9 Considerations You Need Before Buying a Projection System

Long throw projectors are what you typically think of when discussing projectors. The projector can be housed at the back of the room and throw the images a long distance. They are best suited for large conference or presentation areas where a large projection screen is needed. If you have a big audience, a stage, or are operating in an auditorium, then a long throw projector is likely what you’re looking for.

Christie Digital DWU670 E Projector

Short throw projectors are great for board rooms and conference rooms that require the ability to show images on-screen. They can be placed close to the wall, around three feet, and still produce a quality 5-foot image. Often these projectors are placed on the ceiling to ensure that the image is not blocked out by people standing in front of the screen. These projectors are perfect for rooms that will have 10-20 people interacting with or viewing the screen at one time.

JVC DLA-RS4910U projector

Sometimes a projector is needed for spaces that have tight space constraints. Perhaps a boardroom or presentation area is long but not very wide, and a short throw projector can’t fit comfortably into the space. Ultra-short throw projectors hand almost directly above the image, a little over one foot away, and still produce a quality 5-foot image. These projectors are best suited for huddle rooms, as they usually have limited space but often still need a screen to display information.

NEC NP-U300X XGA (1024 x 768) DLP projector

Rear projection has less to do with the projector, and more to do with the screen. Front projection uses reflective screens that bounce images back to the audience. Rear projection uses transmissive screens that allow the images to pass through to be viewed by the audience. They reject ambient light from the viewing side, so they are great for high brightness environments. However, the image quality is severely affected when viewing from an angle 50-degrees or more off-center. Installing a rear projection system depends on your aesthetic preferences mostly.

Draper Premier Electric Rear Projection Screen

Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors uses a digital micromirror device (DMD) chip covered with mirrors that flip to different angles to reflect light for every pixel in the image. DLP projectors require less maintenance because of their filter-free and sealed chip design. Dust can’t settle on the chip and cause images to spot, and they are essentially immune to color decay, so they are best for companies that don’t have the time or resources for too much upkeep. Most DLP projectors are not compatible with zoom lenses or lens shifts, so they are best for smaller environments.

LG PA75U WXGA (1280 x 800) DLP projector

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Projectors create images in a multistep process. The light source provides a beam of white light which passes through three mirrors that reflect specific wavelengths (blue, red, and green). Each beam of light is fed to an LCD panel which arranges the pixels in the display to create the image. The images then combine in a prism to create a single image. LCD projectors require more maintenance than DLP, as pixels can burn out and dust can settle and interfere with image quality. However, LCD Projectors and generally less expensive than their DLP counterparts. They are also compatible with zoom lenses and shifts, and work well in larger rooms with greater projection distance.

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3020 1920 x 1080 LCD projector

LED projectors refer to the lighting, not the display technology, so some DLP or liquid crystal on silicon projectors are actually LED projectors as well. LED projectors replace the traditional lamp with longer-lasting and more efficient LEDs, colored in red, green, and blue. The LEDs have a much longer life, rated at 10000 to 20000 hours before burning out. It is meant to last the life of the projector without being replaced. They are more energy efficient and require no warm up or cool down time. They are also more energy efficient and quieter. This technology is best for almost any business, as it cuts costs on expensive maintenance and utilities.

LG PF85U LED Projector

Laser projectors refer to projectors that use no lamp as a light source, but lasers instead. They are relatively new to the market. Pure laser, also known as RGB laser, generates light from individual red, green, and blue lasers. RGB lasers produce superior image quality and are best for cinemas, or the occasional large presentation area depending on how well you want your brightness and images to look.

Barco DP4K-60L

Laser Phosphor illumination uses a blue laser diode as a light source. To generate the three primary colors, the laser diode shines a laser onto a phosphor wheel to create yellow light, while blue laser light passes through an opening in the wheel. The yellow light is sent to a color wheel to create red and green, and along with the blue, the three are sent into an imaging surface such as a DLP chip. Laser phosphor projectors have an extremely long illumination life, over 20000 hours, and require almost no maintenance. They are ideal for corporate boardrooms, though rather expensive at this point.

Christie Digital DHD555-GS 1-chip DLP HD Laser Phosphor Projector