Epson’s Blazingly Bright Home Cinema 1440 Projector Announced

The Epson Home Cinema 1440 was one of two more Epson projectors released this summer, two of five since the beginning of August.  With a $1699 official price, it’s also the only new Epson projector announced that’s over $1000.  For those not familiar, Epson makes perhaps 15 home entertainment and home theater projectors, from under $500 to $8000.

I like Epson’s info they sent me.  In their materials they refer to it as a flat panel killer.  I love the thought, and will discuss that below! 4400 wall melting lumens and an 3LCD design are the backbone of the HC1440.  The HC1440 is scheduled to start shipping in September (2015).

The Home Cinema 1440 Basics

HC1440 Projector Highlights

• 4400 Wall Melting Lumens
• Dynamic Iris
• Split Screen
• Wired Networking
• MHL on HDMI for streaming sticks and mobile devices
• Faroudja Image Processing
• $1699

Rock your house, with the Home Cinema 1440.  Don’t settle for some tiny 65″ LCDTV!  This projector doesn’t hide in a home theater, instead it’s built for your living, family, or bonus room.

As is common with many manufacturers, Epson has some projectors built from scratch specifically for the dedicated home theater.  Many of Epson’s lower end projectors – most of the ones under $2000 – are “cross-over” projectors.  That means that they are based on business /commercial /education projectors.  They are typically a lot brighter than dedicated home theater projectors.  The Home Cinema 1440 is definitely one of those.  It looks very much like, and is very similar in many ways to Epson’s Powerlite 1985WU.

Don’t settle for some tiny 65″ LCDTV! This projector can give you the really big screen experience in tough rooms

Let me say that the Epson 1985WU is the flagship of Epson’s 1900 series, which is the best selling series of projectors in its class, per major industry marketing research firm; Pacific Media Assoc.    We certainly are impressed with “the business/education” versions.  Consider that the 1985WU recently took our award as best value education projector in our high brightness category.  The point I’m making is I have a pretty good idea what to expect, when it ships.  I expect to review this projector.

Based on the information provided by Epson here’s more of what this projector is all about.
Placement flexibility is going to be very good, thanks to a 1.6:1 zoom lens, plus there’s plenty of keystone correction and Quick Corner.

The back of the Home Cinema 1440 is loaded with connectors!

Input flexibility is extensive.  There are a pair of HDMI inputs, and one has MHL support for supporting mobile devices such as tablets and phones, and streaming sticks like Roku.  I should mention that MHL is not often found on the business versions of projectors, although it’s becoming more popular there as well.  There are two computer inputs, and a monitor out, lots of audio inputs, two USB’s, and both RS-232 for old school command and control, and an ethernet LAN connection should you want to hardwire the projector to your home network.  (That’s the business computer influence again, there are some inputs that aren’t often found on a dedicated home projector – such as the two computer inputs.)

The Epson’s feature set is also well endowed.

Epson has their Detail Enhancement controls added to this model, as well as CFI – frame interpolation for smooth motion.  That’s a real plus for sports viewing, and some like it for general HDTV viewing as well.  No surprise.  And there’s 3D capability including Blu-ray.

And there’s split screen as an added treat – if you take advantage of it.  Feed it two sources and you can have side by side viewing.  I have used other Epson projectors with this feature, and I like it.  At home I’ve put up football games on one side, and show my computer’s screen with my Fantasy Football info on the other side.  Split screen can be two windows the same size, or one larger than the other.

Lamp life is 3000 hours at full power, 4000 in Eco.  That’s average or better for extremely bright projectors even if most lower brightness models these days are 4000 or 5000 hours at full power.  Epson prices their replacement lamps lower than most competitors.  The two year warranty with two years of rapid replacement program is another plus.

Massive Brightness for a Home Projector

There are brighter for home, but not many.  I have one in my living room setup, Epson’s Pro Cinema G6550WU, which is also a crossover.  My beast claims 5200 lumens, and it is handling an exceptionally challenging room.  Check out our video, as it will give you a good idea of what this projector can do, after all, the Home Cinema 1440 has almost 85% of the brightness of mine, which is a far more expensive projector.  Here’s a picture of my living room projector with some sunlight coming into the room from lots of glass doors.

My slightly brighter 5200 lumen projector in my exceptionally bright living room

Point is, you can tackle bright rooms! If the room is so impossible that you can’t really get a decent image from this projector, then you probably can’t enjoy an LCDTV either.  Just pair this baby with the right screen for your room, and you should be good to go.

Here’s the thing about projectors – they provide the biggest image and the most immersive experience.
Here are the numbers.  You need about 400 lumens to do a 100″ diagonal screen in a fully darkened home theater. Here you have 11 times that much brightness, but how bright is that?

Sony’s basic 4K Cinema projector, yes the ones at your local cineplex, per their spec, produces 9000 lumens, just over double this projector.  Sony states that 9000 lumens is enough for a 10 meter wide screen.  We’re talking about roughly 33 feet wide.

In other words, in a different, and fully darkened room, this projector should be just about bright enough for a 20 foot wide screen.  How’s that for “wow”?
OK, enough about the brightness. Light Canon!

Picture Qualty

The images here are from that business/education Powerlite 1985WU projector, so you have to figure that’s the minimum you can expect.

Well, naturally this Epson has multiple pre-defined color modes such as “Cinema”, and two 3D modes as well.  The HC1440 uses Faroudja Image Processing.  Those guys were the first to offer very high quality processing for projectors about 15 years ago.  Good stuff.

That’s about for your HC1440 briefing and perspective.  As I stated at the beginning, this is one we will very likely review.  It’s a real powerhouse that brings the projector experience into almost any room you want.
Your HC1440 won’t be available until sometime in September (2015).  This should make a great stocking stuffer, when the holidays come.

Epson Powerlite Pro Cinema G6550WU Commercial and Home Entertainment Projector – Review

The Epson Pro Cinema G6550WU and Powerlite Pro G6550WU are near identical, 5200 lumens bright, and feature laden.

Epson G6550WU Overview

This is a dual review – covering both the Pro Cinema and Powerlite Pro versions of the G6550WU.   There really are no performance differences, just some slight variations in the naming, and one of the Color modes.  For example, Sports mode on the Pro Cinema G6550WU is Photo mode on the Powerlite Pro.  All other aspects in terms of hardware and performance are identical.  You may find that some dealers carry only one of the versions, others may offer both.

