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6 Advantages of Projectors for Home Entertainment

There are many advantages of projectors for home entertainment. In broad terms, they range from the versatility of projectors as devices to better eye health. There’s something to be said about the value of projectors over big-screen TVs as well (see Projector Advantage #6 below).

So read on to find out all six advantages of projectors for home entertainment. Or take a more about home entertainment projectors here.

You may recall, once upon a time, movies were for movie theaters and TV shows were for televisions. 

Today, with online streaming services presenting new shows and movies every other day, there is no better way to enjoy them than from the comfort of your own home, particularly by way of a home theater system. 

With that in mind, are you considering projection for your home theater? If not, you should be. 

Sure, large screen TVs can be a sight to behold, but that doesn’t mean they’re the best option. In the TV vs. projector match up, there are multiple advantages of projectors in a home entertainment setting, including:

  • Customizable Screen Size
  • Huge Images
  • Eye Comfort
  • Compact Size
  • Portability
  • Value

If these home theater advantages sound like factors you could benefit from, then read on to learn about them in greater depth.

Projector Advantage #1: Customizable Screen Size

The beauty of projectors is that, unlike televisions, they can operate on any surface, rather than through one set screen. In order to ensure quality, many projector owners opt to project onto specially-made screens or white-painted walls, but that isn’t strictly necessary.

In the case of said screens, a key advantage of projectors for home entertainment is that screen size can be configured to any size, large or small, that you desire. What’s even better is that projector screens, regardless of their size, are not permanent.

Should you buy a 40-inch television, and are unhappy with that choice down the line, the only option is to buy a new one. With projectors, the hardware is not bound to the external surface, therefore the screen size is infinitely customizable. Moreover, if your screen size requirements change later on, it’s much easier to adjust than to purchase the technology all over again.

Customizable Screen Size Bottom Line:

  • Display onto any surface
  • Easily adjust the screen size
  • Future-proofed adaptability
  • Eliminates need to buy new hardware

Projector Advantage #2: Huge Images

Expanding on the issue of screen size, projectors have the advantage of not being restricted by an outer limit. In the case of televisions, there is a distinct size maximum that is dependent on the technology of the day. Home entertainment projectors are not limited in size in the same way TVs are, which is a significant advantage of projectors over other home entertainment alternatives.

At their base level, projector screens are naturally larger than their TV counterparts. Moreover, the size of the projections themselves is simply dependent on how far away they are from the screen. The further away from the projector, in this case, the larger the projection. To that end, 120-, 150-, or even 200-inch screens are not outside of reason.

Image Size Bottom Line:

  • Produces much larger images
  • Customizing image size is quick and easy
  • Cost-per-inch much lower than TV
  • Delivers theater-like experience
Advantages of Projectors for Home Entertainment - Screen size

Projector Advantage #3: Eye Comfort

When it comes to your eye comfort, the advantages of projectors in this respect are two-fold. Anyone of you who have ever taken an eye exam already knows that, even if you have the best possible vision, it’s always easier to read the larger letters than the smaller ones. (Check out this article comparing projectors to screens in terms of eye health.)

The same principle applies to the eye comfort associated with projectors. When compared to televisions, projectors enjoy the inherent advantage of larger screen sizes. Just as larger letters are easier to read, so too is it easier on the eyes to view a larger screen than a small one.

Screen size is just one contributing factor influencing eye comfort though. Did you know that your eyes actually feel more comfortable when looking at projected images? They do, and this is actually due to the effect that reflected light has on the eyes. This is in contrast to televisions, which use emitted light. 

Other factors, such as the distance between the viewer and the screen, have an impact on eye comfort as well. Eyestrain, for example, is caused when trying to focus on images that are too small for your eyes to look at comfortably. Since projector users are able to project larger images, eyestrain becomes less common.

Eye Comfort Bottom Line:

  • Projectors reflect light; TVs emit light
  • Reflected light is less straining, more comfortable
  • Projectors produce bigger images
  • Larger images create easier viewing, less strain

Projector Advantage #4: Compact Size

These days, whether it be phones, televisions, or projectors, size optimization is what manufacturers strive for. While telephones were once wall mounted bricks, they are now razor-thin smart devices that fit into your pocket with plenty of room to spare. Home entertainment projectors, on the other hand, have never had a need for such a transformation, as their size is a non-issue.

Home entertainment projectors pack a TV into a device similar in size to a laptop – try picking up a TV with one hand and see how far it gets you! So long as the projector is in a position to properly project onto the desired surface, then its actual location is not of much importance. Commonly, projector owners choose to mount their devices onto the ceiling, thus fully maximizing the space.

Moreover, the emergence of short-throw projectors has even made it so that they can be placed on a shelf within close range of the projection surface. The same goes for the projector screen, which can either be anchored to the wall or even made retractable. In opposition to televisions, the presence of which is permanent, the small size advantage of projectors allows them to maintain a more subtle presence in your entertainment space.

Compact Size Bottom Line:

  • Easy storage when not in use
  • Maximizes space
  • Aesthetically neutral

Projector Advantage #5: Portability

Not only are home entertainment projectors small, but they’re also lightweight. Usually weighing somewhere between 2 and 20 lbs, the average projector owner should have no problem moving around with it, if need be.

Consider for a moment, in the age of 45-inch televisions, which weigh about 30 lbs and are not convenient to hold, how often you hear of people moving them about on a regular basis. This is where the advantage of projectors truly shines.

For example:

Say that you want to bring your projector to a friend’s house for movie night – or maybe you want to do an outdoor screening on a warm summer evening. With projectors, all that is possible! With the advantage of portability, the only true limit for where it can function is access to electricity and a decent surface to project onto.

Portability Bottom Line:

  • Lightweight and easy to transport
  • Ideal for warm-weather outdoor viewing
  • Easily carry to enjoy with friends and family
Advantages of Projectors for Home Entertainment - Portable

Projector Advantage #6: Value

Considering the technological and practical advantages of projectors for home entertainment, they are altogether reasonably priced. That isn’t to say, however, that it’s impossible to find a very expensive projector, but for what you get at the base level, the cost/benefit ratio is quite good.

Although it is possible to find similarly priced televisions, the crux again comes down to the value proposition. While it’s possible to find televisions in the same price range as home theatre projectors, projection has a better overall value proposition to offer. 

Value Bottom Line:

  • Best-value home theater technology
  • Outstanding cost-benefit ratio
  • Lowest cost-per-screen-inch

Who Should Use a Projector?

PX747-4K -  - A Projector for Home Entertainment

Given the advantages of projection, it makes sense for just about anyone to consider. Not only are projectors great for those who want a more dynamic approach to home entertainment, as we discussed in this article, but they’re excellent in business and education settings as well.

Thanks to advancements in projector technology and a gradual decline in projector prices, this option is more feasible than ever. If the advantages of projectors have swayed you into considering a purchase, the next step is to jump from the theoretical to the practical, in that you should decide which model is best for your needs.

LS830 - A Projector for Home Entertainment

For the ultimate home entertainment experience, 4K projectors like the PX747-4K and the PX727-4K by ViewSonic are both excellent options and worth some consideration! Other options like the LS830 provide a high brightness of 4,500 lumens, Full HD resolution, and a short-throw ratio specifically designed for home entertainment. Learn how to choose the right projector resolution for your needs, or check out ViewSonic’s range of projectors, here.