Holy %#$!. I just priced out bulbs for our Proxima X350 video projector. The stores I looked at want $350, about equal to the price used projectors are going for on eBay. If I shell out $350, am I getting ripped off? Since when did it cost so much to make a light bulb?

HomeTheaterFilter: I have a Sony SLV-360 connected to an EIKI LC-X60 projector with component video cable. When I try and watch a DVD on the Sony, it only shows in black and white. How can I fix this?

Da-Lite offers the world’s widest selection of electric screens for the ultimate in convenience and professional presentations. Whether you choose concealed-in-the-ceiling, wall, ceiling hung, or ascending floor model, you’ll find Da-Lite’s electric screens for projectors meet the demanding needs of business meeting rooms, educational institutions, hospitality and home theater applications. All Da-Lite electric screens offer as standard features: black borders and preset adjustable limit switches to automatically stop the screen at the desired viewing level. Available in both 110 and 220 volt models.

The widest selection of electric screens is matched by the widest selection of projector screen accessories to go with them. From extensions and brackets to mount each screen, to electric components, Da-Lite offers the complete range of components to make each electric screen an integral part of the room into which it is installed.

Consumer Electronic Information: The Basics of the DLP Projector

Projectors have come a long way in the past few decades. The desktop fossils that were once used to show home movies or classroom filmstrips are a thing of the past. With today’s technology, you can now experience a projected movie that emulates a full-blown theater flick, without the time, effort and hassle of standing in line at the local cinema.

DLP projectors - also known as Digital Light Processing projectors - have brought the proverbial silver screen to the home front. The fact that some theaters actually use this type of technology for feature movie projection makes this truer than you might imagine. After being digitally converted and placed on an optical disk - much in the same way as DVD technology is produced - the images are fed into the projector and sent to the movie screen. The main difference is that DLP projectors offer a high definition experience, as opposed to that of a DVD. The result is a picture that very nearly rivals the quality of a 70mm projection, but without the imperfections.

The color accuracy of the DLP system is outstanding, with an end result that beats LCD technology. Some of the advantages that make a DLP the projector of choice are its low power consumption, compactness, micro-mirror construction (which is responsible for the high level screen resolution), high contrast and brightness. All in all, this is the closest that anyone can come to having a bona fide cinema within the confines of their home.

With every set of pros, you’ll always find some cons lurking in the shadows. Such is the case with the DLP projector. For those who are particularly sensitive to certain visual effects, the DLP design produces a type of “rainbow effect,” which could serve as a distraction when looking from one side of the screen to the other during viewing. This will play out as a brief splash of colors, which is simply a result of the type of technology that’s used in the production of the DLP. Most people don’t even notice this color display, but those who are in tune to that sort of thing may see it as an annoyance.

While this is also true for LCD projectors, consumers might be disappointed to know that DLP projectors need to have their light source changed after every 1,000 to 2,000 viewing hours. All in all, though, this is nothing new and, when you consider the higher quality that this type of system offers, it shouldn’t be seen as much of an inconvenience at all.

Perhaps the most inhibitive aspect to the acquisition of a home theater system, such as the DLP, is that the cost will typically fall within the range of $5,000 to $10,000 for the mid-range systems, once you purchase everything that you’ll need in order to complete the set-up. In addition to that, you’ll have to consider the cost of the rest of your home theater system, since these figures only factor in the DLP expenses.

For those who can afford to do so, the DLP projector is an excellent investment, despite its few downfalls. While no projection system is perfect, DLP is currently the most popular set-up on the market and provides a powerful theater experience for those who aren’t inhibited by space or finances.

About the Author
Simon Canfield is a hi-tech enthusiast and freelance author.
AllAboutHeadPhones.com and BigScreenTVsecrets.com

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Projectors

Calling a projector hire company will often get you confused as they ask:

What lumens do you need? (Lumens is the brightness of the projector)

What resolution projector do you need? (Resolution is the number of pixels at which the display device does not have to expand or compress the input signal)

What type: install, desktop or portable? (Install projectors tend to be larger and heavier, desktop ones are small and light and portable are somewhere in between!)

What you should ask yourself are the following simple questions:

How many people will need to see the projected image?

A 1000 lumens projector will usually be sufficient for a smaller meeting - up to 20 people. 2000 lumens is better. A brighter projector will be needed for brighter rooms, bigger screens and larger audiences - some projectors go up to over 10,000 lumens but you shouldn’t need these for a simple presentation!

What will you be showing on the projector?

Both data (from a computer) and video can be used to input into the majority of projectors. Most computers are XGA resolution (1024×768 pixels), but some older models may be VGA. This is not a problem for SVGA projectors, which will generally automatically lower the resolution, however if you are projecting high resolution photos and want near photographic detail, then it will have to be an XGA. If the projector is only going to be used to project video from a DVD or video, then there is little advantage in using the higher resolution XGA since SVGA can already project an image consisting of over 800 lines which is more than the resolution of a video signal.

How big is the room - do you need a PA system?

