I Got a Laser TV And I’m Never Going Back

LRN2DIY
30 Oct 202209:03

TLDRThe video script discusses the evolution of home theater technology, highlighting the limitations of traditional big-screen TVs and projectors. It introduces laser TV as a superior alternative, emphasizing its ability to perform well in various lighting conditions and its long lamp life. The script details a comparison between different laser TV setups, with the Formovie Theater model outperforming competitors. The setup, comprising an ultra short-throw projector and a specialized screen from Elite Screens, offers an exceptional viewing experience, justifying its higher cost compared to other home theater options.

Takeaways

  • 📺 Big TVs offer excellent image quality but become very expensive above 85 inches.
  • 🎥 Traditional projectors are great for home theaters but perform best in dark environments.
  • 💡 Issues with projectors include shadows when objects pass in front, the need for power and cable management, and washed-out images in ambient light.
  • 🔦 The contrast on projector screens is significantly reduced when lights are turned on, affecting the viewing experience.
  • 💥 Projector lamps require regular replacement, adding to the maintenance cost and hassle.
  • 📺 TVs are not currently an option for sizes larger than 110 inches due to market availability and cost.
  • 🌟 Laser TVs (ultra short throw projectors) overcome the limitations of traditional projectors with features like ambient light rejection and longer lamp life.
  • 🏆 The For movie theater projector was rated the best among 14 different laser TV setups in a professional comparison.
  • 💰 The cost of a high-quality laser TV setup is significantly lower than that of a large traditional TV, offering better value for larger screens.
  • 🔧 The setup includes a fixed frame screen and LED light kit for a complete home theater experience.
  • 🛒 The total cost for the recommended laser TV setup is around $5,500, which is considered a good investment for the quality and features provided.

Q & A

  • What are the advantages of using a big TV for home theaters?

    -Big TVs offer excellent image quality and are suitable for home theaters. However, they become very expensive once they exceed about 85 inches.

  • What are the main drawbacks of traditional projectors in home theaters?

    -Traditional projectors have several drawbacks: they work best in the dark, require hiding the camera and managing cables, and the images get washed out when lights are on. Additionally, they have a limited lamp life which requires regular and costly replacements.

  • What is a laser TV and how does it differ from a traditional projector?

    -A laser TV is not actually a TV but a combination of an ultra short throw projector and a special screen that uses ambient light rejection technology. It overcomes the issues of traditional projectors by allowing usage in well-lit rooms and having a much longer lamp life.

  • How does the ambient light rejection technology in laser TVs work?

    -The screen in a laser TV has a sawtooth pattern that reflects overhead light away from the viewer and absorbs it, ensuring that the image is not washed out by ambient light. This allows for clear and vibrant images even in rooms with lights on.

  • What is the lamp life of the laser projector mentioned in the script and how does it compare to traditional projectors?

    -The laser projector mentioned has a lamp life of 20,000 hours. This is significantly longer than traditional projectors, which typically require lamp replacements every one to two years.

  • Why was the Formovie Theater projector chosen for the setup described in the script?

    -The Formovie Theater projector was chosen because it was rated as the best ultra short throw projector by multiple experts, outperforming other brands like LG, Samsung, and Hisense in a comparison test.

  • What type of screen was selected to go with the Formovie Theater projector and why?

    -An Elite Screens fixed frame screen with ambient light rejection technology was selected for its stability, crisp image quality, and the aesthetic appeal of looking like a giant TV. It also has a bezel that absorbs light bleed for a sharper image edge.

  • What additional feature does the screen come with and how does it enhance the setup?

    -The screen comes with an LED light kit that can be run constantly or turned on and off as desired. This high-end set of LED strips enhances the setup by providing additional lighting and creating a more immersive viewing experience.

  • What is the total cost of the laser TV setup described in the script?

    -The total cost of the laser TV setup, including the Formovie Theater projector and the Elite Screens screen, is approximately $5,500.

  • How does the cost of the laser TV setup compare to purchasing a large traditional TV?

    -While the laser TV setup is not cheap, it is significantly more affordable than buying a large traditional TV, especially for sizes above 98 or 110 inches. The laser TV offers a better image quality both during the day with lights on and at night with lights off compared to similarly sized traditional TVs.

  • What alternative options are available for those who want a large screen experience on a budget?

    -There are cheaper ultra short throw projectors and screens available on the market, but for the best image quality and overall experience, the combination of the Formovie Theater projector and the Elite Screens screen is recommended.

Outlines

00:00

📺 The Evolution of Home Theater: Traditional Projectors vs. Laser TVs

This paragraph discusses the transition from traditional projectors to laser TVs in home theaters. It highlights the excellent image quality of large TVs up to 85 inches, but notes their increasing cost beyond this size. The speaker shares their experience with projectors, which offer great picture quality but are best in dark settings and have several drawbacks, such as shadows, washed-out images in light, and the need for lamp replacements. The paragraph introduces laser TV as a superior alternative, emphasizing its ability to overcome the limitations of traditional projectors.

