There are all kinds of them, they are ideal for both winter and summer, especially in the company of friends. No, we are not talking about beers, but about projectors. Projectors have been around for some time, but in recent years the fashion and the desire to own one has spread. Yes, because in the meantime they have become much more performing, quieter and have absolutely nothing to envy to a TV. Indeed, according to some, projectors are even better than TVs: the possibility of enjoying a movie on a 120 ”screen is unparalleled.
As anticipated, however, there are really many types of projectors and if you are inexperienced you may find yourself overwhelmed by the models available and their characteristics. The first thing to establish, like all purchases, is the budget. The projectors have a really extended price range, in fact they start from 50 euros up to thousands of euros. But how do they differ from each other and how can you choose the one that best suits your needs?
Projectors, technical specifications
Resolution, brightness, contrast ratio and noise. These four characteristics will be the beacon that will guide you when choosing a projector. There resolution indicates the number of pixels that make up an image, the higher they will be and the sharper and more high-level the vision will be. The ideal would be to buy a projector with native resolution at 1080p, therefore fullHD, to fully enjoy movies, TV series and also be able to play by connecting a console. Depending on your budget, you can also head towards 4K, for an even greater viewing experience. A 4K projector is a real treat for the eyes.
La brightness it is fundamental in these devices and is measured in Ansi Lumen. Indicates how much light the luminaire can project against a wall or surface. The required brightness level depends on the environment in which the projector is installed. The darker the environment, the less brightness you need. This means that if you want to use the projector even during the day, perhaps outdoors, you will need many Ansi Lumens. If you are in a darkened environment you can stay below 3000 Ansi Lumen, up to 6000 for a lighted room.
Il contrast ratio indicates the difference in brightness between the white and black points. A 500: 1 contrast means that the brightest spot is 500 times brighter than the darkest spot. The higher the contrast, the sharper and more optimal the image will be, with faithful colors. For projectors, the best contrast is at least 5000: 1.
La noisiness it is one of the most painful keys of some models: maybe they have a very good image, an excellent brightness but they are so noisy and ruin the experience of use. It all depends on the use of the projector, if for example you use it outdoors, you will notice less noise from the cooling fans. If you use it indoors, however, you will notice much more of the noise generated. On average it would be ideal to choose a projector with less noise than 35dB.
Other features
Among other features, the projector of your dreams should be equipped with optical zoom, which allows you to increase or decrease the size of the projected image and is very useful if the distance from the surface is not optimal. Another very important feature is the Keystone correction, also known as keystone correction: allows you to adjust the image to be perfectly rectangular even when the projector is not placed perpendicular to the surface.
The best projectors according to your budget
Now that you have reached the highest level of knowledge, you are ready to choose your projector. Depending on your budget, you will have to give up some features that distinguish high-end projectors, like any technological device. But we have chosen for you the best projectors divided by price range.
Under 300 euros
In this price range you can find some projectors with 1080p native resolution, therefore fullHD, but the optics used understandably have limitations. You have to compromise with the focus, which is often not uniform and you risk having the edges of the image less sharp. For the price, however, they do their job very well, especially if you don't have big claims and if you want a device that allows you to spend your summer evenings outdoors, watching a movie or doing karaoke with friends. Then, after a couple of beers, the only focus you need to worry about is yours.
The best projectors under 600 euros
Moving up the price range, you can reach specialist projector brands, such as Optoma and BenQ, which offer robust and reliable products. With the first you have available fullHD native resolution, a contrast of 23000:1 and noise of 25dB, in addition to support for 3D. It offers the possibility to adjust the zoom and the Keystone.
Optoma HD27e Desktop projector 3200ANSI lumens DLP 1080p...
- Full HD 1080p resolution delivers sharp and detailed HD images. Optoma's HD27e projector brings the experience ...
- The 3400 ANSI lumens deliver rich colors for any content in any environment. With the HD27e DLP projector you ...
- The high contrast ratio of 25.000: 1 makes white tones brighter and deep blacks. With the projector ...
This BenQ it differs for having a slightly lower contrast, of 20000: 1, but always very high and valid. Both have all video and audio ports to connect PCs, laptops, game consoles and audio systems.
BenQ MH550 Business Projector for Meeting Rooms, 1080p ...
