Ultra short v Long throw

[Cruixer]

Hi all,
Its been over 10 years since I last bought a projector (sanyo PLV-Z700), but its finally given up the ghost or at least the bulb has. My current projector is around 4.5m away from a 120in diag/2.7m wide screen, just behind the seating position.

Its not a dedicated cinema room, so I am restricted by the layout to either of the throw extremes, ~1.7 long throw with the project on the back wall right behind the seating position, or ultra short throw of around 0.25, anything in between these extremes would clash with furniture. My wife is keen on the UST because it would be hidden from view behind a piece of furniture, but a not too deep projector that could sit on a shelf at the back of the room is an alternative.

I was going to spend just over £2k on a 4k projector, but I've ruled this out as the distance calcs say that I wouldn't notice the benefit, so will be sticking with 1080p. I've seen a few UST options between £1-2k, but most seem to state 100" as the max, and I'd rather not drop the screen size. I think that I also saw somewhere that UST is may need a tab tensioned or fixed screen, which I don't have, and would dramatically increase the overall budget.

Does anyone have any advice, would I be paying over the odds for a poorer experience by getting a UST, versus a conventional long throw?

Thanks in advance.

 

[3rdignis]

Measure from lens to screen

Projection Calculator Pro - Projector to Screen Distance

Find screen size and throw distance for all projectors, as well as seating and lighting recommendations.

www.projectorcentral.com

 

[3rdignis]

e.g. Epson eh-tw7400/eh-tw9400
120" throw 3.59m - 7.54m

Epson TW7400 LCD 4K Enhanced Projector Review

Is Epson's TW7400 the projector bargain of the year? Find out in our review.

www.avforums.com

Epson EH-TW9400 Projector Review

The Epson EH-TW9400 is the latest flagship lamp-based home cinema LCD projector from the company, and it promises 4K HDR support and a host of useful features. Is this another Best Buy?

www.avforums.com

Very popular, reliable, good customer service.

In my opinion projectors must be calibrated (@200hrs)

Convergent AV - Audio / Visual / Consultancy - ISF Calibration

ust aren't mature products and in my opinion overpriced

 

[Pulse1]

Hi all,
Its been over 10 years since I last bought a projector (sanyo PLV-Z700), but its finally given up the ghost or at least the bulb has. My current projector is around 4.5m away from a 120in diag/2.7m wide screen, just behind the seating position.

Its not a dedicated cinema room, so I am restricted by the layout to either of the throw extremes, ~1.7 long throw with the project on the back wall right behind the seating position, or ultra short throw of around 0.25, anything in between these extremes would clash with furniture. My wife is keen on the UST because it would be hidden from view behind a piece of furniture, but a not too deep projector that could sit on a shelf at the back of the room is an alternative.

I was going to spend just over £2k on a 4k projector, but I've ruled this out as the distance calcs say that I wouldn't notice the benefit, so will be sticking with 1080p. I've seen a few UST options between £1-2k, but most seem to state 100" as the max, and I'd rather not drop the screen size. I think that I also saw somewhere that UST is may need a tab tensioned or fixed screen, which I don't have, and would dramatically increase the overall budget.

Does anyone have any advice, would I be paying over the odds for a poorer experience by getting a UST, versus a conventional long throw?

Thanks in advance.

I have an Epson EH-LS300b 1080p LCD UST projector in my untreated livingroom with blackout roller blind. The LS 300 is projecting onto a small 77inch diagonal Sapphire Fixed frame Acoustic woven screen with black acoustic backing. The image is very bright from the LS300 and i have no issues whatsoever that i feel i have to invest in an expensive ALR UST screen. I am very pleased with this setup and although the LS300 accepts 4k it downscales it to a lovely 1080p image. The LS300 is availible in either black or white but i chose the black version.Current price is about the £1800 mark. It can throw an image between 61 to 120 inches which you adjust by moving the projector manually forward or back. Has built in Android 9 Tv and It does 24/50 and 60hz material as native without converting everything to 60hz like the DLP UST projectors do, and doesn't have any rainbow effects due to it being LCD. Regarding screens i would say as long as the screen is completly flat with a good solid 3 or 4 inch black felt frame then your good to go. Don't use a high gain screen either or you will get hotspotting. Trust me you do not need an expensive screen or special ALR UST screen with UST projectors, which many people are wrongly advised on this.

Hope this is some help for you.

 

[Cruixer]

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond 3rdignis and for the recommendations, but as I mentioned in my original post, I've ruled out 4k because the calc's suggest that I wouldn't notice the difference. I used the carlton bale spreadsheet, and 2.7m width and ~4.4m seating distance.

I take your point about UST not being mature, and that's what I am concerned about, i.e. paying significantly more for the same spec as a long throw, with potential for problems thrown in.

 

[Cruixer]

I have an Epson EH-LS300b 1080p LCD UST projector in my untreated livingroom...

Thanks Pulse 1 for taking the time to respond, and for the recommendation, I'll take a look at that.

