Home theatre projectors are perfect for enjoying films and games on a big screen. They can give you a truly cinematic experience no matter where you are or how much space you have – all you need is a wall or a screen to project onto.
There are lots of projectors available, each offering different features and capabilities so deciding which one to invest in is an important choice. The best projectors offer great value for money, excellent image quality and are easy to operate.
The reviews and buyers guide below can help you figure out which projectors are best suited to your space and requirements.
1. Optoma UHD50 True 4K Ultra High Definition DLP Home Theater Projector (Top Pick)
The Optoma UHD50 is a high-quality projector that offers 4K Ultra HD so you can experience incredible colour, detail and pictures from the comfort of your home.
The high resolution of this projector produces sharp images and the HDR10 technology makes sure the colours are film quality with amazing colour depth. The lamp life is up to 15,000 hours making this a long-lasting and reliable option that will still be going strong many years from now.
For convenience and ease of use, this projector can be mounted on the ceiling or placed on a table and you can use the zoom, throw ratio, vertical lens shift and keystone correction to get it perfectly set up for the situation.
You can connect most media players and devices to the UHD50 thanks to the multiple input options including HDMI 2.0, HDMI 4K, USB and VGA ports.
You can also use the projector for gaming too, just connect your console or gaming PC and enjoy amazing image quality and fast-paced games on the big screen.
What We Like:
- 4K Ultra HD
- Long lamp life
- Easy to set up and position
What We Don’t Like:
- Only 1 of the 2 HDMI inputs are 4K compatible
2. LG CineBeam HU80KA 4K UHD Laser Smart Home Theater Projector
The LG CineBeam HU80KA is a smart, portable and versatile projector perfect for a home theatre. The sleek design is light and compact which makes it ideal for use both at home and on the go.
You can position it anywhere, this short-throw projector can even be placed on the floor a few feet away from the wall and it will project perfectly.
The 4K Ultra HD projector produces amazing detail and the screen size can be up to 150 inches across, producing a cinematic experience with clarity and vivid colour.
This is LG’s brightest projector which makes it perfect for use in a variety of lighting conditions. There are 2 built-in speakers but you can also connect Bluetooth speakers or headphones to the projector with ease.
The LG CineBeam HU80KA uses TruMotion which increases the refresh rate to produce a smoother image with improved detail and reduced motion blur, perfect for enjoying fast-action movies and sports. The HDR10 compatibility produces precise colour with the best possible brightness. Another convenient feature that makes finding great content easier is LG’s Smart TV streaming platform and the ability to use screen share from your device to the projector.
What We Like:
- Sleek design
- Up to 150″ screen size
- Bright and high-quality picture
What We Don’t Like:
- High price
3. Epson EH-TW5600 Full HD Home Theatre Projector
The Epson EH-TW5600 is a fantastic projector and is best for anyone looking to enjoy full HD content without breaking the bank. This low-cost projector offers a big-screen experience of up to 300 inches.
This Epson home projector is quick and easy to set up; the lens shift, keystone correction and zoom allows you to tailor the projection to suit the space. You can connect to virtually any device thanks to the HDMI 1, HDMI 2, USB, PC and Audio-out ports. The EH-TW5600 detail enhancement produces clearly defined shadow detail and even fast-paced action scenes are clear, sharp and smooth.
You can enjoy Full HD 3D and 2D content and thanks to the 2500 lumens the images projected are bright and the colours are vivid with excellent contrast. There is a range of options on this projector that allow you to adjust the settings to best suit the situation.
What We Like:
- Low cost
- Ready to use out of the box
- Full HD
What We Don’t Like:
- Not 4K
4. BenQ TH671ST Native 1080p Full HD Gaming Projector
If you are looking for a HD projector that can give you an immersive gaming experience the BenQ TH671ST is one of the best options available.
This projector offers a fast response time ensuring low input lag and a smooth gaming experience without motion blur. The LumiExpert Auto Light Sensor will adjust the brightness to suit the light conditions so you can enjoy the film without worrying about settings.
This is a short-throw projector that can produce large images from a short distance so you don’t need to worry about space constraints to enjoy the best, biggest projection. Another highlight is the 5W built-in speaker which provides robust sound that is loud enough to fill a large room.
What We Like:
- Excellent value for money
- Best for gaming
- Short throw ideal for smaller spaces
What We Don’t Like:
- USB A port is for powering HDMI dongle and is not able to read USB devices
5. Optoma EH200ST Full 3D 1080p 3000 Lumen DLP Short Throw Projector
The Optoma EH200ST is an excellent HD projector for classrooms, training sessions and conferences. It is a short throw projector that can project a 100″ image from just 3.5 feet away from the screen or wall.
This is an all-digital model that produces faster response times. The high contrast ratio and HD picture quality deliver bright, clear graphics, presentations and videos.
This projector can be wall-mounted or placed onto a desktop, it is easy to set up and has 2 HDMI ports, MHL connectivity, a VESA 3D sync port, 12V output, audio-out and a 10 watt speaker. The projector can be easily connected to a computer, mobile or tablet too.
