short throw projector 4k rear projection

Given that pretty much every UST projector around now uses laser lighting, though, it’s a perfectly valid point to discuss.Ī growing trend in the UST projector market sees them rocking not just built-in speaker systems, but built-in speaker systems capable of pumping out audio that at least rivals that of most of today’s TVs. We realise we’ve encroached with all this talk of laser projector advantages into territory that’s not solely about UST technology. Oh and one more thing – laser projectors can usually be turned off and on much more quickly than lamp projectors – even instantly, in some cases – as lamps have to warm up and cool down. And third, lasers open the ability to deliver more of the wide colour gamuts associated with today’s high dynamic range images than the vast majority of lamp projectors. Second, laser projectors retain their brightness over their lifetime much better than lamps do.

Hisense's Laser TV ultra short throw projector (Image credit: Hisense)įirst, laser projectors last far longer than lamp ones before they wear out – typically 20,000 hours at least, versus 2000-5000 hours for lamps.

This in turn brings with it a trio of further practical advantages. This pursuit of brightness has led to UST projectors adopting laser light sources over duller lamp solutions more than the regular projector world has.

As a result, UST projectors have long been associated with high levels of brightness, again boosting their living room credentials versus more traditional projector approaches. So again it makes sense to limit throw distance as much as possible if you’re trying to produce a satisfying picture in a regular (very likely not blacked-out) living space.Īmbient light also impacted UST projectors in their classroom and conference room days too, of course. The further a projector is from your screen, too, the more the impact of its images can be ‘diluted’ by ambient light. They can be placed on a sideboard out of the way of the main living room thoroughfare, and far enough from seating positions to be not nearly as distracting with their noise or heat. UST projectors, on the other hand, can be placed so close to a wall of your living room that, in many cases, they’re practically touching it. Projectors kick out heat and cooling fan noise, too, which is much harder to ignore if it’s coming from a projector right next to you. The projector will likely have to sit a few metres from your screen or wall, often putting it at the heart of your room where you or your popcorn and pizza are also likely wanting to be. The advantages of UST projectors.Īccommodating a normal projector in a room as full of people, light and other furniture as a living room typically tends to be a royal pain. Since then, the fortunes of UST projectors in the home have been greatly expanded by the arrival of much more affordable home-focused models (adapted, typically, from business/education designs) from such dedicated projector-focused brands as Epson and Optoma. Sony followed the Life Space UST projector up with a more accessible model in 2017, the VPL-VZ1000ES, that incorporated a laser lighting system – something we’ll come back to in the next section – and is actually still available now for around half its launch price (though it still commands a five-figure sum).

This cost tens of thousands of pounds and was predominantly only available in limited numbers through custom installers, but it instantly woke the world up to the idea of UST projectors having a potentially major role in our future homes. Arguably the first UST projector to make a stir as a home entertainment device was Sony’s LSPX-W1S ‘Life Space’ model, which made its memorable debut at the CES in 2014. Sony's VPL-VZ1000ES UST projector (Image credit: Sony) When did UST projectors start targeting the living room?Īs noted earlier, UST projectors were originally designed for the education and business sectors.

Short throw projector 4k rear projection