Short-throw projectors: large images without huge displays
Short-throw projectors easily handle videos on a 2.50-meter screen. Using laser light, the latest models provide sufficient brightness even in well-lit rooms.
For a long time, projectors were "niche", i.e. devices that were technically exciting but not particularly widespread. In view of the increasing image diagonals, one type of projector is now attracting more attention. The so-called short-throw projectors project images with diagonals of over 100 inches, i.e. 2.50 meters, onto the wall and take up very little space themselves. And when the projector is switched off, unlike with giant TVs, there is no large black hole dominating the room – all that remains to be seen is a small box in front and a bright projection surface on the wall.
While many short-throw projectors have so far failed to produce particularly rich colors and their maximum luminous flux required the room to be darkened, current devices surprise with a large color space and bright images. At the IFA in Berlin, a number of companies are showcasing such projectors, including Samsung, Hisense and XGMI.
Bright triple lasers from Samsung
Samsung's "The Premiere 9", for example, boasts a bright projection of almost 3500 lumens and rich colors; Samsung promises a coverage of the DCI-P3 color space of 154 percent. The possible color saturation therefore goes well beyond DCI-P3, allowing more scope for color matching. The Premier 9 uses laser LEDs in three colors, whose light is reflected by the mirrors of the DLP chip and directed from there onto the screen. A 2.2.2 Harman Kardon audio system also ensures good sound.
Videos by heise
Compared to its predecessor from 2020, the new model should shine a little brighter and have a few additional features, including the ability to automatically align the display in parallel using a cell phone photo. However, as usual with Samsung, keystone correction is only possible with the company's own Galaxy phones. The Premiere 9 will soon be available in stores for 6500 euros. The predecessor model was initially similarly expensive, but then dropped in price and now costs around 3200 euros.
According to the manufacturer, the Premier 7, the second new short-throw model with single laser, achieves 2500 lumens and covers 100% of DCI-P3. Samsung will also be giving a preview of an 8K model from the Premiere series at the IFA stand, which quadruples the video resolution via pixel shift and processes it using AI. The special feature: It receives video signals wirelessly via an external One-Connect-Box. This makes installation under the ceiling easier, as all players are attached to the bottom of the box. Samsung has not yet announced a price.
All three models are equipped with the Tizen operating system familiar from Samsung televisions, which can be used to stream content from Netflix, Amazon & Co. without external players and, if required, bring TV signals to the screen as a live stream from the media libraries.
Roll-up TV screen from Hisense
Hisense surprises visitors to the IFA stand with what appears to be a roll-up smart TV – but is actually a short-distance projector whose screen is rolled up. It disappears into a kind of chest of drawers and, according to Hisense, should survive 10,000 rolling cycles undamaged. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not also used the box as an audio system; the speakers are in the projector instead. The screen itself amplifies the light output to the viewer by directing the light coming in from below towards the viewer with its structured surface. This type of amplification is common with less bright short-throw projectors. The disadvantage is that the projection is only really bright at a limited beam angle and not for viewers looking at the screen from the side.
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Hisense is also showing a short-throw projector with 8K resolution at IFA, whereby the 7680 x 4320 pixels are also generated from the 4K panel using pixel shift. Its projection can be drawn even larger than with 4K projectors without the display becoming pixelated – if you have space at home for images larger than 2.50 meters.
LED laser combo from Xgimi
We have already been able to briefly test the brand new Aura 2 short-throw projector from Xgimi. It projects 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) and combines color LEDs with a laser in its hybrid light source to generate sufficient brightness. The combination ensures rich colors in the DCI-P3 color space and a luminous flux of up to 2300 lumens.
In initial tests, we liked its presentation with color-balanced images and a good black level that produces high image contrasts. Its luminous flux is also sufficient for rooms that are not darkened. However, the DLP projector produces a slight rainbow effect. Its automatic image sharpness and keystone correction make installation much easier. The smart Aura 2 uses Android TV 11 as its operating system and can display videos from all popular streaming services on the screen. It is expected to cost 2900 euros at launch.
(uk)
