Front Projection TVs: The Ultimate Home Theater Component

Amid all the hype about LCD and Plasma TVs, many people are unfamiliar with what is possibly the ultimate home theater component: the front projection TV. Lightweight, portable, and costing a fraction of the amount of a large plasma or LCD TV, front projectors can fill a room with a fantastic, high-resolution picture.

· What are Front Projection TVs?

· Why Buy A Front Projection TV?

· Why Not to Buy a Front Projection TV

· Conclusion

What are Front Projection TVs?

Two pieces of equipment are necessary to for a front projection TV setup: a projector and a screen. The projectors look just like slide projectors, and can easily be placed on a bookshelf, coffee table, or hung from the ceiling. While it is possible to project the image onto a white wall, the best results are achieved with a proper home theater screen. Screens come in different styles and sizes -- some pull up, others pull down, some are electric, while others must be raised and lowered by hand. When paired together, your projector and screen will project movies, sports, video games, and even regular TV in bright, vivid color.

Why Buy A Front Projection TV?

The advantage of front projection TV is obvious - with a screen that can be retracted when you're finished, and a projector that can be tucked away on a shelf, you've suddenly gained floor and wall space that other TV owners only dream of. Good quality projectors throw a picture that can rival CRT or flat panel screens, and when you compute the price per square inch of picture, they are a far better deal than other styles of TV. Size is another consideration -- if you are looking for the biggest image possible, you'll do doubt get the best bang for your buck from a projection TV; depending on the projector's distance from the screen, image sizes of 100"+ are possible!

Why Not to Buy a Front Projection TV

The principle disadvantage of front projection TVs is that they are not well suited for regular TV viewing. There are two reasons for this: First, they are best used in a dark environment. Though this is one of the reasons that they are great for home theater use, it limits their utility as a regular TV -- unless you feel like dimming the lights and pulling the shades when you sit down to watch TV, your picture quality will suffer. Second, a projector's bulb has a limited lifespan. If you are watching movies and sports this is not a problem - the bulb (which can cost from $200 to $500) will likely have to be replaced every 3 - 5 years. If you watch a few hours of TV a night, however, you will find yourself replacing the bulb every year or two, which could quickly become an expensive habit.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a home theater setup that can maximize your image size, minimize your cost, and disappear when you're not watching, then a front projector TV is the perfect option. While not ideal for day-to-day TV watching, front projectors are perfect for movies and games; if you already have a regular TV for casual viewing, then a projector will make an excellent addition to your home entertainment setup.

Check out our full selection of Front Projection TVs.