Most projectors come with a small speaker that’s useless for anything practical. There’s nothing worse than being unable to make yourself heard! If you’ve got sound with your presentation or video, make sure you hire a separate PA system to let people hear it.

About the Author
James Hunter works for Edric Audio Visual, one of the largest projector hire companies in the UK.

— Learn About Home Theater — Projectors

            — Is Front Projection Right for Me?

                        — DLP™ vs. LCD vs. LCOS

            — How Will Different Video Sources Look on a Front Projector?

            — Picking the Right Projector

            — Projector Functions

        — Keystone Correction

        — Contrast Controls

        — Brightness Controls

        — Color Controls

        — Tint Controls

        — Sharpness Controls

        — Gamma Correction

        — Color Temperature Controls

        — RGB Contrast and Brightness Controls

    — Deinterlacer

        — Projection Methods

        — Digital Zoom

        — Lens Shift

            — Throw Ratios and Viewing Distances

            — Aspect Ratio Thoughts

            — Setting Up a Room for Front Projection

    — Learn About LCD Displays

                — How Does It Work?

                — Pros and Cons

                — Is an LCD Panel Right for Me?

    — Learn About Plasma Displays

                — How Does it Work?

                — Pros and Cons

                — Is a Plasma Display Right for Me?

        — Learn About Rear Projection Televisions

                    — How Does It Work?

                    — Pros and Cons

                    — Is a Rear Screen Right for Me?

    — Learn About the Technologies

        — LCD

        — DLP™

        — LCoS

        — Plasma

        — CRT

    — Learn About Screens

        — Screen Types

            — Screen Aspect Ratio

            — Screen Surface Types

Compare Home Theater Projectors by feature. Select up to three projectors from a wide selection of projectors from Benq, Panasonic, InFocus, Ask Proxima, Sanyo, Optoma, Toshiba, Hitachi to compare the models feature-by-feature.
Compare Home Theater Projectors

Compare Business Projectors by feature. Select up to three projectors from a wide selection of projectors from Benq, Panasonic, InFocus, Ask Proxima, Sanyo, Optoma, Toshiba, Hitachi and others to compare the models feature-by-feature.
Compare Business Projectors

You know those circular screens they use at concerts that always have some kind of animation projected onto them? Can I replicate that on my PC? Do you know of an application or screensaver that creates the same look on a PC? I'm specifically interested in projecting circular animations onto a large wall.

Hitachi Projector CP-X1200
The CP-X1200 series LCD projectors are designed for large-scale presentation venues such as auditoriums, training centers and lecture halls. The CP-X1200 series offers an XGA resolution (1024 x 768), a 500:1 contrast ratio and are outfitted with a bayonet 1024 x 768 (XGA). View all Hitachi Projectors.

InFocus Projector Screenplay 4805
The InFocus ScreenPlay series of home theater projectors makes all this possible. Enjoy amazing images and lifelike, life-sized pictures in your living room. Become part of every movie as you enjoy amazing color and contrast - in a room seconds awa 854 x 480 (WVGA). View all InFocus Projectors.

Mitsubishi Projector XL25U
ColorView projectors from Mitsubishi are the quietest, low-noise projectors in the world today at 27 dBA during lamp conservation mode. Mitsubishi’s Silent Series projectors allow the audience to enjoy presentations without distraction. View all Mitsubishi Projectors.

Mitsubishi Projector XL30U
The Mitsubishi XL30 ColorView, an XGA LCD projector, produces 3000 ANSI lumens of brightness. The upgraded Picture-in-Picture feature now offers two live images rather than just one. Unlike other projectors, each picture contains a simultaneous live feed. View all Mitsubishi Projectors.

Toshiba Projector TDP-TW90U
Toshiba’s TDP-T90U/T91U/TW90 Series projectors are ideal for presenters who demand quality, versatility and performance. Packaged in a small form factor, the high-performance TDP-T90U/T91U/TW90 Series features DLP technology, 2,000 ANSI lumens, native XGA 1024 x 768 resolution, and 2000:1 contrast ratio to deliver bright, captivating images that can go anywhere, anytime. View all Toshiba Projectors.

Plus Projector U4-232
Leave your laptop at home with the new U4-232! With a built-in memory card slot, you can have your entire presentation on a CompactFlash card and break the tether to your computer. The U4-232 is one of the smallest projectors in the world. View all Plus Projectors.

Sanyo Projector PLC-XU51
The PLC-XU56/XU51 projectors feature auto vertical keystone correction. The Auto Set-up function works for auto vertical keystone correction and auto PC adjustment. View all Sanyo Projectors.

Hitachi Projector CP-S335
Hitachi has a long-standing tradition of ensuring the best in quality, reliability, and versatility, and has supplied technology to today’s largest corporations, as well as within specialty industries such as education and government. View all Hitachi Projectors.

Optoma Projector H79
The Optoma H79 home theater projector surpasses the quality of some of the best analog projectors at a fraction of the price, providing the most vivid, clear, and immersive digital video experience possible. The H79 DarkChip3 DLP technology delivers a wider and smoother color palette. View all Optoma Projectors.