AWOL LTV-3500 Brief Throw Projector Assessment: Vibrant however Costly

Nevertheless, that is the primary projector I’ve used the place I felt I did not want blackout curtains (or important modifications to my dwelling). In the course of the day, I might placed on music movies or exhibits and nonetheless see what was taking place completely effectively. As night units in, the lighting naturally turns into good for a film night time, with an amazing display screen that nearly (nearly) makes going to a theater out of date.

I do want the projector provided extra management over coloration profiles and calibration. I typically watch content material by way of my PS5, and whereas the HDR Vivid preset labored greatest with different units, I needed to swap the projector to HDR Sport to compensate for the PS5’s personal HDR coloration calibrations, in any other case shiny scenes had been overwhelmingly blown out.

Whereas there are a number of instruments to create customized HDR coloration profiles, alter white stability, or set coloration correction, all of them contain relative fiddling, as an alternative of adjusting to a reference template (which, to be honest, is fairly widespread for many TVs and projectors). 

Nevertheless, I used to be extra impressed with the instruments for aligning the body of the projector. A correction chart helps you bodily align the projector itself till a projected rectangle is consistent with the display screen you are projecting onto. For those who want extra changes after that, a guide correction device allows you to additional alter the alignment within the software program. 

And eventually, there is a focus device to regulate the motorized lens, in case the projector is out of focus. Mine got here centered simply nice after I set it up for a 120-inch display screen, however I did have to refocus when decreasing the display screen and shifting the projector nearer to the wall to make a extra affordable 90-inch projection.

The Display screen

The ALR display screen that AWOL additionally despatched for overview is a large profit—but it surely comes at a considerable price. With out bundles or gross sales, the 100-inch display screen prices $1,100, whereas the 120-inch model–the one I examined—is a whopping $1,800. The costs for the screens alone rival the price of many TVs. However as soon as they’re arrange, it is laborious to disclaim the distinction they make.

Organising the display screen is an ordeal all by itself. The large 120-inch model is so big I needed to transfer furnishings simply to put it flat whereas attaching the body. The entire course of took a few hours, and it is undoubtedly greatest to have not less than two folks to assist elevate it onto the wall. It additionally required cautious measurements, not solely to ensure the display screen match on my wall and was mounted correctly, but in addition to ensure it was mounted excessive sufficient, and that the projector was far sufficient away from the wall to get the total 120-inch display screen.

As soon as mounted, the image high quality from the projector improved considerably. The ALR display screen is designed to mirror gentle from beneath, the place the projector sits, whereas rejecting gentle from above (resembling overhead lights). In observe, it provides the picture a significantly better distinction ratio and offers a brighter image.