What is the difference between the projector I have at the office and the projectors used for home theater?
Projectors used for presentations are typically designed to be as bright as possible and to display data from a laptop with the most clarity. Business projectors such as these are usually in a 4:3 aspect ratio - they project an image close to a square in shape.
Home theater projectors are optimized for video - meaning that they might not be as bright as a data projector, but the quality of the projected image has a much improved contrast and color accuracy. Most home theater projectors are in a 16:9 aspect ratio - a widescreen format. While some data projectors may say they will project 16:9, it usually means they will just display black bars on the top and bottom and, in turn, project widescreen content in a lower resolution.
Can I just point my projector at a wall instead of buying a screen?
Yes, as long as it's a white wall. But you need to know the advantages of using a screen. Projection screens are designed to reflect images back to the viewer, but they are also designed to reflect accurate color, contrast and resolution. Some screens can even improve less-than-perfect viewing situations. High-contrast materials, for instance, lower the effect of ambient light in the room, while also improving the overall contrast of the image. Other screens such as Da-Lite's Video Spectra 1.5 actually increase the brightness of the image being reflected back. Also, the black border around the screens creates a 'framed-in' look and causes our brain to think the image is brighter because of the contrast the border creates. Bumpy texture (which lowers resolution), paint (which does not reflect accurate color) and lack of a border make walls greatly inferior to a projection screen.
What type of projector is the best - LCD, DLP, CRT or LCOS?
In the recent past, experts would say "DLP or CRT are best for home theater...and LCD is the best for business presentations" - but that statement is not necessarily correct anymore. Each of these technologies has inherent advantages and disadvantages but they are becoming more and more similar in performance as new products are released.
DLP projectors tend to have a smooth, warm, high-contrast image while LCD projectors tend to have a crisp, bright image. DLP projectors (especially cheap models) sometimes cause people to see the "rainbow effect" - a rainbow streak accross the screen during some content - but this issue has been reduced significantly of late in single-chip DLP projectors and completely eliminated with 3-chip DLP projectors. LCD projectors have historically had low contrast images with contrast ratios of 500:1 or lower but recent LCD models have had ratios of 4000:1 and higher, exceeding many DLP specs. LCOS used to be a "vaporware" technology, which was only talked about and never seen, but now several projectors are using the technology to get good contrast ratios, good brightness, super-high resolution, and smooth images for affordable prices.
As you can see, the answer is not clear-cut. It is probably best to see the projectors in action so you can decide for yourself which technology suits your needs.
What things in my home can I control with room control?
Lighting, heating & cooling, audio & video, certain appliances like coffee makers, garage doors, front gates and many other things. Additionally you can view your security cameras, use the internet, watch television, make video conference calls and do nearly anything related to A/V using the touchscreen of most AMX and Crestron systems. Not only that, but you can access and control nearly every function of your control system through a secure internet connection - meaning you can turn your lights on or view your security cameras from anywhere in the world.
Are you a repair shop for projectors too?
No, but we can help you get service done to your projector or home theater component if you purchased it from us. Just bring it by our location with your original invoice and we can deal with the warranty claim ourselves.