Quietest Projectors for Home Theaters and Gaming
Are you in the market for a new projector? Whether you want to play games on the big screen or watch some classic cinema with friends, the right projector should run seamlessly. After all, who wants to be distracted by a noisy fan while they’re watching the big game?
How to Select the Best, Quietest Projector
It can be tempting to opt for the cheapest projector you can find; however, it’s important that you get a product that will last for a long time, run nearly silently, and create a clear image every time.
First, you should research the distinct types of projectors that are currently available. Depending on whether you’re an avid gamer or movie fan, the right projector for you may be different than the most popular one on the market.
One of the most popular kinds is the DLP projector, also known as the Digital Light Processor. This type of product uses mirrors in order to reflect light through an internal color segment, creating the most accurate image as possible. Be warned that cheap DLP projectors run the risk of creating the dreaded “rainbow effect”, which flashes inaccurate colors across the screen.
Other types include 3LCD projectors and LCoS, which are both slightly more pricey and require more frequent maintenance. However, both are usually more quiet than DLP projectors since they don’t generate much heat during operation.
Additionally, you should consider what type of space you want to project in. If your viewing room in on the small side, you should pay attention to minimum and maximum throw distances. Short throw distances are a good feature, since they allow for a high quality image projected from only a small distance away.
Lastly, yet just as importantly, noise level should be one of the biggest considerations in your projector purchase. If the manufacturer specifies the operating noise of the machine, you should look out for products that produce noises of between 30 to 40 decibels – this is considered whisper-quiet operation.
Typically, the less overheated the projector gets, the quieter it will run. Old projectors tend to get hot much more quickly, incurring the loud noise of a running fan.
Review of the Quietest Projectors for Home Theaters and Gaming
Here, we’ve collected three of some of the most trusted, reputable, and cost effective projectors that work effectively in gaming and cinematic environments.
1. Optoma HD243X 1080p Projector
- SUPER-BRIGHT: Enjoy an incredible 3, 300 lumens of brightness in any space such as a home theater, living room, or in your backyard for outdoor movie nights
- STUNNING PICTURE QUALITY: High contrast (24, 000: 1), reference display mode and RGB combine to deliver bright, accurate colors that are perfectly aligned to the REC. 709 and REC. 709b color space.
Ideal for indoor and outdoor events, the Optoma HD243X creates a super-bright picture at an incredible 3,300 lumens in any space. This project has a high contrast of 24,000:1, reference display mode, and full RGB color gradation to deliver the most accurate picture that’s perfectly aligned to the REC 709 space.
Many gamers prefer the Optoma since it creates virtually no lag, allowing for fast 1080p input response times at 16 ms. The projector can be connected to all major types of gaming consoles and PCs through the dual HDMI input.
No matter the input, the projector boasts full 3D 1080p support for blu-ray disc players, broadcasting, latest generation consoles, and more. With a 1920 x 1080 resolution, images and sharp and clear without requiring any compression or image downscaling.
The HDMI and USB power inputs provide the simplest type of connectivity to essentially every modern streaming device, while also allowing for 3D sync port inputs and 3.5 audio in and out ports.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, this projector creates very little noise since the projection doesn’t incur much heat even after long hours of use. Though the price may seem too good to be true, thousands of satisfied customers have left glowing reviews about the image quality, lack of lag, and extreme reduction of whirring fan noises.
Pros
- Very silent operation due to effective cooling mechanisms and low runtime heat generated during use
- 3,300 lumens of brightness make the projector perfect for use in indoor and outdoor events
- Allows for 3D rendering through gaming consoles, high performance PCs, and blu-ray disc ports
Cons
- May cause rainbow effects when projector is left still on certain images for too long, causing color transference to other projections
2. ViewSonic 3600 Lumens SVGA High Brightness Projector
- VERSATILE PROJECTOR: Advanced visual features ideal for use in education and small business environments
- BIG SCREEN PROJECTION: Projects 120 inches from 15-feet 8-inches in 3800 lumens
The versatile ViewSonic projector utilizes advanced visual features that make it ideal for small businesses, events, and educational environments.
Creating large projections that range from 30 to 300 inches, the projector is a very usable tool that generates noises in the range of 27dB. Additionally, the projector boasts a high 3600 Lumens, making it perfect for dimly lit or even fully lit environments without creating glare.
If you aren’t satisfied, the projector comes with a three year limited parts and labor coverage warranty, with one year of lamp coverage and lifetime access to a 24/7 customer service team. This makes it one of the industry leaders in terms of customer satisfaction and protection.
