Nothing beats a home theater projector at putting up a jaw-dropping image for as little money as possible. We reviewed several of the most popular home-theater projectors from $150 up to $900. All can spit out massive images for minimal dough. These are the best of the lot.
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Optoma HD142X
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/optoma-hd142x/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Optoma HD142X has very good overall image quality with full-HD resolution, solid contrast and accurate color. It’s one of the least expensive projectors available for this level of quality.
The bad: Somewhat lighter black levels and less-accurate color than some more-expensive competitors; no analog video inputs.
The cost: $547.98 to $549.00
The bottom line: The Optoma HD142X has an image so good, it’ll be tough for price-conscious home theater fans to justify paying more for a projector.
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BenQ HT2050
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/benq-ht2050/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The BenQ HT2050 has excellent overall image quality with superb black levels and contrast for the money. A shorter-throw lens helps it project a larger image in smaller spaces. It’s relatively affordable for this level of quality.
The bad: Competing projectors can get brighter and offer more-accurate color out of the box.
The cost: $762.20 to $899.99
The bottom line: If you have a bit extra in your projector budget and can appreciate its excellent image, the BenQ HT2050 is the best choice at this price level.
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Viewsonic PJD7828HDL
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/viewsonic-pjd7828hdl/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Viewsonic PJD7828HDL offers very good image quality for the price, with full HD resolution, a bright image and solid contrast. A short-throw lens helps it project a larger image in smaller spaces. There’s a nook that’s perfect for a streaming stick.
The bad: Somewhat lighter black levels and less accurate color than some more-expensive competitors; poor remote.
The cost: $825.00 to $1,063.21
The bottom line: If you’re short on space yet crave the huge image only a projector can deliver, the Viewsonic PJD7828HDL is worth a close look.
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Epson Home Cinema 640
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/epson-powerlite-home-cinema-640-lcd-projector/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: At $350, the Epson Home Cinema 640 is one of the least expensive home theater projectors available. It’s extremely bright, and thus able to fill larger screens and compete better against ambient light.
The bad: More expensive projectors can deliver full HD resolution and overall superior picture quality. Just one HDMI input.
The cost: $345.52 to $389.99
The bottom line: Despite lack of true HD resolution, the Epson Home Cinema 640 has impressive overall image quality considering the rock-bottom price.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor David Katzmaier and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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