A 42-inch TV is one of the most popular entertainment display options for all the man cave owners out there. However, this may not suffice when you have a huge crowd with you in the room.
You need budget friendly projectors to cast the display onto the wall for all your home theater and large display needs. We’ll teach you how to ensure that you get the right one.
Digital Projector Categories
Purchasing a high-quality projector is actually quite easy once you know what you need to look for. That said, if you’re quite new to the world of projectors, this can be a little difficult.
You need to determine the type of projector you’ll need for your man cave, and below are the most common ones.
Pocket projectors are the simplest type of projectors you will find in the market today. They’re very portable, with most of them not being any larger than a smartphone, albeit a bit bulkier. One of the best advantages of this type of projector is that it’s inexpensive and won’t take too much space.
However, this only functions as a substitute for a small monitor. If you try and make its display bigger, you will experience a noticeable blur or pixelation in the produced image.
To give you a general idea, mid-range projectors usually function at around 2500 lumens or above. A pocket projector usually has a brightness level that ranges from 25 to 1500 lumens.
Another major disadvantage is that pocket projectors often don’t have optical zoom. That means you can’t adjust the image it projects, requiring you to adjust the projector’s placement to achieve the optimal image quality.
Multimedia
Multimedia projectors are the most widely used projectors in all sorts of settings. You can never fail with a multimedia projector from classrooms to audio-visual rooms in offices to man caves. It’s the balance between quality and affordability.
They are somewhat portable, often weighing at about three pounds with dimensions of 12 by eight or ten inches. The lowest brightness you will get from a multimedia projector is around 2500 lumens, but the average is 4500.
Multimedia projectors usually offer a wide array of display input ranging from VGA to HDMI. While they also offer zoom capabilities, it’s only around 1.2x to 1.5x. That means you might still have to adjust its placement for an optimal image.
Short Throw
One common problem with projectors is that you have to place them way above your head or can’t move in front of them. Otherwise, your body will block the light they emanate and form a silhouette on the projected image. This is a problem solved by short-throw projectors.
As the name suggests, this type of projector casts the image in short range. Another mirror is located inside the projector, allowing it to cast a bigger reflection even if it’s very close to the wall.
Short-throw projectors often need to be placed at only two feet away from the wall. In some models known as ultra-short-throw projectors, you can place them at around 18 inches from the screen.
How To Choose a Projector That Suits You
Now that we know the different options you have for your entertainment display, it’s time to find out what projector suits your man cave. Well, the answer depends on your needs. Here’s a quick guide that may help you out.
Room Size and Placement
The first thing you need to consider is the size of the room. For example, you don’t need a projector to cast a ten-foot image if your man cave is just about the size of an average room.
Additionally, you also need to think about the placement of the projector. If the room is quite small, you might have to mount the projector on the ceiling or purchase one to project the image in close-range.
Lights On or Off
The next thing you need to think of is whether or not your man cave has plenty of illumination. Projectors cast the image onto a wall or screen using light. If your man cave has another light source like a huge window, it will significantly affect the display.
For this type of man caves, your best option is to go for projectors with around 3000 to 4500 lumens or higher. They will guarantee that the image is still clear and crisp despite the light source.
On the other hand, darker man caves will do just fine with projectors around 2000 to 2500 lumens or lower.
The Right Projector for a Great AV Experience
Your audio-visual experience is one of the main things you need to focus on when building a man cave. That’s why investing in a projector is always a great idea. You just have to ensure that you choose the one that best suits your man cave.