I notice that you have a fixed frame screen though, mine is a pull down without tab tension, so it curls in a little on the edges. I've heard that UST might distort if the screen isn't perfectly flat, and I don't have the option of a fixed frame as the screen is in front of a window.

 

[Pulse1]

Thanks Pulse 1 for taking the time to respond, and for the recommendation, I'll take a look at that.

I notice that you have a fixed frame screen though, mine is a pull down without tab tension, so it curls in a little on the edges. I've heard that UST might distort if the screen isn't perfectly flat, and I don't have the option of a fixed frame as the screen is in front of a window.

Yes an UST projector might show up imperfections with a screen more due to it being so close to it? Can't you get a tab tensioned pull down screen? Sorry but i can't help anymore as i don't have the experience myself with a non tab tensioned pull down screen and an UST projector. As i previously said as long as the screen is completly flat then you should be good to go.

 

[Cruixer]

Can't you get a tab tensioned pull down screen?

Yes, I could, but it looks like they start at around £1000, and if I add that to the equation it makes the short throw even less attractive price-wise, versus a standard throw.

I had a look at the Epson EH-LS300b, it looks like a really good recommendation so thanks for that. It was above my price range on the site I had been looking on, but shopping around and there are some good prices for this and I would probably have missed that if you hadn't mentioned it. It looks a better bet than the Optoma HD31UST UST Projector I had been considering, and I like that its LCD, and has some adjustment on the zoom.

The Epson is definitely on the shortlist. I might be able to DIY some tension, or order from somewhere that does returns in case it looks bad on a tryout.

Thanks.

 

[Cruixer]

I have an Epson EH-LS300b 1080p LCD UST projector in my untreated livingroom...

Hi Pulse1,
Hope you don't mind me asking you one more question about your experience with the Epson.

Did it take much adjustment to get the projector position right in first time setup?

The reason I ask is that I would need to have this on a table to the side and move it in front of the screen when in use. One of the reviews I read seemed to suggest it took a lot of fiddly minute adjustments of the projector position to get the image right.

 

[Pulse1]

Hi Pulse1,
Hope you don't mind me asking you one more question about your experience with the Epson.

Did it take much adjustment to get the projector position right in first time setup?

The reason I ask is that I would need to have this on a table to the side and move it in front of the screen when in use. One of the reviews I read seemed to suggest it took a lot of fiddly minute adjustments of the projector position to get the image right.

Depends how level the screen is as well, the more level the screen the easier it is to level the projector. It's not as bad as some people suggest it is to get the image level but every situation is different. The LS300 has 1 non adjustible foot in the middle underneath at the back which is the screen end and 1 adjustible foott at the front of the projector at either side underneath. It also has Keystone correction but like all projectors try and avoid using that as it can soften the image. Once you have it level using the adjustible feet and set up on the table i would suggest you don't move the projector or adjust the feet on the table if you can as then when you move the table back to where you want to use the projector you will only have to make sure the table is in the correct place again and not have to fiddle with the projector also. It gets easier the more times you fiddle with it though as you will have to move it at some point anyway for dusting. But to be honest i don't find it hard at all really but i can see why some people would. I would say with your situation it's not ideal but it can be done.

 

[3rdignis]

@Cruixer don't worry about improvements you can't see.

 

[Cruixer]

Depends how level the screen is as well, the more level the screen the easier it is to level the projector. It's not as bad as some people suggest it is to get the image level but every situation is different. The LS300 has 1 non adjustible foot in the middle underneath at the back which is the screen end and 1 adjustible foott at the front of the projector at either side underneath. It also has Keystone correction but like all projectors try and avoid using that as it can soften the image. Once you have it level using the adjustible feet and set up on the table i would suggest you don't move the projector or adjust the feet on the table if you can as then when you move the table back to where you want to use the projector you will only have to make sure the table is in the correct place again and not have to fiddle with the projector also. It gets easier the more times you fiddle with it though as you will have to move it at some point anyway for dusting. But to be honest i don't find it hard at all really but i can see why some people would. I would say with your situation it's not ideal but it can be done.

Thanks @Pulse1, much appreciated. It might not be best for me as I probably will have to move it to the side when not in use, but its good to have options.

In theory if I fix it to a table I should just have to set it up once and then move it back to roughly the same position, turn it on then align the picture by moving the table - in 'theory' that is, practice might not be so simple!

 

[Cruixer]

@Cruixer don't worry about improvements you can't see.

@3rdignis Not sure what you are referring to here?

 

[3rdignis]

Manufacturers claim 4k is of benefit, which you say would not benefit you.

A feature which makes no difference, for good or bad should not concern you.

 

[Cruixer]

Manufacturers claim 4k is of benefit, which you say would not benefit you.

A feature which makes no difference, for good or bad should not concern you.

Thanks, I agree. I said in my OP that I had ruled out 4k. The main thing I was trying to ascertain in this post is whether to go with ultra short or long throw.