Projectors do only one thing; they take a video source and project it onto a screen or wall. The technology they employ to do this, varies from manufacturer to manufacturer; some prefer LCD and others Digital Light Projection (DLP). The more upmarket prefer DLP while the most common is LCD. Both technologies output a decent image. For education users the main source of video is from a PC and all the projectors here do a pretty good job of it. For the home cinema user, the emphasis is not only on quality of image but also on ease of use and connectivity to audio systems. The biggest running cost is the lamp. Obviously the longer it lasts the better as the average bulb replacement is between EUR400 and EUR600. Warranties varied from one year back to base to three years on site. As price goes up so does the level of warranty. Although, prices varied widely, all of the machines in this round up were, of a good standard. Some however were above the rest in either feature set or sheer quality. But if price is an obstacle, then some of the entry level projectors are well worth considering. Read on for complete breakdown of our test results.
Home cinema projectors
Sony VPL-HS2 — EUR2,500
Sony’s VPL-HS2 home cinema video projector is ideal for the film buff who prefers to stay at home. Weighing in at just over 9lb, and measuring 12 x 6.5 x 12.75 inches (wxhxd), it can be easily moved around the room or stored away. Setting the projector up should not be a challenge even to those unacquainted with this technology. The unit simply plugs in to the mains, and into your DVD/TV/Video via it’s signal interface cable. This cable attaches to the projector via a ‘PJ Multi’ connector at the projector end, and via ‘S Video’ and ‘Phono’ connectors at the output appliances end, for example, your DVD player.
The projector can be intially set up in under ten minutes, it really is no more difficult than connecting a DVD player to your television set. Positioning the projector will take a little more time and patience. The unit can be floor, table or ceiling mounted depending on your requirements and the room you are installing it in.
One of the advantages of this model is that it can be placed slightly to the side of the screen or wall you are projecting to, yet still project a perfectly rectangular image.
The projector contains a 3 LCD panel single lens projection system. The lamp is 150 W UHP type providing 1000 ANSI lumens. The lens will project a 16:9 picture with a zoom factor of up to 1.2x. The bulb which can be costly to replace should last for a minimum of 2000 hrs, but by setting the projector to ‘cinema black’ this lifetime could be extended by up to another 1000 hours.
Colour saturation is rich and bold, but not unnaturally excessive. Colour accuracy is good overall. There is a slight bias toward the orange in the red channel, but it is not overly bothersome and most typical viewers would not notice it. We watched ‘Attack of the Clones’ and ‘The Matrix’ through the projector and was delighted with the projector on both viewings. The extra large picture really does add another dimension to your home cinema experience.
It is of course necessary to dim the lights in your room to a cinema like darkness, but surprisingly even when the room was reasonably well lit the projector was able to provide a surprisingly rich and vivid image. On viewing ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’, we were delighted to note that the subtitles were crisp, sharp and much easier to read than off a smaller television screen.
Overall we were delighted with this projector. Its price is entry level and it really does offer value for money when you compare it’s price to most of its competitors.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR329Projector warranty: One year warranty return to base.Lamp warranty: Covered under the standard warranty.
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Price: 8/10Tech spec: 9/10Weight and form: 9/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 34/40
Sony: +353 (0)1-4131700
Epson EMP-TS10 — EUR3200
Epson’s EMP-TS10 Home Theatre Projector is a neatly packaged yet powerful projector. It can be placed on its side, on a desk or mounted on a ceiling. The cream finish of the unit allows it to fit in with most colour schemes. Packaging and set-up documentation are excellent and installation in general is easy. In operation, the unit is acceptably noisy and the heat from the unit can be a problem if situated in a small room. Adjustment of the projected image is done either by a remote control unit or on a panel located behind the lens. Epson have obviously put a lot of thought into making the user experience as friendly as possible and it shows. For example, on the remote control, there are presets depending on what you are watching, be it PC or theatre. These presets make for an acceptable viewing experience and further refinements can be made via the on screen menus. The EMP-TS10 is no lightweight at 4.2kg but a carry handle built into the side takes away some of the burden.
