Truth About Projectors - Our Tests vs. Marketing Claims!

As of February 13th, 2024, you can now finally visit us as your first stop on your projector buying process after years of asking us for it. After ten years of testing displays, we know that brightness is one of the cornerstones of the overall viewing experience. As is contrast. Both metrics help you understand the basics of the display: how bright it gets and how dark it gets in relation to that brightness. Marketing claims ended up being what we found to be most contentious during our testing. Simply put, outside of very specific use conditions, you cannot expect most projectors to deliver the level of performance their advertising states they do. The list of examples is long. Why does a projector like the Epson Home Cinema 3800, one of the best we've tested so far, advertise a brightness of 3000 lumens with a 100 000:1 contrast ratio while we only measure ~2300 lumens in our test setup and a contrast ratio of 190:1?
0:00 Intro
0:52 Brightness & Contrast Overview
1:33 Brightness Methodology
4:56 A Few Observations On Brightness
8:36 Contrast
13:08 Conclusion
For more details about our testing process, check out our article:
www.rtings.com/projector/lear...
Join our team: grnh.se/d8765e317us

[@invisghosty]

It's great to see y'all are helping people make decisions using numbers that affect their actual experience. Metrics like FOFO or the gray-to-gray response times make me question every bit of data manufacturers provide. And that's not even considering when the manufacturers are straight up lying (since Amazon doesn't care if they lie). I wish attempted deception was prohibited in some way. 🤔

[@RTINGScomRD]

We do our best! 😄

[@domm6812]

Consumer advocacy channels like this are so important. Thank you guys, and keep up the good work. (I say consumer advocacy and not "review” because they call out potentially misleading practices in the industry for all kinds of tech, making people aware of the tricks)

[@MayaPosch]

FOFO reminds me of the marketing trick with LCD response times, using off-on transitions rather than grey-to-grey. There's nothing that marketing cannot obfuscate and confuse customers with, it seems.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Good example! These are the types of things we aim to clarify with every product we test. Thanks for watching 😄

[@C_C-]

rtings killing it, Abby too. Please add latency testing.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thank you for watching! 😄

[@BangSkeeet]

@@RTINGScomRD I would like to see Latency Tests and EOTF PQ tracking for projectors

[@markt4605]

Thanks for taking this on! After watching I am happy I purchased my LG OLED. Seems that industry needs a little more time to mature.

[@ralphreyn]

Just a very different segment within the market…. I say as an Epson PJ + LG OLED… There are some things I still kinda prefer to watch on the technically lesser display of the Epson.

[@daltimond]

Thanks for doing this. I'd love a budget projector but its near impossible to figure out what to get based on specs and the reviews out there are kind of all over the place. You guys are my go to place for many reviews so I look forward to your projector reviews.

[@Laykun9000]

Great work guys :). Would love to see some motion analysis measurements in there as well, the rainbow effect is one of my pet peeves with projectors, and it makes me afraid to use anything other than 3LCD.

[@Laykun9000]

Oh, and ambient noise output, for movies :D.

[@cigarobsession]

Awesome job so far guys, that would be a very exciting project to be working on!

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thank you! There's still lots of work to be done, but we're excited to take it on! 😄

[@exsnozer]

This is exactly what I have been looking for. Next time I need a "TV" upgrade I will either go 85"+ OLED or a laser projector of about 120". You guys rock hard. Also looking for a portable projector and had looked at Halo+, good to have it confirmed to be good.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thank you! 😄 Hope we can help make your next purchase easier!

[@dahahaka]

Projectors are such a mess, glad to see you guys finally giving us hope for someone to clear that stuff up

[@GimpyChinaman]

WLO and CLO are fine, but why not also measure ELO? How well can the projector help me hold on tight to my dreams?

[@RTINGScomRD]

Hahaha well done 😂 *plays Mr. Blue Sky*

[@saeedalshaikh3799]

fantastic job everyone on the team . please consider adding a section for how apparent the rainbow artifact of the dlp projectors , I was told it vary among dlp projectors . I'm about to order hisense c1 but concerned about this particular issue .

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thanks for the feedback. We'll make sure to pass this along to our R&D team for additional consideration as we look to improve our methodology! Thanks again! :)

[@saeedalshaikh3799]

@@RTINGScomRDthank you

[@veilmontTV]

Love the video. Still dying for the next OLED burn in update. Sure it will be worth the wait. Abby is a really good face of the channel

[@bryanp4827]

I'd LOVE to see you guys doing regular projector reviews on here, and implementing all of the scrutiny you have talked about here...now THAT would be reviews worth watching!👍👍

[@RTINGScomRD]

One day we'll get there! We need to develop more tests first to give a more thorough review!

[@iamdmc]

Glad you guys are doing this Just wait until you do these tests on the most modern LASER projectors! The difference is even starker than comparing LED-backlit LCD to OLED Lamp projectors are so 2015

[@kelownatechkid]

With manufacturers cutting the 5 dollar cost to polarize their displays for 3D, projectors are becoming far more important as they are quickly becoming the only way to share stereo films. Thank you for this coverage!

