Shopping for a home theater projector can be mind-boggling if you do not understand the different technical specifications. The salesperson will be tossing around terms like aspect ratio, resolution and brightness. While you may have heard some of the terms and understand a bit about them, when it comes to projectors, things can be a bit different. You are going to be spending a bit of money for your projector, make sure you know what you are getting.

Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the ratio of the image size. Projectors come in two aspect ratios; they are either 4:3 or 16:9. Wide screen programming and HDTV have the 16:9 ratio. This ratio has sharper images for a higher quality picture. Normal television shows that are not available in HDTV uses the 4:3 ratio. Watching shows that were made in this ratio with a 16:9 ratio results in a smaller image. Consider what your normal viewing habits are before going with a higher aspect ratio for the best picture and image.

Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels that the projector can put out onto the screen. It is determined by the number that go vertically and horizontally, for example, a resolution of 1280 X 720 has 1,280 light points going across the screen and 720 going down it. Keep in mind, the aspect ratio of the image is always wider than it is higher. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image will appear. Projectors are available in three resolutions, 1280 X 720, 1280 X 768 and 1920 X 1080. The lower ratio is fine for watching television and DVD movies. The highest resolution is best for game systems and HDTV. Of course, all three will work for whatever you are using.

Brightness

Brightness indicates the number of light lumens projected. Image sharpness is partially determined by the brightness. Projectors generally put out anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000 lumens. When picking a projector, consider where it will be in your home and how much light is in the room normally. A low brightness, under 1,000, is good for rooms that do not have a lot of light. Our picture will be bright and sharp. A projector with a brightness of 3,000 should be used with other lighting in the room or the picture will be too bright to watch comfortably. In a dark room, the bright light from the projector will be too much of a contrast.

 Do not just assume that a high ratio, resolution, and brightness is better. What and where you watch with the projector will dictate what specifications you should be looking for. You want your home theater projector to provide you with an enjoyable experience and knowing what you need is going to give you that.