Lamp model
The lamp model that the projector is designed for. Most projectors come with lamps included, so this information is not needed for normal use. But when looking for a spare lamp or replacement, information about model can be very useful: finding a spare part by the exact name is much easier than by general data like the brand of the projector.
Lamp power
The power consumption of the backlight lamp installed in the projector.
Theoretically, the more powerful the lamp, the brighter it is. However, this is only true when comparing lamps of the same type (see above); and even in this case, the brightness may also depend on the nuances of the design. Therefore, when evaluating the capabilities of a lamp, it is worth focus not so much on power, but on the directly claimed brightness in lumens (see below).
But what this parameter directly affects is the total power consumption of the projector: the lamp is the most “greedy” component of the device, compared to it, the power consumption of the rest of the electronics is very small. Also note that many powerful lamps have high heat dissipation and require cooling systems, which affects the size and weight of the projector.
Real resolution
The native resolution of the image produced by the projector matrix.
The minimum for modern projectors is actually
the VGA standard, which assumes a resolution of 800x600 or close to it. The most limited of modern high-definition standards is
HD (720); the classic size of such a frame is 1280x720, but projectors also have other options (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 reproduced content also corresponds to it. Note that modern projectors can work with higher resolutions than the “native” ones – for more details, see “Maximum video resolution”.
Image format support
Image formats supported by the projector.
In this case, format means the aspect ratio of the image. The general rule in this case is that the projector must support the same format in which the original content is recorded. Otherwise, the image will either be stretched in height or width, or with black stripes on the sides or top-bottom. Specifically, the formats can be divided into three main categories:
— Traditional, or
rectangular. Classic formats in which the height of the picture is not much less than the width. The most popular options are 4:3, widely used in analogue TV, and 5:4, common in computer technology. Traditional formats are well suited for presentations, working with documents and graphics, and other similar tasks.
—
Widescreen — formats in which the frame width is significantly (more than 1.5 times) greater than the height. The most popular of these standards are 16:9 and 16:10. These aspect ratios are well suited for games and movies; in particular, most high-definition content (HD 720p and above) is recorded in widescreen format.
—
Extra wide. The formats are even wider than the widescreen ones described above — for example, 21:9. Mainly used in cinematography.
It is worth noting that many modern projectors are able to work with several types of formats at once — for example, with classic 4:3 and
...wide-angle 16:9.Throw distance, min
The closest distance to the screen that the projector can be used on. Typically, this is the minimum distance at which the image from the projector remains in focus.
This parameter is especially important if the device is to be placed at a small distance from the screen (for example, in a cramped room). Some modern projectors are able to work normally at a distance of 10 – 20 cm. Also note that the throw distances are determined primarily by the lens, and if the initial range of these distances does not suit you, perhaps the situation can be solved by replacing the optics.
Throw distance, max
The farthest distance from the screen that the projector can be used on. This is the maximum distance at which the image remains in focus and maintains acceptable brightness — at least enough for viewing in a darkened room on a high-quality screen.
It is necessary to choose according to this parameter taking into account the expected operating conditions and the distances to be dealt with. At the same time, it's ok to have a certain margin for the maximum distance — since, as already mentioned, it is usually indicated for an perfect screen and a darkened room, and such conditions are not always available. Also note that although the throw distances depend on the lens, not every projector with an interchangeable lens allows the installation of more "long-range" optics than the standard one — the device may simply not have enough brightness for an increased distance.
Number of speakers
The number of built-in speakers provided in the projector.
The
presence of speakers in itself allows user to play sound (for example, accompaniment to the displayed video) without speakers and other additional equipment. However the quality of such sound usually turns out to be low; for a clear sound, you still need external sound system. However, in some cases this is quite enough; in addition, there are projectors with advanced built-in speakers.
The number of speakers can be one or two. In the first case, we are talking only about the playback of monophonic sound, without any surround effect. And two speakers already represent a stereo system. The subwoofer is considered a separate function and does not affect the number of speakers in this paragraph.
Sound power
The nominal power of the sound system installed in the projector.
The higher this power, the louder the sound the device can produce, the better it will be heard in a large room and/or noisy environment. At the same time, it is worth noting two nuances. First, built-in speakers are usually made relatively low-power — otherwise they would take up too much space. Secondly, most modern projectors allow the connection of external sound system (see "Audio connectors"), more powerful than the built-in one. So it makes sense to pay attention to this indicator if you initially plan to use the "native" sound of the projector. Detailed recommendations on the required power for certain conditions can be found in special sources.
HDMI inputs
The number of HDMI inputs provided by the projector.
HDMI is a comprehensive digital interface originally designed for high-definition video and multi-channel audio. Today, it is actually a generally accepted standard, outputs of this type are available in the vast majority of HD-enabled video devices — media centers, Blu-ray players, computer graphics cards, etc. The presence of several HDMI inputs allows you to simultaneously connect several signal sources to the projector and switch between them in the projector settings without having to connect and disconnect cables.
