Thinking of turning your basement into a mini-theater? Well, good idea. A basement is a place of chill reserved for doing the things we love, hanging out with friends, and watching movies.
Things will be even better if you have a projector in the basement. You can watch movies with friends and family on a cinema level.
However, it is a bit complicated to set up a projector in the basement considering light sources and projection distance.
There are a few models that would be a perfect fit for the basement. Besides being the right pick, these projectors comply with your needs and budget.
To save you the hassle of going through unlimited options, we have brought you some of the best projectors for the basement.
These will surely help you have a great time in the basement.
Best Projectors For Basement Reviews
- Best Overall: BenQ 1080P Home Theater Projector
- Affordable: FANGOR WiFi Projector
- Value for Money: ViewSonic M1 Mini LED Projector
1. FANGOR WiFi Projector
This good-looking projector is a performer when it comes to offering a cinematic experience. Use it as a basement projector and it will not disappoint.
With an extensive range of features, it has a lot to offer in terms of quality and performance.
The projector has a better resolution and contrast ratio for better visibility.
Brightness – The projector features the latest LED technology with 80% improved brightness. It has 6000L brightness to project a brighter and in-depth image.
Battery – It is made of innovative technology with a built-in 8400 mAh battery. The playback time is 2.5 hours at full power exactly equal to the movie time.
Resolution – It supports 1920*1080P resolution to create an image with vivid colors. The projector also has a high contrast ratio of 6000:1.
Screen Size – It accommodates screen display size of 30″ to 200″ and the projection distance is between 3 to 20 ft. However, the recommended distance is 8ft for better projection quality.
Read Complete Review: Fangor Projector
Pros
- 80000 lamp hours
- 720p native resolution
- ±45° electric keystone correction through remote control
- Zoom function from 100% to 75%
- Bluetooth options for wireless speaker
- Supports smartphones, TV Adapters, ChromeBook, Tablets, Blue-ray DVD player, and other devices.
Cons
- Bluetooth functionality is restricted to audio
- WiFi direct only
2. BenQ HT2050A 1080P Home Theater Projector
This is a perfect home theater projector whether you are setting it up in a basement, living room, or in the garden area for an event.
BenQ is a renowned brand for manufacturing quality projectors, so, you will treat your eyes with brilliant visuals and cinematic colors.
It provides the best services, especially, when you are having friends over for a gaming session
DLP Technology – With the integration of the latest DLP technology, the projector is made durable with a slimmer design.
It projects vibrant, sharper, and crisper images on the screen. It is the leading technology used in most high-end models.
Picture Quality – The projector supports 1080p resolution with a high native contrast ratio and >96% Rec. 709 accuracies. It has an appropriate brightness of 2200 lumens.
Low Latency Gaming – It can be a perfect gaming projector with low input lag and microsecond DMD response time. There is no motion blur or image lag with unique game modes.
Connectivity – With different input options like HDMI, USB, and more, it supports most media players, gaming consoles, PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.
Read Complete Review: BenQ HT2050A
Pros
- Can project up to 300 inches
- Award-winning best projector for the money
- 16ms low input lag
- No rainbow effect
- Backlit remote
Cons
- Lacks power zoom/focus
- Projects dim video
3. ViewSonic M1 Mini+ Ultra-Portable LED Projector
This projector fits into the pocket, so, you can take entertainment anywhere you go, be it indoor or outdoor.
It can offer a cinematic experience when you are chilling in the basement with your friends. The small projector packs a punch with so many features and styles.
Portable – The pocket-sized projector will provide big-screen entertainment in multiple locations, both indoor and outdoor. With true portability, it is lightweight and measures only 4” x 4”. It can fit into a purse, backpack, or pocket.
Streaming – Live stream sporting events or binge-watch Netflix and Disney+ using a dongle straight from the basement.
Picture Quality – The LED projector has WVGA (854x480p) resolution for better image quality. Eliminate crooked and distorted images using automatic vertical keystone correction.
Audio – It has a Bluetooth connection for audio-only and has an in-built JBL Bluetooth speaker for loud and clear sound quality.
Read Complete Review: Viewsonic M1+ Portable LED Projector
Pros
- The battery lasts 1.5 hours and is compatible with a power bank
- Ergonomic design for easy placement
- Smart stand acts as a lens cover
- Supports HDMI 1.4, USB Type A, Wi-Fi, and USB Type C
- Integrated Aptoide interface to stream content online
- Smart WiFi connectivity
- Remote controlled
Cons
- Problems with screen mirroring
- Battery dies quickly
4. Living Enrichment Mini Projector
If you do not want to spend a lot of money on a basement projector then buy this mini projector from Living Enrichment.
It is just under $80 and you will find many expensive options with similar specifications.
The mini projector has upgraded LED technology and supports multiple multimedia devices.
Upgraded Brightness – Equipped with the latest LED light technology, the video projector has 3000 lumens brightness and 50 lumens white light output. It delivers 35% brighter images than similar projectors.
Resolution – Though the native display resolution is 800 x 480p, it also supports Full HD 1080p display. Enjoy a wonderful visual feast with better image quality.
