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| | | For those who want the biggest size screen for video viewing, front video projectors are an option for a large screen home theater setup. Front projectors do not have TV tuners (and can't select a channel from a cable wire), so they require an HDTV tuner, a satellite receiver or a cable box. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Like their TV counterparts, video resolution for home theater projectors is often described as either 720P or 1080P. 720 or 1080 refers to the number of vertical lines of resolution in an image. The "P" stands for progressive and means that all 720 or 1080 lines are shown at once to form a picture.
- A lower range projector can be had for around $700 to $1,000. The Sony 3LCD 720P projector costs around $900.
- A mid-range 1080P projector can run $1,000 to $2,000. The Sanyo PLV-1080HD provides good performance for $1,500.
- High end home theater projectors range from $2,000 to over $10,000. The JVC DLA-HD350 runs around $4,500 and the Sony VPL-VW60 costs around $4,000.
What should be included: | - Similar to movie theater technology, a home theater projector is basically a box with a lens system that takes a video signal and projects the picture onto either a screen or wall. There is a bright light lamp in the projector that aids in this process. Front projectors can project video onto a screen size from about 40" to up to 300". Because the screen image is projected onto such a large area, the difference in detail is much more noticeable than on a normal TV.
- Included with the projector should be a remote control and batteries, a power cord and owner's instructions.
Additional costs: | - The picture can be projected onto a regular wall, but for ideal projection quality and clarity, either a dedicated screen or a wall with special paint is needed. Screen costs range in price depending on size, whether the screen is a manual pull-down or electrically powered, and the type of material. The cost can be as low as $110 for an 84" pull down screen. An electric 106" screen costs around $600 while a 92" black theater reference screen can be as much as $2,500. Da-Lite, Stewart, and Draper are some of the top brands for projector screens.
- A paint-on projector screen is another option for those who have an available, empty wall. Goo Systems is a recognized company that provides materials for do-it-yourselfers. A complete kit with all the necessary supplies will cost around $200 -$250 depending on the coverage area.
- Ceiling mounting for home theater projectors can range from $100 to $200. Professional installation fees range from $200 to $350 depending on complexity of the installation.
- The projector light bulb will need to be replaced periodically, depending on the amount of use. In general, the average life span is about 1-3 years (3,000-6,000 hours of normal use). Depending on the model and brand, the replacement cost for one of these bulbs ranges from $100 to $350.
- Home theater projectors do not have a TV tuner. In order to watch TV shows, cable TV ($11 -$127), satellite TV ($20 -$110) or an HDTV tuner ($80 -$400) (to receive over-the-air broadcast TV signals) is needed to watch network television programming. Cable and satellite costs depend on the programming package chosen. High-definition content can add $8 -$10 more to the monthly subscription fees. Broadcast TV, while free, does require either an indoor or outdoor antenna ($10 -$200).
Discounts: | - Some brick and mortar stores additionally offer discounts on store display models and TVs that were returned (open box items).
- TIP: Online retailers sell refurbished items (with a limited manufacturer warranty) if one doesn't mind a slightly used or blemished model.
Shopping for a home theater projector: | - Sony, JVC and Sanyo are the more major manufacturers of home theater projectors.
- Store retailers such as Best Buy offer the home theater projectors mentioned in this article.
- Online retailers like Amazon.com and Newegg.com also carry home theater projectors.
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Article updated February 2010 |
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