Best HD Projector

Modern HD beamers differ from each other primarily in the projection method used. The first beamers available on the consumer market were based on the Eidophor system. This obsolete process made it possible to reproduce high-intensity images in a resolution that was quite high at the time. These projectors were the gold standard until the late 1980s and were extremely popular with technology enthusiasts. The next development stage was tube projectors, whose characteristic feature was a very high brightness. Just like Eidophor system beamers, the tube projectors were very popular in both the professional and semi-professional sectors. In order to display the full colour spectrum, three tubes were used for the tube projectors, one tube each for each basic colour. At the beginning of the 2000s some new beamer models were introduced, which were based on partly very different technologies and functionalities. Over the years, two technologies have become established that are used today in most beamer models: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and DSP (Digital Light Processing) technology.

The LCD technology used in modern HD projectors is based on a clever principle. The white light from the projector lamp is divided into three primary colors, red, blue, and green, using a prism, and then sent through three small LCD screens. By using a second prism, the color image is then put together. Today, LCD technology is mainly used for low-cost HD beaming. HD LCD beamers are extremely robust and have a long service life, which has enabled them to establish themselves over the years, especially in the semi-professional sector. The main advantage of LCD technology is the high contrast of the display, where even fine colour gradations of dark and light tones can be seen without any artefacts impairing the image quality. Although the majority of modern HD projectors use LCD technology, this technology also has some disadvantages. For example, the black is not as rich and colorful as with HD beamers based on DLP technology.

DLP technology uses several million small mirrors to project the image onto the screen. At the heart of a modern DLP beamer is a small colour wheel, which splits the light into the individual basic colours and then transports them onto the screen. A downside of this technology is the rainbow effect, which makes the basic colours red, blue and green visible on the canvas for a few milliseconds. This can happen when the viewer’s eyes are not in sync with the movement of the object on the screen. DLP technology is ideal for fast scenes and 3D projections thanks to its high refresh rate. DLP beamers also offer a number of different advantages. For example, DLP technology is not susceptible to the phenomenon of “image burning”, making DLP beamers ideal for projection of digital photography. In contrast to LCD projectors, DLP beamers are able to reproduce a richer and more contrasting black and the latest DLP models also have a less pronounced pixel structure, which makes the projected image appear sharper and clearer

When buying an HD projector, there are some criteria and factors to consider that have a huge impact on the picture quality. An important criterion for the display quality is the brightness or luminosity with which the image is projected. Most HD beamer models for private and professional use are equipped with a luminosity of 1000 to 5000 lumens. However, the real usable luminous intensity is usually below the technical values. The data are often artificially polished and usually contain tolerances of 10 – 20 percent. Another important quality feature is the projection ratio, which indicates the ratio between the projection distance and the image size. High-quality HD beamers also make it possible to regulate keystone distortion by adjusting the lens. Keystone distortion occurs when the HD projector is not projecting parallel to a screen.