Many homeowners are struggling with an important, electronic
question: What is the ideal display for my home theater? Many
people have fought this debate, but I'll try to make clear some
important considerations.
The most important detail to consider when deciding between a
projector and a large plasma television is ambient light. A room
with lots of windows presents a problem for a projector because
every little bit of ambient lighting degrades the projected
image. The ideal environment for a projector is one where you
have total control over the lighting. If your home theater uses
a projector, you are limited to using it when you can eliminate
other light. A plasma screen can be used anyplace, anytime.
Assuming your home theater has blackout curtains, or exists deep
underground; let's examine differences between a plasma
television and a projector. One advantage of a projector is that
you can get a much larger picture than is available in plasma.
Projectors can produce images comparable to an 81-inch screen
and larger. This just isn't possible with a plasma screen.
However, plasma's have the advantage of not needing any amount
of space. A projector must have a long enough corridor to
project its image on the wall or screen. To get an 81-inch or
greater image, you need a decent distance between the projector
and the target. Second, a projector's image is dependent on more
than the quality of the projector; you must be projecting onto a
specialized surface or you lose detail. A top of the line HD
projector with a very high native resolution would be wasted if
you were just projecting the image onto a wall. You need an
equally high quality screen with features such as a matte finish
to eliminate reflection and glare. A plasma display requires no
additional equipment.
Overall, a projector has the potential of creating a beautiful
image, but it needs too much to work effectively. If you're
creating a private movie theater with lighting control and an
investment in a screen, mounting equipment, and blackout
curtains, then a projector is your piece of equipment. For
everyone else, I suggest a plasma television.
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