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The Really Big PictureCan a digital projector turn my living room into a screening room?

By Josh LevinPosted Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 7:01 AM ET

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Methodology

If you're thinking about buying a digital projector, you might want to go whole-hog—upgrade your sound system and DVD player and get the best screen you can afford. But I'm a cheapskate. I tested each projector with my second-rate DVD player and iPod speakers. I did try an adjustable screen for a while, but it took up lots of space and didn't noticeably improve image quality. My apartment was also dark enough that I didn't have to consider any kind of blackout shades. I did have to buy a few things to watch high-definition TV, however. Click here if you want to know what I needed.

Along with lots and lots of Saints games, I evaluated each projector with three different DVDs. I used the snow-filled Fargo to test how they handled whites, the sunless sci-fi flick Dark City for blacks, and Finding Nemo for colors. I also critiqued how well each displayed videos from my computer. I had planned to assess the difficulty of getting each device hooked up, but they were shockingly easy to use. Don't worry if you're intimidated by electronics—projectors are nothing to be afraid of. Unless you're trying to mount one to the ceiling. I'll admit, that does seem frightening.

The Projectors

InFocus Play Big IN72, $795
Specs: DLP; 900 ANSI lumens; 854-by-480 native resolution.
Resembles: Pudgy flying saucer.
Features: The InFocus' best attribute is a gyroscopic base that makes it a breeze to position. But it loses points for plug-and-playability. It comes with only a puny composite cable, meaning you'll have to schlep to Radio Shack for cables to connect your DVD player and PC. The InFocus is also worst in show for zoom and focus. The circular dials are hard to budge, making fine control difficult.

Performance: For the cheapest of the bunch, the InFocus holds up well. It was the surprise winner of the Dark City test, where its rich, dark blacks outshone a sea of greenish competitors. It didn't do as well with HD football games, which looked dull and lacked fine detail, and the image was unacceptably washed out with the lights on. The InFocus' picture—a maximum of 82 inches diagonally from 10.5 feet away—is enormous compared to any TV screen. But this was still the smallest of any projector. It takes more than 82 inches to impress me these days.

Recommended for: Movie buffs who don't care about HDTV. It's also a great option for the budget-conscious: As of this writing, you can get the InFocus and a 92-inch screen for $599 after rebate.

Epson Moviemate 30s, $999.99
Specs: LCD; 1,200 ANSI lumens; 854-by-480 native resolution.
Resembles: Overgrown breadmaker.
Features: This mega-appliance jams a home theater into a gigantic (15.4 pounds!) all-in-one cube. Thanks to its built-in DVD player and speakers, you can pop in a disc and start watching—no cables or external devices required. Equally handy are the dials that let you adjust the picture's placement without moving the projector—a thoughtful feature, considering you're liable to get a hernia lifting this beast.

Performance: The Epson aced the Finding Nemo test, producing a more vibrant, vivid coral reef than others. Plus, big things come in big packages: It generated by far the biggest picture, a ridiculous 134 inches diagonally from 10.5 feet. Perhaps due to the size of the image, HD football broadcasts looked pixelated and suffered from a lack of sharpness.

Recommended for: Tech neophytes; anyone who wants an extremely simple all-in-one system.

Panasonic PT-P1SDU, $1,199
Specs: LCD; 1,500 ANSI lumens; 800-by-600 native resolution.
Resembles: A projector, only much, much smaller.
Features: Panasonic claims that this 2.9 pounder is "the world's lightest and smallest LCD projector." It's certainly small enough to carry around all day, or tote in a suitcase. It wouldn't shock me if it also had the world's smallest remote control (it resembles a large cracker) and the world's loudest fan (it sounds like a tiny outboard motor). For digital photographers, there's a built-in SD slot. Drop in your memory card, and you can bore the kids with a slide show in seconds.