Compared with the HT2050A, the H

Compared with the HT2050A, the HT2150STs main drawback is that the lens isnt as good in pure image quality. I have over a decade of experience reviewing TVs, projectors, and other video devices. Projectors can be tricky to set up, so we looked for models that offer zoom, lens shifting, and other features to help you position the image. In addition to letting it work in more spaces, this models ability to sit that close to the wall or screen means people are less likely to walk in front of the lens and cast a shadow on the screen. Epsons Home Cinema 2250 is brighter than BenQs HT2050A, so its image has more pop and can hold up better in ambient light. It wasnt as bright as the HT2050A, and its overall contrast wasnt as goodbut its black level was better than that of many of the other projectors we tested, without the use of a dynamic lamp or iris mode. And the brightness uniformity was very poorwhen we put up an all-black test screen, we saw large patches of light around the screen (like a low-quality LCD TV screen), and this was evident in dark movie scenes. It also has two adjustable feet and a height lever. We recommend the best displays, sources, and accessories for watching 4K HDR movies and TV shows at home. Despite its ridiculous claimed light output of 9500 L, we measured 316 lumens (16.6 ft-L) on our 84-inch-diagonal screen, which is not even a quarter of our top picks capabilities and more in line with some of the mini projectors we've tested. The Home Cinema 2250s contrast came closer to the HT2050As than anything else we tested, and its black level was better than that of the older Home Cinema 2150 and 2100 (our previous runner-up pick), so its image looked more saturated and rich in a dark room. But the effect can annoy a small percentage of video watchers. First, the remote uses IR to control the projector but Bluetooth for Android TV, so you need line-of-sight for some things and not for others. The BenQ still outperformed it in that respect, but this Epson model has gained some ground over its predecessors. We independently review everything we recommend. But to accomplish that setup, youll need control over the lighting environmentexcess light will hurt the black levels, negating any performance gainsas well as the ability to mount that high-end projector on your ceiling to take full advantage of its features and functions.

We cant recommend the Home Cinema 880 for movies, but if you need a more affordable projector for daytime useespecially for gaming and sportsthis one might be worth a look. As a result, their images may not look realistic, with cartoonish greens, washed-out reds, and cyan-tinged blues. Most manufacturers stated light specs dont correlate with real-world performance, at least not in the more accurate picture modes that people actually use. An experienced calibrator could help set up this projector to get the best balance between brightness and accuracy, but the similarly priced Epson Home Cinema 2250 delivers this balance right out of the box, just without the 4K HDR support. It accepts a 4K signal (and downscales it to 1080p), supports HDR10 playback, and has a 120 Hz refresh rate and a gaming mode with low input lag. It has a small, portable (but not battery-powered) form, a laser light source, and a stated brightness of 2,000 lumens, but only a 1280800 resolution. The PF610P has LGs WebOS smart-TV platform built in (but no Netflix support), and it supports AirPlay 2 and Miracast streaming from a mobile device. How to Pick the Right Projector for Your Viewing Needs, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), this thorough comparison with the BenQ TH585 (the older version of the TH585P) on ProjectorReviews.com, The Best Portable Mini Projector for Movies, Everything You Need to Watch 4K HDR Movies. It has no lens shift and only limited 1.1x zoom. To judge color accuracy, we compare the projectors performance with reference standards set by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Technically, the only available connection options are a single HDMI input and a 3.5 mm audio output, which is quite limited. Its colors arent as vivid as those of the non-short-throw HT2050A, and the complex optics in its short-throw lens lead to a loss of sharpness around edges in the image, but its worth the compromise if you want a big image in a smaller space such as an urban apartment. But v1.4 is really all you need for a non-4K, non-HDR, 60 Hz projector. We tested the BenQ TH685P, which has a 120 Hz refresh rate, low input lag (listed at 8.3 ms for 120 Hz), and support for HDR10 and 4K signal input (downscaled to 1080p). Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. The BenQ HT2150ST uses a short-throw lens, so you can place it much closer to your screen or wall than usual and still get a large image. We did not require features such as a 120 Hz refresh rate or low input lag, both of which can improve gaming and sports playback but are less crucial for movie playback. If you dont have the space for a standard projector, or if you want something you can more easily set up and not leave out all the time, you might want a short-throw projector, which needs less space between the lens and the screen. The remote is a completely different design from the traditional Epson remote, combining the standard Android TV functions with projector controls for the menu, input switching, and keystone correction. ViewSonics PX703HD is the less expensive sibling of the PX727HD and is designed for use in a brighter room. Not everyone can see these rainbows, and most people who can see them dont find them bothersome. And the ones weve tested feel pretty cheaply built, so longevity is a concern. It puts out more light than the PX727HD, but its color accuracy, black level, and contrast are all worse. The Android TV dongle is hidden inside a compartment. The 1.3x zoom gives you some wiggle room in how close to the screen you can place the unit, while the vertical lens shift allows you to avoid the keystone effect. Most traditional lamp-based projectors that we test for this guide have a stated brightness above 2,000 ANSI lumens, but their real-world output is lessalbeit still much brighter than that of projectors of the past. If you often watch movies with the room lights on or youre sensitive to DLP rainbows, the Epson Home Cinema 2250 LCD projector is a great alternative. The Home Cinema 2250 has a higher zoom (1.6x) and slightly more vertical lens shift than the HT2050A, so positioning the image on your screen is even easier, but its input options are limited to HDMI. Otherwise, youll appreciate the additional flexibility and brightness of the picks in this guide. All of the projectors we tested for this guide use DLP or LCD technology; LCoS typically produces the best black level and contrast of these technologies, but you wont find an LCoS projector priced under $1,000. Note that most manufacturers stated light specs dont correlate with real-world performance, at least not in the more accurate picture modes that people actually use. A professional calibrator could adjust the advanced RGB controls to give you an even more accurate image, but that would cost you another $300 or moreand we dont think its necessary. This 1080p DLP projector is very bright and easy to set up. The Epson Home Cinema 2200 is almost identical to the Home Cinema 2250 in its features, except it has a lower zoom of 1.2x and no lens-shifting capabilities. These lamps gradually dim and need to be replaced. These budget models may have a 1080p resolution, but the use of lower-quality lens optics can cause the picture to look soft or blurry. Pretty much all the projectors weve tested have digital keystone correction to help deal with this problem, but using it can reduce image detail. The color temperature (or color of white) is really greenwith minimal adjustments availableand this projector can only reproduce 70% of the color gamut for HD video (most projectors come in above 90%). The TH685P has two HDMI 2.0 inputs, plus a powered USB port, an analog audio input and output, and an RS-232 control port. Subscribe now for unlimited access.

