Types of Projector and Uses

The best place to start when researching projectors is what you’re going to use it for. The table below shows four popular use cases, indicating with a score from 1 (least) to 5 (most) of what is important to consider.

TYPE OF USE Size of Projected Image Brightness of Image Likelihood of Extended Use Minimal Noise Recommended Projector £ Recommended Projector £££
Office 3 4 2 3 LCD FullHD DLP 4K
Education 5 4 3 2 LCD FullHD DLP 4K
TV & Home Cinema 4 5 5 5 DLP 4K Laser LCoS 4K
Gaming 4 5 5 5 LED DLP FullHD Laser DLP 4K

As with types of display technology this isn’t the whole picture, so we’d recommend you explore the tabs below to understand more about the different features that define how the image will appear.

Image Size

Image Size

Image size is determined by the distance between the projector and the screen. Common projection sizes used in home or office environments range from 100in to 200in, but can go as large as 300in. The correct size for any given scenario will also depend on the usage - for example a 200in image size will work well for a classroom of 50 students to view a presentation. However, this same size would be impractical for gaming or home cinema, as you would need to be so far away as to not have to move your head to appreciate all the image that you would miss finer details.

Throw Ratio

Throw Ratio Throw Ratio

Throw ratio is the measurement of how large an image a projector can create, being determined by ‘Throw Ratio = Throw Distance / Image Width’. For example, a projector with a throw ratio of 2.0 needs to be two feet away for every foot of image width. Using this same example, if the projector was five feet away from the screen the image size would be 10 feet. This diagram gives an indication of screen size optimal for the throw distance you have available. If you have a smaller space then projectors with a smaller throw ratio are available (1.0 to 1.5) - these are capable of projecting a large image onto a much closer screen, but are usually more expensive.

Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels (the tiny dots) that make up the image - it is shown as a number for image length and a number of image height. The most common projector resolutions are shown below, along with a recommended screen size required to result in a good image.

Resolution Name Size Recommended
1920 x 1080 FullHD Up to 100in
1920 x 1200 WUXGA Up to 100in
3840 x 2160 4K / UltraHD / UHD 100in +

It is also worth mentioning that although 4K / UHD projectors are reducing in price, they do require a very high-end graphics card within the PC to power when gaming.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the difference between the image width and height, and gives a representation of the image shape. Most projectors have a 16:9 aspect ratio, but can support the older 4:3 standard used by legacy content.

Image Creation

Projectors use one of three main technologies - Digital Light Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Liquid-Crystal on Silicon (LCoS). Each technology offers its own distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type of content you want your projector to display and the setup of your room.

DLP projectors contain an array of microscopic mirrors that tilt toward or away from the light source to create a light or dark pixel on the screen. They are available in either single-chip or three-chip versions. Single-chip projectors use one panel to form the image so the resultant image is very sharp, but only black and white. A wheel that rotates between the three primary colours is used to enhance the monochrome image.

Image Creation

Three-chip projectors use a panel for each colour instead of a colour wheel, however getting all three panels in perfect alignment is harder and therefore requires a more complex and expensive design. Three-chip DLP projectors are usually the type used in cinemas, as they are capable of producing bigger, brighter images, with resolutions up to 4K, high colour gamuts. They also excel at 3D projection, as the mirrors turn completely on or off, 3D is free of the faint double images that can sometimes be produced by other technologies. Additionally, this instant on/off ability also makes three-chip projectors a good choice for sports with fast action and gaming because of their fast response and lower lag times.

LCD projectors shine a light through a single LCD panel and employ a colour wheel in a similar way to a single-chip DLP projector. They aren’t as bright as DLP projectors, but are better at producing deeper blacks than DLP projectors. Motion is not as sharp and fast as a DLP projector can produce, and 3D images can be less accurate too suffering from faint double images. On the plus side as LCD projection is an older technology, these are most affordable projectors.

LCoS projectors, like an LCD projector, shine light through a panel to create an image. Unlike LCD projectors the light from a LCoS projector reflects off three individual LCoS colour panels, which are then combined to produce the image. By reflecting the light off the panel instead of shining light through it, LCoS projectors offer the darkest black levels and contrast ratios of any technology. Better black levels make the film more immersive when viewed in a dark room. Plus, the letterbox bars on CinemaScope-format movies disappear and shadows look much better. Darker blacks also help increase the contrast ratio, which gives the image more pop.

