HD Home Theater Projector

Once upon a time, high definition video projectors were giant, expensive devices for the super rich. And even until recently, a high-performance projector meant spending in the five figures.That's not true anymore, as there are any number of great options, both DLP and LCD, that can give you stunning HD pictures for less than $1,000.It's important to define terms, however. While there is some source material at 1080 progressive (BluRay, DirecTV, allegedly, among others), the vast majority of HD material is at 720 progressive. Knowing which kind of source material matters to you most can make a big difference when it comes to the check out aisle. True 1080p projectors will generally run you about $2,000, while you can get very good 720P performance for half that number.When it comes to a home theater setup you need to be concerned with two things, primarily: resolution and light output. Resolution is literally the amount of data projected onto your screen. Light output, often measured in lumens matter most if you plan on using the projector in a brightly lit or partially lit environment.So before you break out that credit card, it's important to know exactly how you plan to use your new projector.Once you know that, you still need to choose between LCD projectors and DLP projectors. Both have strengths and weaknesses - DLP's generally produce better blacks on screen, while LCDs are less likely to exhibit shimmering effects, in sky scenes and so on. And of course, a projector with three LCD panels versus one will generally have better detail and color fidelity.With just a little research and planning, you can find yourself the perfect high definition projector - with a giant, room-filling HD picture for less than the cost of a decent, small flat panel display.