Home Theater Projectors Reviews by Brand

Last Update 5/3/2008

To help you get started in the hunt for your "perfect" home theater projector, here is some basic home theater information.

Most home theater projectors are either LCD projectors or single chip digital DLP projectors. There are also some higher end models using LCOS technology instead. Projector manufacturers using LCOS usually have their own names for them; Sony calls theirs SXRD, JVC calls theirs D-ILA, and so on.

Entry level home projectors typically cost less than plasma displays or big screen TVs, and, of course produce a much larger image on to a projector screen. There are basically two groups of entry level projectors; all-in-one projectors with built in DVD players and speakers, and stand alone home theater projectors. Both groups typically offered EDTV resolution (one step below HDTV) of 854x480, referred to as 480p. Today, however, stand alone projectors are almost all 720p resolution (1280x720) which is one of the HDTV standards. These projectors will all work with HDTV cable/satellite boxes, and the new hi-def DVD players. Most All-in-one projectors are still 480p, but the first 720p, the Epson MovieMate 72, is just starting to ship (9/07).

Most entry level home theater projectors, use DLP technology, but there are some LCD projectors in this price class..

As you move up a step, out of the $800 to $1200 range,you can buy brighter or more capable 720p projectors, which consist of a good mix of LCD and DLP. 1080p projectors, which just started shipping a year ago, now start around $2700, and there are both DLP and LCD projectors in the low cost 1080p class. Spend around $5000 or more, and there are now two excellent 3 chip LCOS projectors from Sony and JVC, competing fiercely with the LCD and DLP projectors.

The really hi-end home theater projectors are mostly DLP projectors that use three DLP chips instead of one, but prices start (9/2007) at $8,000 for a 720p projector, and over $30,000 for 1080p 3 chip DLPs.

Additionally, in the second half of 2006, 1080p resolution (the highest HDTV resolution projectors are just starting to ship. Prices start in the $8000+ range, but of course will drop significantly over time.

The key factors to consider in making your home theater projector choice, include; your budget, placement considerations (ceiling, table, back wall), image quality (of course), ability to control your room lighting, and matching the projector to a projector screen, that will work best in your room.

When all is said and done, your new home theater projector and system can do what plasma displays and big screen TV's just can't accomplish, and that is provide the huge "theater-like" viewing area that allows you to be imersed in the content. Even the largest most expensive plasmas now shipping produce an image less than half the size of a the typical home theater projector setup.

Start the popcorn!