The Details

Date night for two at the movies can easily run over $60 dollars in an urban area once you factor in exorbitant ticket prices, concessions, and parking. All that and you risk sticky seats, texting teenagers, and chatty couples. Making your own home theater is becoming an increasingly affordable alternative to pricey and unreliable nights out at the movies, with quality projector prices falling and pixel counts increasing.

Once upon a time you needed a spacious, cave-like room to make owning a home projector a feasible entertainment option. But the proliferation of short-throw projectors and steadily rising lumen counts mean that projectors are no longer exclusive to suburban basements. Even apartment living rooms can benefit from the immersive experience of an HD projector. You just need to make sure to buy the right projector for you.

There are a couple factors to keep in mind when picking a projector. First, determine the brightness of your room and how large your screen will be. If you do have a windowless room without any source of natural light, you don’t need a high lumen (measure of brightness) count. Likewise, if your projector screen is less than 100 inches, there is no need to pay up for a 4k resolution projector.

Since your projector will likely stay put in your house, things like portability and built-in audio playback aren’t a concern. Instead, consider whether the projector has low lag time, if it has 3D capability, whether it supports media streaming services, what its casting distance is, and image quality.

I’ve identified a few of the best projectors for different consumers below:

The Best 3D Projector

If you are still deciding between an LCD TV and projector for your home theater, a few minutes with a high quality 3D projector will put an end to your waffling once and for all. The latest 3D projectors give a true approximation of the cinema multi-plex experience. Their grand size and gorgeous colors convey the 3D experience in a way that an LCD TV just can’t. Immerse yourself in three dimensions with crosstalk,” the blurry illusion created by two different transmission channels.  Like all 3D technology on the market, there is some loss in brightness when viewing in 3D.

A few alignment options give some flexibility in set up. Lens shifting allows for the projector to be slightly off center from the screen, though you will have to manually do any lens shifting.

The 1700 lumen lamp will last 5000 hours in eco or 2000 at the highest setting. In low and medium ambient lighting, this projector gives bright and crisp colors and HD black. The lumen count is a bit low for bright rooms, so this is best in dens and media rooms.

The HW40ES is sold as a “gaming projector,” and users have the option to use it in a gaming mode that is said to reduce lag. Reviewers have empirically proven that lag time is reduced to 24 milliseconds, which is one of the absolute best for gaming.

It does not come with 3D glasses, so you will need to invest in a pair that is compatible with Sony projectors.

The Best 4k Projector

For those that want only the best image quality, sharpest contrast, and latest tech, a 4k projector is the way to go. 4k is the new gold standard for video resolution. The new video technology refers to the 4,000 thousand pixels found alongside the horizontal line display. Right now, Sony enjoys a total monopoly of the 4k home projector market. Of the 4k projectors Sony offers, the VPLVW350ES SXRD is the best value for an unbeatable image.

This behemoth of a projector weighs close to 40 pounds and is a commanding 25.1 x 22.9 x 12.6 inches. Inside comes Sony’s SXRD 4k movie theater technology and anamophic 3D capability. This top of the line tech enables you to cast onto a larger screen than some 1080p projectors. Sony says that full brightness (1500 lumens) and resolution are achieved on a 150 inch screen.

Since 4k is relatively new, not a whole lot of media is specifically made for 4k resolution. This is definitely changing, but 1080p HD is still the standard as of now. Sony equipped with the 350ES with Super Resolution upscaling so you can enjoy your content in 4k in the meantime. It uses a ‘Mastered in 4k’ algorithm to upscale HD movies and shows into 4k content. Sometimes this results in a noticeable difference, other times its hard to make a meaningful distinction.

The VPLVW350ES SXRD comes with a 3 year warranty.

The Best Projector for Football Fans

Plan to marathon NFL games all Sunday? You will need an extra bright projector if you are going to set up your home theater in a room with any natural light sources to get the most our of your daytime viewing. The brightest home theater projector is the Epson Home Cinema 1440, which has a staggering 4400 lumens.

This model uses 3LCD projectors for Full HD 1080p images that are rated three times brighter than other projectors in its class. This means you get stunning HD imagery in well-lit rooms, even with all the blinds up.

Easy slide horizontal keystone correction and automatic vertical keystone correction make alignment relatively easy. However, a lack of lens shift means you have to mount the projector dead center from where the image will be projected. This model is also lightweight and compact for a home theater projector, weighing just 13 pounds.

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The Details

Consumers can choose between LCD and LED monitors for their computing needs. LCD monitors, which have been around longer, use a fluorescent panel, twisting crystal lights, and cold cathode technology to illuminate a computer screen. The cold cathode releases electrons that turn into ultraviolet light to make CFL backlighting.

LED monitors use light diodes- instead of cold-cathode and fluorescent technology- to brighten a computer monitor. LED monitors offer better color quality, clarity, and have faster refresh rates, which is good for gamers. They are also the green option, as they use less energy than LCD models.

Dell’s 34 inch UltraSharp U3415W is the best LED monitor on the market right now, with a panoramic view on an ultra-wide curved screen that boasts a cinematic WQHD 3440 x 1440 resolution. Its 10-bit panel operates with 1.07 billion colors, which give a full Adobe RGB gamut.

The large monitor is ideal for multi-tasking. It offers Picture by Picture and Picture in Picture features to maximize potential on its wide screen.It can display content from two separate PCs via USB 3.0 upstream ports so there’s no need for two monitors. You can comfortably fit all of your work from two different devices on the UltraSharp if you have the desk space.