Image Creation

Because LCoS projectors usually offer lower levels of light output, they often don’t work well when paired with very large screens. They also exhibit more image blurring on fast-moving images than DLP and some LCD projectors. For film, this isn’t an issue, but it makes them problematic if watching sports, 3D content or gaming. Additionally, LCoS projectors usually cannot offer the same brightness levels of DLP and LCD projectors - which makes these two types of projectors ideal for rooms where there is a high degree of ambient light, or if you like to watch TV with the lights on.

Light Source

All these three types of projectors use a high-powered light source, most commonly a lamp, LED or laser. Lamps are the most common type, being low cost and easily replaceable. However, they have a relatively limited life, typically between 4,000 and 15,000 hours depending on the brightness profile. It’s also worth noting the lamps get dimmer over time, so although a lamp may have a 4,000 hour rating, after 2,000 it may only really work in a darkened room.

LEDs are commonly used in portable and smaller projectors due to their lower power consumption and lower operating temperature. They typically are rated for around 20,000 hours and do not dim over time.

At the high-end, are laser light sources, which are typically rated for as many as 30,000 hours and like LEDs do not dim over time. Additionally, lasers are so fast they can turn off and on almost instantly to produce darker blacks than a traditional lamp can.

Light Source

Image Quality

After deciding on image size, aspect ratio and how you want your image created, there are a few other factors that determine the quality and sharpness of an image displayed. We’ll start with a quick comparison of which ones are most important depending on what you’ll be using the projector for. The table rates these facets 1 to 5 in degree of importance for various use cases.

TYPE OF USE Creation of Image Light Source Brightness Colour Gamut Refresh Rate
Office 1 3 3 3 1
Education 3 3 5 3 3
TV & Home Cinema 5 4 5 5 4
Gaming 4 4 5 5 5

As before, further knowledge of each factor is advisable to ensure you make the correct decision when choosing your projector. Explore the tabs below for more information.

Brightness

Brightness

Expressed in lumens, brightness is important when selecting a projector. Only with appropriate lumens for the throw distance and ambient lighting can the projector produce clear images with true colours. If you need ambient lighting when using the projector, then a model with higher lumens will produce better results. For example, if you’d like to watch films using a projector on a 100in screen in a darkened room around 2,000 lumens of brightness is ideal. If you need to turn on ambient lighting or if there are bright light sources in the room, a projector with 3,000 lumens or more will be required to display clear images. If you intend to use a projector outside you should consider nothing less than 5,000 lumens as a starting point.

Colour Gamut

Colour Gamut

Colour gamut is the range of colours a display can show – the wider the colour gamut, the more colours it can reproduce. In Hollywood film studios for example, Rec.709 and DCI-P3 are the standards for cinema-quality colours, so you should look for projectors that come closest to these standards. In addition to meeting colour standards, the projector should also have low Delta E (colour difference) values. The light source selection also plays a large part in colour gamut range - LED and laser sources offering far wider colour capabilities, but in projectors that employ a colour wheel, there’ll be options including RGB, RGBW, RGBCMY, RGBCWY and RGBRGB. High-end DLP home cinema projectors typically feature six-segment RGBRGB colour wheels so this is the specification to look out for.

HDR

HDR

A High Dynamic Range (HDR) projector has the ability to display a broader spectrum of colours and contrasts. Basically, this means that an HDR projector more realistically displays nuances and colour tones, and shows more detail when it comes to light and dark. In order to display HDR image material, both the projector and the content need to be suitable for HDR. HDR content tells a projector exactly which colour and black levels are best for the most realistic display. Content that's suitable for HDR has this colour information embedded in it, so a game or video can easily use it provided you have an HDR certified projector.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio is the ratio between how bright your projector’s white image is compared to its black image. Although a higher contrast ratio is necessary for displaying finer details, it’s worth noting that your projector should be bright enough to deal with ambient light so that the contrast ratio can end up visible and clear. Only a small amount of ambient light from fluorescent or LED lights as well as daylight from windows can render the contrast and brightness of your projector moot. Whether your projector has a ratio of 10000:1 or 1000:1 contrast, it won’t matter if you can’t see it in action due to ambient light making your projection fainter than normal.

