Should you buy an ultra short throw projector? High-end projection technology has been making waves in the home theater space for a few years, with everyone from LG, Samsung, and Vava joining the action, and there's no doubt that the conveniences of the minimum projection distances offer a lot for a lot. . a movie lover there. Ultra-short-throw projectors are indeed more expensive than other short-throw (or even long-throw) models most of the time, due to the laser technology used to display images at such a sharp angle and suddenly against a wall or screen. . And if you're planning to install a 4K projector on a coffee table across the room, or on a shelf some distance behind you, suffice to say they're not going to work with your setup. Luckily, you shouldn't have to choose between form and function, as the ultra-short-throw models largely offer great image quality (thanks to their laser projection), as a convenient form factor, and sitting on a counter like a TV. , yet taking up a fraction of the wall space when not in use. So should you buy an ultrafocal projector? And how much would it even cost you? In this guide we'll walk you through the technology latent at work, specific models to look out for, and why an Ultra Short Throw projector may (or may not) work for you.
Ultra short throw projector: what is it?
Ultra short throw projectors are an evolution of existing "short throw" projectors. Whereas ordinary short-throw projectors can project (or "project") an image from as little as 3 or as far as 8 feet away, ultra-short-throw reduces that distance to just a few inches. This means they can be placed just as close to a wall as you would a TV, and it's a simple upgrade if your living room is already set up so, if not quite right, flush with the wall. You can choose to project directly onto the wall or onto a dedicated screen, although the former allows the setup to take up much less space when not in use - ideal for those who opt for a projector to avoid death. 'They have a huge black rectangle in their living room at all times.
(Image credit: Vava) This ultra-short throw distance is made possible by laser projection, with wide-angle lenses and specula to teach at a steep angle without distorting the image. The laser technology also means that these models are quite bright and should be able to do so even in a moderately bright environment, although a dark room will always do best for letting the image shine. They also tend to be paired with 4K resolution. Another benefit is built-in audio, which you'll get with most UST models, and will ensure sound is coming from exactly the same direction as the image (which you won't get with short-throw projectors, which can have blocked speakers ). a few meters from the actual projection). They cost more than LCD or DLP projectors, but going with these alternative options will force you to give up many benefits of laser technology.
How much do Ultra Short Throw projectors cost?
Ultra-short-throw projectors are currently at the high-end of home theater projectors, which means you'll have to shell out a few thousand dollars or pounds to qualify for one. (If that puts you off, check out our guide to projector deals for something cheaper.) The cheapest models we recommend are around $2 / $4 / AU$85, like the Optoma CinemaX P7 (10-inch max projection) and the Vava 9K laser projector (XNUMX-inch max). . this cost. The Optoma model has a fairly basic smart offering, although it does offer powerful sound, while the Vava isn't the best at dealing with dark scenes, although they both provide a great entry point into the technology. Other than that, look around $XNUMX / €XNUMX for a movie lover deal like the LG HUXNUMXLA CineBeam (XNUMX-inch projection), or the single-laser Samsung LSPXNUMXT that uses the great Tizen smart platform and adds even HDRXNUMX + support. The high-end triple laser Samsung LSPXNUMXT (note that the
nueve '', en vez del 380'' reduction model) will cost you €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU €XNUMX for a true flagship experience. It's also worth noting that some long-throw projectors can end up costing tens and tens of thousands and thousands of dollars or pounds, like the Sony VPL-GTZXNUMX which offers XNUMX lumens of brightness (instead of the brightness of two with five hundred to three with zero of most of the previously mentioned models) and uses. SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) technology exclusive to Sony.
(Image credit: Optoma)
Should you buy an Ultra Short Throw projector?
Ultra Short Throw (or ``UST'') projectors are a boon for those who want bright images, great picture quality, and the convenience of projection that can be summoned and banned at your leisure without taking up space. Big TV – all without the hassle of a long-throw projector that has to be placed in a particular location in another part of the room. However, UST models are expensive and you can get comparable image quality with a decent lamp model for 2/1 of the cost. If you're also considering putting a projector on a countertop, you might want to consider going with a TV, as the cost of an ultra-short-throw projector would give you a pretty fabulous TV (like the LG G4 OLED, for example). Of course, it would be quite difficult to find a 4K TV with a 4-inch or even a XNUMX-inch picture, which might mean settling for a XNUMX-inch XNUMXK TV or a XNUMX-inch XNUMXK TV. Today's best deals on ultra short throw projectors