What We Like:
- Best for presentations and classrooms
- Excellent detail
- Plenty of connection options
What We Don’t Like:
- No zoom option
6. JVC DLA-NX5 Home Theatre Projector
The JVC DLA-NX5 offers 4K Ultra HD Native resolution along with a host of useful features that help to automatically provide the best settings for the situation.
Images produced are sharp, life-like and smooth, with reduced motion blur you can enjoy fast-paced films and games as they were made to be enjoyed. JVC’s Intelligent Lens Aperture analyses the input image to automatically control the black level and the Auto Tone Mapping adjusts settings for optimal viewing.
The dynamic contrast helps to produce an immersive experience and there are many functions that can be used to adjust and enhance the colour performance and contrast as you like it. The projector can store and save up to 10 settings so you can quickly access the best settings for the content you are enjoying.
What We Like:
- 4K Ultra HD
- Automatic adjustment features to provide the best viewing experience
- Great picture detail and colour
What We Don’t Like:
- Standard throw projector so you need more space to enjoy a larger screen
7. BenQ W2700 4K Projector for Home Theater
This True 4K UHD projector offers fantastic clarity with crisp details, perfect for enjoying films and games in your home cinema. This projector has a small footprint and a simple, stylish finish making it well-suited to a cinema room or lounge.
The CinematicColor technology works to reproduce digital cinema colour straight out-of-the-box. The W2700 also has HDR-PRO which supports enhanced HDR colour rendition and cinema-optimized contrast. The audio is not forgotten about either as there are 2 built-in 10W stereo speakers.
Setting up this 4K projector is simple as there is vertical lens shift and zoom lens options and the short-throw capability means you can set up in a limited space and still get great results. The settings are straightforward and easy to navigate thanks to the navigational keys and remote control.
What We Like:
- Low cost option
- Includes a remote control
- Sharp, colourful images
What We Don’t Like:
- Fan noise is louder than other models
Home Theatre Projector Buyer’s Guide
Home theatre projectors are ideal for watching your favourite films and shows on the big screen no matter where you are or how much space you have. Whether you are looking for a projector for your home cinema room or you want a projector that can be taken on the move, there are lots of fantastic options available.
Short Throw Vs Long Throw
- Short Throw – Some of the projectors reviewed above are short throw projectors which means they can be positioned close to the wall or screen and will still project a large image. Short throw projectors are perfect for smaller spaces.
- Long Throw – Long throw projectors are great when space is not an issue as they are designed to be positioned further away from the screen to produce large images.
Picture Quality
Most projectors are either Full HD or 4K resolution which is perfect for use with a Blu-ray player or game console and are best for watching films and shows. If you are going to be using the projector for business purposes then buy a projector with WXGA resolution as this matches the ratio of modern laptop screens.
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Contrast Ratio
The higher the contrast ratio, the better the image quality is going to be. The contrast ratio is the brightness difference between black and white. If you are going to be using the projector in daylight or strong ambient light then the contrast is not as important but in low light conditions, you will be able to see the brightness difference between a high contrast ratio and a low one. The best projectors offer a contrast ratio of 5000:1.
Connection Options
The most commonly used connections are:
- HDMI – allows you to easily connect DVD or Blu-Ray players, game consoles, laptops or streaming devices
- VGA – great for connecting the projector to laptops
- USB – ideal for connecting hard drives, USB thumb drives or streaming devices
Other Important Features
Brightness
The brightness of a projector is measured in ANSI lumens. When choosing between projectors make sure you take into account the ANSI lumens and your viewing environment. As a rough guideline, a project for a dark home cinema needs at least 1000 lumens, the projector brightness for a room with some ambient light needs at least 1500 lumens while a room with a lot of light will require a brighter projector offering around 3000 lumens to ensure you can still see the details of the screen.
Lamp Life
Typically, projector lamps have a lamp life of between 2,000 – 4,000 hours. A projector offering a longer lamp life is better as it means less maintenance and equipment replacement costs. If you will be using a projector regularly for long periods of time you may want to investigate the lamp replacement cost and factor this in when choosing a projector as the lamps can cost a couple of hundred dollars.
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Audio Quality
A great quality video can be let down by a disappointing audio system. If you are going to be relying on the built-in speakers then make sure they offer good volume options. If you want to connect external speakers or a soundbar check the connectivity options match your preferences (e.g. Bluetooth or audio-out port).
Fan Noise
One of the most common complaints about projectors is the sound of the fan. If you aren’t using external speakers or you are using the projector in a small space, try to find one with a quiet fan so you don’t experience any disturbance on movie nights.
Positioning Options
- Optical zoom – having optical zoom can be very helpful when you are positioning the projector to match the display. It can give you more freedom and flexibility to adjust the image size if you can’t move the projector physically closer or further away from the screen.
- Lens shift – this allows you to move the image vertically or horizontally without causing any distortion.
- Keystone correction – this will straighten the image so you do not have any sloping from trapezoidal distortion.
