Direct-view LEDs may grab the headlines, but the projector/screen pairing is still the dominant way to get big-screen experiences at home.
“Beyond the price/performance equation, a key advantage of projectors is the flexibility in designing a great theater system around it,” says Kathleen Thomas, head of sales, Sony’s custom integrator channel. “Large televisions and video walls are amazing, don’t get me wrong, but projectors allow for placement of speakers behind the screen and don’t place a huge reflective surface in the middle of the soundstage.”
Sony’s BRAVIA 8 and BRAVIA 9 projectors were announced in September 2024. “They maintain everything that was award-winning about the previous generation, with a small footprint, solid optical and laser mechanisms, and amazing out-of-the-box performance,” she notes. “They really up the game with the new XR Processor for Projector. Based on the XR Processor that Sony uses in our best televisions, this new processor allows for frame-by-frame analysis and processing of the image as well as the objects in each frame, which offers many advantages. Probably most impressive is the tone-mapping capability that allows the BRAVIA 8 and 9 to resolve image details and color accuracy that projectors at any price struggle with.”
There are several advantages to offering customers a projector and screen combination, including larger screen sizes than current TV offerings, explains Jamie Pasley, general manager, JVC Home Theater Projectors. “Screens can range from 100 inches to 120 inches or more, and the bigger the better to create the most immersive experience,” says Pasley.
Cost-efficiency is another plus, she adds, as projector and screen combinations are more affordable when compared to alternative solutions. “For the cost of a large TV, customers can purchase a high-quality projector and a large screen. And there is customization, as projector screens are offered in different materials and designs that can be tailored to the room’s lighting conditions. When customers are looking for a true cinematic experience at home, nothing is more immersive than a projector and large screen pulling you into the movie, sporting event, or TV show.”
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“We are beginning to see LEDs talked about more in the residential space, and Draper At Home does offer anything from basic wall mounts up to custom structures for larger video walls,” says Tabi Quick, national manager, CI, Draper At Home, “but it’s still tough to beat the size and flexibility of the projector and screen. You can still get projection screens in larger sizes, and viewing materials are available to perform in many different types of conditions. In a traditional home theater, nothing looks better! Plus, in more open spaces when you’re done, with many screen models, you can just retract them into the ceiling or a wall-mounted housing and they’re out of the way! That’s a great selling point — especially in multipurpose rooms where the video content may not always be part of the festivities.”
“A lot is happening in the home theater residential space this year,” Pasley says. “We’re thrilled to be part of the action. JVC’s most recent 2025 model introduction includes the DLANZ500, the world’s smallest native 4K projector built with JVC’s proprietary D-ILA technology and a Blu-Escent Laser. Our Direct Drive Image Light Amplification technology — or D-ILA — is renowned for producing sharp, vivid, and accurate images. By utilizing this advanced technology, the DLANZ500 delivers stunning picture quality.”
The new compact design has a peak brightness of 2000 lumens with superior contrast for deeper blacks that, she adds, “are crucial for achieving that cinematic quality where shadows and dark scenes are rendered with greater depth, ensuring the picture feels more lifelike. The DLANZ500 offers a wide color gamut for richer, more realistic color reproduction. The 4K 80mm lens (11 groups, 15 lenses) delivers full native 4K D-ILA resolution to every corner of the screen and makes installation easy, being fully motorized to control focus, zoom, and lens shift with the remote.”
Pasley says the DLANZ500 was created with user-friendly technology that seamlessly integrates into the user’s lifestyle. “With intuitive controls and effortless connectivity, JVC projectors are designed to enhance your enjoyment, not complicate it,” she says. “The 35 percent reduction in size makes this the world’s smallest Native 4K projector and easier to fit into home theater layouts. Now you don’t have to compromise quality for size. Our proprietary D-ILA technology offers superior resolution, high native contrast, and vivid color reproduction.
“By combining native 4K D-ILA devices and a Blu-Escent Laser light engine, JVC delivers the sharpest images and deepest blacks for a truly immersive viewing experience,” she explains. “The DLANZ500 achieves a 40:000:1 native contrast for images that rival reality. Expect intense brightness and exposure, where colors pop off the screen, perfect for animated movies and content that demands vibrant visuals. The new model offers a redesign of the air intake (front) and exhaust (back).”
Movies are still designed to be experienced on the big screen with projectors, maintains George Walter, VP of sales, Digital Projection. “A projector and screen combination remains the most uniform and immersive way to enjoy a full-length film, delivering optimal color, brightness, and contrast for a natural viewing experience with less eye fatigue than many direct-view displays,” says Walter. “The softer screen material enhances light reflection for a more cinematic feel while also allowing for the ideal placement of center-channel audio behind the screen. Additionally, two-piece projection systems consume less power and require less maintenance than comparably sized direct-view displays, making them a practical and enduring choice for movie enthusiasts.
“DP’s E-Vision 10000i RGB (EV-10K RGB) is a compact projector that leverages pure RGB lasers — without a phosphor wheel — to deliver stunning images with full REC 2020 color and a high contrast ratio,” he notes. “Just five years ago, pure RGB laser projectors came with price tags exceeding $250,000. Today, the EV-10K RGB offers the same exceptional color performance at just one-tenth of the cost. Capable of reproducing approximately 75% of the colors visible to the human eye, it represents a 50% increase over REC 709, setting a new standard for vibrant, true-to-life visuals.”
Advancements in display technology have given consumers an ever-expanding array of options. “Today’s viewers can enjoy more lifelike colors, broader color gamuts, unprecedented contrast ratios, and brightness levels once thought impossible,” Walter concludes. “Beyond hardware improvements, there is now more content than ever to experience on these stunning screens — from movies and gaming to made-for-TV series, breathtaking animation, and live sports. While direct-view displays have replaced some projection applications, there will always be those who appreciate the immersive experience of a projected image on a screen.”