Refresh Rate

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is the frequency at which the projector redraws the image and is measured in hertz (Hz). A faster rate of refresh (higher Hz value) will make for a much smoother image, so is particularly important when viewing rapidly moving content such as sports, films or games. Entry level projectors typically have a refresh rate of 60Hz, whereas 120Hz is common now in mid-range models, whereas high-end projectors may have rates up to 240Hz. It is worth mentioning that if you are connecting your projector to a PC for gaming, the resulting image is also affected by the frames-per-second (fps) delivered by the graphics card (GPU). If the graphics card can only deliver 60fps and your projector is 120Hz rated, you’ll only be using half its capability. Transversely if you have a 120fps GPU, but only a 60Hz projector you’ll only see the first 60 frames that the GPU is sending to the projector.

Response Time

Response Time

Response time or Input Lag is the time it takes your projector to process the video signal from the source and is given in terms of milliseconds (ms). Response time isn’t really a factor for most projector uses but does have significant impact when it comes to gaming. Although a 50ms input lag is fine for most uses, gaming benefits from a much lower rate and there are projectors on the market now that deliver 16ms or lower.

Noise & Size

All the attributes we’ve discussed so far ultimately have an impact on the resultant size of the projector and the noise it generates. If the projector is for a large classroom, size may not be an issue and noise will have minimal impact too, however if it is for home cinema use a compact model may be preferred and low noise is essential. The size of any projector is largely determined by the light source and the fans required to cool it. Naturally, the fan will generate noise as will the movement of the colour wheel. The table below highlights the difference in projector types and the impact this is likely to have on its size and the noise it produces.

Bulb LED Laser
Brightness 2000+ ANSI lumens Up to 2000 ANSI lumens 3500+ ANSI lumens
Noise Medium Low High
Size Medium Compact Large
Weight Medium Light Heavy
Cost £ ££ £££

For our large classroom scenario a Laser projector would be an ideal choice as it has the ability to be very bright for a large well lit room where its greater size, weight and increased noise will not be important factors. However for our home cinema user the LED model is best suited as no fan is required to cool the light source, no colour wheel is present thus making noise minimal and the size most compact. The light weight is also beneficial for either being able to move the projector easily or ceiling mount it without any structural issues. A standard bulb projector would work well here too for those on a budget - albeit sacrificing some size, weight and noise.

Portable Projectors

Portable Projectors

Up to now we’ve only mentioned projectors designed for installation or minimal movement, however there is a range of portable projectors that are designed for ultimate movability. They are so small as to fit in your hand and aimed at projecting video from laptops, smart phones or even from a USB stick or SD card so no other device is required. Portable projectors are usually based on LED technology s as these offer the most compact design, the lightest weight and fewer moving parts, having no colour wheel, so they are also at less prone to damage when being moved.

Given their compact size and weight (under 1kg), it is perhaps not surprising that portable projectors aren’t very bright (1000 ANSI lumens maximum) and their resolution is limited (sub FullHD), but it is worth remembering that they are designed for impromptu gatherings or presenting on the move without a screen so these restrictions are easily outweighed by the ability to watch videos from your smartphone in a much bigger format.

Connectivity

Projectors usually have a number of interfaces available for you to connect them to your AV equipment or PC, and in this section we’ll look at each one you’re likely to find, some details about it and advise which one is best for given applications.

HDMI

HDMI

HDMI is a combined audio and video option that is also widely used by TVs, offering up to 10K resolution at 120Hz. You have to work within the bandwidth limitations of whichever HDMI specification you’re using, as the standard has evolved multiple times since its introduction in 2002. You can see this as a version number, with the table below showing the principle differences between the recent versions of DisplayPort at 1440p and 4K, the most popular resolutions.

HDMI Version 1.3/1.4 2.0 2.1 onwards
Maximum Refresh Rate at 1440p 75Hz 144Hz 240Hz
Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K 30Hz 60Hz 120Hz

DisplayPort

DisplayPort

DisplayPort is a combined audio and video option that offers up to 16K resolution at 60Hz. The main advantage of DisplayPort is the ability to output to multiple displays through Multi-Stream Transport (MST). You can do this by daisy-chaining compatible monitors over DisplayPort to your single DisplayPort output on your PC or laptop. You have to work within the bandwidth limitations of whichever DisplayPort specification you’re using, as the standard has evolved multiple times since its introduction in 2008. You can see this as a version number, with the table below showing the principle differences between recent versions of DisplayPort at 1440p and 4K, the most popular resolutions.

