projection set as well), you may experience a "rainbow effect." This is a flash of color some viewers notice mainly when they move their eyes across bright objects on a dark background. The rainbow effect isn't obvious to some viewers, but once noticed, it can be annoying. Many newer DLP projectors now use faster-spinning color wheels, which can reduce the effect. Take a video with high-contrast scenes to the store so that you can see whether it's a problem. All DLP projectors using a single chip (including all DLP 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 and eliminating the spinning color wheel.

Decide on a room arrangement

Before buying a front projector and screen, figure out how you'll set up the room. 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. Projectors with a vertical and/or horizontal lens shift will give you more placement flexibility; those with out a lens shift have to be mounted or placed so their image is centered on the screen to avoid using the keystone adjustment, which can distort the picture.

The room dimensions and anticipated seating positions will largely determine 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. Models with "short-throw" lenses can be placed closer to the projector, while "long-throw" lenses allow the projector to be placed farther away.

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. Keep in mind that as the image from a projector gets larger, it also gets dimmer, with poorer contrast between light and dark areas. 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.

Evaluate logistics

Think about where you'll place the cable or satellite box that will serve as the TV tuner, a sound system, and probably a DVD player or recorder. Most projectors have at least one HDMI input and one component-video input, but you may need more if you won't be using a receiver to switch between signal sources. If you want to use the projector for playing games, make sure it has a computer input. Front projectors can be placed on a table or other flat surface and stored when not in use. Hiding cables and wiring behind walls or above the ceiling may require construction work, and you must use cables specifically rated for in-wall use.

Think about the screen

In our tests, we used a 110-inch screen that cost $400. It has a matte-white viewing surface 4½ feet high by 8 feet wide. There are screens with more reflective finishes designed to enhance brightness (called gain), but they might have a narrower viewing angle than 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 in overall brightness. Freestanding screens can be folded and stored when not in use, and some wall- or ceiling-mounted screens can be manually or electronically retracted.