Reviews of DLP 3 Chip Projectors

DLP 3 Chip Projector Reviews

About DLP 3 Chip Projectors

DLP Projector Technology

What is a DLP projector? Let’s start with DLP itself.  It stands for Digital Light Processor, and that’s the type of “chip” used in almost half of the world’s projectors.  DLP, as in DLP projectors is the marketing term.

The actual technical term for the “DLP” chips themselves is DMD, which Texas Instruments (creator of the technology, and manufacturer of the chips) called DMD, or digital micro device.

You’ve probably already heard about those million or so tiny mirrors.  Probably you heard about them on those DLP commercials TI likes to run on major TV events.  I’ve seen their ads on the Oscars, key sporting events, and other programming.  (You know, the cute little curly headed girl the box, the elephant and the beam of light!)

DLP projectors have often been the ones pushing the industry forward.  Due to their design strengths, they led the charge to smaller, lighter projectors.  Even today, (let’s forget those tiny pico projectors for a moment), the smallest regular projectors are DLPs.

Their single chip design makes it easier to build a smaller, lighter projector than one using three chips, such as LCD projectors, LCoS projectors, and even the big expensive DLP 3 Chip Projectors (which are in a whole other world in terms of price).

When it comes to 3 chip DLP projectors though, their design is very similar to LCoS in that they use 3 reflective “panels” one for each primary color, and then recombine the light.

Note: LCD is the same, but uses 3 transmissive panels – the light passes through them instead of being reflected.

More recently, DLP projectors have been the first to hit the market 3D ready.  This is doubly true for the 3 chip DLP projectors. The major players, such as Christie, Digital Projection, and projectiondesign have been showing 3D projectors as far back as a year ago.

Whether you are looking for a $70,000 Runco 3D projector for home cinema, or a similarly priced 700 lumen Christie 3D projector for business applications, the 3 chip DLP companies, are at the forefront.

Why?

It’s the big bucks applications. There are so many scientific and business applications where 3D improves data comprehensibility, that where big bucks are involved (oil exploration, military, scientific research on campuses), there will be demand for medium and large venue 3D applications. The 3 chip DLP projectors so far, are the only game in town if you need larger room 3D.