Home Projector

Adding a home projector or HDTV projector to your home can turn any room into a personal movie theater instantly. The newest technology in home projector systems for home theaters centers around two choices: DLP (digital light processing) projectors and LCD (liquid crystal display) projectors. CRT (cathode ray tube) projectors are still around, but their bulky nature (sometimes as big as a 20-inch TV) and outdated technology is causing them to fade from the market.

Projector Distinctions
A DLP projector uses digital processes to translate pixels onto your screen using thousands of tiny mirrors to reflect the image. Because of this direct translation, the quality of the picture is sharp and clear in most models. An LCD model will use filters to project pixels through red, green and blue colors, assembling them on the other side. This is also an effective method, but the real determining factor is resolution.

Resolution should typically be at least 720p or 1080i for a superb projection. The general rule is that the higher the resolution, the less pixelation or "fuzziness" and the more film-like the image will be. Of course, high resolution can also make a projector very costly. A home projector, especially an HDTV projector, typically ranges in the thousands of dollars, usually from $5,000 to $10,000 for high-end products.

Home projector systems are best used for viewing sports and DVDs. For regular TV, a home theater or HDTV projector may not be the best option until advancements in HD network broadcasting improve. Keep in mind the bulb has to be changed after 1,000 to 3,000 viewing hours and that portability is important for installation and setup--the heaviest projector isn't necessarily the best, especially if it's going to be mounted on the wall.