Why Buy a DLP Projector?

DLP projectors offer a crisp, clean picture, just like their rear projection counterparts. And DLP projectors will usually be able to produce an image up to 150 to 200 inches in size, perfect for the home theater enthusiast.

DLP projectors don’t have the dreaded screen door effect that is found on many LCD projectors. This is because DLP reflects the light off the chip, rather than passing light through it, allowing the mirrors of the chip to be placed right next to each other. Since the light on an LCD projector has to pass through the chip, the image displayed on the screen will have that same grid displayed.

One thing to keep in mind when selecting a DLP projector is that contrast ratio and brightness are directly affected by the amount of ambient light in the room. It is important to use the projector in a room where you have control over the lights. This is why movie theaters have no windows and they turn the lights off when the movie starts. There are super bright projectors that do work well in bright rooms, but your projector will always look better in a dark room, no matter how good its contrast ratio or how bright its lamp is.

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DLP projectors offer the same crisp, clear images that their rear projection counterparts offer. The difference is with a projector, the screen size is only limited by the size of your wall.

It is important to consider the room in which you will be using your DLP projector before buying. If your room has large windows, you will want to make sure to get a projector that has a high lumens output. Also, for bright rooms, buying a gray screen rather than white will help with the contrast ratio as well. Since black is just the absence of light, the darkest a projector can go is the color of the screen when no light hits it.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate DLP projectors:

• Connections: Be sure that your projector has enough connections for all the devices you will be connecting to it.
• Resolution: Resolution becomes especially important for the larger screen sizes that DLP projectors can produce. For home theater projectors, 720p is the minimum standard, while 1080p is ideal.
• Noise Level: Most DLP projectors use a fan to keep the lamp running cool. This fan can be noisy. The best projectors will have quiet fans that don’t distract from your movie experience.
• Contrast Ratio: Since projectors rely on ambient light (or the lack thereof) to produce black levels, they need all the help they can get to increase contrast ratio. Look for a DLP projector with a high contrast ratio.
• Keystone Correction: Chances are you won’t be able to mount your projector directly in front of your screen. Keystone correction will allow the projector to be mounted at angles other than 90 degrees to the screen.
• Lamp Life: Lamp life in DLP projectors in general is not as good as in their rear projection counterparts. Get a projector with a good lamp life and you won’t be replacing it every few months.