For movie lovers, sports fans and anyone who likes watching shows on the big screen, a projector is the ideal solution to bring the cinematic experience to your home. With the right device, you‘ll be able to enjoy the latest films or the upcoming football Cup. Our guide will help you decide which device is the best for your needs, what you should consider when installing a projector and how to transfer your living room into a cinema.
Choosing the right projector
In order to make the right choice when buying your projector, you must consider all of the different scenarios where you might be using it. Important factors to consider are the size of the room and the light conditions. If the projector is going to be used in daylight or artificial light, it is important that the device is bright enough.
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A multifunctional and relatively inexpensive option would be the ACER X128HP. Suitable for both private and professional environments, the ACER has 4,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 20,000: 1. ACER’s device is definitely bright enough to project a sharp and detailed image onto the canvas even at higher ambient brightness.
A professional quality device that even allows 4k playback is the XGIMI HORIZON PR. Due to the luminous intensity of 3,400 lumens, this projector is also equipped with daylight and can also score points with its Ultra HD resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, as well as HDR and HLG support. If you prefer a short response time, e.B. for games, you will be pleased about the 240 Hz mode of this projector, which has only an input lag of 15.7 ms at 1080p resolution.
However, if you always want to have a projector with you for presentations or movie nights, a portable projector is a must. The Neopix Easy 2+ from Philips scores with its range of functions, as it is both easy to transport at just 0.86 kg and versatile thanks to its USB media player. With integrated loudspeakers and HD resolution, it is a mobile all-rounder at an affordable entry-level price.
Projector installation and setup
Once you’ve decided which room to install the projector in, it is important to determine where the projector and screen will be installed. We’d recommend a roll canvas screen, as then you don’t need a whole wall to remain blank in between uses. Roll screens can be placed in front of pictures, cabinets or even in front of windows, if the material is particularly good at blocking out daylight.
The projector can either be mounted on the ceiling, or placed on a table or similar piece of furniture. When positioned on the ceiling, the device projects at the height of the upper edge of the screen, whereas in the regular position, it projects at the level of the lower edge of the screen.
A room should be at least four metres long when projecting onto a typical screen size of 2.5 metres. In addition, the room should be able to be darkened to avoid any screen reflections off any light source. As a rule of thumb, the less light in the room, the better the image quality.
Connecting the projector to the playback device
When the space is selected and set up, the projector needs to be connected to the internet if it is WiFi-enabled. HDMI radio transmitters, which transmit the image signal wirelessly, can also be used. Depending on the model, some projectors already have a corresponding receiver installed.
Once the picture signal and connection is made, it’s time to connect the sound. Again, there are differences between different projector models. Some models already have built in high-quality speakers,whereas others have no sound output of their own. If you would like to do without cables in this case, you can easily use Bluetooth speakers, as long as the projector has a Bluetooth interface. The speakers need to be placed in optimal positions throughout the room to achieve the best sound quality.
Once installed, nothing stands in the way of a perfect home cinema experience and you can enjoy big events such as the Championship or Olympic Games in the comfort of your own home!
Image: Adobe Stock
