Displays

My Picks

• Samsung A900 - A leading reference DLP projector with design input by Joe Kane. Listen to the Home Theater Podcast, Episode 2 if you need more info.
• JVC DLA-HD1 - Supports a multitude of video formats with very high ratings for video reproduction.
• Sony VPL-VW200 - The grand daddy of the Sony projector line. I wrote about the VPL-VW100 model a while back here. The VPL-VW100, which is no longer available, received the 2006 Editor’s Choice Award (The Perfect Vision, Issue 72, Page 56).
• Sony VPL-HW10 - An impressive and affordable for projector using Sony’s SXRD technology along with many other features typically found in the more expensive models. Supports a very quiet fan and two HDMI 1.3 inputs. Check out the AVS and the Projector Central reviews for more info.
• Epson Powerlite Pro Cinema 950UB 3LCD ProJector - 1600 lumens color, 1600 lumens white light output1 (ISO 21118), Up to 200,000:1 contrast ratio, 1080p resolution – D7 chip, UltraBlack™ technology, THX certification, Super-resolution technology, 3LCD, 3-chip technology, Refined FineFrame™ technology, Anamorphic (stretch) mode, Customizable ISF calibration.
• Sharp LC37D90U - (LCD) Supports multiple HDMI hookups and full 1080p resolution. This is part of the AQUOS line (The Perfect Vision, Issue 71). Received the 2006 Editor’s Choice Award (The Perfect Vision, Issue 72, Page 52).

Flat Panel Display Mounts

For those wishing to securely mount their flat panel displays on the wall, check out Peerless Industries as an option.

Screens

When using front projection, you need a good screen to supplement it. Shooting on the wall will work but is less than optimal and destroys the true nature of a good front projector. Here are a few choices:

• Stewart Filmscreen Grayhawk RS, Firehawk, and Studiotek 130 - Received 2006 Editor’s Choice Award (The Perfect Vision, Issue 72, Page 57).
• Screen Research ClearPix2 - Received 2006 Editor’s Choice Award (The Perfect Vision, Issue 72, Page 57).

As a screen alternative, check out the Vogel screen paint.

Plasma Considerations

• They are very delicate. The screens can crack if not packaged carefully and can even break under their own weight if tipped or placed face-down.
• They suffer screen burn (where an image stays in one place for too long, never moving so that it etches itself into the screen). Examples are screen burn occur when playing video games or watching 4:3 images.
• Have the best viewing able for large audiences.

LCD Considerations

• Do not support wide viewing angles for large audiences.
• Can suffer from dead pixels (where one pixels stops working causing a blank or off-color spot in your image.
• Make sure you buy a display that has a response time of 8 milliseconds or less so that you do not suffer from motion lag which is what happens when fast moving objects on the screen create ghosting effects because of slow response times.
• Do not suffer screen burn like plasma displays do and are ideal for 4:3 images and video games.

Facts

• Going from 1080p at 24fps (fps = frames per second) to 1080i at 60fps that equates to a 30% loss in vertical detail.
• Most TVs can’t fully display 1080p/24 even though companies claim this.
• The ATSC Table 3 includes 1080p/24.
• SXRD Display Technology has a resolution of 1920×1080.

Resources

• Projector Reviews - A good place to shop and review projectors.
• Projector Central - Another place to shop and review projectors.