Image is the true test of any projector and this unit offers pretty crisp viewing. Text is both sharp and clear and moving and still pictures are of a high quality. This level of quality arises from a mixture of a 150W UHE lamp, three polysilicon panels and a zoom lens of 1: 1.35. The native resolution is 800X600 SVGA, 700 Lumens brightness with a contrast ratio of 500 to 1. Image projection (throw) is from 30 inches up to 300 inches, which should cater for the needs of most homes. Squaring the projected image is done by digital keystone correction. Stated bulb life is 3000 hours.
This unit abounds with video inputs, analogue and digital DVI for PC, S video, video, monitor out, component (mini D sub) and composite (RCA). For audio, audio 1 handles a stereo mini jack and audio 2 takes two RCA connectors. The 5W built-in speaker won’t blow the house down and if you are going this far a set of surround speakers is a must. One small let down is the inability to handle wide screen format but if you can do without this the Epson’s EMP-TS10 has more than enough going for it. Great quality with a smattering of features reserved for more expensive units.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR440Projector warranty: Three year return to base warranty which involves a loan unit being delivered within 2 days, and the faulty unit is collected for repair off-site.Lamp warranty: 1500 hours
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Price: 7/10Tech spec: 8/10Weight & form factor: 7/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 30/40
Epson: 1800-409132 (Ireland only)
****Best buy in Home Cinema projectors****
NEC HT1000 — EUR6,655
The old adage, you get what you pay for rings true in the case of the NEC HT1000. This projector has got so many features that it is literally a case of where does one start. Off white in colour, the HT1000 is not as eye catching as some of its competitors. However, once the unit is up and running, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Set-up in general is easy for a basic install but the HT1000 has quite a few connectors at the back that a decent reading of the manual is required.
The first impression is its overall quietness in operation. Also it has a “proper” on/off switch at the back coupled with an on/off button on the control panel. Other units just use one button and can take some time to fully power off. The image from the NEC HT1000 is superb, as close as the eye could judge to true cinema projection. Picture was warm with vibrant colour and automatic keystoning when placed on an even surface meant it was ready to go out of the box.
The on screen adjustment menus for colour, sharpness brightness, sound etc are well laid out and will satisfy the most demanding of users. It uses the new XGA resolution standard belting out a native 1024 x 768 resolution. Cleverly it is rated at 1000 ANSI lumens but this can lower to 800 in eco mode to extend lamp life. Indeed when in eco mode, the noise level drops even further and quality does not suffer a dramatic loss. NEC uses two features to enhance its massive contrast ratio, 2000:1 standard and 3000:1 with IRIS and SweetVision (TM) video processing. IRIS is a mechanical lever that adjusts the lens aperture; dropping lumens output to 800 and SweetVision is a chip that adds digital enhancements to contrast, which gives more realism to colours. The result is a pleasure to the eye.
The rear connector panel has inputs for DVI-D, RGB, S-video, composite one set of 3 RCA’s for component video and four mini audio jacks. There are two 2W speakers with 3D stereo. The lens uses mechanical zoom and focus. From an image throw distance of 12 ft it can project an image comfortably up to 100 inches wide. The HT1000 weighs 3.2kg and can be ceiling mounted as well. Lamp life is 1500 to 2000 hours depending on mode used.
NEC has produced a fabulous home theatre projector that packs the punch of more upmarket and seriously expensive competitors.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR395Projector warranty: Three year on-site, 24 hour response.Lamp warranty: 2000 hours
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Price: 6/10Tech spec: 10/10Weight & form factor: 9/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 10/10Total: 35/40
NEC: +353 (0)1-6762224
Philips Garbo LC6231 — EUR2,299
At first glance the Philips Garbo looks no different from its business counterpart. Apart from its cream finish it is to all intents and purposes the same unit. The subtle differences lie in the specification. The Garbo does not have the security features of the Bsure2 nor the same noise or contrast figures.
