Comparison Epson EB-X41 vs Epson EB-S05

The main function of the projector.

This parameter is rather conditional, it largely depends on how the device is positioned by the manufacturer; however, for the most comfortable use, it is best to follow exactly the stated purpose. The options here can be: multipurpose, for presentations, for home theater, professional, portable, gaming. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Multipurpose. The simplest kind of projectors, roughly speaking – all models that do not belong to any of the specializations described below. Most of them have non-interchangeable optics, a throw distance of 1-12 m, an image diagonal of about 1-7 m (see below), and a relatively low cost.

— For presentations. Projectors designed primarily for business use, such as presentations. Usually they have a small throw distance with a rather large diagonal, which allows them to be used in small rooms; capable of working with both widescreen and conventional image formats (see below), and also support resolutions typical for computer video cards — for example, 1280x800. In this case, the actual resolution itself (see below) can be quite low. In addition, an almost mandatory feature of this type of projectors (with a few exceptions) is the presence of a D-Sub 15 pin input (see "Connectors").

— For home theater. Projectors designed primarily for film viewing. The main criterion for classifying a particular model in this category is how the projector is positioned by the manufacturer itself (in other words, whether this purpose is indicated in the official documentation). However, there are some common features: cinematographic models usually support widescreen image formats, have a high real resolution (see below) that allows you to work with HD video, and are also equipped with the appropriate interfaces (see "Connectors").

— Professional. High-end projectors with numerous advanced features and, accordingly, high cost. Usually, they are equipped with interchangeable lenses, and some are supplied without a lens at all (see below). Also a characteristic feature of a professional projector is the BNC connector (see below), although there are models without it.

— Portable projector. An ultra-compact variety of projectors: most models are pocket-sized. Such devices are intended primarily for improvised presentations. The format of work and power supply may be different. So, some models are made as separate devices with their own built-in storages and batteries (and sometimes even with a full-fledged mobile OS like Android on board). Others are similar in design to external cases or consoles and are put directly on the mobile phone during operation, using it as a source of signal and power. However, anyway, portable projectors, due to their small size, have rather low technical specifications — they have neither brightness nor high image contrast.. Battery life (in models with their own batteries) usually ranges from 40 minutes to one and a half hours. Also, this variety is characterized by cost-effective LED lamps (see below).

— Gaming. Specialized projectors designed for use in video games. Outwardly, they are often distinguished by a characteristic “aggressive” design, while the design can be done in the style of a certain line of gaming PCs or laptops. As for the specifications, they, in accordance with the name, are aimed primarily at providing a high-quality game "picture". To do this, projectors for this purpose provide, in particular, high real resolution (not lower than 1920x720, and more often 1920x1080 or more), colour reproduction at the level of 1 billion colours, support for frame rate (see below) up to 120 Hz, and also at least one HDMI input for receiving a digital signal from a computer graphics card. In addition, such models often provide support for 3D. The maximum image diagonal can reach 7.5 m or more; at the same time, ultra-wide-angle devices are also found in this category, capable of providing an image diagonal of about 3 m from a distance of about half a metre.

The brightness of the image produced by the projector at maximum backlight brightness. Usually, the average brightness of the screen, derived from a special formula, is indicated. The higher it is, the less the image depends on ambient light: a bright projector can provide a clearly visible image even in daylight, but a dim one will require dimming. On the other hand, increasing brightness reduces contrast and accuracy of colour reproduction.

Accordingly, when choosing this parameter, you need to consider the conditions in which you plan to use the projector. So, for office or school/university use, a brightness of at least 3000 lm is desirable — this allows you to get normal visibility without obscuring the room. In turn, among the top models a very low brightness can be found, because. such projectors are usually installed in rooms specially designed for them with good darkness level. And in ultra-compact devices it is impossible to achieve high brightness for technical reasons.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal brightness for certain conditions can be found in special sources. Here we note that anyway, it is worth choosing according to this indicator with some margin. As mentioned above, as brightness increases, contrast and colour quality decrease, and you may need to use the projector at a reduced brightness to achieve the desired picture quality.

Horizontal frequency supported by the projector.