What we have here is a very bright projector – claiming 5200 lumens, that is designed for larger venues, or bright media rooms.  These projectors are very capable, offering a selection of interchangeable lenses, a lot of lens shift, a great three year warranty with 3 years of rapid replacement program, advanced networking and a host of features, many of which we will cover here.

We previously reviewed the Pro Cinema and Powerlite Pro G6900WU, which is a bit brighter and does have two additional features.  We’ll mention those later, in case you need one of those features.
I recently installed a G6550U in my living room, which is, to say the least, a very bright room.  Surfaces are all light colored, sunlight floods the room in late afternoon.  At night, over 30 ceiling recessed flood lighting plus other lights can light up the room.  To put a projector in this room, it needed to be both bright, and paired with the right screen.  It was interesting to try to create a workable projector based media environment where even LCD TVs have trouble with the room brightness at certain times of the day.

Sunlight pours into the room, yet the Epson G6550WU and Slate 1.2 gain screen handle it.

Bright day – Bright room: Still a easily watchable picture! Exposure adjusted to show how the image really looks.

It all worked out just great.  We even created three videos. The first is basically a summary of this review, but the second one covers the installation of the G6550WU and the motorized screen, while the third shows how well that combination performs during room conditions that vary from almost impossible to controlled night time lighting. Check them out.   G6550WU handling tough room conditions.

Like all Epson projectors, these G6550WU models use 3LCD technology – three panels one with red, one green, one blue filter.  The light from the light source (in this case an ultra high pressure lamp – UHP), is first split into 3 beams.  One passes through (transmissive) each of three LCD panels, one with a red filter, one with a blue, and one with a green filter.  The three beams of colored light (at this point) are recombined using a dichroic prism.  The light then passes through the lens and provides a color image on the screen.

So much for the technology.  On the next page we’ll look at some of the special features (and important mainstream ones).  Meantime, in the next section, find a quick summary of the highlights of these two Epson projectors, the Pro Cinema G6550WU and Powerlite Pro G6550WU.

One more thing first:  what are the differences between the two?  Basically, two different distribution channels as one is sold for business/education/government use, the other for home.  After that, best I can tell, the only other difference is that they have slightly different color modes – two of the many. But notably, the Powerpoint Pro has one the Pro Cinema lacks.  That’s a DICOM mode for medical imaging which will be described on the next page.

G6550WU Projector Highlights

• 5200 lumens
• Interchangeable lenses
• Extensive horizontal and vertical lens shift
• HDMI and Display Port
• Split screen capability
• Advanced Networking including Crestron RoomView compatibility
• Optional wireless networking (low cost plug in module
• Long life filter system
• Reasonably powerful sound system
• 3 Year warranty, with 3 years of rapid replacement program
• Projectors are stackable for double the brightness
• Multiple projectors can be used in conjunction for larger display area
• Edge blending and Image Mapping (Projection Mapping)

VIDEOCONFERENCING -- THE DIFFERENT TYPES REVEALED

Videoconferencing in Canada has become a must have for companies to conduct day-to-day business.  Two types of videoconferencing systems are currently available on the market - multipoint videoconferencing and point-to-point videoconferencing.

The following Aditiaudiovisuals.com article will review the technology, how videoconferencing works, the different videoconferencing systems functions, the differences between each, as well as the associated disadvantages and advantages.

Point to point videoconferencing

Point to point (or P2P) videoconferencing is the most commonly installed and least expensive type of videoconferencing system.  Only two participants in different locations can conference with each other, hence the name "point to point."

Since point to point broadcasts are limited to only two people, this form of videoconferencing is technologically less demanding and does not require a bridge to function, unlike multipoint conferencing.  With only two parties involved, the quality of the broadcast is usually superior and there is less chance of lag.  Each party however must use the same type of connection protocol in a point to point system.  If one user is using an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) protocol but another person is using an Internet Protocol (IP) then it is impossible to use point to point videoconferencing to connect these two users.

As P2P or point to point videoconferencing needs only basic audio and is relatively simple, they are often utilised in peer to peer situations as a way of keeping in touch with friends or relatives and not usually in a business environment.

In an ISDN point to point videoconference the cost is charged to the user that makes the call to the other party, meaning that it does not cost the receiving user to conduct a videoconference.

Multipoint videoconferencing

Multipoint videoconferencing is similar to point to point videoconferencing with the exception that more than two participants in different locations can be involved in a multipoint system.  This means that multiple people can be displayed on screen instead of just one.

To initiate a multipoint videoconference the multipoint control unit either makes or receives calls from participants who dial the network ID of the multipoint control unit.  Due to its cost and complex nature, multipoint videoconferencing systems are most commonly used in large corporations to conduct large business meetings with multiple parties.

Multipoint Control Units

The multipoint control unit (or MCU) is in all multipoint videoconferencing systems and is essential for multipoint videoconferencing to function. The MCU allows three or more separate locations to conduct a real time videoconference.  MCUs consist of a sole piece of software or a combination of hardware and software and come in variations specifically dedicated to IP or ISDN videoconferencing. A multipoint control unit is located at the end of a Local Area Network (LAN) and is composed of a multipoint processors (MPs) and a multipoint controller (MC).  The MCU acts as a bridge to unite three or more sources to partake in a multipoint videoconference.  The more expensive multipoint control units are capable of handling more connections at a faster data transfer rate and allow more than one participant to be displayed on the video screen at one time.

Multipoint videoconferencing ID numbers

Individuals must be aware of the specific ID code assigned to a particular conference in order to joing a videoconference.  The creator can simply invite other users to join via an access ID number and  it is useful if participants are late and want to easily join the conference without interrupting or requesting a VTC invite from the host.  The ID for each conference is formed when the conference is created.  It is usually standard process for the creator or initiator of the conference to then e-mail the identification code to all participants.

LCD PROJECTORS VS. DLP PROJECTORS - WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

When shopping for a digital projector, your first question might be: "Which type of projector technology is the best for me and what are the differences?"

Projectors come in two types - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projectors and Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors -- referring to the mechanism the projector uses internally to compose images.


Both projection technologies have strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to know the differences so you can choose the technology that matches your needs. In this Aditiaudiovisuals.com article we will explain the technology behind LCD and DLP projectors allowing you to make an informed decision on the type of projector to purchase.

How does LCD technology work?

