Tag Archives: home theater

Short Throw Projectors, Short Throw Projector Lenses, and the Pros and Cons of a Short Throw Projector

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There are two major types of short throw projectors – that of short throw and that of ultra short throw.

Short throw projectors are projectors that typically have a throw ratio of between 0.4 and 1.0 whereas ultra short throw typically have a projector throw ratio of between 0.15 to 0.4.  They’re a little bit different in design.

What is projector throw ratio?

The projector throw ratio is the distance from the projector divided by the horizontal size of the screen.  For example, if a projector is 100” from the screen and the screen size is 40” then the throw ratio of this projector is 2.5. 

Separately if a projector is just 50” from the screen size is 100” then this projector has a throw ratio of 0.5 making it a short throw projector.

How is projector short throw achieved?

For short-throw projectors, the short throw project uses a lens design that allows a much larger image.  This is similar to a camera’s “wide angle lens” where a short focus distance allows a larger field of view.  The same is true for projectors.  Generally speaking short-throw optics are more expensive to produce because the lenses need to be larger, the curvature greater, and the precision higher. 

What are the benefits of a short throw lens?

A short throw lens allows the projector to be closer to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, for a fixed distance the image is much larger on a short throw projector.  This is very useful when one’s space is limited, and where one wants to avoid walking in front of the projected image – such as in a ceiling mounted classroom environment.

What are the negatives of a short throw lens?

Generally speaking, there are three downsides to a short throw projectors.  One the brightness of a short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 20% less.  Two the short throw lens is more expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third a short throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.

What is an Ultra-Short throw Projector?

An ultra short throw projector is a projector featuring a throw ratio of less than 0.40.  Today current technology allows for the manufacturing of ultra-short throw projectors up to 0.15 throw ratio.  Meaning one can project a 100” width (~115” screen size!) at just 15” from the screen!  This is typically the throw ratio found in the latest “projection TVs”.  The ultra-short-throw projector is a little bit different from the standard short throw projector as typically the ultra-short throw relies on a mirror and lens system to achieve such ultra short throws.

What are the benefits of an ultra short throw projector?

An ultra-short throw projector allows the projector to be very close to the screen compared to a standard-throw projector.  In other words, one can usually mount the projector right up against the wall without fear of having the image blocked by someone walking by.  Additionally with a little bit of room the projected image can become very large (dark areas needed!).

 What are the negatives of an ultra-short-throw projector?

Generally speaking, there are four downsides to ultra-short throw projectors.  One the brightness of an ultra-short throw system is typically lower than its standard throw counterpart – sometimes up to 35% less.  Two the ultra-short throw lens sets are quite expensive – adding additional cost to the entire projector.  Third an ultra-short-throw lens is typically larger than a standard throw lens, making the projector larger.  Finally, an ultra-short-throw lens is very sensitive to image distortion.  Care must be taken in lens-set production and lens-set installation.  With bad designs sustained vibration or thermal warping can permanently distort the image as some competitors have experienced in the recent past.

The Benefits of Purchasing Refurbished Projectors

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When purchasing a new projector, manufacturers and retailers will offer many buying options like New, Refurbished, or Used. There are differences between Refurbished and Used, which we will focus on today to understand the benefits of purchasing a Refurbished projector. 

Here are some pros of buying a Refurbished Projector.

  1. Cost Saving: Generally Refurbished Projectors are cheaper than New
  2. Certified Testing: All refurbished projectors undergo certified testing which is carried out by the manufacturer. The faulty parts in the electronics are repaired and then tested again for checking their performance before they are diffused in the market for resale.
  3. Eco-Friendly: Buying refurbished electronics instead of dumping in landfills can bring a second life to the electronic devices. This can leave a positive impact on the environment and save it from getting polluted through the harmful penetration of the hazardous elements into the atmosphere
  4. Availability of Older Model: If you preferred a certain model and the company no longer sells that model, Refurbished will be the only option to buy these older models.
  5. High Chance of Like-New Conditions: There are a lot of times when a projector is returned due to a customer changing their mind. This will allow for a “Like-New” condition projector that is almost like new but significantly cheaper. 

On top of the pros of buying a Refurbished Projector, you also have to be aware of the cons as well.

  1. Shorter Warranty: Some manufacturers will offer none or shorter term warranty for the refurbished projectors instead of the 1 year manufacturer warranty. Although companies like AAXA Technologies still offer 1 year manufacturer warranty on their refurbished products.
  2. Unknown life span: It is almost impossible to know the life span or used time on refurbished projectors.

Top 5 Essential Accessories For Your Home Projection Experience

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Top 5 Essential Accessories For Your Home Projection Experience

Projectors have become an important part of modern homes and offices. Newer models of projectors have extensive range, with more connection settings and ports that enhance the user experience with different options to play and connect your devices. With the increase in projector’s capability, there is also an increase in accessories available for different projectors. There are a few essential accessories that help to improve the image quality while others enhance the viewers’ experience. Some projector accessories include tripods, carrying case, adapters, HDMI cables, etc…

  • Projector Screen: The most important accessory to have with your projector is a good projector screen since it allows for a steady, clear image. The size and quality of the screen depends on the type of projector that you have. Most modern projectors can handle projection up to about 200 inches. It is also important to know how far to position your projector screen based on the projector’s throw ratio.  For rooms that have high ambient light, a light-rejecting projector screen is a must unless you can shut out the light completely.
  • External Speakers: Even though projectors have improved over the years, some still don’t come with built in speakers or come with very low quality speakers. Having one speaker will be enough to improve the sound quality, enough to enhance the quality of your viewing experience. 
  • Streaming Devices: Many projectors have video input through HDMI, which allows for the use of streaming devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and Chromecast. These devices provide more options to watch your favorite shows and movies without the need to stream videos from your laptop or phone directly to the projector. 
  • Display Adapters: If the connector on your computer or smartphone is different from those on the projector, then you will need to include an adapter in your projector accessories list. The most popular display connectors are Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter, USB-C to HDMI adapter, and Mini HDMI to HDMI. It is important to get the right adapter accessories as you will encounter display errors when using incorrect adapters for iPhone or Samsung smartphones.
  • Carrying case or mounting brackets: The last accessories you should have with your projectors are the mounting brackets and carrying case. If you have a portable pico projector, you can get a carrying case that allows you to carry the projector wherever you go. A mounting bracket is nice to mount the projector into a fixed position.