Plasma and LCD versus projection screens, what should I go for?
Cette page est seulement disponible en Anglais à ce moment.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of projection screens compared to LCD or Plasma television?
Size
Size is a big factor in the experience when watching a movie on a screen. Projection screens normally start where Plasma and LCD stop, which is at around 60 inch diagonal. If you want the biggest size available, projection screens are your best option. However, if your the space dedicated to your screen is limited or you just don't want that big a screen, Plasma or LCD tv's are the technologies to go for
Cost
If you look at the cost in relationship to the size of the screen, projection screens will be a cheaper solution than a Plasma or LCD TV solution. However, if you look at which price level the solutions start, you will find LCD TV's (in small sizes) as the solution with the lowest entry point.
Experience
For a true movie experience, you will need a big screen. There is actually nothing that better brings cinema to your home than a projector based installation. Especially when you have a dedicated room, you can really create a private cinema.
There moments however, that you don't want to watch something from as intensely as a movie. When watching the news for example, you don't want to watch at the same level of intensety as a movie. If you use the screen mainly for occasional viewing or things such as the news, you don't need a projection screen set-up.
Image quality
This is a difficult one, as both technologies progress rapidly and they are difficult to compare normally, as you never see a side-to-side comparison. Also, sizes used differ enormously (Plasma's are 42" on average, where projection screens are 92" on average).
Both solutions can create a high quality image, regardless of image size, but due to the size differences there is no necessity for a quality comparison on image quality.
It is often said that you can't use projection during the day. However, you can. You just have to settle for a smaller image with a high quality or an image that is more washed out and which is larger. Use the right projection screen for that environment can help tremendously.
Ease of installation
Due to the fact that you only need one piece of equipment for a tv-based solution and a projector and a projection screen for a projector-based solution, a Plasma or LCD tv is easier to install.
Also, due to the nature of projection, the projector will be behind you and the projection screen will be in front of you. This would require longer cables than with a LCD or Plasma TV. This means more installation work.
Conclusion
As you can see, both options have their advantages and if you have to make a choice, it really depends on how you will be using your screen. To get the best of both worlds, you can combine both. To do this, install a projection screen which rolls down in front of your wall mounted TV. This will allow you to use the TV for occasional viewing and use your projector and screen for the full movie experience.