The UltraSharp also features dual 9W integrated speakers to compliment its crystal-clear picture. It comes on a height-adjustable stand that can swivel and tilt, or it can be mounted on the via the standard VESA attachment on its back.

True to LED form, the UltraSharp is made with eco-conscious materials to meet environmental standards and to conserve energy.

Another Option

The UltraSharp’s main competition for the LED monitor crown is the Samsung S34E790C 34-Inch Curved WQHD Cinema Wide Professional LED Monitor. Samsung’s monitor has a 3440 x 1440 resolution and is available for around $800.

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Our choice for the best high-capacity portable charger is the Goal Zero Yeti 400. This charger is easy to use, solidly constructed, and it features an informative LCD display. It offers several different charging ports — two USB outlets, one 12-volt DC outlet, and two AC wall outlets. In my tests, I found it capable of charging a laptop, an iPad, an iPhone simultaneously, while also powering an 12V car emergency light (see photo below).

The Details

Goal Zero is a company that focuses on producing portable chargers for remote locations. Their Yeti 400 charger, priced at $435, is designed to charge any device that requires less than 300W. The charger has a capacity of 33Ah (amp hours) — which is enough to fully recharge a laptop computer about 3-5 times.

The Yeti 400 itself can be recharged three ways — via a standard 120V socket, a 12V car cigarette outlet, or via solar power panel (sold separately). You can also chain it to another Yeti 400, which doubles the battery capacity. Strangely, Goal Zero officially names this product the “Yeti 400 Solar Generator” — even though you must purchase a solar panel separately to use it.

The Yeti’s LCD display is quite helpful — it has a graphic display indicating how much charge is left on the device. There is also an “input” indicator to show the amount of power it’s receiving while being charged. An “output” indicator shows total number of watts being output. You can use watt output indicator to estimate run-times. For example, the Yeti 400 (with 400Wh) should run a 100W light for 4 hours (400/100=4).

Inside the Yeti 400 is a 12V lead-acid battery — this makes the device fairly heavy at 29 pounds. Why doesn’t it have a lighter and more efficient lithium-ion battery? Because at this size, using a lithium-ion battery would cost about five times as much, or around $2000. The lead-acid battery is replaceable, and can be purchased from Goal Zero directly.

The Yeti 400 is available on Amazon for about $435.

Also available is the larger Yeti 1250 which is priced around $1400. This model includes a Anderson Powerpole output (a type of electrical connector used by Anderson Power Products).

Other Alternatives: High-Capacity Portable Chargers

Wagan 400-Watt Power Dome Jump Starter — this device is designed primarily to be a jump starter, but it does have a 12V 18ah battery inside, and it provides power via two AC outlets, one DC outlet, and one USB outlet — many reviewers had issues with this charger however.

NPower UBPS 1800W — this charger has a capacity of 60 amp hours. It can only be charged via an AC wall outlet (no solar charger or DC charging). It has one USB outlet, and five AC outlets.

Xantrex XPower Portable Powerpack – DC and AC outputs – $600

Nature Power Solar Home and RV Portable Backup Power Kit – solar chargeable – $1000

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Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 ($447)

Pros:

• Simple installation
• Five-year warranty

Cons:

• May need to purchase additional cables

Top Review Sources:

• BestFlexibleSolarPanels.com: 4.5/5.0 “One of the very best inventions in solar as far as we’re concerned”
• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (1 review)
• Amazon: 3.5/5.0 (3 reviews) (PVL-68)

The Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 is a commercial-grade, peel-and-stick flexible solar panel. As its name implies, each PowerBond PVL-136 panel will produce 136 watts, and multiple PVL-136s can be chained together for increased output. This panel is intended to be installed on building, boat, and RV rooftops, though it will work just about anywhere with a clean, large surface. The PVL-136 stays put because of its adhesive backing and will not slide off even in high winds or high heat. In fact, its high-heat operation distinguishes it from crystalline silicon, which degrades in performance as temperatures rise. The PVL-136 works in temperatures up to 185 °F. It is able to operate in low-light and shadowy conditions because of its amorphous solar cells. Each panel measures 216” L x 15.5” W x 0.2” D and weighs 17 pounds. The PVL-136 comes with a five-year warranty.

Purchase the Uni-Solar PowerBond PVL-136 solar panel on Amazon. You’ll also find the smaller PVL-68 ($234) and larger PVL-144 ($465).

PowerFilm R14 ($200)

Pros:

• Rugged construction
• Portable

Cons:

• Adapters for devices not included

Top Review Sources:

• Preparedness Advice Blog: “I was impressed with the one we had the opportunity to test”
• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (1 review) (R28)

The PowerFilm R14 is a flexible solar charger designed to charge small- and medium-size devices such as netbooks, LED lanterns, and 12-volt batteries. The R14 is built to move, with a rollable, waterproof design and extreme temperature operability. It is useful for camping, hiking, and marine excursions. If it is punctured, it will continue to provide solar power, though its ability to repel water will be compromised. The R14 produces 14 watts and is able to function in cloudy conditions. When unrolled, it measures 14.5” W x 42” L (14.5” W x 4” diameter when rolled) and weighs about a pound. Devices are connected via the included RA-2 female cigarette lighter adapter, so make sure you have the proper cord for the gadget you wish to charge. Reviewers like the durability of the R14 and praise its performance/size balance.

Amazon sells the PowerFilm R14. Amazon also sells other rollable solar panels in the PowerFilm line, including the smaller R7 ($140) as well as the larger R21 ($270) and R28 ($346).

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