DisplayPort Version 1.3 1.4 2.0 onwards
Maximum Refresh Rate at 1440p (uncompressed) 240Hz 240Hz 240Hz
Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K (compressed with DSC) N/A 240Hz 480Hz
Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K (uncompressed) 120Hz 120Hz 240Hz

DVI

DVI

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface, and is another common connection found on PC monitors. Things can become a little confusing when you consider there are several types of DVI. There is DVI-D (digital signal) and DVI-I (integrated analog and digital signal). Not only that, but both have single-link and dual-link versions. The differences between single-link and dual-link refer to how much bandwidth the cable can carry - single link supports 1200 resolution whilst dual link tops out at 1600. It also supports a FullHD (1080) resolution at 144Hz refresh rate - ideal for gaming.

VGA

VGA

VGA is the oldest of the connections you may find - it stands for Video Graphics Array but can also be referred to as an RGB connection or D-Sub. While VGA can technically output to FullHD (1080p), the problem is that it’s an analog connection, as you push the resolution higher you get image degradation as the signal is converted from analog to digital. Unless you absolutely have to, use one of the newer connections instead of VGA

Ethernet

Ethernet

Ethernet can be used to connect a projector - usually within a corporate network. Ethernet cables normally support industry standard data transfer speeds of up to Category 6 (CAT6), meaning they’re capable of transmitting video, audio and data up to 4K resolution.

USB

USB

USB is a common and versatile connector on projectors nowadays. It can be used to connect a standard USB cable and transmit video and audio this way, or without an external source using a USB thumb drive. This latter option is very convenient if multiple users are using the projector.

Component

Component

Component Video is a video only transmission cable, and may also be known as 3 RCA, YPBPR or YCBCR. The signal is separated into 3 channels of red, green and blue and transmitted. It is capable of supporting up to FullHD images, however it should be noted that this is an analogue connection so the signal is subject to interference and potential image degradation.

S-Video

S-Video

S-Video is an older connection technology that operates by separating the chroma (black and white) and luminance (colour) signals and transmitting them via separate pins. It can also be called SVHS, Y/C or Mini DIN.

Composite

Composite

Composite Video is another video only connection type and is also known as single phono, 1 RCA or cinch video. Composite video connections combine the colour and black and white signals of the video transmission. Generally, the video is transmitted in 480i or 576i standard definition image quality.

Projector Screens

In order to achieve the maximum picture quality from your projector it is highly recommended to use a projector screen. Projector screens use a matte finish fabric with a special reflective coating to maximise picture quality, by reflecting and diffusing the light back at you. Transversely, if you project onto a white wall most of the light is absorbed rather than reflected, resulting in loss of image sharpness, contrast and brightness. It is also important to choose the correct size for your room. Whilst a larger screen may sound appealing, you don’t want to crane you neck or move your head to see all the picture. A 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for most settings but if your predominant or sole use is high-end home cinema then a wider format will suit.

Projector Screens

Screens can either be wall mounted (fixed or roll down), ceiling mounted (roll down), or floor standing (roll up). A floor standing screen may only be ideal if portability is required. Whilst a wall mount fixed frame screen may be the cheapest option in large sizes, they are always visible so may not be the ideal choice especially in the home. However, both wall and ceiling mounted rollable screens can be removed from sight and can be either be manually or electrically operated. Electric screens will obviously increase in cost, but offer convenience as they can be controlled by either a wall switch or remote control. Ceiling mount screens can also be recessed so the screen is barely visible when not in use, but again this feature will increase cost.

Having said that a screen is recommended, it is possible to get good results using a wall either inside or outside, so long as you prepare the wall surface properly. Firstly, you’ll need projector paint - designed to be reflective - either grey or white is recommended depending on the brightness of your projector. You will also want to ensure the surface is as smooth as possible - well sanded and free from bumps, chips and flaws as these will show up in your images.

Mounting Brackets

In many instances it makes sense to mount the projector rather than having to move it around each time you want to use it, and there are many choices. Ceiling mounts, ceiling lifts, wall arms and security cages are just some of the ways to consider mounting your projector. Remember though that you’ll have to take into account the size & weight, the throw distance, and whether the projector requires mounting upside down. If this is the case the image needs to be flipped so ensure to check that this mode is supported before opting for a ceiling mount.

Mounting Brackets VIEW OUR RANGE OF PROJECTOR MOUNTS
Ready to buy?

Ready to buy?

Browse our range of projectors.

FULL HD PROJECTORS 4K PROJECTORS PROJECTOR SCREENS & MOUNTS

Alternatively, if you have any further questions you’d like answering about projectors, don’t hesitate to call one of our friendly advisors on 01204 474747.