Why is it that all men need to have a gigantic big screen TV? I mean, on one hand, I enjoy being able to cuddle up on a couch and watch movies, but I'm not a big fan of having a television as the focal point in a living room. Luckily, I found the ultimate win-win situation.
For a quarter the price of a good big screen television, you can purchase a digital projector and watch movies on a tv screen that's four times as big as a big screen tv. In addition, you can purchase a cool electric blind that automatically retracts the screen, revealing a painting, bookshelf, or even a window.
You will be the envy of your friends (and you will have more friends… okay, maybe that's not true, but all the men you know will tend to drool excessively at your theater set-up).
I found that researching projectors was a very tedious task, as there are many different aspects that you have to examine. Much to my surprise, after all of my research, I found that the InFocus X2 offer almost all of the important features for a very low price. In fact, the the InFocus X1 was the first projector with DLP technology to break the $1000 barrier (MSRP = US$999).
For background, the following are features to look for when purchasing a projector:
- DLP technology, which put simply, is a new technology from Texas Instrument that provides much better image quality than traditional LCD technology.
- A high contrast ratio allows you to differentiate blacks and whites. Since you will likely have ambient light in your set-up, this is an important feature. Many projectors have contrast ratios from 300:1 to 600:1, but the InFocus has a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, which is extremely high for the entry level price category.
- Brightness, which is measured in lumens. Good projectors tend to offer at least 1,000 lumens, while many entry models only offer 300 to 500 lumens. The X1 offers 1,000 lumens, while the X2 offers 1,600 lumens, both should work well for most applications. I also learned that the bulbs/lamp tend to cost about $500, but the InFocus X1 and X2 bulbs last 50% longer (3,000 hours).
- Resolution. The InFocus offers SVGA resolution (800x600), which is the minimum standard you want to look for. Ideally, one would prefer XGA (1,024x768), but the XGA machines tend to cost significantly more.
Note that you can also hook the projector up to your computer, and use it for presentations (you could even set it up at a party to play videos or visualizations from your MP3 player). If you are planning on doing this, size might be a factor. The InFocus is 6.8 pounds, which will require you to carry an extra briefcase (conveniently enought, The X1 happens to come with a black padded carrying case). The latest craze in projectors appears to be the drive towards exceptionally small units which can weigh as little as two and a half pounds, but these projectors cost three times as much.
I also learned that having a good screen can make a significant difference. For this reason, I also reviewed two Da-Lite screens, the Slimline Electrol and the Cosmopolitan Electrol. A Da-Lite screen enhances the quality of the image, providing more saturated colors, and greater contrast. Plus, it electronically retracts from the roof (which looks super impressive when you have people over to watch a movie). Now that's cool. (Read about Da-Lite screens)
For the first week of the review, I found myself glued to the giant screen, watching the 5-disc DVD collection of BBC's Blue Planet documentary. If you want to pick a collection of movies that will help you instantly justify your purchase, I highly recommend Blue Planet series. Quite simply, it is awe-inspiring to witness amazing nature footage on a ten foot screen in the comfort of your own home. Something tells me the DVDs would not have looked the same on my old 27" television.
In short, the performance of the projector is simply awesome. While I would prefer to have a projector that had XGA resolution for HDTV and DVDs, the performance of this projector is still excellent, especially for its bargain price. If you are looking at buying a big screen TV, you are about to make a mistake. Instead, set up your movie theater with an InFocus Projector and a good Da-Lite screen!
For more information on the InFocus X1 or X2 projector, visit www.InFocus.com
Damn, that's a TV!
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