The Garbo is 2db quieter and has a higher contrast rating, 400:1. The ANSI Lumens rating is 1000 on the Garbo and 1500 on the bSure2. The real difference is that the Garbo is optimised for video processing rather than computer graphics. Philips, well known for its TVs, has incorporated its high-end TV video processing chipset into the projector. This renders a true 16:9 aspect ratio and a more natural colour reproduction. In use, the noise level is barely audible and image reproduction was excellent both for still and moving images. Text was very clear, as is the easy to use projector menu system. The lamp life is rated at 6000 hours, which for the home consumer really reduces the cost of ownership. Outputting your TV through the projector renders an image nearly as well as you see on the TV screen.
When connected to a DVD player the image is remarkably sharp, warm and easy on the eye. Like its business counterpart is has no adjustable legs per say so be sure to install on an even surface. Sound via the 6 W speakers is good in standalone mode but hooking up a set of surround sound speakers really adds to the home theatre experience. The unit can be ceiling mounted as well. Auto standby mode can save on lamp usage while Smartset automatically optimises the image depending on input. Digital keystone correction and Digital freeze and zoom are other nifty utilities. On the side there are inputs for: PS2 (mini din), USB, Monitor, Video and S-video, Audio mini jack plus 2 audio L/R RCAs.
The 6000 hours lamp life and outstanding image reproduction makes for a wonderful product from Philips, a company whose products have a fair share of the consumer electronics market. Philips has laid down a marker with this product, it should be interesting to see how their competitors respond.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR363Projector warranty: Two years return to base.Lamp warranty: 500 hours
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Price: 8/10Tech spec: 8/10Weight & form factor: 9/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 9/10Total: 34/40
Philips: +353 (0)1-7640000
Sharp XV-Z90E — EUR2985
The first noticeable feature of the Sharp XV-Z90E is the shape of it. Most, if not all projectors are boxlike in shape but credit to Sharp: it has broken the mould. Futuristic looking is what springs to mind with modernism as its theme. Done in grey and silver the unit is unique on two fronts: it comes with its own swivel stand and has no speaker whatsoever. At 4.3kg it is not light but then once in place and set-up it probably won’t be moved. The absence of a speaker shows in one sense that Sharp intends this unit to be connected to a decent audio system and there are enough inputs at the rear of the machine to satisfy this.
Indeed, once all connections are made a cover can be attached to the rear to protect the cable and connectors. This was one of the few projectors that had a lens shift facility, which made for more accurate positioning of the image. With an ANSI Lumens rating of 600 and a contrast ratio of 1200:1 image reproduction was excellent in a medium to dark room. Colours were good and could be tweaked via the on screen menu.
The remote control unit works fine and has a nice solid feel to it. On the noise front it was quiet for its size, 29db and heat dissipation worked well via the vents on the left side of the lens. The lens has a manual zoom and focus. The XV-X90E has a six picture setting memory easily manipulated via the control panel or remote plus switchable screen with 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratio, in common parlance normal or wide screen. It has vertical and horizontal keystoning and inputs for computer (D-sub15pin) video, S-video and 3 RCA video. Lamp life is stated at 2500 hours.
Appealingly unusual in shape yet a finely polished product from Sharp. The ZV- Z90E does a great job as a Home Theatre projector and won’t look out of place with its attention seeking design.
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Cost of replacement bulb: TBAProjector warranty: One year return to base with temporary unit replacement.Lamp warranty: 90 days
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Price: 8/10Tech specs: 8/10Weight & form factor: 9/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 33/40
Sight & Sound: +353 (0)1-2838974
Education projectors
Epson EMP-52 — EUR1954
Put it up on a desk or stand, connect your laptop, switch both units on, Projector finds Laptop, displays image, correct and focus image and your done. Time taken, five minutes. This is what’s needed for presentation work. No fuss or embarrassing adjustments as the audience pours in. Unlike its home projector cousin the Epson EMP-52 has just enough features to do the job and be on your way. Liveried in gunmetal grey this 2.9kgs unit comes with carry case, instruction manual, computer cable, palm size remote control and power lead.