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thank you for watching! 😄

[@PierreLeroy76620]

I really want you to go on your testing cause I love what you do ! One thing I do prefer is insist on the projection ratio. This does 80% of the choice about a projector. Where can you put it versus what picture you get versus what the keystone you need etc... Screens will also be necessary. Like okay take the EF-12 but you need a 1.3 gain screen with it could result a better screen. If you could go and test 1.1 and 0.9 screen with each projector it would be even better

[@RTINGScomRD]

Hi there, Thanks for the feedback. We'll make sure to pass this along to our R&D team for additional consideration as we look to improve our methodology! For what it's worth, we do compile all the feedback we get from users!

[@HexPortal]

i love abby

[@robertlawrence9000]

Interesting! Nice explanation! Thanks!

[@JRBlood]

After recently going through the pain and suffering of deciding what would be a better replacement for the corporate meeting room, I can feel your pain... Not as painful as what you all are/were going through, but my head still hurts a little every time I look at what I picked and the thought process of picking it. At least the (l)users are happier now.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Product research is never easy, part of our goal is to make that decision process a lot easier for everyone out there! Glad you feel happy about your purchase!

[@we8463]

Please test JVC NZ8 and NZ9 projectors! One note is you can’t project black since it is the absence of light! I love the fact that you are testing products scientifically rather than offering subjective opinions! Thank you so much!

[@wayneiceman]

This was thoroughly entertaining. Well done on this presentation..keeping good stuff coming always Rtings

[@RTINGScomRD]

Thank you for watching and for the kind words! We have a lot more planned, so stay tuned 😄

[@RadialSeeker113]

I wish I could work for yall but I live in India :/. Im currently the configuration specialist for a pc building company covering workstations, gaming PCs, monitors, mice, NASs, headphones, keyboards,TVs, racing sim parts, controllers. Ive been doing this for 10 years now. Y'all have been invaluable to me as a go to site for monitor and tb reviews and objective testing. Using rtings, ive actively been 1v10ing manufacturers and their bs claimed response times or hdr performance and share it with clients instantly. If yall think I have a shot working remotely id love to apply, but I dont see any jobs on the site that are remote. Much love ❤

[@RadialSeeker113]

Got a like with no reply. What does this mean lol

[@user-cw3nb8rc9e]

Setup your own youtube channel then. Why do you need them?

[@LutraLovegood]

@@user-cw3nb8rc9e Money.

[@michaelcollins4468]

The thing that frustrates me the most about contrast measurements is that testing typically never has a projector in the mode (with contrast improving features) enabled. This is especially true if the testing setting is in a mode that a customer wouldn’t use. The best way to measure contrast is with a recommended mode setting post calibration.

[@ameliabuns4058]

i wonder how good those super cheap amazon projectors are, i wanna use one to watch movies in bed and project it onto my roof lol or just put a pretty galaxy video and project it on my walls, so I have cool galaxy walls :O

[@LutraLovegood]

That's a neat idea, but how long are those projectors going to last?

[@ameliabuns4058]

@@LutraLovegood that's a good question, probably a day xD

[@ivovass195]

Ok this confirms to just get a modern tv and go to imax cinema from once in a while. Either way great job showing us the projector specs on paper can be from little to quite a lot misleading and just nonsense. Well done

[@SireEvalish]

Hopefully you guys start reviewing the nicer projectors from JVC and Sony. Their LCOS models dominate the high end market right now.

[@RTINGScomRD]

👀

[@warmonked]

You guys continue to do the lord's work 👍

[@marekciostek1458]

"Now keep that on camera" :D

[@user-cw3nb8rc9e]

Oh, so good I sold my Sanyo PLZ 3000 projector. It was a great one, but I hated its loud fans.

[@RTINGScomRD]

👀

[@footballekstraklasa5682]

It probably is just me, but given the positioning of the Epson Projector, it appears as though you are seated cross-legged on the table, lmao :D

[@RTINGScomRD]

Who says Abby isn't? LOL

[@LutraLovegood]

Why not add gloves and facemasks for the testings? Would help reduce reflections. Are the furnitures painted in Black 4.0 on all sides? Reminds me I should order some.

[@tototronic2]

What screen are you using when you measure the short throw projectors?

[@RTINGScomRD]

We use the Stewart StudioTek 100 screen!

[@tototronic2]

I think that evaluating Ultra Short Throw projectors without a screen made for USPs is an interesting choice. For optimal picture quality, USPs require a special screen made to focus light coming from the bottom or top of the screen towards the viewer. I know why you chose the StudioTec100, but it is not something I would recommend for a typical home theater. Using a screen with no ambient light rejection is a terrible idea in almost all home theater environments. @@RTINGScomRD

[@tototronic2]

Stewart makes top-quality screens. They are probably the best in the business. The Studio Tek 100 is a great product, but it's not the best choice for ultra-short throw projectors. Those require a special type of screen to work right.

