This allows the ultra short throws to perform better in a well lit apartment or den. The projector gives a native 4K image with a throw ratio of 0.254, meaning that the back of the projector must be at 16.4 inches from the screen to deliver a 120 inch image. There are UST projectors that do better than this, but none that deliver at this quality. All of the projectors in this article are 4K resolution, which in my opinion deliver a far superior image at 100 inches plus screen size.
A full IR/RF, RJ45 and 5-12 volt trigger control package is included. Though Samsung’s LSP9T laser TV doesn’t come cheap, it arrives in a complete package that can actually replace your TV. As an alternative, you may consider the LSP7T which features most of the same specs but maxes out at a recommended 120 inches versus the 130-inch maximum image size of the LSP9T. Under the hood, the U2 sports a 0.47-inch Texas Instruments DLP DMD imaging chip for pixel-shifting 4K.
These small box systems basically package a small projector that needs a foot or two of space to shoot back up to what can be a pretty large screen. You could also pair a traditional projector with a drop-down projection screen to create a giant image in your living room. You can find a similarly bright standard-throw projector—something like Epson’s Home Cinema 4010—for around $1,500 to $2,500. Paired with a light-rejecting, drop-down screen, it would still come in below the price of many UST systems while likely offering a better image.
The Epson Home Cinema 3800’s combination of high brightness, great picture quality, and convenient setup tools make it our favorite living-room projector. The special lens-and-mirror systems used in UST projectors are also more likely to produce image artifacts such as color fringing and haloing if not carefully aligned. And it can be more challenging to position the image precisely on the screen because you don’t have as much lens adjustment and placement flexibility to work with. Overall, the Aura’s colors are rich, even if they tend to skew green; images are sharp; and focus is uniform throughout. And while the Aura supports HDR10, it’s simply not bright enough to produce the image-popping contrast produced by modern TVs.
Simply connect the power cord, and optionally connect an Ethernet cable and HDMI cables to one or more video sources. Connectors on the panel facing the screen include three HDMI 2.0 ports as well as the LAN port. Featuring laser illumination, the Christie Captiva DWU500S provides 20,000 hours of low cost and low maintenance operation. With a suite of easy-to-use features, Best Ultra Short Throw Projector multiple mounting options, instant on/off and a very attractive price point, the Christie Captiva lets you focus on what’s important – the content.
The most important difference between the two is the choice of lens. The Horizon Pro's standard-throw lens requires placing the projector relatively far from the screen. The only drawback is that UST lenses are pricey, which is a key reason, along with the laser-phosphor engine, why the Aura costs $800 more than the Horizon Pro for otherwise similar capabilities.
CineTension 2is a robust and well made electric motorized projector screen. Its tab-tensioned material provides uniform flatness and has a wide viewing angle. It drops and retracts by means of a powerful tubular motor and its sliding installation brackets ensure a perfectly centered installation.