- HIGH RESOLUTION PROJECTOR: 3500 ANSI lumens display, Full HD resolution, 20.000: 1 high contrast
- LONG LIFE DLP PROJECTOR: Long lamp life (up to 15.000 hours)
- ENERGY EFFICIENT PROJECTOR FROM THE POINT OF VIEW: In Standby mode, the power consumption is only 0,5 ...
XGIMI Modo Pro differs from other projectors in this price range by offering portability and quality at the same time. It has fullHD native resolution and supports 4K e l’Ultra HD. As in the other models of this price range it has autofocus and the keystone correction. It has a built-in battery that allows you to watch a movie on the go, as well as having Android TV on board to be able to see your multimedia content without having to use external sources. This model ranks among the best portable projectors on the market.
Projector, XGIMI MOGO Pro, 300 mm portable projector ...
- Full HD Picture: Native 1080P FHD 300 ANSI Lumen.MOGO Pro to provide a sharper and crystal clear picture with a ...
- Extended play time.A seamless aluminum body ensures increased durability and a low weight of 0,9 ...
- Portable projector is powered by official Android TV 9.0 (upgradeable). With over 4000 native apps, Android TV ...
The best high-end projectors
If you want to create a real cinema in your home, you are in the right section. This BenQ delivers sharp images from vivid and faithful colorsmoreover, with the Sport Picture mode you can fully enjoy the details. The powerful speakers equipped with cutting-edge technology, allow you to have a top audio visual experience. BenQ W1090 supports 3D technology.
BenQ W1210ST Videoproiettore Home Theater DLP 1080p, FHD...
- The native resolution Full HD 1080, the brightness of 2200 ANSI lumens, the contrast of 15000: 1 and the RGBRGB color wheel ...
- Video games on the big screen: thanks to the short throw projection, you get a 100 "image at only 1.5 meters
- The ultra-low input lag specific to gaming and game modes ensure moments of fun ...
If you don't mind expenses and your watchword is quality, you might want to consider buying a laser projector. The technology is different from traditional projectors and allows you to position the device very close to the surface on which the image will be projected. They also consume less energy and the lamps need to be replaced more rarely. They have incredible visual quality that will blow your mind. The disadvantage is that laser projectors have a much higher cost than LED ones. In this regard, however, Xiaomi has marketed an excellent quality projector at a very competitive price.
The accessories to complete your home cinema
An excellent projector will not suffice to create a home cinema that friends and family will envy. First, the image must be projected on the right surface, which does justice to the quality of the purchased lens, especially if you don't have a white wall available. THE sheets for the projectors they can be manual or motorized (the best if you are a little lazy), they can also be hung or equipped with a tripod. It all depends on your needs and the use you will make of it.
Bakaji 84 "Home Video Projection Screen ...
- Fantastic screen for video projectors to better enjoy the great visions of Cinema, Football or TV series, often ...
- Your friends back home will also enjoy the exclusive movie night in your living room. The gain factor ...
- It is also suitable for 3D and HD. This fabric screen has a vinyl coating. The edge and the back side of ...
Amazon Basics - Projection Screen, with Tripod, for ...
- Retractable projection screen with stand; ideal for indoor movies, video games, business presentations, ...
- Black fabric frame for contrast and matte white screen for a vibrant and clear image
- Ideal with 4K / 8K, Ultra HD, Active 3D and HDR-ready video, 180 degree angle of view
The supports for your projector
A projector is at its best if it is hung from the ceiling or on the wall in front of the surface on which the contents are projected. The choice is very varied, in fact there are fixed or articulated supports on the market, which therefore allow you to move and adjust the arm.
Discount
Duronic PB04XL Universal support for projector 13.6kg ...
- The Duronic range of wall and ceiling mounts for projectors combine flexibility and solidity to offer a ...
- The Duronic projector mount is tiltable from top to bottom at 90 °, rotates left and right by 40 ° and ...
- The projector ceiling and wall mounts have been manufactured with high quality, durable materials for ...
If, on the other hand, you do not have the possibility to fix the arm to the wall, you can use a floor stand, which is much more versatile and mobile.
ELEPHAS Professional adjustable stand for laptop and ...
- ? UNIVERSAL POSITIONING? The ELEPHAS Projector Mount provides universal positioning for ...
- ? GREAT FOR TRAVELING? The laptop and tablet holder is easy to take with you on the go as it is ...
- ? VERSATILE USE? The ELEPHAS laptop stand can be used in various tasks such as presentation, ...
If you have reached the end of this guide, you are ready to win the battle with projectors, choosing among the best to create your home cinema. Good vision!
