Projectors
Both LCD and DLP projectors are superior entertainment systems for home theater, multimedia presentations and video projection.
The difference between LCD and DLP projector technology lies in the finer functions of light conversion.
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, which refers to the electrical charge that alters light properties within the machine.
The first liquid crystal technology was discovered as early as 1888 and later became the early prototype for color TV's and monitors.
An LCD Projector is designed with these interacting parts:
- Color filter panel/Transparent electrodes
- Liquid crystal/Polarizing filter
- TFT Panel/Transistor
Light passes through each phase of the device to become activated by the pixels. Now the image is ready to project out onto a screen for your viewing.
Pixels are simply described as points of light that contain a spectrum of color like, red, green, blue, and sub colors. The higher the pixel count, the better the quality of resolution.
LCD Projector Benefits
Although LCD projector technology has been around for some time, you cannot overlook its time-tested benefits.
For instance, it keeps up with the competition by providing lightweight, fast motion video for flat panel displays.
Here's an overview of the best LCD projector features:
- High contrast
- Quality resolution
- Power lens shifts
- Two lamp system
- Color temperature selection
LCD Projectors would be best used in applications that require more portable, compact, micro, home theater and large venue projectors.
DLP Projectors
DLP projectors are the latest machines in entertainment technology. Developed by Texas Instruments, DLP stands for Digital Light Processing.
The stand out feature of a DLP machine is the DLP chip, which is utilized in the image converting process.
Unlike LCD, the DLP chip is designed with micro mirrors, which become a reflective surface for light particles.
A high-watt lamp from the projector focuses on the surface of the chip, stimulating the mirrored pixels.
Once activated, the pixels move back and forth, creating the correct blend of colors to portray an accurate image.
DLP Quality
When you're shopping for your DLP projector, you need to know what features to look for.
Selecting accurate qualities of the DLP machine will guarantee a top performing projector. Always look for quality in the following areas:
- Color
- Brightness
- Dimensions
- Contrast Ratio
- Compatibility
The more pixels your DLP machine has, the greater the depth of color. The number of true colors is explained through bits. For instance, 16 bits equals 65,000 colors, while 24 bits equals 16.7 million colors.
Look to the standards of the ANSI Lumens, which compares the brightness quality in video projectors. The average lumens range is 500-1000 for moderate applications and 2,000-5,000 lumens for large venues.
The contrast ratio simply refers to the balancing between light and dark. With higher contrasts, your machine will show greater color detail.
DLP Projectors are best used if you are doing a dedicated Home Theater. DLP Projectors will give a much more detailed movie-like experience than an LCD Projector.