05:01

🏆 Laser TV: The Ultimate Home Theater Setup

The speaker continues the discussion on laser TVs, explaining why they are considered the ultimate home theater setup. They detail the advantages of laser TVs over traditional projectors, including their superior contrast, lack of need for lamp replacements, and the ability to perform well in various lighting conditions. The paragraph also describes a specific laser TV setup, including the choice of projector and screen, and their respective features. The speaker mentions a comparison between different laser TV setups, where the chosen projector outperformed competitors. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's personal endorsement of the laser TV setup, citing its high-quality image and the overall value compared to larger traditional TVs.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Image Quality

Image quality refers to the clarity, sharpness, and overall visual fidelity of the pictures displayed on a screen. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses how different technologies, such as big TVs and projectors, affect image quality. For instance, the speaker mentions that big TVs offer excellent image quality but become expensive at larger sizes, while projectors provide good image quality but require dark conditions to maintain the quality.

💡Home Theater

A home theater is a domestic space dedicated to the reproduction of movie and television content with a high level of audio and video quality. In the video, the speaker is discussing various technologies and setups for enhancing the home theater experience, such as the use of large TVs, projectors, and laser TVs.

💡Projectors

A projector is a device that casts images or scenes onto a screen or other surface by projecting light through a lens system. In the video, the speaker talks about the advantages and disadvantages of using projectors in a home theater setup, including their ability to create large images but also their sensitivity to ambient light and the need for dark conditions to maintain good picture quality.

💡Laser TV

Laser TV is a term used to describe a home theater system that combines a short-throw projector with a specialized screen designed to reject ambient light, allowing for high-quality images even in well-lit rooms. The speaker in the video is enthusiastic about laser TVs, highlighting their ability to overcome the limitations of traditional projectors.

💡Ambient Light Rejection

Ambient light rejection is a feature of certain screens designed to minimize the impact of external light sources on the image quality of a projected image. This technology is particularly useful in home theaters where viewers may want to watch content in rooms with lights on. In the video, the speaker praises this feature, explaining how it allows laser TVs to maintain good contrast and color even in brightly lit environments.

💡Ultra Short Throw Projector

An ultra short throw projector is a type of projector that can display a large image on a screen from a very short distance. This feature is particularly useful for home theaters, as it allows the projector to be placed close to the screen without casting a shadow or requiring a long cable run. The speaker in the video highlights the convenience and effectiveness of ultra short throw projectors in the context of laser TV setups.

💡Lamp Life

Lamp life refers to the duration that a projector's light source, or lamp, can function before it needs to be replaced. A longer lamp life is desirable as it reduces the frequency of lamp replacements, which can be costly and inconvenient. In the video, the speaker contrasts the lamp life of their older projector, which required a replacement every one to two years, with the much longer lamp life of the laser projector they are discussing.

💡4K Resolution

4K resolution, also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD), refers to a display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels on the horizontal axis. It is a significant upgrade from the previous standard of 1080p and provides a much sharper, more detailed image. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions that the laser TV setup they are discussing is rated for at least 4K, indicating a high level of image detail and clarity.

💡Cost per Diagonal Inch

Cost per diagonal inch is a metric used to compare the price of TVs or display devices based on their screen size. It is calculated by dividing the total cost of the device by its diagonal screen size in inches. In the video, the speaker uses this metric to discuss the affordability of large screen options, such as TVs and laser TVs.

💡Ultra Short Throw Projector

An ultra short throw projector is a type of projector designed to project an image from a very short distance to the screen. This is particularly useful for home theaters and other settings where space may be limited or where it is not practical to have a projector far from the screen. The speaker in the video discusses the benefits of ultra short throw projectors, such as their ability to project large images without the need for a dark room or complex setup.

💡LED Light Kit

An LED light kit is a set of light-emitting diode (LED) strips or fixtures that can be installed around a screen or in other areas for decorative or functional purposes. In the video, the speaker discusses how the LED light kit that comes with their laser TV setup can be used to enhance the viewing environment, either by providing additional lighting or by creating a visually appealing effect around the screen.

Highlights

Large TVs offer excellent image quality but become prohibitively expensive beyond 85 inches.

Projectors have been used for years for home theaters but work best in dark conditions.

Laser TV is a new technology that provides a superior viewing experience to traditional projectors.

Traditional projectors have downsides such as shadows cast on the screen and the need for a dark environment.

Running power and HDMI cables to a projector can be challenging in many home setups.

Contrast is significantly reduced when lights are on in a room with a traditional projector.

Projector lamp life is a common issue, requiring replacement every one to two years.

Laser TVs overcome the issues of traditional projectors with features like ambient light rejection.

Laser TV is a combination of an ultra short throw projector and a special screen.

The screen used with laser TVs has a sawtooth pattern that rejects over 90% of overhead light.

Laser projectors have a lamp life of up to 20,000 hours, eliminating frequent lamp replacements.

A laser TV setup was rated best among 14 different setups in a comparison test.

The For Movie Theater projector outperformed brands like LG, Samsung, and Hisense in the comparison.

The Elite Screens screen provides a stable and high-quality viewing experience with its fixed frame design.

The combination of the For Movie Theater projector and Elite Screens screen is considered the ultimate setup for a laser TV.

The cost for the laser TV setup is around five hundred and fifty dollars, offering better value than larger traditional TVs.

The laser TV setup provides excellent image quality both during the day with lights on and at night with lights off.