Lamp Life – The LED bulb has a long life of 50000 hours, so, it will last many years even after being used for several hours a day.
Display Size – It supports projection display size from 32″ to 150″ from the projected distance between 1m to 3m.
Pros
- Integrated two Hi-Fi speakers
- Advanced noise cancellation
- 45 dB noise level
- Dual fan cooling system
- Comes with a lens cover
- 60″ – 80″ image size
- 3.5mm audio output
- Compatible with VGA, HDMI IN, USB2.0, TF card, 3.5mm earphone, AV IN, DC IN
Cons
- Low contrast ratio
- Hard to get the right focus
5. ViewSonic M1 Portable LED Projector
This other palm-sized portable projector provides big-screen entertainment in your basement.
The award-winning projector is not only convenient but also reduces eye strain by filtering out blue light.
It is lightweight, so, move from room to room with absolute ease. Use it to display videos and other multimedia content in your basement.
Screen – Short throw lens can project up to 100 inches of the display screen. The recommended projection distance is 8 feet and 9 inches.
Stand – The projector comes with a unique smart stand that ensures easy placement or installation in a variety of positions. It also acts as a lens cover when the projector is not in use.
Streaming – Stream sports or watch movies, TV shows, and other entertainment content. Use a dongle to binge shows on Netflix or Disney+.
Audio – The integrated dual Harman Kardon speakers deliver loud, room-filling audio with decent clarity.
Pros
- Simple setup and easy controls
- Versatile connectivity as it supports multiple multimedia devices
- 6 hours of power with the battery
- Charge mobile devices
- 30,000 lamp operational life
- 640x840p resolution
Cons
- Hard to adjust picture settings
- Problems with screen mirroring
6. Artlii WiFi Bluetooth Projector
Artlii mini projector can be installed in the basement to get an immersive experience by watching entertainment content on a big screen.
The projection quality is good and it can be installed without any hassle. Use a TV stick to watch content from Netflix, Hulu, and similar streaming services.
Resolution – The 2021 upgraded design provides a 60% brighter LED bulb and the native resolution is HD 1280x720P resolution. It also supports 1080P resolution for brighter and clearer images.
Sound – It has integrated 5w dual HiFi Stereo speakers with an SRS sound system for better sound quality. Other speakers can be connected as well with WiFi and Bluetooth connections.
Screen – For a cinema-level experience, it can project images on up to a 300″ screen. Get a 37″ to 300″ screen size from the projection distance of 3.87-31.18ft.
Connectivity – It supports HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, SD card, audio output 3.5mm, and Bluetooth. Moreover, connect TV sticks, PCs, laptops, MacBooks, smartphones, Blu-ray disc players, PS3, PS4, Wii Xbox game consoles, and HDR. It supports both wired and wireless connections.
Pros
- ± 15 ° keystone correction
- Zoom feature
- Adjustable screen from 60% to 100%
- Multi-layer glass lens
- Cost-effective Bluetooth projector
- 4:3/16:9/Auto aspect ratio
- Easily set up a WiFi connection
Cons
- Problems with the Bluetooth and WiFi connections
Buying Guide For Projectors
Whether you are shopping for a basement or a home theater projector for a bedroom, there are some things you simply have to take into account before buying one.
Projectors are expensive and require a huge investment, so, only the right pick will provide you the value for money.
Brightness
Brightness or light intensity is measured in lumens, so, the number of lumens determines how brighter the image would be.
Brightness differs from projector to projector and is heavily dependent on price.
High and mid-range projectors have better brightness, usually, above 3000 lumens. Low-range projectors have 1500-2000 lumens of brightness.
Any projector with about 3000 brightness lumens would be an adequate fit.
Resolution
Each projection has a native and maximum resolution. If you want a better image quality, make sure that the projector supports HD 1080p.
Though 1080p projectors are a bit expensive, however, they are worth every penny.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio gives more depth to the image. In simple words, it is the brightness difference between black and white.
For instance, the 1000:1 means the brighter point is a thousand times brighter than the darkest point.
To get a detailed, sharper, and crisp image, make sure that the contrast ratio is not below 5000:1.
Lamp Life
The latest models have a long operational life going up to 50000 hours and more.
Even if you could find a reasonable projector with about 15000 to 20000 lamp life hours, it would be enough to last many years.
Technology
DLP, LCD, D-ILA, LCoS, and SXRD are the commonly used technologies for projectors. Each technology had its own advantages and disadvantages.
Research thoroughly and choose a better option.
Noise Suppression
Projectors having loud fan noise will ruin your experience of watching movies, some fans are even louder than the audio being played.
Make sure the noise level of the projector is not above 30 dB.
Speaker
Some projectors need external audio devices to deliver better quality sound.
It is important to know before you buy that whether the projector has an in-built speaker or not and how efficient it is.
Conclusion
You will find dozens of basement projectors in the market, however, not all work as advertised. Therefore, the aforementioned projectors are some of the best options available in terms of price and quality.
Read also: Cinemark Vs AMC