The BenQ HT2050A needs to sit 100 to 130 inches from your screen to produce a 100-inch image. The BenQ HT2050A offers the best image contrast of any sub-$1,000 projector weve tested, and it produces richer, more vibrant colors than many budget DLP projectors. The results from 720p or 480p projectors look softer, and when such models are creating a big image (or when youre sitting close), the pixels are visible. The lens creates some color fringing that you might notice, and the colors are not as accurate or vivid as those of the BenQ HT2050A, but the HT2150ST still produces a good picture. The connection panel also includes a component input, a composite input, a PC input, an RS-232 port, a 3.5 mm analog audio output, and a standard USB Type-A port. 709 color gamut as the BenQ can (91% versus 95%), but its color points and color temperature are a little more accurate out of the box, in the Natural picture mode. Like most projectors under $1,000, the HT2050A has a built-in speaker; its not amazing, but it does produce a fuller sound than what most budget projector speakers offer.

A low contrast ratio means the image is more washed-out, usually with more gray-looking blacks. Epsons Home Cinema 880, which is the lowest priced model in the companys Home Cinema line, is a mixed bag. All our picks have at least a 19201080 resolution, which allows for a big, detailed image with no chance of visible pixels. When its time to buy a lamp, you should always do so directly from the company when possible, as third-party lamps can be of dubious qualityand if they damage your projector, the warranty wont cover it. Theres also no physical lens shift or zoom to help position the image on your screen. Our screen is an 84-inch, 1.1-gain EliteScreens MaxWhite 2. 709 color gamut (so it cant render the full color space used for HDTV). Xgimis MoGo Pro is our favorite portable projector for movies thanks to its built-in Android TV, good-looking image, and small size. We did not test it ourselves, but from what weve read, its performance is also similar to that of the TH685P. But a good home theater projector that you use primarily for watching movies in a dim or dark room needs to strike a balance between brightness and black level. We also appreciated this models vertical lens shift (10%) because it gives you a little wiggle room in where you can place the projector while maintaining an undistorted image. The BenQ HT2050A has the best contrast ratio in its price class, as well as realistic color, great detail, and a robust connection panel. We tested BenQs TH685P and TH585P and added the TH685P to Other good budget projectors under $1,000. She has been a writer, editor, and reviewer in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years, and previously served as the executive editor of Home Theater Magazine and the managing editor of HomeTheaterReview.com. Generally we tell people to go with Normal or Warm settings, but in this projector we found the Cool setting to offer the most neutral color temperature, with just a bit of a bluish-green push in brighter scenes. But some projectors in this price range do include these features, which is a nice perk. Here are some questions to ask before you begin your search. Learn more. And it is only about 35 percent as bright as our top pick, so its not an ideal mate for a really large screen or for use in a room with ambient light. The HT2050A uses a 240-watt lamp to create the light you see on screen. The resulting image can be very sharp, but the Achilles heel of many inexpensive single-chip DLP projectors is an artifact called the rainbow effect, in which bright objects on a dark background (such as street lights zooming by during a night scene) carry a rainbow trail. This LCD projector delivers solid image contrast and high brightness, so its a good choice for a brighter viewing space. When you initially set up this projector, it walks you through the Android TV sign-in process. The Fangor F-405 is a sub-$300 LCD projector sold almost exclusively through Amazon. Because the BenQ HT2050A is several years old, its two HDMI inputs are version 1.4a, not 2.0 or 2.1. Overall, it offers nice versatility for both bright- and dark-room viewing. In a direct comparison with the Home Cinema 2250, we found that the Home Cinema 2200 had a greenish push to the color temperature and a higher black