HBO’s chilling crime drama True Detective has been a darling among TV critics. The show packs in the suspense, and it’s an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. But True Detective is much more than a well-told crime drama set. It’s stunning to watch, each shot composed with a brilliant cinematic touch.
The 8-episode first season, which premiered in early 2014, featured impressively beautiful cinematography. And it’s no surprise cinematographer Adam Arkapaw nabbed a slew of awards for his work. Shot almost entirely on Kodak 35mm film, True Detective captures a true Southern Gothic aesthetic, which accompanies the New Orleans steamy setting. The show’s color palette is subdued, dark, gritty, and masterfully captures the dimly lit, flashbacked tone of the show. This isn’t a bright, colorful network sitcoms ala Big Bang Theory. Instead, cinematographer Adam Arkapaw has created a stark, blue-hued “nostalgic aesthetic,” he recently said, that sets the stage for the story’s underlying dread.
True Detective is a perfect show to display in your home theater. Each image has been thoughtfully composed with a rich color palate. These are dark, soft, dreamy pictures, and for true precision, a high-contrast projector is necessary. Here’s one example: The series starts with a fire at dusk. The image is dimly lit and quiet but there’s loads of detail in those shadows. That detail is lost on lessor projectors. High-contrast projectors, on the other hand, are better suited to highlight those shadowy details, and in True Detective, imagery lurks in the darkness. For display these true cinematic images, you need a high-contrast cinema projector.
The Best Projectors for True Detective’s Dark Imagery
Today, there are three main types of projectors on the market: DLP-, LCD- and LCoS-based machines. There are versions for each type of technology that are well-suited for a darkly hued show like True Detective, but lately LCD and LCoS technology has led the field in terms of contrast. One key is to look at each projector’s contrast specs.
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Contrast is an important factor for cinematic images. Projectors with higher contrast ratios display more vibrant blacks, and they’re better suited to provide that stunning detail within the shadows. But which type of technology is best? For a long time, DLP-based projectors had the clear advantage in terms of contrast ratio and black levels, but today LCD and LCoS projectors often have better contrast and improved image quality. Really, it depends on the taste of the viewer, but a high-contrast cinema-ready projector is often your best choice. Here are some options:
- JVC X35BE – JVC is a leader in the LCoS projector category, and their machines feature some of the highest contrast ratios on the market. In all, they provide detailed images and vibrant colors. The X35BE features a 50,000:1 contrast ratio, and starts at about $3,500.
- Epson 5030UB – Epson claims their UltraBlack technology provides some of the greatest image depth available. With the 5030’s best-in-class contrast ratio of 600,000:1, that claim might just be true. The 5030UB is a powerful LCD-based home cinema projector, and the image quality it delivers is definitely well worth the money, starting at $2,299. The Epson PowerLite 8350 is another great option.
- Panasonic AE8000 – This model might be a few years old, but with a 500,000:1 contrast ratio, the AE8000 is a highly capable projector. One of the biggest advantages is its dynamic color range. For a show like True Detective, with such a dark, cool color palette, this would be a suitable option.
- Sony VPL-HW40ES – An LCoS projector, this Sony features a well-defined contrast ratio – although Sony hasn’t published exact specs. This creates vibrant darker images, with vivid detail picked up in the shadows. Sony SXRD projectors have long been praised for their saturated image quality, and their contrast.
- BenQ W1075 – Even though the BenQ features a contrast ratio of just 10,000:1, it’s one of the better DLP-based projectors, for the price and for the image quality it delivers. The projector is aided by DarkChip Technology, which is similar to Epson’s UltraBlack. With this feature, the projector picks up loads of detail in dark images, which is ideal for cinematic films and TV shows.
What set-up are you using to watch True Detective? There are some really great options available, but for such a well-crafted show, it pays to select the right projector. Of course, other specs like brightness also factor into image quality. But for that truly detailed look, choose a projector with substantial contrast ratio and enhanced black level performance.