TOP 10 Best Home Theater Projectors

Choosing a multimedia projector to create a home theater. The rating contains the best projectors in terms of price / quality ratio with good contrast and high-quality color reproduction. Most of these are models with a resolution of at least Full HD, which is enough for home models.

Watching movies on the big screen at home is great, but buying a good projector is not enough. First of all, you need to prepare the room itself. Namely, buy a screen for a projector (or at least prepare a wall), hang blackout curtains, it is desirable to darken the walls around and the floor, purchase a high-quality sound system. Remember that the maximum immersion in what is happening on the screen occurs in a dark room, where the light from the projector does not reflect from the surfaces around.

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How Do I Pick a Good Home Projector?

A projector for a home will perform its task qualitatively only if its characteristics correspond to the purpose of use.

What is the difference between office and cinema projectors?

It is not always possible to darken a large hall, so office projectors must have a high degree of brightness. A good presentation projector should be compact and have a built-in audio system.

A home theater projector is used in small spaces. The user expects a reduced noise level from such devices. Since this is a stationary installation, restrictions on weight and dimensions are removed. Built-in speakers are optional. The image quality should be high. Full HD projectors fall into this category. Models with a matrix resolution of up to 1280 x 720 are budgetary.

Light flow. The amount of light (candelometers) generated by the projector determines the ability to use the device in rooms with varying degrees of darkness:

• you can watch movies when the hall is completely darkened with a luminous flux of 55 cd / m2;
• for a slightly darkened room, the brightness should correspond to 75 cd / m2;
• in a room without shading, where there is no direct sunlight, a luminous flux of 200 cd / m2 is required.

Contrast. Contrast is the ratio of the brightness of white to the brightness of black. To achieve the ideal, you will need to darken the ceiling and walls to exclude flare. Sometimes a high contrast screen canvas is used.

There is enough contrast for a normal picture 200: 1 ANSI and 3000: 1 full on / full off... These characteristics must be indicated in the instructions for the product.

Color quality. The best projector is the one that reproduces the colors the way the filmmaker intended them. Usually manufacturers suggest adjusting the saturation of the main color. The best projector will be the one where there is a possibility of selective adjustment of individual colors selected on the screen by the cursor... High-end projectors have professional calibration systems built into them.

Noise level. Noise will interfere with watching a movie in a small room if the sound pressure level from the ventilation system exceeds 35 dB... The quieter the device, the better. If there is a choice between the models, it is advisable to turn on and personally assess the noise in the same conditions.

Equipped with interfaces. "Tulips" are gradually disappearing into the past. USB connectors are in demand among users:

• USB 3.0 Type A;
• USB 3.0 Type B;
• Micro USB A / B.

Fast pairing is provided by HDMI, HDMI Mini, S-Video, DVI connectors. Without the necessary connectors, the projector cannot be connected to video and audio sources.

Resolution. The resolution of the projector depends on the number of pixels that make up the image in width and height. The larger it is, the clearer the picture and you can use the big screen:

• 800x600 will allow you to view medium quality video, display graphs. When HD video is output, details will be lost.
• 1024x768 is suitable for an office, but not enough for a home projector.
• 1280 × 720 allows you to watch TV series on an average-sized screen with minimal comfort.
• HD 1920 x 1080 is considered the optimal resolution for a home theater.
• FULL HD 1920 x 1080 will provide the perfect picture.
• The resolution 3840x2160 is needed to view video on screens up to 10 m diagonally.

Image formation. The image on the projector screen is formed according to the following principles:

• Devices equipped with DLP technology use mirrored lenses that rotate under the action of a pulse. The advantage is the increased contrast and clear borders of the shadows. However, sitting in front of the screen for a long time can cause eye strain due to the rainbow effect.
• LCD technology provides for the use of three LCD matrices. A special prism recombines the fluxes of blue, green and red, the lens displays a full-color image on the screen. The disadvantage is the mesh effect, the advantage is the increased durability of LCD-matrices.
• LcoS-technology based on liquid crystals combines the advantages of 3LCD and DLP and eliminates their disadvantages. Various companies use "proprietary" designations - D-ILA from JVC and 3LCD Reflective from Epson and SXRD from Sony.

The best home theater projectors

The device is positioned by the manufacturer as the first in the budget segment, which produces high-precision images in 4K UHD format (8.3 ml. Pixels). A projector with high-tech stuffing has unexpectedly small dimensions. Thanks to its compact size and elegant design, it will fit into the interior of the most discerning user.

Features:

• transmits the most realistic video;
• football mode provides the effect of being in a large stadium;
• the "sports" mode transmits a detailed picture in motion and clear sound;
• the speakers built into the cabinet compartment feature the proprietary Cinema Master Audio + sound enhancement technology.

The detail of the image is so high that what is happening on the screen completely captures the viewer's attention. The projector can be used in a room where the light is on, so high brightness and color are so balanced in it.

The top model from Epson will appeal to those who don't like to get tangled up in wires. With support for Wi-Fi and Miracast wireless technologies, you can display images from compatible mobile devices on the big screen. Considering that this is a budget projector, almost natural contrast is a significant advantage of the model.

Features:

• Accurate color reproduction allows you to enjoy the natural picture on the screen;
• increased brightness is useful for working in lighted rooms;
• automatic vertical keystone correction and manual horizontal correction ensures comfortable viewing of a movie for a large number of people;
• suitable for gaming, providing a quick reaction to the gamer.

