Projectors offer a larger screen size and a more cinematic viewing experience than TVs, but they’re not the easiest to set up, which is why we’ve compiled a guide on how to buy a projector for you.
Unless you choose the portable option, you’ll need to make sure you have the projector mount ($20) and audio cables routed correctly to your projector’s location, because a full-size projector can be difficult to set up and focus and fit on the screen, so once you’ve got it all set up, we recommend just leaving it there.
Make sure you have a sufficient number of lumens (how bright the projector will be at its peak, the higher the number the better). 2,000 lumens or more is a good starting space for viewing in any lighting, but 3000 or more is recommended for viewing in a brightly lit room.
Another thing to keep in mind before buying a projector is how much space you need to properly set it up. In most cases, to achieve a screen size of over 100 inches, you’ll need a distance of 10-15 feet between the screen and the projector (be sure to check the “throw distance” listed by the manufacturer in the manual).
If the room is not completely dark, the image will look washed out and difficult to see. If you don’t have a windowless room, consider blackout curtains. For detailed instructions on how to set up your projector once it arrives, I highly recommend this video.