This parameter is relevant when working with analogue video signal. In such a video, the image is formed line by line: each pixel in the line is highlighted in turn, then the next line is highlighted, and so on. The horizontal frequency describes how many times per second the backlight beam runs from edge to edge of the screen. For normal playback, the projector must support the same refresh rate as the input signal was recorded. However, most models support a fairly wide range of frequencies, and there are no problems with support. Also note that if you are not a professional, then when choosing a projector, it is quite possible to focus on the frame rate (see below) — this parameter is simpler and more intuitive, and support for a certain frame rate automatically means support for the corresponding line rate.

The actual image resolution of the projector.

The minimum for modern projectors is actually the VGA standard, which assumes a resolution of 800x600 or close to it. The lowest of today's high-definition standards is HD (720) ; the classic size of such a frame is 1280x720, but there are other options in projectors, up to 1920x720. A more advanced HD format is Full HD (1080), which also has several variations (the most popular is 1920x1080). And among high-end projectors, there are models of Quad HD, Ultra HD (4K) and even Ultra HD (8K) standards.

In general, the higher the resolution, the clearer and more detailed image the projector can produce. On the other hand, this indicator directly affects the cost; and all the benefits of high resolution can only be appreciated if the content being played also corresponds to it.

The maximum resolution is closely related to both the overall picture quality and the screen size. The higher the resolution of the projector, the clearer the image details become, especially when viewing the picture on a large screen.

For the vast majority of tasks, a resolution ranging from HD (1280x720) to Full HD (1920x1080) is usually enough. If the projector will be used to play modern games, you should choose a model with a resolution from Quad HD (2560x1440) to 4K (3840×2160) and even 8K (7680x4320).

Of course, the screen size itself should be taken into account. The fact is that on a 40-50″ projection surface there will not be much difference between Quad HD and 4K formats. A high-resolution picture will be able to express itself on a really big screen.

Diagonal size of the image projected by the projector. Usually, it is indicated as a range — from the smallest, at the minimum throw distance, to the largest, at the maximum. About throw distances, see above; here it is worth saying that the choice of diagonal size depends both on the distance between the screen and the audience, and on the format of the projector. For example, to watch a video, the best option is the situation when the distance from the viewer to the image corresponds to 3-4 diagonals, and a relatively large picture can be useful for working with presentations. More detailed recommendations for different situations can be found in special sources; here we only recall that the image must fit on the screen used with the projector.

The projector's throw distance is vital in determining what size projection screen to use and how far away it should be from the projector. Most projectors have a variable throw ratio. In the extreme positions, these are wide-angle mode (smallest value) and telephoto lens mode (largest value). Knowing these values, you will be able to determine the range of throw distances within which the projector must be placed in order for the projected image to match the specified dimensions of the projection screen.

According to these values, you need to check or set the optical zoom. We divide the larger value by the smaller value, and we get a figure, for example 1.33-2.16: 1.

If we want to calculate whether this projector is suitable for a certain image size, we do this: 1.33*3 (image width)=the distance at which the projector should hang.

Wi-Fi standard supported by the projector.

Wi-Fi is known mainly as a method of wirelessly connecting to the Internet and local networks. In addition, more recently, this technology has also been used for direct connections between wireless devices. Accordingly, the methods of using Wi-Fi in projectors may also be different. Thus, some models are capable of connecting to local networks to work with content via DLNA (see above); in others, such a connection is used for control from a computer or other network device; in others, a “remote control” like a smartphone or tablet can connect directly via Wi-Fi.

As for Wi-Fi versions, the most popular options in modern technology - Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) - are quite compatible with each other, and the difference between them in this case is not critical. Therefore, you don’t need to pay much attention to these details when choosing.

There are also Wi-Fi ready projectors, which do not have Wi-Fi out of the box, but when connecting the appropriate adapter (purchased separately) are capable of a wireless connection.

The power consumed by the projector during normal operation. Both the high consumption of the device and the requirements for power supply providing depend on this indicator: for example, heavy professional projectors of 3500 W and above cannot be plugged into standard sockets, they require a special connection format.

Keep in mind that when using traditional mercury or gas discharge lamps, high brightness inevitably requires high power. Energy efficient LED projectors do not have this disadvantage, but they are still relatively uncommon, and LED is not always a suitable type of lamp.