How to buy a projector for home or office: seller offers
The room matters more than the brand
A projector is chosen not by its name but by the conditions it will work in. A dark home-cinema room and a bright meeting room need two different devices. In the first case moderate brightness is enough, in the second you need a lot more light.
So in your request describe the room: can the windows be darkened, from what distance will you project and what picture size do you want.
What to put in your request
- what for - home cinema, presentations, games, a children's room, outdoors;
- resolution - HD, Full HD or 4K;
- brightness - in ANSI lumens, for example 3000;
- picture size - how many inches and from what distance, and whether the room is bright;
- features - Android and Wi-Fi, built-in speaker, autofocus and keystone correction, short throw;
- what is included - screen, ceiling mount, cables;
- model, new or used, warranty and budget.
Example: “I need a Full HD projector for home cinema in a darkened room, a 120-inch picture from 3 m away. With Android and autofocus, preferably with a screen and mount. Official warranty, budget up to HK$3,800.”
Specifications that are easy to overlook
Brightness in lumens varies: the “light lumens” in adverts are often much higher than the ANSI lumens that are used for a real comparison. Ask for ANSI to be stated. Resolution has a catch too: some models only accept a 4K signal and draw in lower resolution, so ask about the “native” resolution.
Throw distance also matters. For 120 inches a standard projector needs a few metres, and in a small room you will need a short-throw model. And do not forget the lamp: in laser and LED models the light source usually lasts longer than an ordinary lamp, and replacing a lamp can cost a noticeable amount. Ask about its life and the replacement price.
New or used
In used projectors the most important things are the lamp hours and the condition of the optics. Ask for a photo of a black screen with no spots and for the hours of use. For a new one, check that the warranty is official and what it covers.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
You describe the task once on BlaBlaPrice, and sellers reply in a chat: model, price, what is in the box, delivery. They see where their offer ranks, so they compete, and the price often turns out better. The best offer by content is shown first, with seller reviews next to it. Contacts are opened only to the seller you choose. More about the process on the “How it works” page.
For sound and a screen to go with the projector there are TV and video accessories, and if a projector seems too much, compare it with TVs.
