High-End TV Projectors

Though large and useful portable screens can be had for just a few hundred dollars, people who get serious about front projectors often mount them permanently on the ceiling and have a special screen that rolls down. Steve declares two big advantages to front-projectors: They can give you a really gigantic picture that immerses you in the action, and you'll watch by reflected light, which (he says) is the way movies were meant to be seen.

Angela's leaving the "meant to be seen" thing alone, but she does point out one big downside to front-projection viewing: for a really good picture, you have to watch in the dark, as any ambient light striking the screen washes out the picture. Serious videophiles--more serious than either Steve or Angela--will invest in special lamps that don't hit the screen.

If the portability of the front-projection units appeals to you, there's a new category of all-in-one unit that you might like: these devices put a DVD player, stereo speakers, and even a little subwoofer right into the projector's housing. They're a bit heavy, and none of the units the Duo has seen really qualify as high-definition, but if it's a theater in a box you're after, they might do the trick. The Duo checked out the stylish-looking HP EP9010 as well as a Cinego unit from Radio Shack and the MovieTime DV10 from Optoma.

As for high-def, a slightly pricier Panasonic LCD unit (called the PT-AE700U) with 720p resolution, HD inputs, and a lot of advanced features--but no audio--caught Steve's eye during testing. Further up the food chain, you can get various units that are brighter and better, but movie fans that truly believe in the reflected-light experience will find much to like in the category as a whole.