NEW SENSATIONS

NEW SENSATIONS VIA NEW GENERATIONS

James Drummie, Product Manager at distributor AWE, looks at the shifting trends in two key sectors.

The pandemic has caused a shift in trends when it comes to ‘projectors vs super-size TVs’ in the home. With people now spending more time in their homes – especially with hybrid working becoming the norm, the space we live in has become more flexible and multi-functional to accommodate the need to work, relax and play.

We’ve noticed a boom in media rooms for example, which can be a space to work or relax during the day and quickly adapt to become a family entertainment area in the evenings. A hidden cinema in a living room is a great way of creating a multi-purpose space, with projectors and screens hidden in the ceiling and in-wall speakers behind the acoustic fabric, only noticeable when in use.

PROJECTORS ARE HAVING A MOMENT

Combined with the impressive technical developments in the projector market, we’ve seen more and more of our customers opting for a projector and screen combo. Clients can now enjoy the advantages of a projector, without needing to dedicate an entire room to function as a ‘home cinema’ – making it more of an accessible option for clients, than ever before.

At both ends of the market, projectors are getting much better. For under £5,000 you can get a 4K laser projector from Epson that includes a huge lens shift, motorised optics and an incredibly bright 2,700 lumens. With proprietary 3LCD technology, the projector’s colour brightness matches its lumen level.

At the top end, you have the amazing Sony GTZ-380 native 4K projector. Utilising three lasers to produce 10,000 lumens of brightness, this projector can achieve 100% DCI-P3 colour without the need for filters, so still at 10,000 lumens of brightness.

IS THERE SERIOUS COMPETITION FROM ‘SUPER-SIZED TVS’?

Projectors have become so good that some of the previous issues that held clients back from this option, such as budget, colour brightness and ambient light, are becoming less of a concern. The TV market is fighting back with super-size TVs, and these are becoming viable options for home cinema. A good example is Sony’s amazing 100in full-array backlit LED screen, which is available to purchase at under £15,000. The Sony 100in makes a great alternative for home cinema, especially if it’s in a room where light control is a problem.

IS A DEDICATED CINEMA ROOM NOW AN ELITE CONCEPT?

A dedicated cinema room isn’t just for the super-rich - a garage or loft space can easily be converted into a fantastic home cinema room. Sure, we are seeing a growing preference towards multi-purpose media rooms with ‘hidden technology’ but dedicated cinema rooms are the holy grail for true movie fanatics.

A dedicated cinema room doesn’t have to be a more expensive option and shouldn’t be written off as an elitist concept just yet. Take a look at our new performance cinema at AWE, it’s a fantastic home cinema space with the latest technologies – all the AV equipment featured in the room (projector, screen, amplification and speakers) comes in at around £25,000.