In a separate blog post we discussed options when it comes to the actual screens and the materials used in home theatres, and in continuing on the home theatre theme today we are going to cover the projector itself.
As we write this, there are three main types of home theatre projectors to consider: laser, short throw laser and lamp style. Here we will explain what each is and hopefully help bring you closer to deciding which is the best option for you.
Laser projectors
Laser projectors are game changers when it comes to home theatre projectors due to the fact that they deliver excellent image quality thanks to the use of (surprise, surprise) laser light sources. There are several advantages laser projectors offer over traditional lamp projectors.
- Longer life: Laser projectors offer excellent lifespan when compared to lamp projectors. While lamp projectors can require (comparably) frequent replacing, lasers on the other hand can last for thousands of hours.
- Superior brightness/ color accuracy: Want awesome overall image quality? Then you want a laser projector. The degree of improvement of images when compared to lamp projectors that lasers offer is instantly obvious and dramatically improved. The term "vibrant" will immediately come to mind when seeing the enhancement that lasers offer over lamp.
- Immediate results: No more waiting for your projector to warm up. Laser projectors are ready to roll at the press of a button. It might not seem like a big thing, but take our word for it… it is.
- Lower operating costs: While it is true that laser projectors cost more to buy, they can offset that difference over time thanks to their lower maintenance costs and longer lifespans.
Short throw laser projectors
Do you have a tight space you are working with? Then a short throw laser projector just may be the solution you've been looking for.
While short throw's share many of the same characteristics that their traditional laser projector do, they offer the ability to project large images from a short distance.
- Smaller room solution: While we'd all love to have endless space in our homes for the perfect viewing setup, often we end do the best with what we have. Short throw laser projectors are built to deliver big screen experiences in small theatre environments.
- Special screen materials required: To get the most out of your short throw laser projector you will want to make sure you have a specialized screen material which goes by the name Ultra Short Throw (UST) screen material. These help ensure your short throw delivers the large, crisp images you want from a short distance.
Lamp projectors
While we were a bit hard on lamp projectors in our laser projector description, lamp projectors have been a key component for home theatres for decades.
No, they won't match the brightness, color, accuracy or for that matter lifespan of laser projectors, there is still a place for lamp projectors in the world of home theatre.
- Lamps: While lamp projectors use of traditional lamps won't offer the same level as their laser cousins will, they can (and do) still offer a great home theatre experience.
- Price/ affordability: Here is where lamp projectors really shine (see what we did there ;-). These much more budget friendly options offer a cost effective solution for those people who don't require 'the best of the best'.
So there you have it. From the cost effectiveness of lamp projectors to the excellence of lasers, you are now much more informed on selecting the best option for your home theatre.