Additionally, the lamp life is exceedingly long, allowing for the light to shine for up to 15,000 hours without any faults or interruptions. It has resolution support for VGA (640 x 480) to Full HD (1920 x 1080).
ViewSonic draws from a proprietary 6-segment color wheel grading that allows for highly accurate color rendering. Moreover, many customers appreciate the vertical keystone correction that automatically helps to eliminate crooked and distorted images every time.
The entire projector kit comes with the SVGA projector, power cable, VGA cable, and remote control. Ultimately, customers turn to the ViewSonic because it’s a name brand in collegiate and secondary education classrooms, in addition to being known for its low sound disturbance.
Pros
- Uses patented color grading technology that helps to match projected image to high definition colors without any compression
- Automatic keystone correction helps the projector to fix distortions in image output almost immediately
- Very bright projection at 3,6000 lumens, making it suitable for any type of projection environment in most lighting conditions
- Industry leading warranty and customer service offered with projector purchase
Cons
- Fan may get louder over years of use; however, this can be corrected by sending the projector in to the manufacturer for free
3. BenQ HT2050A 1080P Projector
- SUPERIOR PICTURE QUALITY: 1080p Projector with brightness of 2,200 Lumens, high native contrast ratio and 96% Rec. 709 color accuracy calibration.
- HIGH RESPONSIVENESS: The specialized low input lag of 16ms and unique game modes ensure gamers an ultra-smooth gaming experience.
With superior picture quality and a high degree of responsiveness, the BenQ is a name brand in theater and gaming projection. Through using a specialized low input lag of only 16 ms, this projector is perfect for high-intensity and competitive gaming events.
At just eight feet away, this projector can achieve a 100 inch screen and may project up to 300 inches. Most media players, gaming consoles, PCs, Macs, and mobile devices are supported with the HDMI and USB inputs on the projector.
As one of the most highly rated projectors from the Projector Central awards group, the BenQ uses DLP technology that is used in 90 percent of the world’s cinema theaters. DLP tech is well known for its ability to reduce all sources of lag, heat-caused corrosion, and whirring fan noise.
In addition to being very responsive, the BenQ uses Cinematic Color in order to provide the most accurate and enhanced images possible. Many customers believe the BenQ is suitable for even small-sized rooms due to the superior short throw projection feature, allowing for large projections from very close up.
No matter what surface you place the BenQ on, the 2D Keystone feature allows for the projector to correct trapezoidal projections when placed at an indirect angle.
Pros
- Uses DLP technology that is utilized in cinematic theaters all over the world
- Features short throw projection that creates large images even from very close up
- 2D keystone feature allows for image correction, even when the projector is placed at an inconvenient or indirect angle
Cons
- No options for 3D image or video rendering provided through the BenQ input and output ports
- Only guarantees 7000 hours of lamp life, which is half the life of the BenQ’s competitor brands
4. Vankyo Leisure 510 HD Projector
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As one of the most cost effective projectors out there, the Vankyo holds its own in the projection technology market. The Vankyo utilizes upgraded LED light source and LCD display technology in order to eliminate sources of light attenuation. On average, this provides an 80 percent brightness boost as compared to name brand projectors.
Supporting a 44 to 230 inch projection size, the projector can placed merely 4.9 feet away for the smallest focus size available. Considering the price of the projector, this performance is stunning even if it’s not technically the best available.
This projector is great for informal cinematic gatherings and gaming with friends and family. Compatible with smartphones, consoles, computers, and blu-ray disc players, the projector features extensive input and output ports for endless pairing. However, iPhone users will need an extra Micro USB to HDMI adapter in order to connect with the projector.
Many customers appreciate the Vankyo because it features hifi level stereo audience performance. The two, built in 3W stereo speakers create effective audio support and an even better viewing experience. It’s easy to set up the Vankyo at any time without requiring connection for costly external speakers.
Some have complained about the slight lag the Vankyo produces when using very high quality rendering options on specific fast-paced games. However, you should keep in mind that the quality of the Vanko has been balanced with its incredibly cheap price.
Ultimately, the Vankyo provides a great option for budget buyers who want to use the projector informally. Additionally, the projector uses ultra quiet fans in order to reduce all sources of noise amplification in any setting.
Pros
- Very cost effective option for use in indoor settings
- Features a wide variety of connection ports that are suitable for any smart device, PC, Mac, gaming console, and blu-ray disc player
- Features upgraded light sourcing in order to boost brightness by over 80 percent and decrease annoying light attenuation
- Comes with built-in hifi stereos that eliminate the need for expensive external speakers
Cons
- May lag slightly on very fast paced, highly graphics quality games, making the projector much better for cinematic experiences rather than professional gaming