Is better to have a lower lumen count for a multimedia projector? Or is it better to have higher lumen count? p.s: which is best for watching tv and such. ( dvd, sat, xbox....etc)
Multimedia/Data and Home Cinema Projectors tend to be set-up differently. Multimedia/data projectors are set up with a high lumens, relatively low contrast and are ideal for large rooms with a lot of ambient light (presentations etc). Home Cinema Projectors tend to have lower lumens and higher contrast ratio's. The lower the lumens the more contrast you tend to be able to get. Ideal set-up in a darkened room for me is; around 600 Lumens or even lower, with 1300:1 contrast. Id like more contrast, but unfortunately i cant get it.
Thanks for the reply, I have a multimedia projector by hitachi and it has 1200 lumens. Is that revelatively good? In addition its in a dark room (basement). And its HD ready, so i have the physciall environment correct?
1200 lumens is fine, can you turn it down a bit though - economy mode or something. If you can then it will probably last its 3/4 life time (1500). If not, you will prob get around 1000-1200 hours of use, depending on contrast settings. You have the basics for a good set-up no matter what you have really.
Thats it/ Only 1000 hours!!!!!! Thats preety cheap considering the amount paid for the projector! I was thinking more around 2000 hours. Also, i heard that it is bad for the projector if you watch tv on it. Is this true?
No, watching TV is not bad for the projector at all. 1000 hours isnt bad. Its most likely a bit more than that. Then you change the bulb for around £200 or so, sometimes a lot cheaper on Ebay. If its rated at 2000 hours, be happy to get 1500 with contrast set high. Mine is rated at 4000 hours in economomy mode, which i use, but with full contrast, so ill probably get 3500 or so out of it.
I actually checked out a couple of sites and they said the bulb will last aprox. 2000 hours! In addition, since it is a 1200 lumen projector if i were to put it on the "whisper mode" the lumens will drop to 920 lumens!!! Is that great or what???
920 is a much better home cinema setting and will help you to get the hours of life from the bulb. It is good. Remember that the estimated lifetime of bulbs are based on them at their greatest economy setting. Therefore if you put the contrast rating up, this will reduce the life of the bulb, but not by much and in my opinion the overal improvement in the picture is well worth it. What is the projector you are using and ill be able to tell you better information?
