New Ratings: Front projectors offer a front-row seat at the big show

Nothing can bring home the excitement of watching a movie in a big-screen theater like a front projector paired with a very large screen—100 inches or more—and a surround-sound entertainment system. Until recently, though, you had to earn like a movie star to afford that kind of set-up.

Not anymore. For the past three years, prices for front projectors have fallen steadily, making a front-projection system an option for more of us. In our just-completed Ratings of new projectors (available to subscribers), you'll see that some of the best 1080p models now cost about the same as a highly rated, big-screen LCD or plasma TV. For example, the two top-rated front projectors in our Ratings—an Epson and a Mitsubishi—each cost just $3,000. Other models, rated Very Good in overall picture quality, start at $1,800.

In general, we've seen the quality of front projectors rise even as costs have dropped. In our latest test, almost all the projectors we tested were able to project reasonably bright, detailed high-definition images, creating an engaging, theater-like experience. But the ability of the projectors to produce deep black levels, high contrast, and accurate colors varied, as did price. (For our tests, we used a 110-inch Da-Lite screen with a matte finish.) Models from most of the major brands, including Epson, InFocus, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Sanyo, and Sony, were included. Most of the projectors in our latest Ratings are LCD models. The two exceptions were an InFocus projector that uses a single-chip DLP design, and a Sony SXRD model that's based on LCoS technology.

Remember that you'll also need to spring for a projection screen (generally $400 to $800, depending on size), plus a sound system. And projectors use fairly expensive bulbs (typically $300 or more) that need to be replaced after every 2,000 or 3,000 hours of use. Also, they perform best in a very dark environment. As such, front projectors are best suited for watching movies or special events, such as a big game or concert; they aren't the best choice for use as an everyday TV.

For general front-projector buying advice, or more information about the specific models we've tested, visit our front-projector Ratings, which are available to subscribers.—James K. Willcox