LCD projectors project light onto mirrors which split  it into three primary colours: red, green and blue. The colours then pass through three separate glass panels - called prisms - which is why this technology is referred to as 3LCD.

When light is projected through the LCD panels, individual pixels are opened or closed to allow light through or block it. The separate colours then converged using another prism and projected on to the screen.

What are the advantages of LCD Projectors?

1. More accurate colours
   LCD projectors do not have a colour wheel, which can reduce colour saturation.
   
2. Sharper imageLCD projectors have a slightly sharper image than DLP projectors at equal resolutions.
   
3. More light-efficient
   The same wattage lamp in an LCD and would produce a brighter image than in a simular DLP projector.

The disadvantages of LCD Projectors

The disadvantages of LCD are more relevant to video display than data applications.

1. Screen door effect
   The sharper image produced by LCD projectors can actually be a disadvantage, since the more precise focusing makes the pixilation ("chicken wiring" or "screen door effect") of an image more obvious.
   
2. Contrast
   LCD contrast may not be as good compared to DLP as LCDs cannot produce completely black images.
   This may not be an issue with newer, higher resolution 3LCD models.
   
3. Portability
   LCD projectors have more parts and so are bulkier and less portable than DLPs.
   
4. Image degradation
   With the addition of more parts,  LCD panels can experience long term image degradation where colour balance shifts and overall contrast is reduced.
   LCD panels can be expensive to replace.
   
   
5. Dead pixels
   Dead pixles can become a problem in LCD projectors, where one or more pixels turn permanently on or off.
   One pixel may not be noticible, but can become an annoyance if a cluster of pixels die.

How does DLP technology work?

Digital Light Processing or DLP is a proprietary system developed by Texas Instruments, and works differently than LCD projection. Most DLP projectors have a single chip instead of glass panels through which light is passed, and this chip has a reflective surface composed of thousands of tiny mirrors which correspond to individual pixels.

These mirrors move back and forth when beams of light hit the chip and direct the light from individual pixels either towards the projector lens or away from it. In order to define colours, DLP projectors have a colour wheel that consists of red, green and blue filters. The wheel spins between the light source and the DLP chip and alternates the colour of the light hitting the chip between red, green and blue. The mirrors tilt away from or into the lens path depending on how much of each color is required for each pixel at any given moment.

What are the advantages of DLP Projectors?

DLP projectors are a favourite amongst road warriors and home theatre enthusiasts for several reasons:

1. Portability
   DLP projectors tend to be smaller and easier to transport since they have one chip compared to the LCD''s 3 panels.
   
2. Higher Contrast
   The deep blacks achievable with DLP projectors make them very popular for home cinema applications.
   
3. Reduced Pixilation
   This is especially noticeable in comparisons of lower-end LCD and DLPs, and makes DLP a popular choice for smooth video applications.
   
4. Reliability
   DLPs tend to fail less often due to fewer parts and are less expensive to repair. DLP projectors have sealed optics, making them ideal for use in dusty environments.

The disadvantages of DLP Technology

1. The Rainbow effect
   You may experience a "rainbow" effect -- a momentary flash of rainbow-coloured stripes around brighter objects. This is typically only a problem in older DLP projectors without modern, faster 6-colour wheels.
   
2. Light leakage
   Some people may also experience "light leakage" from their DLP projector in the form of a grey band around the outside of the image.
   
   This is caused by stray light reflecting off the edges of the mirrors on the DLP chip. This can be avoided by installing black borders around the screen. Again, light leakage is generally only a problem in older DLP projectors.

Which technology is right for you?

The various advantages and disadvantages of LCD and DLP projectors mean each is suited for different applications. Lighter, less bulky DLP projectors are favored by presenters on the road and DLP projectors are also very popular with home theatre enthusiasts due to the higher colour saturation, better contrast and image stability. Entry level DLP home theater projectors are also very affordable.

LCD projectors are often more affordable then DLP projectors, making them attractive for education organizations. Their higher light output make them well suited for classrooms and larger conference facilities, as does their increased image sharpness. 

This makes them a good choice for displaying data-rich presentations such as spreadsheets and graphs.

LCD projection technology is currently leading DLP technology in market share due to the larger number of projectors using the LCD system. Sony and Epson are the largest LCD manufacturers, along with Hitachi and Sanyo. Optoma, InFocus and BenQ, on the other hand, use DLP technology.
The Future of LCD and DLP enhanced technology

Advances in LCD technology have been aimed at reducing the "screen door" problem and include:

• Higher resolutions
• Reductions in the gap between pixels
• The use of Micro-Lens Array (MLA) to boost the efficiency of light transmission through XGA-resolution LCD panels

The latest major DLP innovation is a projector system with 3DLP chips instead of the usual one. The three-chip DLP is similar to LCD technology in that the light is split up into red, green and blue by a prism and then each colour has a separate DLP chip off which the light is reflected. Three-chip DLP projectors are widely recognised as having the best looking images of all projector technologies, however they are also by far the most expensive.

Epson Announces New Ultra-Bright 1080p Projectors

Epson's latest projector introductions are the Home Cinema 1040 ($799) and the Home Cinema 1440 ($1,699), which boast a rated light ouput of 3,000 and 4,400 lumens, respectively. Both are 1080p projectors with integrated speakers and MHL support; the Home Cinema 1440 (shown here) adds 1.6x optical zoom and Faroudja DCDi Cinema processing. Both models will be available in September.

From Epson
 
Epson has announced new additions to its award-winning lineup of Home Cinema projectors--the Home Cinema 1040 and Home Cinema 1440. Featuring up to 4,400 lumens of color brightness and 4,400 lumens of white brightness, Epson's latest Home Cinema solutions bring a stunning, widescreen, Full HD 1080p big-screen experience to today's living rooms. These versatile projectors feature advanced image quality technology, built-in sound and convenient setup tools for flexile placement, as well as two HDMI ports and MHL support for connecting a Blu-ray player, gaming console, ChromecastT, Roku Stick, Apple TV and more--transforming the projectors into a home entertainment hub.

"The new projectors offer today's households a convenient, affordable and powerful big-screen experience. Beyond the flexibility, the Home Cinema 1440 is also one of the brightest home projectors available on the market--this is a flat-panel killer," said Jason Palmer, marketing manager, Epson America. "Why settle for a 65-inch or 70-inch TV when you can have something four times bigger with bright, lifelike, sharp details, a portable design, and simple setup for a truly captivating experience even in large, well-lit environments."

