LED vs. Non-LED Projectors: What You Need to Know

March 6, 2024 Lelch

LED vs. Non-LED Projectors: What You Need to Know

A projector is an essential part of any home theater setup.

Not only will it produce the image you watch on your projection screen, but it also is a serious investment.

You want your projector to produce the best image quality within your home theater, and finding the perfect projector might include doing some research.

Here’s one basic question: Should you go with an LED or a non-LED projector?

In this blog, we’ll compare the two common projector types so that you can have a better idea of which one might suit your Wayzata, MN home theater best.

Simply keep reading to find out more.

What is an LED projector?

The fundamental difference between an LED and a non-LED projector is how it distributes light.

A non-LED projector typically will use a mercury bulb to distribute light. LED projectors, meanwhile, use an array of red, green, white and blue light-emitting diodes instead of a typical bulb.

These diodes, when activated, produce light that then either get reflected off a Digital Light Processing (DLP) chip or passed through Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) layers and then onto your screen.

While the most significant difference between LED and non-LED projectors might be in the way they distribute light, that contrast can have vital impacts on your viewing experience.

LED vs. Non-LED: Pros and Cons

If you were to use an LED and non-LED projector side-by-side, you instantly would be able to tell the difference.

These variances range far beyond the first use, however.

Initially, you might notice that a non-LED projector is much brighter.

This is because LEDs cannot produce enough lumens to produce a truly bright image. Lamp-based technologies have a significant edge over LEDs in this regard.

But LED projectors often operate at cooler temperatures than their non-LED counterparts, meaning that they avoid warm-up and cool-down time and also function significantly quieter.

Another major difference between LEDs and non-LED bulbs lies within reliability.

LED lifespans, for example, can last for tens of thousands of hours – significantly longer than any projection bulb available. In addition, LEDs fail far less often compared to common bulbs.

A Custom Solution for Your Theater

Choosing a projector is a difficult process.

Even if you’ve determined whether you prefer an LED or a non-LED projector, you still have plenty of features to sort through – including image resolution, aspect ratio and other specifications.

That’s why we at Lelch Audio Video recommend you seek our help as you look for the ideal projector for your home theater setup. We can also help you find the ideal screen to match with it.

We can work with you and help you find the perfect fit for your system – and install it for you.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to finding your ideal projector. What matters is that you enjoy it from the moment you first use it.

If you have any questions about projectors and how you can find the perfect one for your Wayzata, MN home theater setup, we encourage you to reach out to us.

To get in touch, you can either call (612) 353-5087, chat live with a member of our team by clicking on the button at the bottom-right corner of your screen or fill out a short form on the page linked below. We look forward to assisting you!

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LED vs. Non-LED Projectors: What You Need to Know