Choosing a laser projector for your home

Previously, laser projectors were considered exclusively professional. They were used at weddings and concerts, at large parties and festivals. There are many home models on sale today. When buying such equipment, it is worth considering some characteristics, otherwise the use will not bring pleasure.

Home laser projector consists of a case, stand, power supply... Still maybe mount for installation on the ground. New Year's street projectors are frost-resistant. They do not deteriorate at temperatures down to -30 ° C.

The projector is installed in the desired location and connected to the mains. To activate, press a specific button on the case.

Laser projectors can be used for home theaters or offices. It all depends on the specifics of the model.

All products share some advantages.

1. These devices provide a better image quality than their tube counterparts.
2. Versatility when choosing a screen. You can project a picture onto any surface.
3. Laser projectors use a small amount of power. The savings are significant when compared with tube models.
4. Small amounts of heat are generated. Laser devices do not need serious cooling systems. This has a particularly positive effect on the weight of the case.
5. They make very little noise during operation.

The advantages are quite attractive, but some disadvantages can significantly reduce the interest in the models.

There are also disadvantages to laser projectors.

1. The overall picture may look unnatural. This is due to the excessive saturation of individual colors.
2. There is no smooth transition between the shade palette. Soft tones are poorly reproduced by lasers.
3. High price. True, it all depends on the quality of a particular device. So, average models can cost 40-50 thousand rubles, but high quality - about 100 thousand rubles.

Laser projectors are pretty fun to use. Specific devices are designed for specific tasks.

Consider popular models.

• APPOTRONICS A1. A projector for watching movies and making presentations. The Chinese company is positioning its device as particularly compact. The device is lightweight and mobile, weighing less than 1 kg. The principle of operation combines the use of a laser and an LED lamp. The model is great for home and small office. The projector supports resolutions such as Full HD, 4K and 3D. Any surface can be used to obtain the image. Everyone will be able to enjoy smooth streaming and high-quality color. Any peripherals, devices and gadgets can be connected to the device. There is a convenient remote control with a pointer. I am glad to be able to control the projector with a smartphone using the application. There is no way to connect a memory card, only a hard drive. Networking may experience delays.

• Panasonic PT-RZ470E. The model is well suited for home use. The manufacturer offers to additionally use this projector in educational institutions and for advertising companies. There is no lamp under the housing at all, which means that no maintenance is required.The projector can operate for about 20,000 hours. This is sufficient for use for 10-20 years, depending on the regularity. There are no mercury lamps, which means the projector is completely safe. The special design prevents light leakage, which results in maximum brightness. Good picture detail is observed. The device can play videos and pictures in Full HD resolution and 3D mode. There is a proprietary system that allows you to use the device in daylight or artificial light. Simulation mode guarantees crisp monochrome palette. The projector has 6 connection ports, which allows it to be used with a variety of devices. After switching on, you do not have to wait until the equipment warms up to operating temperature.

• Panasonic PT-RZ475. The projector is designed for office use. The short throw device uses a combination of a laser and LEDs. This allows you to enjoy vivid FULL HD and 3D pictures. The manufacturer assures that after 10 years of use, you will not have to change lamps and clean filters. The device can be installed on a table or mounted to the ceiling. The lens is automatically centered. The users have 8 ports at their disposal. A high-quality picture is provided regardless of the source. There is an "Eco" mode, which reduces noise and power consumption. There is no need to wait for warming up before using. It is useful for the office that with the help of one program you can control a group of devices at once. No USB port, although the price is high.

• LG ProBeam HF85JA... Well suited for home use. The company offers a projector with an extra thin focus. With its help it is convenient to watch films and programs, presentations and photos. You can install the projector on any plane. Professional peripherals and a lot of wires are not required for full-fledged operation. The projector gives a picture of 250 cm at a distance of 12 cm from the screen. Distortion is automatically adjusted. The projector delights users with rich images in Full HD format. High contrast guarantees detail. In the settings, you can activate a separate mode for a darkened and lighted room. So, in any conditions, high-quality lighting effects are guaranteed. Users have 9 inputs at their disposal, including USB and a 3.5 mm headphone port. The platform provides access to steam services. The lamp can work up to 20,000 hours. The white body is complemented by metal details. Networking may experience delays.

