Articles and whitepapers

Industry Opinion: When should installers recommend a projector in place of a TV? (3/9/2010)

By Yasmin Hashmi, HiddenWires

It is fairly obvious under which circumstances a projector and screen should not be suggested, but when it comes to dedicated viewing areas or multi-use rooms, the line may not be so clear. TVs are becoming larger, while projection systems are becoming more versatile. So when should an installer recommend a projector in place of a TV? We asked a number of manufacturers, suppliers and installers for their views. Here are their replies:

Pierre-Nicolas Cléré, Sales Director, Connecting Technology

If we are talking about home cinema, then only a projector can give the same feeling as that of a real cinema. However, an installer should only recommend a projector in place of a TV if the viewing area is of a good size and if the viewing distance at least 4 to 5 meters. Also, if the user requires a picture size that is larger than the Panasonic 103" plasma TV, then there's no other option!

To get the best picture from a projection system, we recommend having a dark room, otherwise the screen will reflect both the light of the projector and the ambient light. Indeed in some cases, a screen is not necessary if the right type of paint is used.

A technology to watch out for, that could replace the projector, is OLED. With a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and a screen as flat as a projector screen, OLED could change many things, but it would obviously have to go down in price and up in size from the current 11 inches!

www.connecting-technology.com

Stuart Davis, Business Manager, Epson UK

I would suggest that an installer should recommend a home cinema projector rather than a television for screens sizes larger than 50", as they offer far greater flexibility. They can be used for watching TV, DVDs, gaming and even viewing family photos. Choosing a projector with a flexible zoom will allow a larger screen - 120" and beyond - for movies, sporting events or gaming, and a smaller one for day-to-day watching of TV from the same fixed point in the room.

A ceiling-mounted projector and drop-down screen are less intrusive in a multi-use room, such as a lounge, than a large flat screen permanently mounted on the wall. And from an environmental point of view, even though the energy efficiency of large screen TVs has improved in recent years, the projector still has the advantage of using the same amount of energy, regardless of screen size.

www.epson.co.uk

Greg Jeffreys, director, Paradigm AV

First of all, let's not pretend. I'm biased. I flog screens and projected images for a living, so I'm obviously not going to push TVs, flat or otherwise. I think it's important to declare my interest. Having said that, obviously everything I say is 100% correct, if not 110% (like a Premiership footballer).

TVs are ugly. My posh older relatives call them common; being good hypocrites, some of them drape fancy material over them, as they would have done over the parrot cage in another era. Projection screens can be hidden in the ceiling, dropping down elegantly when needed for a soap opera or your Die Hard 7 DVD, and leave your room looking clean and uncluttered at other times.

TVs often have to be mounted too high to look OK in a room. The centre of the image should be at seated (slouched?) eye height. How many poor fashion victims have cricked necks from spending the evening looking up in supplication at their beloved sacred big screen TV? A drop screen can be positioned for viewing pleasure, and not the interior designer's whim.

Projection screens tend to improve your viewing habits, i.e. you only switch them on for programmes that you really want to watch, rather than the temptation of leaving your TV idling away on a ten-year-old re-run.

TVs are not green. They use a huge amount of energy and materials in construction and transport, even before they start guzzling power in your front room. They take a lot of resource and leave noxious chemicals and elements in landfill sites when they are disposed of in favour of the Next Big Thing.

And TVs hurt when they drop on your foot.

www.rearpro.com

Larry Sadoo, New Business Development Marketing Manager, JVC (UK)

A projector will give a tremendous amount of excitement and satisfaction to the client and their family, especially for viewing pictures larger than 50 inches. A projector provides a more natural cinematic feel to the programme or film being watched, and is more in line with the director's original vision. And we find that with larger screens in particular, the whole audience (i.e. business associates or family/friends), are drawn into the presentation/feature.

From a dealer's point of view, TVs are very competitive on price, there are only small margins to be made, and quotations can become undercut within weeks of the presentation to the client. Projectors on the other hand, are much more profitable and more stable on quotation. Projectors require expertise to install and calibrate properly, so qualified dealers are necessary to support this, and there is also the opportunity for more business in providing AV components that improve the sound and visual experience for the consumer.

www.jvc.co.uk

Alan Roser, Managing Director, SIM2 UK Ltd

Projectors and projection screen technologies have come a long way in the last few years. Match these with the high-definition sources that are now mainstream, and when the client requests a 'big picture', projection should always be the first consideration, as no other technology delivers the same quality/value ratio as the image gets bigger.

Daylight viewing screens, such as the Black Diamond II from Screen Innovations, enable projectors to be used in any environment where a plasma or LCD can, and even some where they can't. When these screens are teamed with a good quality projector they will provide a big picture experience that far exceeds large TVs, at a fraction of the cost, and with the flexibility to introduce 21:9 aspect ratios if the client would like it.

LED projectors overcome all of the traditional objections to projectors, as there are no lamps to change and they offer instant on/off with no warm up period. Team these with the much lower energy consumptions when compared to large-screen TV products, and they make the perfect solution if your client wants to make the most eco-friendly product choices whilst not compromising on performance.

For the best of both worlds, LED projectors and daylight screens make a fabulous combination, as we demonstrated at CES earlier this year to the astonishment of many installers and industry experts alike.

www.sim2.co.uk

Stuart Tickle, Managing Director, AWE

There are some clear examples of when a projector should be recommended instead of a flatscreen TV. The prime example is when the client is creating a dedicated viewing room (a real home cinema) as without a doubt, you can get more bang for your buck with a projector. Movies, sport and gaming are likely to be the prime sources. Since the room is dedicated, it is highly likely that there will be little or no ambient light in the room, so the client will get maximum benefit from the immersive experience a big projected image offers.

There are also clear examples when a big flatscreen TV is the recommended option. Many people do not have the space or money for a dedicated room, and in these cases, a large-screen TV offers a level of viewing flexibility that a projector simply cannot match. Most families watch a combination of TV, movies and games on the same screen, and this is just as likely to be during the day when ambient light from windows will be high. The latest TV screens perform extremely well under such conditions. Also, the fact remains that few people want a giant projected image to watch the news or their favourite soap opera!

So, the best solution in a mixed-use room is actually to have both. A flatscreen TV on the wall provides daily viewing, with a discreetly-installed projector and screen available at the press of a button to make the most of films and special events. This provides the best of both worlds.

www.awe-europe.com

Yasmin Hashmi is the Editor of HiddenWires magazine. Additional comments on this issue can be found at the HiddenWires LinkedIn Group where you can also participate in the discussion. If you would like to be included in future opinion pieces, please send an email to opinion(AT)hiddenwires.co.uk.