Learn how to choose the best LCD projector to meet your needs, and what different LCD projectors are available to you according to your needs and your budget.


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Video Transcription

Guide to LCD Projectors Music Playing Hi, my name is Mike Fallert. I am the general manager of the Sound Shop in Colorado Springs and here today to talk to you about LCD projectors and what the differences are. Well, there are really is and a lot of differences in LCD projectors. There are two types a single element or a single panel LCD versus a three panel and the biggest difference is that three panel LCD gives you better color separation because they are using three separate panels, one for red, one for green, one for blue. Those are the three colors it takes to achieve the color spectrum in video. The old projectors that are kind of, they are still around but kind of gone by the way side is the old CRTs where they have the three big guns, three big lenses. That was called the CRT projector. Those were red, green and blue lenses. Some on the high end are still around usually out of the budget for most folks because they are in the $25,000.00 to $40,000.00 scenario. And they are very low light output so they have to have a very controlled environment to work. And that is where LCD and DLP projectors really kind of brought home theater to the common person because of those CRTs were really big, really expensive and had to be adjusted by a train technician about every six months because the lenses would drift a little and you get separation in your picture. Well, with an LCD single panel projector is quite easy. Every adjustment works right through the remote like a television. If you want to adjust the color, the contrast, the brightness, you just pick your remote up. As far as making it fit on the screen those adjustment on most of the projectors are down with the remote as well because most of the LCD is out that are for home theater use have electric shift and lens features which means that you can zoom and focus the lens right from the remote as well as shift it up and down. If you are not fitting your screen perfectly you can move it up or down whatever the case is to make it fit. And that all can be done from the remote control, it is not a usual technical thing to do. One of the nicest things I personally find about it is if you are going to design a theater room buying for back a LCD projectors going to give you the biggest wow factor because you can do a bigger screen, I mean you can do a ten foot diagonal screen out of a single LCD projector and get a high definition feature that is wonderful. The other thing that most people do not talk about and the reason I prefer it, is that you are watching a reflection of the light versus a path of light. Rear projection devices, tubes, flat panels, they project light directly into your eyes which fatigues your eyes. A font projector you are watching the reflection of that light so it is softer more natural picture. That is why you can sit down with a font projection device, watch a movie and find out that you are eyes are not fatigue you are not tiered, whereas if you are watching on a rear projection device, it fatigues your eyes out. Naturally people discuss that but it is important thing if you are going to do a movie room and you are going spend Sunday afternoon and you are watching two or three movies. And what kind of screen is best to use for the projector. That is really determined by like two parts. One your room how much the ambient light you have, how reflective it is, what type of paint or surfaces are in the room as well what type of projector. For example if you are on a tight budget and you are going to buy a smaller projector that puts out a lot less light if you will then you are going to want screen that has a positive gains. Screens are rated in gains if you will, like flat white screen is 1.0 which means for every bit of brightness the projector is putting out, that is reflecting back to you. If you buy a screen that is 1.5 however, now it is going to reflect with the gain of 1.5 so although you bought a lesser projector you can still have a fairly bright picture. That is why I say that these things are determined by what projector you pick as well as the room because you do not want to buy a very reflective high gain screen if your room is very reflective because that is going to create light reflection of the ceiling and the side walls which are distractive when you are watching a movie. The screen really comes into play after you choose what projector. If it is driven by budget then it is really important to pick the screen that is going to get the most out of your projector. Okay, that is about it for LCD projectors and have a good day.