Projected screen TVs. The pluses (+) and minuses (-) ...

Just 20 years ago, the best-selling TV format was the 27-inch square tube-screen...

The "big" screen for the TV enthusiast used to be a Lilliputian 32 or even 36 inches! Times have changed, however, and year after year, people are buying more and more large TV sets, as evidenced by the fact that 75" and 85" TVs are selling well these days.

For as long as I can remember, there has been one type of screen that remains in vogue and is even increasingly coveted, the TV projector. They have been selling in increasing numbers since the 1970s! Just like the rest of the television products, the projector has been stagnant in its evolution for a good part of its marketing, but just like the classic TVs, it is now moving forward at great speed, so that the projection currently offers a performance approaching the standard TV, but with such a remarkable presence!

Let me explain the different concepts and tell you what makes a good projector different from a bad one.

History of technologies.

70-80 In the early days of projectors for the general public, 3 cathode ray tubes were used to reproduce the image, using a system of magnifying glasses and mirrors. Life expectancy was short, brightness was low and image degradation was rapid, sometimes taking as little as a year...

90-2000  In 1994, manufacturers opted for liquid crystal panels backlit by a metal vapor lamp. This new concept almost completely eliminated image marking and the intense heat of the device, for longer life and superior brightness. Irrevocably an improvement over CRTs (tubes), color quality and contrast were still perfectible.

2000 to today. DLP for Digital Light Processing was born at the turn of the century. Developed by Texas Instruments, the DLP chip is an assembly of millions of micro-mirrors that direct the luminous flux towards the screen, and in the case of black, towards an absorption material known as a "light dump".

To direct the right pixels to the right mirrors, a color filter wheel was initially used, which rotated in time with the creation of the image. This principle was not recommended for people suffering from epilepsy in particular, and many people perceived the flickering of the image thus created as the vision of a rainbow when they moved their head. The benefits of this principle were superior luminosity, more intense colors and an image generator impossible to damage by marking. On the weak side: color streaking of moving images, or the "rainbow" effect. For some, flicker is a nuisance.

Nowadays, all constraints have been addressed by using 3 chips corresponding to the 3 primary colors "red, green and blue". A prism decomposes the image illuminated by the light source, and the full range of theoretical hues is in the billions, resulting in a highly detailed image.

All new designs since the abandonment of cathode ray tubes require a light source, whether high-intensity or laser. Samsung First laser projector

What you need to know to compare :

Now that you understand the operating principles, it's important to know that the result is not the same from one model to another. At the same price, performance will vary for different factors, including the following:

Resolution:

Just like standard TV sets, there are now 2 types of image resolution. The first is Full HD, using 1080 x 1920 dots or pixels, which is gradually being replaced by the second, 4K, which offers a higher resolution of 2160 by 3840 pixels. Since the image is so large, I don't recommend buying Full HD, as you'll see the limitations in image precision, notably a grainy image.

Brightness :

It's important to keep an eye on this, because the lower the brightness, the more you'll have to watch the image than in full darkness. In the past, we didn't have the choice, but today, good projectors make it possible to view in broad daylight. Brightness is measured in LUMENS. Anything less than a factor of 1000 will be clearly insufficient, and is only found in cheap projectors. Ideally, I recommend a factor of 2000 or more, which will allow daylight viewing and fewer constraints on use in general. EPSON 5050be

Contrast ratio and HDR

A bright but non-contrasting image is the equivalent of lighting without more, a big lamp in the room! If dark and bright shapes aren't differentiated, you'll see little detail, only brightness...

Contrast comes in two ratios: "native" and "dynamic". For example, assuming a ratio of 1500:1 "native" means that the brightest image will be 1500 times more intense than the lower limit just before the black point. This ratio defines the physical capacity of the matrix. The second ratio, known as "dynamic", highlights the result of luminosity in a dark room. This ratio takes into account the result of the many technologies used to enhance image quality and dynamism. Among these technologies,

variable backlighting to adapt brightness to the scene being projected. HDR (High Dynamic Range) certified circuits greatly enhance the contrast of the final rendering. This kind of ratio is in the 30,000:1 range on budget models, and exceeds a million:1 on the best units!

Contrast with precise colorimetry is the key to a realistic representation, an image we recognize from what we see in everyday life. I'd call this the wow factor in projection! The HDR standard is a must!

Colorimetric rate or color space.

A color space is a set of colors, also known as a gamut. The gamut of a screen or video monitor represents all the colors it is capable of displaying.

