SPACE (+PROJECTORS) When it comes to size, projector screens outweigh the competition. Projector screens offer movie theater style presentations with a viewing area of up to 100” diagonal or greater. Even the largest TV’s on the market only provide about 70” maximum viewing area. The larger the screen the more immersed one can feel in their personal entertainment experience. Not only that, but the greater the viewing area, the more people you can share the viewing experience with! Who doesn’t love that? That being said, space is certainly an issue. In order to accommodate such a large viewing area, one will need a large room with a lot of wall space. If you have the space for proper large-scale viewing, projection screens are a terrific choice.
LOCATION (+PROJECTORS) We’ve already addressed the need for space, but what about portability? Projection screens, when not built-in to the ceiling or wall, often retract and roll up into a casing. Once rolled up into the casing, they are light enough to move around to different walls for viewing in and around the home. If you wish to watch a movie outdoors on a beautiful night, no problem! Even smaller flat screen TV’s are bulkier and heavier than than a retracted projection screen. If the option to watch a great movie or the big game anywhere you want is appealing to you, then projector screens are a better alternative.
PRICE (+TV) The idea is that if you own a home theater with the viewing experience of a movie theater, you’d save money on tickets, popcorn, transportation and convenience. However, high quality projectors and screens can be more expensive up-front than buying a flat screen TV alone. The best way to think about the purchase is getting more for your money. 4k 3D flatscreen TV’s can start at about $3500 or more for 55” viewing area. However, 4k 3D projectors with high quality projection screens may run you about $6000. Projectors and screens are less than double the cost but you’re doubling your viewing area and entertainment experience. The upfront cost is higher, but the return on investment may be well worth it.
SET-UP (+TV) Once acquiring a TV, set-up is pretty straight forward. Plug the TV in, connect the satellite or cable, audio, and you can begin watching movies and programs. A projector and screen can be a little bit more complicated. In many cases, screens and projectors are professionally installed because maximizing the use of the projector and viewing area requires consideration of light and space. In addition to that, one would still be required to set-up their viewing and audio sources. Although one can set up both on their own, professional installation, which comes at an additional cost, is often recommended. In consideration of set-up, projector screens are more complicated than TVs.
LIGHTING (+TV) Area lighting is a factor for the image viewing quality from video projectors. Because projected images aren’t as bright when projected, and the distance between the projector and screen is a consideration, the image projected is not at optimal view unless the room is completely dark. TVs have the advantage in a bright or light room, because one can still see the quality of the image when the lights are on. Although TVs can still be seen in a room with bright lights, the quality and size of the images are better from a projector when it’s completely dark. Weighing the pro’s and con’s of a TV vs a projector are certainly important prior to the purchase of a new home theater. All things considered, if you have the right lighting, budget and space, projector screens offer a comfortable, encompassing and exciting entertainment experience that greatly outweigh your standard TV. It’s absolutely worth going the extra mile! For more information on projection screens visit www.vutec.com/