level, resulting in lower contrast. The HT2050As 1.3x zoom is higher than what many budget projectors offer, though not as high as on our runner-up, the Epson. A high contrast ratio means dark blacks and bright whites. The better projectors allow you to physically shift the lens vertically and/or horizontally to place the image more precisely. In terms of picture quality, it looks very similar to the TH685P and has the same performance limitations (mediocre contrast, color, and black-level performance, plus light spill around the screen), plus the built-in speaker is just dreadfulso movie lovers will be much happier if they spend a bit more to get the HT2050A. Geoff Morrison reviewed this projector for CNET and found that, while it does look good with HDR content if you watch a lot of that, the BenQ HT2050A is a better overall performer. We did not review the Optoma HD28HDR, a lower-priced sibling of the HD39HDR that has a slightly lower stated brightness (3,600 versus 4,000 lumens). Epson even includes a second, dedicated Android TV remote in the package in case you want to use the Android TV dongle with a different video display. The fan noise may be quite loud and distracting, and these models generally lack setup tools like lens shifting and optical zoom, so its harder to position the image on a screen. Generally, we recommend at least 1,000 ANSI lumens for a 100-inch screen, which disqualifies pretty much all of the cheap mini/pico projectors and portable projectors that use LED light sources instead of traditional lamps. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. This 1080p projector is brighter than the BenQ HT2050A, so the image pops a bit more when the room lights are on, and it delivers an accurate image without much adjustment required. The Home Cinema 2250 supports 3D playback, but Epsons own RF 3D glasses have been discontinued, so youll have to track down compatible glasses if you dont already own a pair. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). The effect isnt easy to see when youre looking at a 40-inch image, but it is easier to notice once you get to the 100-inch size youre likely to want with the HT2150ST. A projectors most important performance attribute is its contrast ratio, which is the difference between the brightest part of the image and the darkest.

So in those respects, it feels well integrated. In our darkest Blu-ray demo scenes from Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Sicario, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the HT2050A came the closest to making blacks actually look black instead of gray. Light output: A projectors light output (usually listed in ANSI lumens) determines not only how bright the image is but also how large an image you can create (image brightness decreases as the image size increases). While $700 to $1,000 is technically considered budget in the world of home theater projectors, we know its still a lot of money, and there are many cheaper projectors out there (we cover some of them in our portable projector guide). For a similar price, the Home Cinema 2250 is a much better performer. We measure all the available picture modes and brightness settings to find the best combination of performance attributes. Just add a screen, and youll be able to get a huge and immersive image anytime you want. Our focus here is on projectors that are bright enough to produce a well-saturated image on a large screen (84 inches or bigger), so you can get a true cinema-like experience. The HT2050As colors measured more accurately against all HDTV standards than those of the other DLP projectors we tested. The biggest frustrations here are ergonomic: The power cord has a big DC brick in the middle that makes it hang heavily and awkwardly, theres no zoom and lens shift, and the F-405 casts the image 20 inches lower than the BenQ HT2050Aso to get the image up on the wall or screen, you have to place the projector on a higher surface or aim it up and use more keystone adjustment (and there isnt much of it to work with). The Home Cinema 2250 has a generous 1.6x zoom and 15% vertical lens shifting, which provides a nice amount of flexibility in where you place the projector. Like the HD39HDR, it accepts a 4K signal (downconverting it to 1080p), supports HDR10 playback, and has a 120 Hz refresh rate and low input lag for gaming.

