Introduction
For over 25 years, 3DLP (Three-Chip Digital Light Processing) was widely regarded as the gold standard for projection performance. Its key advantages included higher brightness, enhanced color accuracy, and the elimination of certain visual artifacts associated with 1DLP (Single-Chip Digital Light Processing).
1DLP projectors, while more affordable and compact, faced limitations in brightness and color performance due to their reliance on sequential color projection using a color wheel. For applications demanding brightness levels above 5,000 lumens, 3DLP was the preferred choice, establishing itself as the benchmark for premium performance. However, 1DLP remained a solid and reliable choice for less demanding environments, offering excellent value for many use cases.
Technological Differences
Legacy Designs: 1DLP and 3DLP
- 1DLP
Earlier (and still today, some lower-quality) 1DLP projectors used a rotating color wheel to sequentially display red, green, and blue light. This design resulted in compact, cost-effective projectors that performed well in a variety of environments. However, the sequential color process limited brightness potential, bit-depth, and could produce minor visual artifacts, such as the “rainbow” effect, in specific scenarios.
- 3DLP
By employing three DMD chips—one each for red, green, and blue—3DLP projectors delivered simultaneous color projection. This design allowed for higher brightness, improved color fidelity, and smoother image quality, particularly in high-lumen applications. The trade-off was increased complexity, size, and cost.
Lamp Technologies: UHP vs Xenon
Historically, the performance differences between 1DLP and 3DLP were influenced not just by their architectures but also by the type of lamps they utilized:
- UHP Lamps (Used in 1DLP)
- Emit a broad-spectrum light with pronounced peaks in the blue and green wavelengths.
- Optimized for brightness and sharpness in digital projectors, making them highly efficient.
- However, their spectral output demanded sacrifice of brightness and color fidelity to reach D65 white point.
- Lifetime avg. 2000 hours.
- Xenon Lamps (Used in 3DLP)
- Produce a continuous and uniform spectrum similar to natural daylight.
- Deliver excellent color fidelity across the visible range, ideal for applications requiring precise and natural color rendering.
- Their even spectral output contributed significantly to the superior color performance of 3DLP systems in legacy designs.
- Lifetime avg. <1000 hours.
The Solid-State Illumination Revolution
The introduction of solid-state illumination technologies, such as LED and laser light sources, has effectively neutralized the historical disparities caused by lamp technology:
- Consistent, Uniform Output
Solid-state sources now deliver color fidelity rivaling or exceeding that of Xenon lamps, producing color gamuts close to REC.2020. - Extended Lifespan
Solid-state illumination vastly outlasts traditional lamp technologies, further enhancing operational efficiency and reducing maintenance requirements.
Modern Advances in 1DLP
The advancements in 1DLP technology, such as those seen in Norxe projectors, have significantly elevated its performance, bringing it closer to—and in some cases surpassing—traditional 3DLP capabilities:
- Solid-State Illumination
Today’s 1DLP projectors from Norxe utilize true solid-state illumination, using LED and laser, eliminating the need for rotating color wheels and phosphor wheels. This has eradicated color-sequential artifacts and increased illumination lifespan up to 50 times. The need for lamp changes and frequent recalibrations has been eliminated, ensuring consistent performance over time, and significantly reduced operational expenses (OPEX). (For context, a traditional UHP lamp has an expected lifetime of 2,000 hours towards 50% brightness, while the Norxe P10 and P55 with NXL/LED has an expected lifetime of 100,000 hours towards 70% brightness). - Expanded Color Gamuts
Models like the Norxe P20 achieve a near REC.2020 color gamut, offering color performance that rivals or exceeds 3DLP systems. The unchallenged color excellence of the 3DLP projector is a thing of the past. - Sharper Images
Equipped with select DMD packages from Texas Instruments, Norxe 1DLP projectors support native 4K resolution and refresh rates up to 240Hz. The single-chip design eliminates convergence issues found in multi-chip systems, delivering sharper, more precise images. - Efficiency and Portability
1DLP projectors are lighter, more compact, and more energy-efficient than 3DLP equivalents, with a smaller overall footprint and reduced operating costs. - Affordability
1DLP projectors are more cost-effective, making high-performance projection accessible for a broader range of applications.
Performance Comparison Today
Thanks to these advancements, there is no longer a clear technical or performance advantage to choosing 3DLP over modern 1DLP projectors in most scenarios. Instead, the primary differentiator is brightness requirements:
- Historically, 3DLP dominated for applications exceeding 5,000 lumens.
- Today, the crossover point has shifted to approximately 15,000–20,000 lumens, with modern high-end 1DLP projectors performing well in this range.
This evolution is reflected in the portfolios of projector manufacturers, with 1DLP becoming the preferred choice for most installations requiring premium performance at moderate brightness levels.
Conclusion
Modern advancements have transformed 1DLP into a high-performance solution that challenges the traditional dominance of 3DLP. While 3DLP still has a role in ultra-high-brightness applications, high-end 1DLP now offers superior value and comparable color performance for many use cases.
This shift underscores how innovation has expanded the capabilities of projection technology, redefining what is possible with single-chip systems.
Today, 1DLP is no longer the alternative; it is a premier choice for diverse projection needs.
Product information:
P10 4K | Norxe AS
P20 4K | Norxe AS
P60 4K | Norxe AS