The projector has 3 polysilicon LCDs at the core of its image engine aided with a 13W UHE lamp. The lamp has a brightness of 1200 Ansi Lumens with a stated life of 1000 hours. In use the EMP-52 is as quite as the Home Theatre version in this round up, 35db. Two adjustable legs at the front of the machine plus the easy to navigate on board control panel make any adjustments a piece of cake. The positioning of the audio and video outputs on the side of the unit leads one to believe it is intended to be used side by side rather than on top of or underneath whatever it is attached to. For visual input/output there are monitor out, computer/component video, s-video and video. Audio is via mini jack and one audio RCA connector. The 1W speaker is too small for all but the most intimate of audiences.
The projected image is good for stills and moving pictures but we found that text was quite poor and broken up if a small font size was used. Large text was readable but not breathtakingly sharp. The Contrast ratio of 400:1 leads to a slight darkening and warming of the image. Keystoning the image is painless and in use the unit is quite hot. With a native resolution of 800X600 SVGA the EMP-52 is a no frills unit that gets the job done. Portable, easy to set up and use, this is one to consider.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR365Prrojector warranty: Three year return to base warranty which involves a loan machine being delivered within two days at which time the faulty unit is collected for repair off-site.Lamp warranty: 1500 hours
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Price: 7/10Tech specs: 7/10Weight & form factor: 8/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 7/10Total: 29/40
Epson: 1800-409132 (Ireland only)
HP Digital Projector SB21 — EUR1,753
Do you really need a truly portable projector? In the class of ultra light portable projectors, the HP SB21 is an astonishing piece of hardware. About as big as a camcorder and weighing in at 2.2 pounds, this mobile projector could fit it into the laptop case as well. The unit can only operate from one position and if you are a minimalist in terms of connectivity this projector wins hands down.
At the rear of the SB21 are a DVI to analogue computer cable with USB, firewire to S-video and an audio mini jack. That’s it! The silver and grey box like finish, without any fragile extrusions, makes for a sturdy little projector. While it may appear as a “lightweight” product it does produce an excellent image. Connecting and set-up is straightforward and despite the lack of a manual for this review product, the learning curve is quite small. The image is clear and warm and Keystoning is effortless.
Operational noise is low but it can run very hot over a sustained period. Text suffered a little but still and moving images were excellent. For presentation/educational type work the SB21 is good even under brightly lit conditions. Texas Instruments DLP technology is at the core of the image engine with a purported contrast ratio of 1800:1 making for richer colour and deeper black. Digital rather than optical zoom is used on this model and works just fine. The 120W P-VIP lamp outputs a comparable 1000 ANSI Lumens with a native resolution of 800X600 SVGA. Stated lamp life was not available at review time.
The SB21 can project/throw an image up to 12 metres. The tilt angle goes as far as eight( and the wireless remote control has a built in laser pointer. Naturally it being a HP product it is optimised to run on HP6000 and 500 series notebooks with a “Presentation Ready” hot key. To top it all off the SB21 comes with a very attractive carry case. This ultra light projector is ideal for those on the move but it does not come cheap for something so small. However quality is never cheap and this is a class product from HP.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR334Projector warranty: Two year, parts and labour and phone support.Lamp warranty: 90 days
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Price: 7/10Tech specs: 8/10Weight & form factor: 9/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 32/40
HP: 1850-200277 (Ireland only)
NEC VT460 — EUR2414
NEC’s VT460 is unique in its class in that is offers automatic keystone correction. Ideal for classroom projection, this svelte looking unit is easy to get going and installs in less than a minute. The Autosense T synchronises any computer signal with the projector so no further adjustment is required and it works. One other cool feature is the short focal length of the lens that translates as being able to position the projector closer to the screen without sacrificing image size. Handy for those classrooms! The 1500 ANSI lumens lamp is powerful enough for most environments and lasts around 2000 hours. Weighing in at just under 3kgs it is portable enough and a handle is supplied but not fitted with the device.