Brilliant image quality requires high color brightness (color light output), and Epson projectors have up to 3x Higher Color Brightness than leading competitive projectors, and they feature 25 percent lower power consumption for lower energy costs. The Home Cinema 1040 and 1440 utilize 3LCD, 3-chip technology for brilliant images with vivid color and feature built-in color modes for the best possible quality and color for users to enjoy their favorite TV show, movie or videogame from virtually anywhere--indoors or out.

More About the Home Cinema 1040 and 1440
 
The models feature varied capabilities designed to make it easier than ever to enjoy content--including installation on a ceiling, easy placement on a table, or tucked inside a shelving space:

• 3LCD Quality and Reliability: 3LCD, 3-chip technology delivers incredible color, amazing detail and road-tested reliability with no possibility of color break-up or "rainbow effect."

• High color brightness and high white brightness: 3,000 lumens of color brightness and 3,000 lumens of white brightness.

• Flexible Positioning and Easy Setup: Horizontal image correction with Easy-Slide control technology and a compact design for placement virtually anywhere, even in a tight shelf space.

• Advanced Home Screen: Featuring an intuitive home screen for easy navigation and set up.

The Home Cinema 1440 Adds:
 
• High color brightness and high white brightness: 4,400 lumens of color brightness and 4,400 lumens of white brightness.

• Advanced Video Quality: Featuring Farouja DCDi Cinema, an advanced video enhancement technology that produces exceptional image quality without introducing artifacts.

• Create the Screen Size You Want: Convenient 1.6x optical zoom.

• Split Screen: Split Screen capabilities to project two different videos or still images side-by-side

Availability and Support
 
The Home Cinema 1040 ($799) and Home Cinema 1440 ($1,699) will be available in September through select e-tailers and retailers nationwide. The projectors come with Epson's top-of-the-line service and support, including a two-year limited warranty with toll-free access to Epson's PrivateLine priority technical support, 90-day limited lamp warranty, and free two-business-day exchange with Extra Care Home Service.

PROJECTION SCREEN SURFACES - THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCREEN TYPE

When designing a projection environment for your home, office or conference room, choosing the correct projection screen can sometimes be more important than the projector you decide to purchase. Budgetary constraints, size of the room, and type of presentation will dictate whether your screen is a fixed screen, motorized screen or a pull-down screen.  

The actual type of material that the screen is made from (of which there are many different types), can be more challenging.  The type of screen surface materials will yield better results depending on the type of screen surface material used.  The following Aditiaudiovisuals.com article should help you answer the question "what kind of screen surface is best for me?"

1.    Grey high contrast projection screens

High grey contrast screen is a fairly common front-end projection screen material (where the audience is sitting on the same side that the projected image is displayed) .  High contrast grey projection screens offer a high-resolution image and enhance the depth of blacks while maintaining the quality of lighter colours.  An 0.8 low gain rating provides this type of projection screen with a wide 180° viewing degree, but requires an environment of low ambient light.  An excellent choice for any home theatre systems.

2.    Matt white projection screens

Matt white screens are used in over 80% of all projector and projection screen set-ups due to  it being the  most versatile and cheapest projection screen available.  Matt white screens project colours vividly while maintaining strong image clarity with no hotspots. 

Matt white screens and the way they distribute light evenly across a large area, boast very wide viewing angles. However, much like high contrast grey screens, the lighting of the room must be controlled to ensure that the best possible image is projected.  Matt white screens can be used in most situations to deliver a strong, quality image, and so it is unsurprising that this is the most popular projector screen on the market.

3.    Optical projection screens

What sets optical projection screens apart from other types of projection screens is their ability to display projected images effectively in environments of extremely high ambient light. Optical projection screens can be used in both front projection and rear projection applications, with the first being more commonly used. Optical projection screens differ from other projection screens because as the image passes through the screen, an optical lens system works to focus and further concentrate the image before it is reflected back towards the audience.  Non optical projection screens disperse light in all directions. Optical screen systems also absorb light from other sources and can therefore boost the contrast of the projected image to a staggering 20:1 ratio, almost ten times greater than the majority of other projector screens!

This superb image quality comes at a cost. Prices for high quality optical screens can range in the thousands of dollars. As a result, these rear projection screens are rarely used for personal home theatre or other presentation applications and are mainly used in large events that require a sharp looking, impressive screen such as sports stadiums, advertising displays, or television studio screens.

4.    High gain projection screens

The gain of a projector screen indicates the screen''s reflectivity, meaning the higher the gain ratio the more light that will be reflected back from the image source to the audience.  While this provides a brighter, more impressive image, a consequence known as "hotspotting" can occur in which the centre of the screen appears brighter than the sides, which can potentially cause a distraction for the people viewing your presentation.

A disadvantage to a high gain ratio is the lower viewing angle, meaning only those positioned directly in front on the screen will be able to view the optimal image. The main use for high gain projection screens is in situations where only a limited number of people are viewing the screen, for example in schools or shareholder meetings.

However, it can also be useful for road warriors using portable projectors who are presenting in conditions in which the light conditions can be variable or unknown. The brightness of high gain screens allows for the presentation to be visible regardless of the amount of light in the room.

5.    Acrylic projection screens

Acrylic projection paint allows any paintable surface to be transformed into a projection screen. This is perfect for portable projector users as they can create a screen almost anywhere they go and are not weighed down having to carry a large screen. It is primarily used in situations requiring rear projection in which the user does not want to have the projector on show.

This type of screen is not recommended for home theatre enthusiasts because there are no optical lenses on the surface of the screen. While the cost of these screens are substantially lower, it also means that the clarity and brightness of the projected image is of a far lower standard than most other projection screens.

6.    Acoustically Transparent projection screens

What makes acoustically transparent projection screens unique is that they are made from a diffusion surface or a woven fabric screen that consists of hundreds of minute holes. This allows the front speakers in a 5.1 system to be hidden directly behind the screen without a loss in sound quality.
The sound appears to emanate exactly from the source of the picture.

In terms of the picture quality, acoustically transparent screens combine the optical properties of both matt white and high contrast grey screens with an extremely wide 180° viewing angle, as well as particularly bright colours.

Obviously, the strong audiovisual performance of acoustically transparent projection screens makes them extremely desirable for those setting up home theatres and seeking the optimum movie experience.