You need to be prepared for the fact that at maximum lamp power, the cooling system will work quite noisy. Interaction with USB media is limited to image playback.

Until the industry fully switched to 4K, Sony's projector is a bargain for watching movies at home. The model is characterized by optimal black levels, detailed pictures and accurate color reproduction. The manufacturer guarantees a lamp life of 1800 lumens of about 6000 hours with stable performance and reduced maintenance costs.

Features:

• no noise, smooth transmission of movements, no jitter and blur;
• accurate reproduction of subtle halftones of color;
• can display a 3D picture (glasses are additionally purchased);
• convenient manual focusing and image scaling;
• Will appeal to fans of computer games on the big screen (latency no more than 23.7 ms.)

The projector is the perfect purchase for anyone looking for a cinematic picture quality product at a reasonable price. It lacks only wireless technology, as in the previous rating model.

The device allows you to transfer the image from your smartphone to the big screen using iProjection. This is convenient not only for watching films created by the smartphone camera, but also for demonstrating presentations. Despite the short throw lens, the brightness uniformity across the screen turned out to be even better than that of the telephoto lens.

Features:

• energy efficiency thanks to 3LCD technology;
• balance between the maximum brightness of the projector and the color quality in Vivid mode.
• the "Vivid Cinema" mode ensures the brightness of individual colors, preventing them from fading from external light;
• Gamers will love the Game Mode, which allows them to enjoy gaming in a dimly lit room.

A significant advantage over Epson EH-TW5650 is a good brightness reserve. The projector can be safely used in power saving mode. The lamp life will be longer, the projector will run even quieter.

BenQ's excellent cinema and sports projector lets you worry free about picture quality with its Cinema and Sport modes. The device produces a more contrast and natural color image compared to business models for presentations. The exterior design reminds of BenQ TK800M: the same elegant and compact.

Features:

• Sport mode greatly enhances the sports viewing experience on the big screen;
• small body compared to most home projectors;
• quality optics with 1.3x zoom and the well-proven single-chip DLP system provide excellent color reproduction;
• the maximum luminous flux of 2000 ANSI-lumens does not completely darken the room.

Information for those who doubt whether to take this model or not: BenQ W1090 can simply be placed on the table in front of the audience and not have to suffer with suspensions. He will make the main picture adjustments by himself using automatic keystone correction.

This projector can be found on sale for 7-10 thousand rubles cheaper than BenQ W1090, while it does an excellent job with its basic functions and tasks. The device is based on DLP technology and features high resolution. The model can be called universal: it is suitable for TV series and presentation graphics with small details.

Features:

• built-in 2-watt speaker produces high-quality sound;
• long lamp life up to 5000 hours, and three times more in economy mode;
• 3500 lumens of brightness is enough for the picture to be seen even in a bright room;
• the projector is controlled via a keypad or remote control.

The projector is an excellent choice for equipping your home theater, conference room or classroom. It is necessary to use the device carefully: the beautiful glossy body is made of fragile plastic.

A quality portable projector that fits easily into a purse or jacket pocket. You can use it not only at home, but also outdoors, on a visit. The native resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels, but the projector is capable of playing Full HD and 4K Ultra HD video. For a portable device, these are amazing characteristics.

Features:

• no time and effort is required to independently adjust the focus, everything will be done by the Instant 10000+ system;
• electronic filling ensures the operation of the Android TV operating system and the launch of any Android applications;
• powerful 3 watt speakers and subwoofer used in premium projectors.

This baby also supports a three-dimensional image. Therefore, in addition to the standard set, which includes a charging cable, power adapter and remote control, you can buy additional 3D glasses.

The portable DLP projector from Xiaomi can be safely called a pocket home theater. He collected the best qualities of a modern budget projector. The luminous flux of the lamp is 500 lumens, which is twice that of the previous model in the XGIMI MoGo Pro rating. Video quality in real Full HD resolution and 4K support.

Features:

• automatic adjustment of correction and focus of keystone changes, the same operations can be performed manually;
• thanks to the popular HDR + technology, the image is deeper and more natural;
• Android TV 9.0 system expands video content and app list for everyday needs;
• built-in Google Assistant is easily activated by pressing the controller button;
• a pair of powerful speakers with great Dolby DTS sound.

The projector is great for music and movies, but gamers need to consider another model like the Epson EH-TW650.

The leader of the rating is the model from Acer, made in a solid black case. The powerful filling allows the image to be transmitted at a distance of up to 10 m. The DLP technology in combination with the optimal brightness of the 4000 lm lamp provides high clarity and contrast of the picture. If the device is not connected to the video signal source for a long time, the power saving mode is activated. This saves energy and significantly extends lamp life.

Features:

• record low noise level of up to 24 dB, which provides convenience when broadcasting in small rooms;
• control using buttons on the panel and an ergonomic remote control;
• the ability to reproduce images in 3D format;
• the standard auto-correction function is complemented by an automatic 180-degree rotation of the cabinet in case of ceiling mounting.

For users who spend long periods of time behind a large screen, the model will be attracted by Acer Blue Light Shield TM technology, which protects against the negative effects of the blue spectrum without distorting color reproduction.

Video: How to choose a good projector