It's sometimes expressed as a percentage versus a standard originally instituted by the film industry, but now used by TV manufacturers. This normative standard is called DCI-P3. Of course, you'll want to get as close to it as possible, and aim for 100%. The better the color nuances are reproduced, the more you'll be able to discern rich hues, transparency, pearlescent, full-tone or pastel colors.

 So avoid the fluorescent or candy colors found in second-rate products...

Distance of use.

There are two projection principles: "standard", which requires mounting 10 feet or more from the screen on the wall, and "short throw", which is mobile and used just a few inches from the screen.

If it were up to me, I'd only make short-throw projectors from now on. New products of this kind allow the projector to be positioned just a few inches from the screen. This means you no longer have to do a fixed installation on the ceiling, no wires to run through the walls, the sound comes from the front and not the back. People on the move never clash with the image (shadowing), and this gives you the option of storing the projector when not in use. SAMSUNG FIRST short-distance laser.

Speakers and Bluetooth.

Believe it or not, there are still projectors that only project the image, forcing you to turn on your sound system or sound bar to listen to your shows!

Easy to install.

It will be interesting to see if the device you're looking for has automatic settings and an easy-to-use, easy-to-understand on-screen guide. Unfortunately, I can't advise you here; it will be your sales consultant's job to demonstrate this for you.

Initial adjustment should only require a few steps. Having a manual adjustment button on the projector means you don't have to access the menu to change your adjustments. Automatic adjustment offers an even greater advantage, allowing instant alignment without the need for user control of any kind. Most projectors have some degree of adjustment, but some are more advanced than others. Here are the adjustments required to get the most out of your projector:

Horizontal and vertical keystone correction.

When a projector is not centered directly in front of the screen, but tilted towards it, the resulting image will be distorted into a trapezoidal shape (flared towards the high and low sides). However, keystone correction will correct this so that the image is perfectly rectangular. This can be done manually or automatically.

With automatic keystone correction, the projector will automatically detect and correct the distorted image, simply by pressing a button on the device or the remote control or mobile device app! Vertical keystone correction aligns distortion to the top or bottom of the image, and horizontal keystone correction aligns distortion to the left or right side.

Lens shift. (focus)

Lens shift allows the lens to move vertically or horizontally inside the projector to provide a perfect, straight-edged image with uniform focus. This allows more flexible installation and placement options for the projector without loss of resolution. In the past, this setting was subject to punctual misadjustment, and the lens had to be manually rotated to eliminate blurring in the image.

Once again, look for auto focus.

MAINTENANCE INTERVAL, LAMP LIFE.

Yes, I've used capital letters to emphasize just how important this factor is!

The lighting system should last for a very long time, to avoid frustrations and costs. A lamp with a life of 3,000 to 5,000 hours is the bare minimum. Bear in mind that a lamp does not produce a uniform glow consistently over time; it degrades and weakens gradually, which is why the new laser technology with its 20,000-hour life should be favored in your choice. When it comes to safety, it's good to know that laser lighting is safe, as it incorporates a presence detection system in front of its light projection that interrupts the luminous flux if there's a danger of dazzle. They've thought of everything!

Price to pay.

As with all things, the price usually goes hand in hand with the desired result.

Less than $1,500 will get you a low-efficiency projector, that's how it is.

Between $1501 and $4000 spent, you'll be able to get 4K performance and an acceptable brightness and contrast ratio.

The best value for money is to be found in the $4001 to $8000 product family. This is where you'll find the most automation, HDR and DCI-P3 certification, a 20,000-hour life for the laser emitter, and the projector's new short-throw principle. Of course, these functions can be found in less expensive devices, but here you get the whole package in a single unit.

As for the $10,000 and up, we'll get into specialization, depending on how important home theater is to you. Most people won't go there. Sony specialty brightness 10,000 lumens $85,000

 The last word.

Given the amount of information in this article, I'll summarize the main points for you.

In a nutshell:

1. Set yourself a realistic budget based on what you're looking for.
2. Give preference to a three-chip system rather than a single-chip one, as color accuracy will be affected.
3. Demand DCI-P3 compliance for 100% color gamut, as well as HDR for high contrast and object distinction.
4. Look for a brightness level of 1500 Lumens or more for daylight use. Ideally, 2500 is a must for everyday listening.
5. Maintenance-free life: The laser is preferable with its 20,000 hours.
6. Projection principle. The "short throw" method is preferable, as it is easy and flexible to install.
7. Automation of settings.

That's all there is to it, next blog post: Projector screens.

Stay tuned!

Christian. Choice from the Sonxplus team. Samsung LSP-9T