WHAT IS PROJECTOR THROW DISTANCE AND PROJECTOR RATIO?

There are several important projector specifications which you will need to take into account when comparing projectors.  Understanding product technical specifications and how they differ will affect determine how well suited a projector is to your presentation environment.  One major technical specification that relates to the projector''s lens, which it is very useful to understand, is the projector''s throw distance.

Aditiaudiovisuals.com will help explain what throw distance is, how it is calculated, and how it will affect how you use the projector.  Understanding throw distance, including short throw distance lenses, long throw distance lenses and applications where shorter and longer throw distances may be required are of utmost importance when selecting a projector.

Calculating throw distance

Throw distance is measured and calculated by distance between the projector''s lens to the projection screen that the image is being cast onto (i.e., the distance that the image is "thrown").
 
Throw distance is the basis for determining the projection screen size possible for use - a common standard for projector throw distances is one foot (30.5 cm) of projection screen width to every two feet (61 cm) between the projector''s lens and the screen.

A smaller throw distance as opposed to a larger throw distance means a smaller possible distance between the projection screen and projector, if the size of the projected image is kept constant.

What is a projector throw ratio?

The throw ratio of a projector is the result of dividing the distance between the projection screen and the projector''s lens by the width of the image being projected, or more simply:

Screen width x Throw ratio = Throw distance

When deciding what projector to purchase, where to place your projector or projection screen the throw ratio figure is all you need to know. If you know you want to use a projection screen that is ten feet wide and you know that your projector''s throw ratio is 1.8:1 (which means 1.8 ft of throw distance per foot of screen width) then you should place your projector 18 feet away from the projection screen since 10 multiplied by 1.8 equals 18.

Why are throw ratio and throw distance important?

A projector''s throw distance is vital when determining how far to place the projector and the size of projection screen required.  By measuring the throw distance, you can decide the positional adjustments needed to accommodate a predetermined projection screen size or projector placement.

If these alterations aren''t possible (for example, if the projector is being installed in an auditorium and needs to be at the back of the hall) then you may need an extra or different lens to increase or decrease the projector''s throw distance. If the projector is too close to the screen then a short throw lens may be required, otherwise the image may appear pixelated. This can be an issue with interactive whiteboards where the projector is often placed close to the board. On the other hand, if a projector is placed too far from the screen then the projected image may appear unclear if a long throw lens is not installed. Some projectors are specifically designed to have either long or short throws distances, and thus ship pre-installed with specific these specific lenses. However, the majority of projectors will need an external lens to be installed to accommodate projector placements at extreme distances close to the projection screen or very far away from it.

The advantages of short throw distance lenses

A shorter throw distance will result in a bigger picture being projected, if the distance between the projector and the projection screen is kept constant. For further effect a short throw lens can be used to project an even larger image. Some projectors, such as the Hitachi X275, come pre-installed with a short throw lens and can thus project a 48-inch diagonally wide image from only 4 feet way. Projectors with short throw distances are suited to those people that require portability, such as road warriors, or for those people that need to use their projector and screen in smaller environments such as modest home theatre rooms, hotel rooms or small meeting rooms.

The advantages of long throw distance lenses

A longer throw distance allows for smaller, sharper images to be projected from further distances away. A longer throw lens is preferable if you intend to use your projector in large, expansive surroundings such as in large conference rooms or houses of worship where the projector is required to be hidden at the back of the building. In these situations a long throw lens will most likely be required to make sure that the quality of the projected image is maintained while moving the projector further away from the screen.

Epson EH-TW570 : Home Theater Projector

Key Features: HD Ready LCD projector; Active 3D playback (no glasses included); USB JPEG playback; MHL connectivity; 3000 Lumens colour light output Manufacturer: Epson

What is the Epson EH-TW570?

The TW570 is a new budget LCD projector targeted at gamers and home cinema enthusiasts. It supports 3D as well as 2D playback, carries a built-in audio system, and delivers an HD Ready (not Full HD) resolution of 1280 x 800. Its 3000 Lumens of light output makes it the brightest home cinema projector in Epson’s range, too. And it’s on sale for just over £470 at the time of writing.

Epson EH-TW570 – Design and Features

At just 297mm wide by 234mm deep and standing just 77mm tall the TW570 takes up impressively little space on a coffee table. Yet it manages to cram a little style into its small surface area thanks to its glossy black finish and cutely rounded edges and corners.

It’s nice to find the small lens protected by a sliding door, too, while the necessary zoom and focus ring plus a keystone ‘slider’ are all integrated quite tidily onto the projector’s top edge.

Connectivity is unusual for a home projector, in that it only includes one HDMI port but lots more multimedia options than you’d typically find. These multimedia options include a D-Sub computer port, a USB-B port for an alternative computer connection method, a USB-A port through which you can play photos off USB storage devices, and even optional wireless network support via a (not supplied) USB dongle.

Install the LAN USB and you’ll be able to stream photos into the projector from your smartphone or tablet computer wirelessly via the Epson iProjection app. If you can’t be bothered to get the wi-fi upgrade, then the TW570’s HDMI socket is equipped with MHL support for direct phone/tablet media playback.

While some of this multimedia support is welcome enough in a modern home environment though, we can’t help but feel the connectivity balance overall feels biassed towards data rather than home entertainment uses. Especially the provision of just one HDMI. Hmm.

Now we come to think of it, the TW570’s pretty extreme 3000 Lumens maximum colour light output is also potentially more suited to data than gaming/movie uses. Though having said that, while we’d always recommend using a projector in a blacked out room we do realise that it’s not always easy or even possible for a typical household to achieve total darkness in their projection room, in which case the sort of brightness claimed by the TW570 could come in handy.

At least the high brightness figure is joined by a reasonably promising 15000:1 contrast ratio – though this isn't a native ratio, but rather one achieved with the help of a dynamic iris system that adjusts the amount of light emerging from the projector to best suit the images being shown.

Finding a dynamic iris on a projector as cheap as the TW570 is actually quite impressive – alhough we’ll be on the lookout for over-obvious brightness shifts when putting the TW570 through its paces.
The most obvious sign of the TW570’s affordability comes from its resolution, which delivers an HD Ready 1280 x 800 pixels rather than the Full HD 1920 x 1080 we’re becoming increasingly used to seeing, even on very cheap projectors.

