Runco’s VX-2000d and VX-6000d DLP projectors are THX-certified, a nice perk if you’re in the market.
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Bob Hana, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Runco, Planar and Vidikron, put together a list of shopping questions and answers to help you make sense of video projectors.
Q. What are the differences between single-chip and three-chip projectors?
A. Generally more affordable and compact, single-chip projectors offer value solutions at the entry level as well as very high performance at higher price points. These projectors can deliver sharp images with deep black levels, good contrast under good viewing conditions. But most single-chip projectors were engineered for commercial applications and lack the fidelity of those designed to play back TV and movies. Commercial units trade color fidelity and black level for output, which is a good thing in a boardroom but not so good in a theatrical application.
For high-end home theaters or extreme viewing applications, three-chip DLP projectors provide great output levels. Large three-chip projectors will provide a greater sense of depth and fidelity with extremely accurate color spectrum, more advanced signal processing, and grayscale performance that provides increased image detail and subtlety.
Q. What are the features and benefits of a DLP projector?
A. By price range:
Under $3,000: Entry-level, 720p, single-chip DLP projectors for DIY enthusiasts.
$3K to $10K: Typically sold through certified dealers, these projectors offer greater levels of customization and features.
$10K to $25K: High-performance 720p, three-chip DLP, and 1080p single-chip DLP projectors offering increased connectivity, flexibility, and near cinema-quality performance. Better lenses, more placement choices, video processing, even 2.35:1 viewing options.
$25K to $70K: High performance 1080p, three-chip DLP projectors with 2.35:1 size options.
$70K and above: Commercial theaters have much to fear. These projectors provide the highest levels of 1080p three-chip DLP performance for the most ornate home cinemas or extreme viewing venues. Sold, installed and serviced by certified professionals, these elite projectors are intended for the most discerning or difficult video applications.
As always, consider the product and the services being purchased. Do not underestimate the services that trained and certified custom installation professionals provide to create and maintain your entertainment room or dream home theater.
Factors to Consider
The room: As with audio, the environment is the big component. In order to maximize the performance of any projector, know your current room conditions (ambient light, noise levels and such), as well as the room you ultimately desire (entertainment-filled living room, dedicated home theater or something else).
Room size: Where are you mounting the projector, and what is the throw distance? These precise measurements can save you valuable time by narrowing the projector options (720p or 1080p) that would best suit that room. Where you choose to mount the projector also plays a role in determining lens, lens shift and additional features that may be necessary to optimize the installation.
Screen size: Ideally a function of projector light output, viewing distance, pixel array and source resolution.
Features: Based upon the other considerations, there are a variety of features that complement specific rooms, challenges, connectivity concerns and more.
Technology: Of course, we all want the newest technologies and features, but you shouldn’t discredit or dismiss the old. While 1080p content and 2.35:1 viewing capability rivals a true cinema experience, there are numerous applications for which 720p projectors will serve well.
HD projectors. Will they word with Blu-ray?
Unfortunately Bill is displaying his bias for DLP by misrepresenting LCOS and LCD as not being 3 chip devices. This is simply not true. There is one chip for each of the three primary colors of light (red, blue, green) in these devices. This is why there is no need for a color filter wheel as is needed with single chip DLP devices. There are no 1 chip LCOS devices. LCD devices can be one chip, but these are generally for business presentations and not for home theater use, where the LCD devices are all three chip. LCD has less contrast because it is a light transmissive process, so some light always gets through the chips even for a black pixel. LCOS variations are a light reflective process as is DLP, so its brightness and contrast is higher than LCD. The amount of light output from a device is really proportional to the wattage of the bulb and the type of bulb (xenon vs high pressure mercury vapor). Therefore, Bill’s statements are simply not accurate. I am not sure why this topic generates so much acrimony amongst the different camps.
“3 chip” isn’t an accurate description to use with LCD and LCOS. LCOS and LCD intentionally try to use this confuse the situation. A 3 chip DLP projector will blow away any LCD or LCOS projector in brightness, contrast, and colors. 1 chip DLP and LCOS each have their own pluses and minuses but be argued to be equal. DLP/LCOS>LCD when comes to home video but LCD can currently be found at lower price points as well.
The article does a good job describing the nuances of DLP, but there are other excellent, if not superior, choices available that are not mentioned. There is LCD projectors, that usually are three chip devices. There is also LCOS, which have the D-ILA derivative from JVC and XSRD, which is the SONY variety. Both of these LCOS variations are also three chip devices, which eliminate the color wheel and possibility of ‘rainbow effect’ that is common with single chip DLP devices. The topic of front projectors should give equal time to each of these technologies to have a well-balanced coverage of this topic.
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I got mine at www.professionalav.com and it works great.
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HD projectors were designed with Blu-Ray in mind. They generally accept 1080p input, which is the native output for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players. Therefore, it is a perfect match for player and projector without any need to convert the player output signal’s resolution.