The three-polysilicon LCD’s produced a crisp and warm image, with a contrast rating of 400:1 at a native resolution of 800 x 600. For general-purpose use this is fine, even for the odd DVD movie playback. Still and moving pictures were fine, sharp and required little or no adjustment. Text and presentation slides were crisp and very clear. The remote control unit has a nice feel to it and manipulation via the remote is easy to use. One minor flaw is that the review unit was supplied with a 2 pin round plug and 2 pin round does not into 3 square go. Hopefully the retail units will have the proper mains lead for this country. Like its home theatre counterpart it has a mains on/off switch with an on/standby button on the top control panel. All connections are to the rear of the unit. The usual suspects like monitor in/out are there as well as audio in/out plus video and S-Video plus USB and PC Control.
For its specifications the NEC VT460 is a fine proposition. Simple to use, quiet in operation, it should be enough for all but the most demanding. For business or classroom needs it’s a contender.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR395Projector warranty: Three year on-site, 24 hour response.Lamp warranty: 2000 hours
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Price: 8/10Tech spec: 9/10Weight & form factor: 8/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 33/40
NEC: +353 (0)1-6762224
****Best buy in Education projectors****
Philips Bsure LC3132 — EUR2,250
With a lamp life of an average 6000 hours and the quietest noise level around this is a classic projector from Philips. Instead of a tinny 1 or 2-Watt speaker Philips supplies a decent 5-Watt speaker, which means no add-ons needed for larger rooms. The 132W lamp outputs 1500 ANSI lumens of brightness at SVGA. A contrast ratio of 300:1 ensures good visuals even under bright conditions.
Image quality is sharp and vibrant and required little or no adjustment. Heat dissipation is well handled and removing the power cable, the projector cooled in less than ten minutes. For an uneven floor or table, adjustment is non-existent. A tilt plate drops down from the projector and does not have side adjustment, a minor irritant. Philips has paid a lot of attention to securing the device as many schools and businesses suffer theft. The opening screen can be personalised and the amount of time the projector can be used before entering sleep mode can be preset. Both features are set up from a computer attached to the projector via USB and are accessible only through a personal pin code effectively rendering the unit useless to would be thieves.
Liveried in dark grey with a silver control panel the Bsure2 is workmanlike in appearance. Cable inputs are on one side while the mains lead plugs in from the rear. Weight wise it comes in at 3.7kg, a recessed handle is fitted around the connector panel. Digital keystoning, digital freeze, smartsave auto standby, colour tracking and Security -Max anti theft are the main features of the bSure2. Connectivity speaking you can hook up PS2 (mini din), USB, Monitor, Video and S-video, Audio mini jack plus 2 audio L/R RCA’s. The remote control is small but efficient. As a business/education presentation device the Philips bSure2 is a desirable proposition. The quality of operation plus safety features should make it onto many a buyer’s shortlist. As lamp replacement is expensive for all projectors a machine that offers an average 6000 hours will certainly be welcome in classrooms.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR363Projector warranty: Three years where first two years is back to base.Lamp warranty: 500 hours
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Price: 8/10Tech spec: 9/10Weight & form factor: 8/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 9/10Total: 34/40
Philips: +353 (0)1-7640000
Hitachi CP-S225 — EUR2,052
This sleek silvery grey unit from Hitachi is in the ultra portable class at 2.4kg. With an ANSI Lumens rating of 1100, a contrast ratio of 300:1 pushed through three 7-inch polysilicon active matrix TFT LCDs, the result is an image of SVGA 800 x 600 that is warm and clear for a unit of this size. Digital keystone correction is fine to a point though squaring the image took a little bit of work. The supplied user manual is excellent and is probably the most extensive on review.