As well as meaning that the vast majority of the UK’s 1920 x 1080 HD sources will have to be ‘downgraded’ to the projector’s lower resolution, the TW570’s 1280 x 800 pixel count doesn’t provide a native 16:9 aspect ratio. Instead it equates to 16:10 – a ratio which, again, fits better with computer/data use than home entertainment.

The TW570 does thankfully present 16:9 video at the correct ratio rather than automatically stretching it a little vertically as happens with one or two native 16:10 projectors and screens we’ve tested over the years. But it still irks that you’re not getting the full benefit of the pixels you’ve paid for, and if you’ve got a 16:9 projection screen you’ll also feel annoyed by the way the image spills over the screen’s top and bottom edges.

The TW570 supports 3D playback using the active system – though no 3D glasses are included free with the projector, with each pair you want setting you back around £70. Which has to be considered quite an extra investment on a £470 projector.

Other features of note are the provision of two stages of noise reduction processing; Eco and Normal lamp modes (with the Eco one dropping the light output to 2100 Lumens); a built-in 2W speaker system; an unusual but actually quite useful split screen feature enabling you to watch two different inputs simultaneously; and a Turbo mode designed to reduce input lag when gaming.

 

Epson EH-TW570 – Setup

The TW570 is passably well equipped with setup features. Where the job of physically getting your image in the right place on your wall or screen is concerned, there’s a small amount (x1.2) of optical zoom, and the zoom and focus wheels accessed through a window on the projector’s top edge both move smoothly and respond accurately to your adjustments.

The keystone ‘slider’ at the projector’s front edge is handy too, enabling you to get the edges of your images perpendicular if, as is likely, you find yourself positioning the projector above or below the ideal position of the images on your wall or screen, or even off to the side. Though strangely the horizontal keystone correction is deactivated if you use the Turbo game mode.


There are also dropdown legs to adjust the height and angle of the TW570’s projection, with the only significant downer being the lack of a vertical image shift tool that might have helped you avoid the keystone adjustment. After all, while the keystone ‘slider’ works well enough, as with all keystone mechanisms it is in reality merely distorting the image’s shape, potentially reducing image clarity in the process.

Picture adjustments in the tidy, clear onscreen menus include a series of sensible themed presets (including Game, Cinema and Living Room colour modes), simple brightness contrast, colour saturation, tine and sharpness adjustments, a three-level colour temperature adjustment, the option to adjust the balance of the red, green and blue colour components, Off/Normal/Fast Auto Iris settings, and a couple of noise reduction options.

Our main guidance over these modes would be that you should use the Cinema setting in a darkened room and the Living Room setting in a bright room, that you leave the noise reduction turned off, that you check the aspect ratio is set to 16:9 with Overscanning off for video playback, and that you engage the Turbo mode while gaming.

If you’re finding the projector’s cooling noise disturbing, make sure the lamp mode is set to Eco rather than Normal, as this improves things considerably.

Epson EH-TW570 – Picture Quality

A number of aspects of the TW570’s specification sheet and feature list had us feeling as if the TW570 might be more a repurposed data projector than a true ‘from the ground up’ home entertainment machine. And sadly these suspicions are born out by the TW570’s largely unsatisfying picture quality.
The most fundamental problem in a nutshell is that it just doesn’t deliver enough contrast/black-level depth to really warrant being called a home entertainment projector. Watch any dark movie scene or play any dark game scene and you’re painfully aware of a starkly grey, milky look to parts of the picture that should be black. This ‘mist’ hides shadow detail, distorts colour response and basically just makes dark scenes look unconvincing and unimmersive. It also means dark scenes look out of kilter with the more satisfying look the TW570 gives to bright scenes, making a full movie experience feel inconsistent.

Nothing we could do with the TW570’s settings really improved the poor black-level response either. The dynamic iris should be set to on but doesn’t make nearly enough difference, the Eco lamp setting similarly improves things a touch without getting close to saving the day, while the brightness setting just makes images even harder to see without seemingly doing anything to turn the grey wash into believable blacks.

As alluded to in passing earlier, the TW570’s inability to deliver a convincing black colour is damaging to its colour performance too, as the whole palette feels flattened and ‘distorted’ by the grey wash that lies over everything.

Other smaller issues with the TW570 are that motion can suffer with judder; the dynamic iris system can occasionally cause noticeable brightness leaps no matter which of the two settings you use; you can sometimes see jaggedness in the rendering of bright diagonal and curved edges; and there’s some pretty unpleasant light ‘staining’ around very bright picture elements that appear against dark backgrounds.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT PROJECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION

In recent years, the multimedia LCD or DLP projector have become increasingly common audio visual devices.  As technology, enhancements have increased, projector prices have also decreased.

Projectors are used in a variety of situations for numerous different purposes and in each circumstance, or presentation application, you may require a projector with the appropriate technical specifications to make sure that an optimal image is projected.

The differences between the varying projectors can be subtle and choosing a projector which  matched to the application and can save you money is important.  You also need to make sure that everyone in your audience, whether it be a crowd of sports fans in a bar, to a group of children in a classroom, have the best possible viewing experience for your budget range.

The presentation application you will need your projector will determine the weighting when choosing the projector for the job.  Important factors that warrant careful consideration are projector brightness, portability, bulb life, keystone correction facilities, the environment that the projector is going to be operated in (smoke and dust considerations, ambient light are important factors), resolution, the cost, contrast ratio and networking connectivity of the projector, and how secure it is when in place.

This Aditiaudiovisuals article will provide the most common situations projectors are used in, and highlight the specific factors that should be given special consideration.  These environments include:

• Classrooms for education
• Houses of worship
• Corporate boardrooms and training facilities
• Personal home theatre set ups
• Bars, clubs and pubs

Each type of application will have a series of key considerations that should be focussed on when deciding on the projector to purchase. 

Education Institutions

The Cost of the Projector

Price will always be an important consideration for most education boards and schools.  A great quality image is priority for students, but most education institutions will simply not require a projector capable of displaying cinema quality movies and images. 

While buying the projector is an expensive initial cost, the cost of ownership is less, as the projector will be used every day while in the classroom. Frequent maintenance of the projector is also highly recommended.

One of the main expenses after purchase will be the maintenance of the projector, including frequent replacement of the lamp that the projector uses to produce the image. These replacement projector lamps can cost upwards of $300 each. To reduce some of these costs it is a good idea to invest in a projector that offers longer lamp lifespan when the projector is running in economy mode. While this may increase the cost of the projector, it will save money in the long run.

