4K projectors have been widely available in the consumer electronics market for about three years now, and it’s becoming more and more common to see them in living rooms or home theaters across the country. It’s easy to understand why; 4K projectors offer incredibly crisp, realistic images that make traditional big-screen TVs look outdated and dull by comparison.
But with more than 20 different models of 4K projectors on the market, it can be tricky to decide which one will suit your needs best – especially if you don’t have much experience with this technology before.
About projectors
A projector is a great way to get a big-screen experience at home without spending a lot of money. You can use a projector for movies, TV shows, video games, and more. There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a projector.
First, you’ll need to decide what resolution you want. 1080p is the most common, but 4K projectors are becoming more popular.
Second, you’ll need to decide what type of projector you want. DLP, LCD, and LED are the most common types.
Third, you’ll need to decide what features you want. Some projectors have built-in speakers, while others do not. Fourth, you’ll need to decide what size screen you want. If you’re using your projector outside or in a large room, it will probably be easier to find a large screen. If you’re using your projector in an average-sized room, then smaller screens might work better.
Fifth, you’ll need to decide if you want your projection ratio matched to the aspect ratio of your TV or if you want it cropped so that all resolutions look good on your projected screen. And finally, think about how much power (or brightness) is necessary for where and how often you plan on using your projector before buying one that’s too powerful or too dim.
Optoma GT1080Darbee Review
The Optoma GT1080Darbee is a great 4K projector for home theater use. It’s bright, has great contrast, and produces beautiful images. The Darbee technology adds an extra layer of depth and realism to the image, making it one of the best 4K projectors on the market. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line 4K projector for your home theater, the Optoma GT1080Darbee should be at the top of your list.
Its Darbee technology will add new levels of reality to any video source. It also comes with two HDMI ports and built-in speakers so you can plug in anything without needing to buy a separate sound system. One downside is that the projection lens is fixed so it can’t be tilted or positioned differently.
Another downside is that the remote control uses infrared instead of radio frequency so you’ll need a line of sight between the remote and the projector which can limit how far away from the projector you can go while controlling it. Overall, this 4K projector may not have as many features as some others but its excellent performance makes up for its shortcomings.
BenQ HT2550 Review
The BenQ HT2550 is a great option for anyone looking for a 4K projector on a budget. It’s got excellent image quality, great features, and is very easy to set up. The only downside is that it’s not as bright as some of the more expensive options out there. But if you’re looking for a great 4K projector on a budget, the BenQ HT2550 is a great option. It has all the necessary features like native 4K resolution, 3D compatibility, HDMI inputs, and HDR support.
ViewSonic PA503S Review
The ViewSonic PA503S is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable 4K projector. It has a native resolution of 3840×2160, making it perfect for home theater use. Plus, it’s compatible with HDR10 content, so you can enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows in stunning 4K quality.
The only downside is that it doesn’t have built-in speakers, so you’ll need to connect it to an external sound system. But overall, the ViewSonic PA503S is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable 4K projector. If you’re looking for something more high-end, then check out our blog post on the best projectors under $1000!
Like any home cinema setup, starting with a proper screen is essential. Thankfully there are plenty of options out there from short throw screens to massive DIY screens. Going too big can cause problems however as some projectors may not be able to throw far enough or deliver good enough image quality at distances greater than 3m (10ft).
With upscaling technology even Full HD video sources like Blu-rays can be viewed at 4K resolutions but without those pixels in place, there will be inevitable aliasing issues that tend not to show up when using true 4K sources like streamed media services. For gaming in particular, higher pixel counts make a huge difference to picture quality.
To get this level of detail at 1080p gamers would need a 144Hz monitor with G-Sync support while 1440p users would require something better than 60Hz and 120Hz respectively. Now let’s take a look at some individual examples;
In addition to being one of the most expensive 4K projectors on this list, Sony’s VPLVW350ES also features many features found in Sony’s professional line of projectors such as SimulView support for immersive 3D viewing and compatibility with 12Gbps HDMI 2.0 signal input meaning you don’t have to worry about futureproofing yourself against new formats by sticking with last year’s technology.
If you’ve got a large budget and are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a projector then the Sony VPLVW350ES is worth considering.
In contrast, if you’re just looking for an inexpensive yet reliable 4K projector that won’t break the bank, both the Optoma UHD60 and Epson Home Cinema 5040UB offer excellent value propositions despite their low price tags.
JVC DLA-X550R Review
The JVC DLA-X550R is one of the best 4K projectors on the market, and it’s perfect for home theater use. It has a native resolution of 4096×2160, which is four times the resolution of 1080p. It also has a high contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, which means it can produce deep blacks and bright whites.
The JVC DLA-X550R is also capable of projecting 3D content, and it comes with two pairs of glasses. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line 4K projector for your home theater, the JVC DLA-X550R is the way to go.
Sony VPLHW45ES Review
The Sony VPLHW45ES is a great 4K projector for home theater use. It’s bright, has good contrast, and produces an excellent image. The only downside is that it’s a bit expensive. But if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line 4K projector, the VPLHW45ES is worth the investment. If you need something more budget-friendly, consider buying one of these projectors instead.
The BenQ HT2050A comes with a lamp life of 10,000 hours in ECO mode and offers full HD resolution at 3D glasses ready at 720p to eliminate crosstalk.
This projector has brightness up to 2000 ANSI lumens and a 13000:1 native contrast ratio plus 15% wide color gamut for the sharpest images onscreen. You can plug your Blu-ray player or gaming console into its HDMI input ports and enjoy 1080p video quality without any lag. Unlike other models from BenQ, this model does not come with noise reduction features. You’ll be able to find it for $1000 less than the Sony VPLHW45ES as well.
The Epson TW4050 doesn’t have quite as many features as other models we’ve listed here but is still a decent choice for home theater enthusiasts who don’t want to spend too much money on their new 4K projector yet want a brand name they know they can trust. It’s priced around $2000 which makes it a fair deal when compared to other brands of projectors with similar specifications.