Imaging technology: DiLA, SXRD, DLP, LCD
Light production technology: UHP Lamp, LED lamp, Laser light source (Single or RGB)
Resolutions: 768 HD Ready, 1080p, UHD 4K
Tech:
LCD is pretty much what you probably remember from the past; three LCD chips making an image.
Pros: No colour banding; the mullion gaps produce a staccato that suits high resolution data projection; and the tech is relatively light efficient compared to single chip DLP i.e. more light on your screen from the same given wattage of lamp. Cons: Contrast can be a bit iffy; the staccato edges don't quite work for video images
DiLA/SXRD are both reflective technologies using a liquid crystal layer shutter over a reflective mirror. SXRD is a Sony exclusive. They've been trying to corner the budget UHD/4K for the past few years with their £5,000 models which were, for a long time, the cheapest way to buy a UHD projector experience. There really wasn't any competition. JVC (DiLA) has (and still have) their e-Shift pseudo UHD/4K models. They used to start at £10,000, but as successive generations came the cost of the tech fell due to trickle-down. e-Shift now starts at £3,999.
The big change in the UHD/4K landscape has happened in the last 12 months. Texas Instruments (TI) has released some new DLP chips that use a sort of version of e-Shift but at a much lower price point than the JVC SXRD tech. The result pseudo UHK/4K is now available under the £1,000 price point. Sony is using it and so is JVC.
SXRD pros: Still the cheapest 3 chip true UHD/4K projector tech, but at £5K (VPL-VW260ES) it isn't in budget projector territory. Decent contrast - helped by dynamic iris - and fairly bright for home cinema models. Still the cheapest reflective tech 3-chip 1080p projectors too (VW-VPL65ES @ £1800). Cons: Real world contrast not as convincing as the JVC DiLA models. Lens quality can be a bit iffy on the budget models.
DiLA pros: Possibly the best real world intra-scene contrast ratios under £5,000 thanks to deep blacks for a projector. Capable of lovely pictures when properly set up. Cons: Entry-level model not as bright as rivals (focussed on black level instead); motion is average; budget model lens quality reveals its price point.
DLP is the other reflective technology. It comes in single chip and 3-chip varieties. The latter is reserved for people with high-end budgets. Most of the home cinema product under £10K is single chip. The big changes from the days when DLP was rubbing shoulders with CRT are in the colour wheel tech. The new chips allow colour wheel speeds that all but eliminate the colour wheel effect/rainbow effect that some people complained about. It's not absolute though, so before taking the plunge a demo is recommended.
DLP has taken over the budget home cinema market. Optoma has done a lot to make single chip DLP projectors that perform really well and don't cost a lot. Benq is a favourite brand for those scraping along with a very limited budget. Along soide them are a whole host of lesser known brands.
Pros: No image registration errors compared to 3 chip projectors. Good quality performance without breaking the bank. Cons: Some may still be sensitive to rainbow effect. There are various versions of DLP chips, so there's a hierarchy of performance. Business-oriented models won't perform as well as home cinema models. ALso, within the home cinema ranges there are steps in performance too. Watch out as well for lens quality.
Lamps/Light Sources
UHP lamps are getting cheaper and brighter, but they still kick out a lot of heat and need replacing. Quoted lamp life can vary from 1000 - 5000 hrs depending on model, but real world life spans could be half that if a projector is only run for short periods. LED and Laser are long duration alternatives. 10,000 hrs isn't an uncommon quote. Brightness may be an issue though.
Resolution
In the TV market everything is pretty much UHD/4K. Not so in the projector world. Making chips at 3840 x 2160 native res is flippin' expensive. 1080p, 1080p e-Shift and pseudo UHD/4K is where you'll be at under £5000 at the moment for proper home cinema. .
