No screen-size limit
While direct-view sets are measured in inches—with Sony recently unveiling a 100-inch LED and Samsung offering a 98-inch model—projection screens come in feet, and you can get a screen literally as big as your wall can support, which means a projection system can deliver a truly cinematic experience in your home. And while people might debate whether they can see the resolution improvements of 4K on their 65-inch TVs, you’ll be basking in all of the noticeably sharper detail and enhanced clarity when your screen is 200 inches or more! While it’s true new technologies like microLED displays from Sony, LG, and Samsung can scale up to much larger sizes, these displays carry price tags that can literally run into the millions.

Less expensive to have a bigger screen
Dollar per inch, it’s tough to beat a projector and screen. Where the price jump from a 75-inch to a 100-inch direct-view set is exponential, going from around $3,000 to $20,000, it might only be a few hundred dollars more to go from a 120-inch to a 150-inch screen. Of course, you’ll want to discuss with your integrator the light output (measured in lumens) required of any projector/screen combination you’re considering, as you wouldn’t want to select a projector that was under-powered for your desired screen size. 

Support for multiple aspect ratios
People primarily talk about two different aspect ratios: 16:9 (the rectangular shape of modern HDTVs) and 2.40:1 (the wider shape of many films and even of streaming content). But in reality modern filmmakers often use various ratios to capture a specific look or feel, and sometimes even use multiple ratios within the same film à la Wes Anderson. More and more original content on Netflix and Amazon is using ratios other than 16:9, and Disney+ just launched IMAX Enhanced content with a ratio of 1.9:1. With a projection screen and a masking system like Stewart Filmscreen’s Director’s Choice, you can make sure you’re always seeing the image exactly as the director intended, with maximum perceived contrast and no distracting black bars.

Optimal speaker placement
You might not think the video display would have an impact on the audio system, but it does. The ideal speaker layout places the front-channel speakers (left, center, and right) on the same horizontal plane as the center of the screen image, ensuring the sound perfectly tracks the on-screen action. Obviously, this isn’t possible with a large traditional flat-panel display but with a projection system, the front speakers can be perfectly placed behind an acoustically transparent screen just like in a movie theater. 

Screens can disappear when not in use
If you want a movie theater but don’t want your room to look like a movie theater, a projection system offers several solutions to “hide” the technology when it isn’t movie time. Even the largest screens can be motorized to roll up and away out of sight, with cases that can be concealed in a box or attic; and a projector can be concealed as well, either hidden away in a retractable ceiling mount, sitting inside an enclosure, or even in a different room with just a glass porthole in a wall or soffit for the lens to shine through.

Still supports 3D
Whether you love or hate 3D, direct-view TV manufacturers have all abandoned support for it over the past few years. But nearly all projectors designed for home use still have this capability. And, if you are a 3D aficionado, it’s even more impressive up on a big screen.

Offers many screen-material options
When you buy a direct-view TV, you get what you get. But, when you buy a projection screen, you have a myriad of options. There are different materials, colors, and gains, with ambient-light-rejecting models for rooms that can’t get totally dark, and even special materials for use with new ultra-short-throw projectors that let you get a 100-inch or larger image with the projector located just inches from the screen. Your installer will discuss these options with you to ensure you get the most out of your projector, room, and screen size.