The Projector''s Lens - short throw and long throw

Projectors in classrooms are frequently positioned very close to the screen. This is because it allows for the projector to be in reach and controllable by the teacher, as well as way from class students who may be tempted to tamper with the projector or block the light projecting from it. This can also produce problems however, if the presenter gets in front of the projector when trying to point out images on the screen.

Consequently, projectors with a built in a short throw lens are highly recommended for classroom applications since these short throw lenses allow for a large size image to be projected on to the projection screen from just a short distance away. This has the added bonus of preventing light from shining in the teacher''s eyes. If a standard lens is used then the projected image may appear too small to be fully visible, or blurry and out of focus at larger image sizes. It may also cause the teacher headaches when facing the projector due to a large amount of light being directed into the presenter''s eyes.

Projector Resolution

The three main projector resolutions, in ascending order of quality are SVGA, XGA, and SXGA. If the projector is solely used to present static images such as PowerPoint presentations or text documents then SVGA is usually suitable. However, since SVGA projectors are steadily becoming less common, and XGA projectors will render better quality images and better detail, while being only marginally more expensive, investing in an XGA projector instead of an SVGA can be a smart choice. XGA is a must if the projector is being used to display more detailed images like mathematical formulas since these would appear blurred when using an SVGA resolution. The high resolutions SXGA projectors offer are generally unnecessary for typical classroom applications.

Projector Brightness

Since the majority of classrooms have a great deal of ambient light which cannot be fully controlled, it is important when choosing a classroom projector to get a projector that is capable of outputting an extremely bright image so it will be visible to all. To achieve this, a projector with an ANSI Lumens rating of 3,000 Lumens or more is recommended. A further factor to keep in mind is that the larger the screen, the greater the projector brightness required.

Projector networking facilities

If the projector is being used in a large education faculty with many other projectors, it is very wise to invest in a projector with wireless networking capabilities. This is because wireless projector networks allow for IT departments to supply technical support and try to fix any problems remotely from their office, instead of having to manually take the projector down from its mount and figure out what the problem is. Furthermore, projectors on a network can be monitored for the number of hours the lamp has been used, as well as prolonging the projector''s lifespan by ensuring that the projector is turned off at certain times, e.g. after 5pm and at weekends, which can help to save energy as well -- good for the environment, and your wallet!

Projector add-ons

A good way to energize classroom learning is to use a SMART interactive white board, which is simply a large screen, similar to the appearance of a regular white board, that is controllable by direct touch inputs. This works by projecting the image on the computer onto the SMART Board that can then function as both a monitor and an input device. Users are able to make inputs using their finger as if it was a mouse, which many teachers feel makes learning a more involving and interesting experience. Many interactive white boards allow the user to "draw" on the screen using special markers and then store this user inputted data in the computer. Thousands of lesson plans and interesting software applications exist for SMART interactive white boards, which can make learning in the classroom fun as well as informative.

Visualizers, also called document cameras, are another great addition to a classroom''s projector. A visualizer is essentially a high tech version of an overhead projector, under which the teacher can place real 3D objects and have them displayed on the screen in very high detail. Traditional overhead projectors were limited to clear acetate OHP sheets, but now with a document camera a text book can be placed under the visualizer and the pages displayed in crystal clear focus on the big screen.

Corporate environments

Projector Brightness

Since the majority of corporate boardrooms are very well lit rooms, the brightness of the projector is an extremely important consideration for office projectors, especially since it is not often an option to give the presentation with the curtains or blinds closed. The greater the brightness of the projector, the more visible it will appear in environments of high light ambience. This is particularly helpful for roaming presenters who may be forced to give presentations in unpredictable environments as it gives them the peace of mind that wherever they deliver their presentation, the audience will be able to see it clearly.

Projector Resolution

The type of resolution office projectors require is highly dependant upon what their intended purpose is. If the main material projected is PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets or other forms of static text then an XGA resolution will suffice. However, if the projector is designed to project extremely precise images or show High Definition content then a projector with a WXGA (720p) resolution is recommendable. In corporate boardrooms where making a good and striking impression is of utmost importance, a projector with a high resolution is usually the best option.

Projector Inputs

One of the most common applications of projectors in corporate environments is using the projector to project a PowerPoint presentation, spreadsheet or word processed document. It is therefore clear that a projector that can connect with a laptop or computer is an absolutely critical requirement when investing in a projector for use in the office. The input you should be looking for on the projector specification list is VGA (Video Graphics Array) since this is the type of input installed in nearly every modern laptop produced.

Projector Portability

As presenters in corporate situations often find themselves on the road and presenting in many different situations, the portability of the projector is an important factor to consider. Currently there are projectors available that weigh no more than 3 pounds, though often a smaller size comes at with the sacrifice of the quality of the image projected.

Portable Projection Screens

To ensure that a good quality screen is always available to compliment the projector, a portable pull up screen can also be used in conjunction with a portable projector to guarantee good image quality wherever the presentation is being shown.

Home Theatre

Projector Resolution -- HD video signals

In home theatre set ups the primary consideration for the projector is the quality of the projected image. One factor that drastically influences image quality is the native resolution of the projector. A higher resolution means that a greater number of pixels are displayed on screen, thus forming a sharper looking image. Projectors can output images in the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio resolutions of 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

Since High Definition content is strongly recommended for a home theatre set up, and that this type of content uses a minimum resolution of 720p, a projector with the same or higher resolution is necessary. If the home theatre will only use standard definition DVD content, and you do not plan on using High Definition content in the future then a cheaper 480p projector will suffice.

Regardless of the projector resolution, the resolution of the content is equally important. A lower resolution image projected with a higher resolution image will still have a low quality. For best results, match a high-resolution projector with a high-resolution source.

Projector Contrast Ratio

As image quality is of central importance to home theatre viewers, contrast ratio is obviously of very high importance also. The contrast ratio figure will determine how deep the colours in the picture will appear. A typical contrast ratio is 800:1, which technically means that the darkest black on screen is 800 times brighter than brightest white. Simply put, to ensure the highest quality image, a projector with the highest possible contrast ratio is desirable. Projectors suited for use in home theatres should have a contrast ratio of at least 2500:1.

