How does the image we see on our big projector screen get there? The answer is light, and there are three different sources of light projectors you can use: Lamps, LEDS and Lasers.

Lamps

Since the earliest days of projector technology (early 19th century), a light source was needed to cast the image and lamps / globes were used to achieve this. Over the course of 150 years or so, the types of globes have changed as technology improved, but the fundamentals stayed the same – the image you see is being projected by light from a lamp inside the projector. As is the case with all light globes, over time they wear out and need replacing. Most modern-day Home Theatre Projector globes will usually last between 2,500 – 5,000 hours of use, depending on the projector and what settings are used. Once the globe wears out, it needs to be replaced with a new one.

LEDs

In the 1960s, light-emitting diode (LEDs) were invented and soon stated to appear in electronics, but it wasn’t until the late 2000s that LEDs projectors started making their way onto the market. LEDs offer a wider array of colours than traditional ‘white light’ globes, and can create superior black levels, whilst offering lower maintenance cost and frequency. An LED projector typically lasts for about 20,000 hours of use.

Laser Projectors

Now, Projector manufacturers including Sony, JVC and Epson, are moving away from lamp-based technology and introducing a new range of laser light source projectors to the market. Instead of a globe, these projectors use a laser (light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation) which allows for much deeper contrast (the difference between light and dark on the screen), because lasers can be far more precise in preventing light bleeding onto the screen compared to lamp projectors. Lasers are also brighter, sharper, quieter, more energy efficient, and easier to keep cool. The best part, as there’s no globe, there’s no need to keep replacing them when they run out! Laser projectors usually have a half-life of around 20,000 – 25,000 hours! This means the image brightness is expected to be around 50% as bright by the time the unit reaches 25,000 hours of use, but the projector will continue to operate long after this, it’s just the image brightness that very slowly decreases. If you used your laser projector for 10 hours a day, 365 days per year, it would take around 6-8 years to get to the 25,000-hour mark!

Get The Right Advice

Choosing the right projector is something you don’t need to do on your own, we’re here to help.

Come in and see us at Hollywood Cinema Store. We offer a fantastic range of lamp and laser 4K Projectors, with more display rooms than any other store in the State! Our friendly and knowledge staff can create a home theatre solution that will let you enjoy mind-blowing, 4K entertainment all from your couch, leather recliner or beanbag!