The CP-S225 is aimed at the small venue user, as the 1W speaker is inadequate for a larger room. In operation the unit is quite noisy at 36db but this can be reduced to 32db if used in “Whisper Mode”. Whisper mode reduces the ANSI lumens brightness down to 800 and the result is a small drop in image quality. Lamp life is stated at around 2000 hours depending on mode. Power is via the side of the machine and this was the first projector that came with square, round and US mains leads. There is also an on/off switch beside the mains inlet. Instead of a lens cap the CP-S225 sports a sliding lens cover. The rear of the projector has connectors for Computer, Video, S-video, Composite RCA, Audio in, and two audio outs.
Compared to others of its ilk, this mobile projector offers substantial quality from such a small unit. Easy to set-up, not a shoulder breaker and a decent image output the Hitachi CP-S225 offer a lot for the more mobile presenter. The supplied case is adequate for the job and the European and American power leads does not leave the traveller scrounging around for a mains adapter.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR441.65Projector warranty: Three year back to base, excluding the lamp.Lamp warranty: Three years (including free additional lamp) after purchase or 6000 hours use.
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Price: 7/10Tech spec: 7/10Weight & form factor: 8/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 8/10Total: 30/40
Meritec: +353 (0)1-2781828
Mitsubishi SL2U — EUR2,250
With the smallest supplied projector to computer video cable its obvious from the outset that this device has business class written all over it. The no nonsense dark metallic coloured finish has a functional look about it. Set-up is straightforward and first impressions are of a clear and warm image. Delving into the various adjustment menus take a little time but well worth it. The on board control panel situated on top above the lens is a bare bones system for a quick set up.
Heat dissipation is via an outlet to the front beside the lens. The unit runs quite hot over time and takes a good five minutes plus to fully cool down. A 3-piece 7-inch LCD panel with a 150W lamp is at the heart of the projection system. Stated lamp life is rated at around 1500 hours. All connections are to one side of the unit rather than the rear. There is an on/off switch located just above the mains inlet. Other inputs clearly and simply marked are for video and S-Video, Audio Left and right and RS232C for computer control. The onboard speaker is of the 1-watt variety. Two front independently adjustable legs are great for uneven surfaces.
While initial set-up is painless, plug in the cables; search for the video source and keystone the image. Making other adjustments like subtle colour changes takes a little learning. The remote control unit is small and dandy and light in the hand. While images, both moving and still were fine if a shade dark, text was a little hard to read if a plain font was used. Noise wise, the level of background fan noise was not a serious distraction. Weighing 6.9lbs (2.9kgs) it is a tad on the heavy side for serious mobility. All this being said the Mitsubishi is a fine unit. The supplied user manual will satisfy those who need more technical assistance or information. Mitsubishi’s SL2U is aimed at business/education users and will not disappoint. A solid unit of solid quality.
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Cost of replacement bulb: EUR421Projector warranty: Three year collect and return, excluding the lamp.Lamp warranty: One year (including free additional lamp) after purchase or 2000 hours use. Free lamp will be delivered on day of expiration of warranty on original lamp.
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Price: 7/10Tech spec: 8/10Weight & form factor: 7/10Quality of text/graphics/motion: 7/10Total: 29/40
Mitsubishi: 1850-702010 (Ireland only)
Final result: Home cinema projectors
1. NEC HT1000: 35/40
2. Philips Garbo LC6231: 34/40
2. Sony VPL-HS2: 34/40
3. Sharp XV-290E: 33/40
4. Epson EMP-TS10: 30/40Final result: Education projectors
1. Philips Bsure LC 3132: 34/40
2. NEC VT460: 33/40
3. HP Digital Projector SB21: 32/40
4. Hitachi CP-S225: 30/40
5. Mitsubishi SL2U: 29/40
5. Epson EMP-52: 29/4010/04/2003
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