[@PierreLeroy76620]

I would suggest going with the ISO standard to mesure brightness rather than ANSI, the ISO test require the test to be done at a certain distance from the screen (40cm if my memory is good), when ANSI doesn't specify the distance so you could be at a very close range where you don't even get a proper image.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Hi Pierre, Thanks for the feedback. We'll make sure to pass this along to our R&D team for additional consideration as we look to improve our methodology!

[@Onlyhappiness0]

Can you guys please make a review of OnePlus buds 3

[@RTINGScomRD]

👀

[@Onlyhappiness0]

@@RTINGScomRD please do it 😅

[@royalrepublican3480]

cool

[@RTINGScomRD]

Cool, indeed 🫡

[@PierreLeroy76620]

Also mentioned that bulb projector are ban in UE at least. So finding bulb will be harder with time. So.... Bulb should always get a malus compare to other tech in the final score.

[@kelownatechkid]

To explain for anyone confused by this somewhat incorrect comment, the EU (not UE) is regulating products containing mercury. So if a projector bulb uses mercury, it will no longer be permitted for sale within the EU region.

[@RTINGScomRD]

That's a good point, and something we'll have to consider. Thanks again for sharing more thoughts with us!

[@PierreLeroy76620]

@@RTINGScomRD as @kelownatechkid said, it's mercury bulb. I did not find "mercury free" bulb but it must be possible in some way or are they replaced with led period ?

[@ebridgewater]

Abby's personality reminds me of Cameraman Bill's.

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

Hi Abby i just recently purchased a projector to see if I want to buy a 100 inch TV. The projector screen size is 100 inches. Honestly I don't really think I need a 100 inch TV to enjoy the content I like to watch. Plus I live in an apartment and space for a 100 inch TV is not adequate enough in my opinion. I have a 75 inch TV in my livingroom that I enjoy very much.😊

[@ElsweyrDiego]

for those who thinks projectors need to evolve more, just think about the best cinemas in the world, for example IMAX screens, they use the exact same technologi our laser projector at home uses. the blacks will never be really black in the cinema too, it's more like an IPS screen. and guess what? an 300" IMAX cinema is the more immersive thing in the world, even with very poor contrast ratio, not your infinite contrast oled in your room!

[@A_wholeass_kim]

Finding out the site name is pronounced like ratings and not r tings has made me question everything.

[@RTINGScomRD]

Sorry :( it's just a REALLY expensive A 😂

[@A_wholeass_kim]

@@RTINGScomRD lol. I probably needed an existential crisis. Nothing really hits quite like questioning your own existence lmao

[@boltvanderhuge8711]

0:40 no offense but that seems like such a soul crushing work environment; floating out in the middle of a giant empty room with only a desktop-sized area to call your own, with people constantly looking over your shoulder and no privacy of any kind. At least give them two little divider walls or something jeez :/

[@RadialSeeker113]

Its fantastic. Would you rather be in a cubicle ?

[@user-zn9ke8um8s]

Please start reviewing coffee makers. You will be casting a very wide net in terms of viewers 😂 Literally who doesn't drink coffee?

[@RTINGScomRD]

👀👀👀

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

Nice and decent but 'a bit long' for 'the average consumer.' At least you're not 'upselling' stuff! Having worked with projectors in a 'professional setting' from 1/4 multi-projector edge blended systems, to huge 15' by 40' edge blended systems to single screens, etc. and being a Panasonic trained technician I know a little about all this. I've seen way too many youtuber's upselling stuff which I don't care for since I know better! Overall this is an excellent 'infomercial' for those few whom want to know more. Being in the business for +30 years I've noticed a few things and thee best single piece of advice I can give is that "the best manufacturer's tend to produce 'thee best products' especially in 'related fields.'" For me - disregarding costs - Sony makes thee best TV's; longevity (big +), quality(big +), etc. (excluding price). Christie is a brand in the 'professional world' when it comes to projectors, there are a few others like Barco, etc. For our 'constraints' such as cost, serviceability, reliability, etc. Panasonic is our preference. OH! Here's one thing - being in California 'we' can't use projectors with bulbs anymore and have for sometime now shifted to Laser Projectors! Donno if other states have done this but it might be a consideration! Cause when you go to purchase another bulb - you may find that 'they won't ship it to you!' For most everyone else the cost of a single projector is upwards of $4,000.00 per projector! Our fist set of these lasers have a 'lifetime' of 20,000 hours and I've 'experimented' with it and you can get +36,000 hours - doubling the life! LOL But here in the 'consumer' small and 'portable' types everything is a different story. Thank you for your time and effort!

[@InconsistentManner]

propped up on a pillow... No, do not do this.

[@Whiteshade]

tldr: don't buy projectors

[@nicnl255]

Okay, so for me FO-FO is a big NO-NO. It's a bad omen for the projector itself + the company. I'm not buying those misleading products, and I'll avoid those company altogether.