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Ultra-short throw projectors, also called USTs and “laser TVs,” are one of the most popular types of projectors on the market. Placed almost directly on the wall, these rectangular devices project upward to create a massive image even in smaller rooms where a traditional projector cannot fit them. until The best projectors It will be difficult to make a large image in as little space as possible with USTs. Its specifications look particularly impressive, with some of the highest lumen ratings of any type of projector.
However, this is not the whole story. There are significant compromises in all of UST’s designs, so their image quality isn’t always what it looks like on paper. While all projectors work best with a screen, UST projectors require one primarily because of how they project light. So marketing claims about “easy TV replacement” are a bit misleading. It is also very expensive. Would you pay more for similar or worse performance, all for the promise of easier installation? Let’s take a closer look.
What is UST?
A Traditional home projector A 100-inch image can be created from a distance of about 10 feet. Depending on the lens, if there is any magnification, it can be a few feet farther or closer to the screen. A regular short-throw projector—not an ultra-short projector—can create an image of the same size from about 5 feet. An ultra-short throw projector can create a 100-inch image from less than a foot from the screen. They do this using a lens that is much more complex than you find in other projectors.
Most UST projectors use the latest projector technologies, including… Laser light sources And 4K imaging chips. So UST projectors can have an impressive spec list – most notably in terms of lumens, which is a measurement of brightness. Lumens are one of the most important differences between projectors. UST projectors are often rated with a lot of lumens, and since they are limited in their image size by how their lenses work, the images they create can be very bright.
Brightness isn’t everything
Projecting an image directly onto a painted wall like this would ruin the image.
Let’s first talk about those performance claims. All projector companies fudge their brightness numbers, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. So, a 3000 lumen projector is almost certainly not 3 times brighter than a 1000 lumen projector. Brighter? Perhaps, but the difference is not as clear as the numbers suggest.
However, this is only of secondary importance to the main determinant of image quality: Contrast ratio. This ratio is the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the image. No projector has as good a contrast ratio as a projector OLED Or even better LED LCD displays. All UST projectors use the same imaging chipset as regular projectors, so at best their contrast ratios will be the same. The complex lenses required for UST projectors to work typically reduce the contrast ratio in the models we’ve seen, so the overall image will be worse than much cheaper non-UST projectors. Although the laser and LED light sources in many UST projectors can produce deeper, richer colors than many conventional projectors can, many projectors are available with LEDs or lasers, which negates this advantage.
One of the main claimed benefits of UST projectors is ease of installation. It’s positioned as something you can put on a low dresser and within seconds you get a picture. Technically that’s true, sort of. First, you need a cabinet with a very specific height. All UST projectors have a large upward throw. The bottom of the image they create is approximately a foot above the top of the projector. If you were to create a 100-inch image, it would be about 4 feet tall. Then add the foot above the projector and the 6 inches (approximately) for the projector itself: The cabinet can only be about 3 feet tall before your image is draped over the ceiling.
For most people, installing modern projectors is not difficult. A shelf or stand behind the sofa will be sufficient. If there’s no space for it, a traditional short throw on a coffee table will also work.
The system consists of two parts: the screen
All projectors work best with a dedicated screen. However, UST projectors mainly require one. This fact is often overlooked or downplayed in marketing. This is due to how the light is highlighted. With a regular projector, the light bounces off the screen at an angle so that most of it is generally directed to where you’re sitting. Many displays can “focus” some of this light using special coatings so that more of it is sent to your eyes and not to the ceiling (or floor, if you have the projector installed in the ceiling). With UST projectors, most of the light bounces off the screen toward the ceiling. So these impressive lumen claims are even more misleading since much of the light is being dumped into your ceiling and not your eyes.
This is why many UST projector companies manufacture or sell ambient light rejection (ALR) and ceiling light rejection (CLR) displays. Using different methods, these help direct more light toward you rather than the ceiling. They can also reduce light bouncing off the ceiling which reduces contrast. Plus, almost as an incidental bonus, they also help reject ambient light in the room. No projector can compete with sunlight or even room lights, but ALR and CLR displays can help maintain image quality with some light in the room.
Unfortunately, these screens are more expensive than traditional displays. So you need to add their cost to the total price of the UST projector. Prices can range from several hundred dollars for a simple fixed-frame, budget monitor, to several thousand for a larger motorized monitor. So, not only are UST projectors more expensive than their traditional PJ counterparts, but the screen adds even more to the “real” price.
Potential positives
No projector, including UST projectors, can compete with sunlight.
Performance and price aside, there are some interesting benefits to USTs. First, there are cases where traditional projectors do not work. In cramped or smaller rooms, it may be difficult to move the projector far enough to create the desired image size. Short-throw projectors may work in these situations, but then the projector is directly in front of you, which may not be ideal. Not everyone has a coffee table, after all. If someone cannot drill holes in the ceiling to mount a projector, a UST may be the only option for a projector.
Regardless of specific lumen claims, most UST projectors are very bright. Since most are designed for a specific range of screen sizes (100 to 120 inches, the most common), they may not create a bright image on your TV, but they are certainly brighter than many, but not all, regular projectors. However, keep in mind that for best performance, you’ll need a specific monitor, as mentioned above.
Close-up of an Epson UST projector with its built-in speakers.
UST projectors often have better built-in speakers compared to other projectors. A big picture deserves a loud voice, and we usually recommend Speakers To go with a projector, or ideally full surround sound with a subwoofer. Not everyone has the money or space for such a system, and they may only need one box to do it all. In this case, the larger cabinet size of the UST projectors makes room for larger speakers. Many projector companies have partnered with big-name audio companies to help fine-tune the sound. True speakers will still be better, but many of the USTs we’ve heard sound about the same as average speakers.
Are USTs worth it?
If you have that much light in your room, a traditional TV will be better.
I’ve been reviewing projectors for a long time. I’ve used one as my main “TV” for over 20 years. They are, I’m the first to admit, not as easy to live with as regular television. I think having a 100 inch “screen” is worth it. I also think that more people could own a projector than currently do, since it’s not that hard to set up. So I understand the idea of using ultra-short throw projectors: big screen, with minimal hassle.
The problem with UST projectors is two-fold. The first is cost, which is much higher than projectors with similar performance. This means you can get a similar or better looking image for much less money. You’re paying for newness and the promise of easier installation.
This promise is the second issue. Every piece of marketing for UST projectors makes it seem as if you can just place them in front of any wall and get a TV-like image. While you’ll get the picture, the reality is more complex. You need a screen to get the performance promised, even more than a traditional projector, and you need furniture of a certain height or the image might cut off from the ceiling. Even in the best-case scenario, you won’t get something that can be easily viewed in all lighting conditions, like a TV.
Speaking of which, there are many huge TVs on the market now for similar money, if not less, compared to the UST and the monitor. Your TV will be brighter, have better overall picture quality, and be easier to watch during the day. The biggest problem is that it’s a big black mirror that looms in your room when it’s off. For me, I still prefer Projectorsbut It’s hard to recommend them these days.
Note: This guide was first published in 2023 but is updated regularly with new information and links.
In addition to covering audio and display technology, Jeff makes the photo tours From museums and amazing sites around the world, including Nuclear submarines, Aircraft carriers, Medieval castles,epic A 10,000 mile road trip And more.
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