After going through a series of TVs the size of aquariums, the last few months have given me enough time to ponder over an option that only appears complicated and expensive. A home projector. Even four years ago, I would have considered it an extravagance that fits the pockets of penthouse owners and their friends. How times have changed. How projectors have evolved.

A few weeks ago, BenQ sent in a loner for review — the BenQ TH585. It’s not the most sophisticated, high-end whoop-de-doo model out there. It’s what one would call an entry-level home projector which can also be used for gaming. Don’t be misled by the “entry-level” tag; it’s powerful. The Taiwanese company is one of the leading players in the segment, keeping as company the likes of Epson, Nebula and LG (yes, Samsung has great options but in India the company is focussed on the TV segment). In fact, after using it for 10 days, it was tough going back to the TV.

Sit back and enjoy the show

A projector is one of those options where the size of the screen depends on the size of your room and the wall you can spare. There are a few types of projectors available in the market, like DLP (digital light processing) and LCD, which are lamp-based, while laser is a completely different technology.

The TH585 is lamp-based and though the company says one can get 15,000 hours out of the lamp, it’s a figure based on conservative use and usage conditions. But if one were to watch four hours a day on average, the projector should offer 10 years of service without having to worry about the lamp, which we believe is as good as some of the best in the market.

A few things make the TH585 perfect for home use. First, it doesn’t need a special screen; any blank wall in the house would do. What if it’s a coloured wall, like blue or yellow? In the display section of the menu there is a setting where you can choose the colour of the wall. Once selected, the picture projection adjusts accordingly. For example, the walls at my place have a yellowish hue, which was easily offset by this option.

The most important part is where are you going to place the projector? It’s about the throw ratio, which is how big the image is in relation to the distance of the projector from the surface. Usually, it’s best to keep it 10-20 feet away from the surface. There are short-throw projectors in which the distance can be a few feet, and ultra-short-throw options where it’s up against the wall. Cost is, of course, a big consideration for some of these options.

We kept the TH585 around 10 feet away from the wall to enjoy a screen which was around 100 inches. In case the room size is bigger, back up the projector for, say, a 150-inch display.

Epson EB-U05 V11H841040 full HD projector: Even in bright rooms, this affordable full HD projector delivers colourful images with clear details. Rs 63,499 on Amazon India.

Nebula Mars II portable projector: It’s a portable option that delivers 720p, 150” HD picture and comes with dual 10W speakers and four hours of non-stop entertainment. Rs 49,820 on Amazon India.

Brightness, contrast and a bit of geometry

With OLED, QLED or LED TVs, the clarity of picture is uncompromised... almost. In case the content has been shot on low resolution, there is a chance of pixilation. And on the flip side, one can’t make the screen go bigger or smaller.

A projector obviously solves the problem of size and tackles the issue of clarity to an extent. The same low-res content when played on a projector doesn’t show up the pixilation because of the way light falls on the surface. That way, low-quality videos from YouTube play better on a projector. Equally impressive is the 3,500 lumens of brightness on the TH585. Daytime, with sunlight streaming in through the window, movies are enjoyable. With the windows shut, things get better. With the lights dimmed, things reach movie-hall-cosy degree. The 1080p projection is just fine and the colour reproduction is impressive.

You must be wondering about the geometry of the wall. There is a vertical keystone button on the remote which helps align the picture to any location. Second, there are some adjustments that can be made using the three screws on the base of the projector, which also helps.

Since there is a light source involved, a good heat dissipation system is needed, which on the device comes in the form of two fans on either side.

The connector section on a projector is important as this is a device you would keep for quite a few years. There are quite a few inputs available, including some old-style ones — for PC, VGA monitor. Then there is audio input and output using a 3.5mm jack. Also included are two HDMI ports and an USB input, which can be used to power Chromecast or Fire TV Stick. One of the HDMI ports also supports MHL which supports mobile devices.

A projector is not just for watching films. There is a huge gaming community which is always searching for bigger screens. Accepted that this is a home projector, it does tackle gaming needs to a good degree. With the game mode on, the input lag is down to 16ms, which is comfortable for casual gamers.

The drawback

Not just on the TH585, most entry-level home projectors let you down in the audio department. There is a 10W built-in speaker, which frankly is not enough for a cinematic experience. We paired it up with a sound system, which is already at home. Since latest TVs also let viewers down in the sound department, chances of having a soundbar in the house are high.

The decision to set up a home theatre

Frankly, it all depends on one’s mindset. Projections can be huge. Getting 100 inches on the wall costs little compared to a TV of that size. At the same time, the ever-improving resolution of a television is something to consider as we slowly move towards 8K content.

For a person who still likes to watch the Dirty Harry series as much as Die Hard, having a projector around is a no-brainer; it’s like having a rendezvous with one’s childhood fantasy. Cinema hall business continues to limp — obviously it won’t forever — but a home projector can make a person feel like a queen or king of one’s nest where a bucket of popcorn and cola won’t cost the sky. For me, the BenQ TH585 (Rs 64,989 on Reliance Digital) made me crack open cola cans for a little over a week, turning my living room into a canvas for a dirty-talking Clint Eastwood and Mario Kart runs. You too can live your childhood fantasy.

Considerations before buying a home projector

Bulb on or off: Lamp-based projectors are cheaper but the bulb will eventually dim but they remain far more affordable than laser projectors. Laser source projectors go low on maintenance and the colours are exact but come at a high cost.

Throw ratio: Traditional projectors are best viewed 10-20 feet away from the surface but there are ultra-short-throw projectors that can be kept right up against the wall.

Surface: Projectors have improved a lot and you really don’t need to invest on a special screen if you have a few clean walls at home. But there are inexpensive screens available.

Resolution: If you buy a high-quality 1080p projector (like BenQ TH585), the difference between this and that of an inexpensive 4K projector won’t make a world of a difference.