Projector Connectivity

Obviously one of the most important considerations when buying a projector is the number and type of inputs that it accepts. If you are buying a projector to project Blu-ray images, it is no use if the projector does not accept cables that will carry signals from the Blu-Ray player to the projector. This applies to other input devices too. Confusingly, there are currently multiple different video inputs and outputs on video devices and projectors alike, none of which are guaranteed to feature on both units. It is therefore advisable that the best way to initially narrow down your search for potential projectors is to consult what type of video connector you intend to use it with. As only digital video cables can accept high definition video (the format of video you should intend to be displaying if you have a home theatre) then Component, DVI, HDMI or VGA should be the input you are looking for on your projector.

Projector Screen size

Since both films and videogames alike are now outputted with a 16:9 aspect ratio, it is logical to buy a 16:9 aspect ratio screen. In terms of how big a screen to use, it is important to remember that bigger is not necessarily better since you may have to crane your neck upwards if the projection screen is too large. Instead, consider the throw distance of the projector and the distance away from the screen where you will be sitting. A short throw projector lens will be able to render good quality, large size images from close to the projection screen.

Projector Brightness

Since home theatres are normally situated in rooms in which the light ambience is usually fully controllable, the brightness of the projector should not be the most important consideration. Closing the curtains and turning off the lights is probably the best way to make the cinema experience more immersive, rather than having a well lit room with a very bright projection. Measured in lumens, the brightness projectors offer can range from 700 to 20,000 lumens in extremely high end projectors. For use in a home theatre, a projector with a lumens rating of over 1,000 should be sufficient. Anything in the higher levels projects such a bright image that it may be too bright to focus on properly and could cause audience members to experience headaches.

Houses of Worship

Projector Lens Throw distance

Churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship often prefer to have their projectors mounted in a fixed position at the back of the room, far out of sight of the audience. While this is aesthetically pleasing, if a standard type of projector lens is used in a situation where it the projector is located more than 30 feet away from the projection screen, then the image may appear too large to be clear and in focus. Consequently, it is a good idea to invest in a long throw lens that will ensure the image projected retains a smaller size that will be able to fit neatly onto the screen without any overlap.

Projector Brightness

Since churches are often very bright environments where the light ambience is uncontrollable, a very bright projector is strongly recommended. This will allow everyone to clearly see the projected image, regardless of how bright the setting is. Unfortunately brighter projectors are more expensive, so if the light ambience is controllable then to save money a projector with an ANSI lumen rating of above 1,500 is suitable. On the other hand, if there is a great deal of light a projector with an ANSI lumens rating of over 2,500 is advisable.

The Cost of the Projector

Projectors that can display higher quality, brighter images will come with a higher price tag. If a very bright projector is needed, to ensure that all the projected images can be clearly seen in well-lit environments, then this will come at an extra cost. In regard to the image quality needed, since in houses of worship the main application for projectors will be to display static text such as hymns, it is probably not necessary to invest in an expensive High Definition projector. Obviously this will depend on the size of the room and therefore the size of the screen that is required.

Projector Resolution

Since projected image quality is not of critical importance in houses of worship, a High Definition resolution projector is not a necessity. However, to make images and text appear clearly without blurring, a projector with at least an XGA resolution is the best choice, especially since this is the standard most modern computers use. While SVGA is the lowest quality and cheapest resolution projector, choosing this kind of projector can often result in some undesirable image pixilation and is thus only advisable if working on a very limited budget.

Bars and Clubs

Projector Brightness

As bars tend to be darkened environments during operating hours, a projector with a high brightness rating is not always necessary for the image to appear clearly to the audience. Typically, bars should look for a projector that has an ANSI lumen rating of at least 1,500.  However, bars that are either brightly lit, or that have a high degree of ambient light, or that have a projector positioned unusually far away from the screen, will need to consider a projector with a higher ANSI lumen rating to ensure the image does not appear washed out.

Great quality HD images

Since the number one reason for installing a projector in a bar or club is to draw the public in, making sure that image projected is a high quality, great looking display is of paramount importance. This means that High Definition content is a must, and so a projector with a WXGA (720p) resolution and HDMI connectivity is recommended.

Projector Bulb Life

Since bars typically use projectors to display images on large widescreen projection screens for extended periods of time, it is a good idea to purchase a projector that has an economy mode available. This way, when displaying important events such as key sports fixtures, the regular brightness mode can be used, and then during less busy periods the operator can switch to economy mode, conserving bulb life but displaying a less bright image. Otherwise the frequent bulb replacements will become bothersome and extremely costly.

Projector Keystone Correction

Given that the layout and interior design of bars, pubs and clubs is often very customized, projectors often end up positioned behind undesirable obstacles such as air conditioning units and wall columns. However, thanks to the keystone correction ability, projectors can correct images if they happen to be positioned at unusuall or crooked angles. By squaring the projector image, it will be projected as if the projector was positioned in the ideal perpendicular position and will not appear skewed or trapezoidal.

Dust and Smoke in the Environment

Unfortunately, one of the main problems that can decrease a projector''s image quality as well as reducing its lamp life span is dust and smoke, two things that are often fairly common in bars. The reason for lamp life being affected is primarily because dust and smoke will gradually build up inside the projector, which means it will start to cover and eventually clog the intricate electronic mechanism housed inside the projector. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projectors have a tendency to be more adversely affected by the conditions inside bars and clubs than Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors. This is because DLP projectors contain sealed optics where as LCD projectors use open liquid crystal panels. Often times these panels become covered in the nicotine residue from cigarettes, a substance that is extremely difficult to remove without damaging the panel itself.

Unfortunately, standard projector warranties do not cover for failure due to smoke related issues. Realistically, projectors working in a smoke intensive surrounding will only work for two years before they need to be replaced.

The best way to reduce damage to a projector in a smoke filled environment is to place the projector in a surrounding box, commonly known as a smoke box. Not only will this minimize the amount of smoke the projector is exposed to, it will also decrease the amount of noise heard from the projector''s fan. It is an extremely worthwhile investment since a smoke box can add at more than two years to the lifespan of a projector, and will also increase lamp life because the clogging of projector filters is reduced.

Projector security

Smoke boxes can increase the security of the projector if they are lockable. If a smoke box is not being used, the projector should be purchased along with a security projector mount. This can be anything from a relatively low profile metal bar which locks the projector to the mount, or an actual cage with encloses the projector and prevents its removal from the mount.