Flat-panel TVS vs. Projectors

I enjoyed Al Griffin’s review of the Epson LS500 4K Laser Projection TV in the February/march issue. My local Best Buy has both the Epson and a Samsung ultra short throw projector on demo, so I was able to view both projectors alongside several 86-inch LG 4K flat-panel LCD TVS. To me, the LG flat-panel TVS looked sharp and crisp, while the ultra short throw projector images appeared much softer. I was told by the Best Buy salesman that this is largely due to the “all-glass lens,” more than 10 of which are needed for a projector. Did you have the opportunity to observe the sharpness/crispness of the Epson LS500 against an LCD TV?

Art Porter / via email

Al Griffin replies: The reason why the Epson and Samsung ultra short throw images looked softer than the LG flat-panel LCDS in the demo you caught has little to do with

either projector’s lens assembly. Flat- panel LCD TVS generally deliver significantly higher picture brightness and contrast than projectors. Both of those factors— contrast in particular— contribute to an enhanced perception of detail (sharpness/crispness) in the display, even if the projector and flat-panel TV being viewed side-by-side offer the same resolution. The main benefit to ultra short throw projectors is that they provide an ultra-large, 100-inch-plus screen size at an affordable price compared with flat-panel TVS.