TECH ANALYSIS – Modern video games are continually pushing towards more significant and immersive visual experiences. Projectors are becoming increasingly popular among gamers as they enable massive displays and captivating gaming sessions. The Hisense C1 4K TriChroma Projector is an ideal choice for gamers, thanks to its outstanding image quality and low input lag. In this article, we’ll dive into how to connect a console or PC to the projector, the benefits of this setup, and share tips and tricks for achieving the best results and most engaging experience.

Imagine your favorite game characters appearing life-sized on your wall, with vast battlefields or race tracks filling your entire field of vision. Projectors allow for a deeper immersion into the gaming world, bringing out details in ways traditional TVs simply can’t match. With a properly set up projector, you can experience visuals that are incomparable to those offered by conventional TVs.

The Magic and Technological Edge of Projectors

Home theater projectors have been around for some time, yet they still manage to retain a certain “cool factor.”

Even after months of using high-end televisions, projecting your games onto a massive screen always feels novel. There’s no doubt that with continued use, this novelty might fade, but for now, a projector remains a unique piece of electronics that feels special.

Connecting a console or PC to a projector is relatively straightforward, but a few essential considerations can ensure the perfect outcome. Most modern projectors, including the Hisense C1, feature various input ports, but the HDMI port provides the highest quality video and audio signal. Consoles like the PlayStation or Xbox and modern PCs come equipped with HDMI outputs, making them the best choices for connection.

After connecting the HDMI cable, it’s crucial to check the video output settings. The Hisense C1 projector supports 4K resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate, ideal for most games. In the console or PC settings, select the appropriate resolution and refresh rate to get the best picture.

Benefits of Projectors in Gaming

One of the most significant advantages of projectors is the massive projected image, which offers a much larger field of view compared to an average TV. A screen larger than 100 inches allows gamers to fully immerse themselves in the game world. This is particularly useful in multiplayer modes where players use split-screen. On a larger display, each player’s section is more visible, enhancing the experience.

In addition to the larger screen, projectors allow for higher resolution and better image quality. The Hisense C1’s 4K resolution and high brightness ensure that images are sharp and detailed, even at larger sizes. Furthermore, projectors’ low input lag is crucial for gamers, as it keeps reaction times minimal during gameplay.

Besides the large screen and sharp image quality, projectors offer the flexibility of being placed in any room. They can be easily moved and used in multiple rooms, unlike large-screen TVs, which require a fixed location.

Best Practices and Tips for Using a Projector

For the best results, follow some proven practices. One key aspect is the correct placement of the projector. The Hisense C1’s optimal projection distance is typically between 2-4 meters, depending on the desired screen size. Place the projector on a stable, flat surface to avoid image movement or distortion. Using a stand or a stable surface is recommended.

Managing ambient light is crucial to maintaining the quality of the projected image. For the best experience, project in a dark room with minimal natural light. If this isn’t possible, use blackout materials or shades to reduce the impact of ambient light on the projected image.

A proper sound system is essential for a complete gaming experience. While the Hisense C1 has built-in speakers, it’s worth connecting an external sound system for outdoor projections to ensure the sound quality and volume are adequate. Bluetooth speakers or portable sound systems are excellent choices for this purpose.

How Much Lag?

One specific benefit of the Hisense C1 is its low input lag, which is crucial for fast-paced games.

In recent years, input lag has become more of a concern as new display technologies like HDR increase it in high-end televisions, leading to the need for dedicated ‘game modes’ that turn off additional processing to bring the input lag down to a reasonable level.

However, using a Leo Bodnar input lag tester, the Hisense C1’s total input lag was measured at 35.3 ms. To put that in perspective, anything below 40 ms is generally considered acceptable for gaming, making 35.3 ms more than adequate for casual, solo gaming. For competitive, esports gaming, a TV or monitor with super low input lag might be preferable, but you wouldn’t use a projector for esports anyway.

The Advantages and Necessary Compromises of Gaming Projectors

Gaming projectors, especially the Hisense C1 4K TriChroma Projector, offer numerous advantages for gamers. The large screen size and excellent image quality, combined with the projector’s flexibility to be used in various settings, make the Hisense C1 a top choice. Its low input lag and high resolution ensure that games are always sharp and responsive.

There are reasons why not everyone games on a projector despite their advantages over televisions. They lag behind televisions in adopting the latest technologies, you need external speakers, and they can get hot and noisy during use. Fortunately, the Hisense C1 is not particularly noisy, and its built-in speakers are high quality, making external speakers almost unnecessary.

Daytime use is not always ideal for projectors, and this is true for the C1 as well. Bright rooms can negatively affect the projected image quality. Projectors perform better in darkened environments where the image sharpness and colors stand out. Moreover, there are more distractions in a living room that can diminish the gaming experience, such as light from windows or the room’s layout. If you can fully darken a room, these issues disappear; otherwise, having a TV for daytime gaming might be wise, then switch to the projector for nighttime gaming.

But putting these issues aside, gaming on a projector offers a fantastically cool experience. It feels great to play on an entire wall, especially in a room that wouldn’t otherwise accommodate a TV of similar size. This sheer size was fantastic when gaming with friends, but even alone, it offered an incredible sense of immersion.

If you’ve ever looked at your television and thought, “This is great, but it would look much better if it took up an entire wall,” then a projector might be just what your living room needs.

-theGeek-