Even since the earliest days of television technology, people across the UK have sought ways to bring the cinema experience right into their own homes. Thanks to advances in TV technology and screen sizes, the idea of building a home cinema has gone from a distant pipe dream to a full-on reality!
But a 98 inch TV isn’t the only option for budding home cinema set-ups. Home projector technology has also seen a number of significant strides through the years. Now, home projectors pose quite serious competition to even the best 98 inch TVs.
But which of the two display types is really best? Which would give you the best film and TV-watching experience? Is TV destined to concede the home entertainment throne to the long-maligned projector? Or will the TV still reign supreme? With the help of the Reliant tech experts, we’re going to find out.
What’s Better For A Home Cinema? 98 Inch TV vs Projector
Ultimately, though home projectors have improved massively since their infancy, we still must give a slight edge to larger televisions when it comes to building a home cinema. Though projectors can achieve a massive image size, they’re not quite as capable of displaying truly HD images. This means that films can occasionally look worse. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Projectors do have a few distinct benefits.
What Are The Advantages Of Projectors For Home Cinema?
Projectors can reach some truly impressive image sizes. Where TVs currently max out at a size of around 98 inches, projectors can display an image much larger than that. All you need to do is find a suitable wall, position the projector, and enjoy!
Projectors can display images at sizes that far outclass even the biggest TVs. The trouble is that they tend to lack slightly in terms of visual fidelity. They need the right conditions to look best.
Projectors are also incredibly compact and easy to use. When you’re finished watching something on a projector, you can store it away. This means it takes up no space when out of use, unlike a large TV.
Projectors also often come at a fraction of the price of the largest TVs. This makes them a convenient option for those who want the home cinema experience but may be on a stricter budget.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Projectors For Home Cinema?
Unfortunately, despite being able to create such massive images, projectors simply can’t match the clarity of 98 inch TVs.
The reason for this ultimately comes down to how projectors display an image. Unlike a TV, which shines light outward, toward the viewer, a projector displays reflected light. Before the image from a projector reaches your eyes, it first needs to reflect off of the viewing surface. While this does reduce eye strain, it also reduces the clarity of any image. Colours appear slightly more muted, and contrast is significantly reduced. Darker images in particular can appear very muddy, as black values are likely to instead display as a dull grey.
Projectors, thus, aren’t the best option for displaying your films in full 4K, let alone using HDR. They’re fantastic for offering sheer scale, but they lack clarity.
The way projectors operate also means you have to have the perfect space for them. Any ambient lighting within the space can make the image appear duller. This is because the projected image does not provide much light of its own. Trying to watch a projected image in a room inundated with sunlight is nearly impossible!
What Are The Advantages Of 98 Inch TVs For Home Cinema?
Going by what we explored earlier, the biggest strength 98 inch TVs have going for them is their clarity. A 98 inch TV does not need to reflect its image off of a wall. Instead, it simply projects it out directly to you, by shining light in your direction. This in turn results in a much more crisp and eye-catching visual experience, even during the daytime.
A TV is best for displaying images with ultimate clarity. The improvements in brightness allow colours to be sharp and for contrast to be immensely clear. This is especially the case for OLED TVs that have unrivalled black levels.
If you want your films to look their very best, then a 98 inch TV is absolutely the best option. At 98 inches, the screen still offers a true panoramic view of your favourite films, despite not being quite as massive as a projected image.
What Are The Disadvantages Of 98 Inch TVs For Home Cinema?
Of course, the biggest obstacle that stands in the way of many people grabbing 98 inch TVs is the price. 98 inch TVs are still some of the more costly models on the market. As such, you might be tempted by a projector thanks to its lower cost.
98 inch TVs also take up a lot of space. If you want to reclaim some of your wall space in between films, then a projector may be the better option, as it can be stored away between uses.
98 inch TVs may cost a little more than projectors, but they offer far greater visual clarity and a much smoother user experience. They’re easily the best option for a home cinema.
However, it cannot be understated just how great of an investment a 98 inch TV is. The improvements in visual clarity over even the best projectors make 98 inch TVs absolutely essential for cinephiles and binge watchers. If you make frequent use of your TV, then there’s no reason not to max out on the largest screen possible!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Better For A Home Cinema? 98 Inch TV vs Projector
98 inch TVs are far greater than projectors when it comes to building a home cinema. While projectors may offer a greater image size, they simply can’t keep up when it comes to visual fidelity. 98 inch TVs look better, and allow your favourite films to shine. Projectors are best for those who want a compact and affordable display option.
Are Projectors Better Than TVs For Your Eyes?
One distinct advantage to projectors that many people often overlook is that they are easier on the eyes. When you look at a projected image, you are looking at light that has first been reflected off of a surface before reaching your eyes. This means that the light appears softer. In turn, your eyes are far less likely to be strained by a projector than by a TV, which sends out light directly!