• BenQ LW61ST. The best solution to meet your educational and advertising needs. The Taiwanese manufacturer offers a proprietary optical system. The short throw projector can be placed close to the screen. From 1 meter, you can get a picture with a diagonal of 237 cm. Brightness is sufficient for HD resolution, there is 3D support. There is a special mode that sets the optimal brightness settings to save energy and resources. You can also change the parameters manually. The projector will automatically enter Eco mode when no signal is present, saving up to 10% resources... There are 10 ports for connecting peripherals. The model received 2 built-in speakers with a power of 20 W and a microphone. There is a remote control with a laser pointer. The implementation of the wireless connection is especially pleasing.

When buying, you should give preference to branded stores in order to avoid fakes. Experts assure that projectors pay for themselves in the course of use due to the long lifespan and energy savings. Low-quality models at a low price can not only ruin the evening, but also negatively affect vision. Interestingly, laser projectors can be used for movies and for decoration.The New Year motive or other thematic image at the holiday looks especially interesting.

A home laser projector can be used every day or just for decorating a space. In any case, power matters and is the most important selection criterion. There are two types of indicator.

1. Total power. It is calculated by adding up the values ​​of all laser modules of a particular device. For example, if there are three standard colors of 1 W under the case, then the total power is 3 W. The characteristic directly affects the brightness of the image.
2. White balance power features... Especially important when buying a device for lighting effects, decorations for the New Year and other holidays. The characteristic affects the balance between colors. If the power in this mode is 1.75 W, then the red should be 1 W, blue - 500 mW, and green - 250 mW.

This indicator comes second in importance. When comparing several models, it is worth being guided by simple calculations. For example, the specified speed is 30 kpps, which is not bad enough. This is the only way it will be at an angle of no more than 8 °, which is not used in practice. Usually the projector works at 40-60 °, which means that the scanning speed will actually be 12-15 kpps, which is not enough.

This characteristic is especially interesting and unusual. The beam thickness is uneven throughout its length. It is thinnest at the output of their projector. The beam expands as it travels towards the broadcasting canvas. If it reaches the wall too scattered, the image is blurry, the color rendition is distorted.

For a street show or just for comfort, pay attention to when the laser begins to scatter the beam... The later the process starts, the easier it is to achieve a high-quality picture at a great distance. Otherwise, outdoor lighting effects will be unavailable, and you will have to tinker with home use.

The picture quality from a projector depends on many factors. So, stray illumination is considered to be extraneous lighting that is on the screen during the operation of the device. And it can ruin your nerves. Types of stray illumination:

• Sun;
• Street lights;
• any room lighting, garlands;
• light from lamps that comes from neighboring rooms, and sometimes from houses.

High power models can be placed on a window and used in daylight without compromising picture quality. Projectors are more intense, so the effects of ambient light are less noticeable. There is a problem, such models are especially expensive. If the budget is not enough, then you should create special conditions for the operation of the device. Extraneous light must be eliminated or minimized.

Laser projectors have their own characteristics. So the devices function in only two modes.

1. Extinguishing. The laser beam turns off, the mirrors change position when broadcasting animation or text. The process itself is quite fast and imperceptible to the eye, it occurs at least 100 times per second. This is how multicolored appliances work. Activation occurs automatically.
2. Modulation. Found on models with DPSS lasers. The task of the mode is to improve the quality of complex broadcast elements. Modulation allows you to increase clarity and make the color reproduction as high quality as possible. If the value reaches 30 kHz, then the operating mode is considered good.

Laser models differ from lamp ones, in inept hands they can be harmful to health. It is worth remembering the basic rules of operation.

1. Do not aim lasers at your face.
2. It is forbidden to stand between the projector and the screen, or a wall.
3. Manufacturers strongly recommend that you do not open the device case yourself.
4. Protect the power supply from moisture.
5. Do not leave small children unattended with the projector.

The rules will protect yourself and everyone around you from damage to your eyes. It should be noted that the projector can cause significant damage. Also, for the safety of the device, falls and aggressive mechanical impacts should be avoided. Moisture can damage the device without a chance for repair.

See below for the selection criteria for prectors.