PROJECTOR PICKER

Before you choose to go out and buy any old projector that fits within your budget, you should first check that it’s going to project an image that matches the screen size you want from its mounting—and that the image will be bright enough at that size.

The screen size projected is a combination of the model’s optics and the distance it is away from the screen, this is called the throw ratio. A ratio of 1:1 means that, for every foot away from the screen, it would create an image one foot across. Typically, home theater projectors offer default ratios around 1.2:1 backed up with optical zooms of around 1.3x, so the final image size can be adjusted.

Models with “short throws” have a ratio of one or under for use in smaller rooms or placing on coffee tables, but a newer trend is the Ultra-Short Throw projector with ratios of around 0.25. These can be positioned directly in front of the target screen and project images of up to 100-inches but, ideally, they work best with specialized lenticular screens. Projectors with much higher throws of 2+ are available for larger rooms but are typically aimed at conference venues.

A final attribute to consider is brightness, measured in lumens (nits come into this too). Too low and the picture will be a dim experience, too bright and it compromises the image quality and increases noise levels of fans keeping that bright bulb cool. Typically, home theater projectors range from 2,000 to 3,000 lumens. Conference projectors tend to hit 5,000+ lumens. As a guide, a 1,000-lumen projector with a 100-inch screen would need to run in a dark room for best effect, a 2,000-lumen project and 100-inch screen can cope with medium ambient lighting.