What you should know..

• One of the first things to consider when buying a projector is do you need native wide screen
  (16:9 aspect ratio) or 4:3 aspect ratio?

The latest Movies and HD-TV are 16:9

Aspect Ratio Is the ratio between the width and the height of the picture,
so a 16:9 is 16 units of width and 9 of height.

There is no right or wrong!
It's a matter of taste and what you think you'll be watching the most.

Digital TV is all 16:9 most new DVDs are 16:9

Future proof your purchase with HDMI 1.3, it supports Deep Color ™ to display 1.07 billion or more colors (x.v.color) without colour banding artifacts. |learn more|

MORE FAQ's where we cover all the other questions!
DLP or LCD is covered in the larger FAQ pages..

Projector FAQ click here

Scenario 1.

You just want to watch DVD's and occasional Widescreen sporting events on HD TV. You can't see this changing in the future, your not considering Foxtel or using X-Box or a PC.

Choose a W-XGA 16:9 model. If the room is fairly dark the Sanyo range as the Z's are the sharpest LCD.

Now that 1080P High Definition is more affordable you may consider the new Sanyo PLV Z-700

If you run a LCD 24-7 you will prematurely age the internals.

Running LCD nonstop is a sneaky trick the DLP manufacturers use to make LCD seem less reliable. How long would your toaster last if you left it on 24-7?

You need to use equipment within it's design limitations, nor do DLP merchants mention the super fast spinning bearings that can fail.

Some manufactures that were known mostly for DLP models are now using the new EPSON chip in their 1080 models (True HD)..

If you'd like to keep the cost down

The new Sanyo Z700 is more of the same, a slight upgrade over the last model, they just have to change things, even when they don't need to! As with all new models you pay a premium, in many cases just not worth what you could save if you purchased the last model.

Unlike other multi-function remote controls the Longhorn 4000-PRO has a large LCD screen for each device so you're not trying to find and press microscopic buttons!

Click image..

REALLY BIG JOB?

"Daylight Screen"

• Call AIM if you need a projector for professional applications.
• We've got solutions for pubs, clubs, board rooms, schools, public displays etc.
• See the latest "Daylight projection Screens" at AIM by appointment. [Review at HCC]
• Call for more information they are just the thing if you want a 100 inch plasma at 1/5 the cost!

You would like to look at the largest possible image for standard TV, Austar, Foxtel or play X-Box / Playstation at full screen size, or connect a PC which will be the future of home entertainment  you do watch DVD's and may get a HD TV set top box.

For Foxtel, you don't need more than 1280 x720 or 720P unless you're watching HD 1080.

Many games are now wide screen 16:9 if you're only
playing them & watching HD TV then you may only want 16:9.

Would you like a projector that can do this?

Plasma & LCD screens can't!

See our full range of Cinema projectors here

Projector FAQ's here

Your building a dedicated home theatre room which has controlled lighting and you only want to watch DVD's and HD TV.

Get a 16:9 model with a contrast ratio of 1000:1 or better. If you're sitting close to the screen (under 4M) you don't need or want a 100 inch screen! Every Single Chip DLP has some rainbows, this one has a minimum. Be sure to check if your DLP sensitive first.

Now that 1080P High Definition is more affordable you may consider the new Sanyo PLV Z-700.

NEW! Rainbow test

This test can be played on all DLP & LCD displays to check for rainbows.
Note for best results use the stand-alone .exe/zip download.

In our opinion if you're easily motion sick, have congenital nystagmus or you're very sensitive to flashing
lights you may like to do some research into projection/light engines used in digital projection systems.

Light output vs. Rich Blacks.

There is always a trade off, to get the most subtle picture with the best grey scale and most solid blacks you don't want to start with massive amounts of light.

You need a lot of light (more ANSI) for a bright room.

How loud is the fan? What was that? Speak up!

DVI on right, HDMI left.

What is HDMI?

HDMI is basically DVI with sound, for the purpose of projecting an image. Theatre projectors don't require sound signals so either will give high quality digital images.

[More] From our FAQ's pages

MAN SIZED PIXELS!

How high does your definition really need to be?

Click to read our review

Scenario 4.

Your a business person who could be showing presentations in all sort of lighting conditions. You wouldn't mind a projector that you could take home to watch various programs.

• Epson EMP-TW700

Note if you're reproducing a note books screen (1024 x 768) you get sharper results with an XGA model because the pixes match 1:1 and no interpolation is necessary.

Just for the kids or the Holiday House!

Check out our best value projector bundles

Considerations:-

Scenario 6.

SOUND and VISION

You've chosen a projector, now where do you start with sound and program material?

First get the BIG picture on sound!
[Examples of suitable equipment in brackets]

Executive summary - Surround speaker review:

Some speaker systems come with inbuilt amplifiers for all channels so you can connect them direct direct to say a DVD player if it has matching audio outputs. To connect to several devices you may need a decoder/switchbox as most self powered surround systems only have one or two inputs.

See: How loud is the fan? [What was that? Speak up!]

or back to FAQ's

Home Cinema is now of higher quality than going to the "Real" Cinema and I'm talking about projection systems costing in total under $2000!

I've went to see Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) at the real Cinema and what a disappointment!! Not the movie, the quality of the screening, and this was in the newest high-tech cinema around!

Their squllion dollar projector (3 chip megga ANSI - DLP I'd guess..) needs some serious DVE-PAL attention. Anyone dressed in black looked like they were completely in black like the example below, unless it was a very bright scene.

The blacks were never black, rather a light gray the kind you'd expect on a 400:1 LCD projector, the picture was rarely sharp, you don't believe me? Go and look for yourself!

What I'm coming to is I've been spoilt, I thought home theatre was suppose to look just like when you go out to the "Real" cinema (without the burping and paper scrunching etc.) ..Well thank goodness it's now much better at home.

Yep folks a good projector will in my humble opinion appears to have more detail in the shadows, look sharper and in general better than the "Big, Big Screen" which would be lucky to be 1000:1 contrast ratio.

Tell me I'm wrong email us with your thoughts.. This is the second movie I've seen this year (wow.. a record for me) and I came way with nothing but praise for the current crop of home cinema projectors we test and sell. Some are better than others in certain viewing conditions however I'd rather watch one at home than waste my money on the big fuzzy screen.

July 05 Update, went to see War Of The Worlds (so-so movie) and every problem that's been highlighted above was also visible at this screening, there was a scene in the kitchen where everything in the darker part of the room was missing. I'll be interested to hear from anyone with the DVD to see if the problem is there too. I somewhat doubt it. Overall I rate the image quality 6/10 and that was in Gold Class Cinema (the food was good)!

It makes me wonder about the people who split hairs over some minor technical issue when at the end of the day your movie can only be as good as the source material, the equipment you're using to play it and the settings you've made at the business end, the projector.

--Steve Brown AIM Digital Imaging (c) 2008