This 1080p LCD projector provides great light output and solid contrast, and it delivers an accurate image without much adjustment required. Setup features: A front-projection system can be trickier to set up than a TV, since you have to adjust it to project a precise size and shape onto your screen. The difference in black level was especially noticeable when we set this model side by side with the competition. Generally you need to place a projector about 100 inches away from the screen to cast a 100-inch image, but a lens with zoom adjustment gives you some flexibility in the projection distanceand a higher zoom equals more flexibility. Theres no lens shift or zoom, only keystone correction, so it will be trickier to position the image on a screen. In our tests, its contrast ratio was close to that of the HT2050A, but its black level was visibly higher, so movies lacked some depth and richness in a dark room. The majority of sub-$1,000 projectors use single-chip DLP technology, in which they reflect light off one microchip with millions of individual mirrors and then feed the light through a spinning color wheel to create colors. Most sub-$1,000 home theater projectors have a full HD (19201080) resolution, and a few support high-dynamic-range video playback, though they lack the contrast and brightness to do HDR any justice. BenQ estimates the lamp life as lasting between 3,500 and 7,000 hours depending on the mode. By comparison, the HT2150ST can sit two-thirds of the way closer, 36 to 43 inches from the screen.

What about even cheaper projector recommendations? But if youre seeking a true big-screen, cinema-quality experience at home, they simply arent up to the task. Business projectors are cheaper and sometimes brighter, but thats because they emphasize colors that appear brighter on screen in order to compete with sunlight coming through office windows, not the colors that produce the best image for movies. For objective tests, we use Portrait Displayss Calman software, an Xrite i1Pro 2 spectrophotometer, and a DVDO iScan Duo test pattern generator to measure each projectors contrast ratio, light output, and color and color-temperature accuracy. The newer EF11 and EF12 (which adds Android TV) have a 1080p resolution but are less bright (a claimed 1,000 lumens). The Game and Movie picture modes have a pleasingly neutral color temperature (or color of white) right out of the box, with less of a greenish-blue tint in brighter scenes than the HT2050A. While these projectors mostly have small form factors, a 1080p resolution, and Wi-Fi streaming, they have low light output that is not ideal for big-screen home theater viewing. In addition, the HT2050A has two adjustable feet and a lever for you to adjust image height when the projector is sitting on a tabletop. If you have a modest-sized screen (under 90 inches) and want a smaller, smart LED projector: The LG PF610P is loaded with features and delivers a nice-looking image. It comes with an Android TV stick for streaming video. Despite the high brightness claims made by manufacturers like Yaber and Fangor, our measurement tests have shown these models to be about one quarter as bright as our picks, which hurts their contrast and limits image size. In our tests, the picture was clean and detailed, the color temperature (or color of white) was more accurate than the BenQ HT2050As, and its color was almost as accurate. If youre interested in spending more and want to create a dedicated home theater setup, check out our guide to the best 4K projector. The Epson LS11000 4K laser projector delivers a big, beautiful image and has most of the features you need. The Home Cinema 2250 doesnt run the Android TV OS directly; rather, Epson includes a standalone Android TV dongle, connected via HDMI and hidden in a compartment on the back panel. Sure. We still dont recommend this mode for regular use, but for the occasional gaming or sports event in the middle of the day, itll work okay. As for the color, the Epson cant reproduce as much of the HDTV Rec. We reviewed every type of projector to find the best projector to fit your needs, whether its for a home theater or a home office. LCD projectors can often deliver better color brightness than DLP models can, and theres no rainbow effect for you to worry about, but they can suffer from color fringing (where you can see different color elements outlining sharp lines) because aligning the three panels perfectly is nearly impossible. The PX701-4K uses DLP BrilliantColor technology to improve image brightness at the expense of color accuracy; you can turn the BrilliantColor function down or off to make colors look brighter and more accurate, but youll lose overall brightness and contrast in the process. These are for anyone who wants to enjoy a cinema-like, big-screen movie experience at home but doesnt want to spend more than $1,000. But the 880 also had the worst black level and one of the worst contrast ratios of any projector weve measured, so movieseven in bright sceneslooked flatter and more washed out. Resolution: A projector must have at least a full HD (19201080) resolution for us to consider it for this guide because that allows for a big, detailed image with no chance of visible pixels. We measured 1,586 lumens (83.4 fL) on our 84-inch screen in the Natural picture mode at the normal lamp setting and 1,067 lumens (56.1 fL) in the eco lamp mode.

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Compared with the HT2050A, the H