Almost all the families on this planet use TV as the main entertainment channel in their homes. A short-throw projector can be a great alternative to TV as you can use it as a home theater.
If you are thinking to buy a home theater then a short-throw projector is one of the best options for you. In this article, I will describe all about the short throw projector.
Let’s see in details
What is Short Throw Projector
A short-throw projector is a set or mounted very close to the screen. The distance between the projector and the screen is 3 to 8 feet in the short-throw projector.
Short throw projectors provide images while reducing shadows and eye glare.
A short-throw projector has a throw ratio between 0.4 to 1. The throw ratio is calculated between the distance of the projector and the screen and the maximum projected width of the images.
How Does a Short Throw Projector Work
A short-throw projector is able to produce high-quality and large-size images while being relatively close to the screen.
Naturally, it uses 2 types of technology for producing high quality and large size images; a high-quality lens or a chipset that uses geometry correction to warp the image before it is projected through the lens.
A high-quality lens is able to keep the image very clear, but this type of lens doesn’t allow adjusting or zooming. Some short-throw projectors don’t allow for any adjustment of the lens at all. So when you will set your short throw projector, you have to be very careful.
The chipset basically applies a real-time digital filter to the video signal being input to the projector. The filter or warped image is then output without any delay.
Difference between a Short Throw Projector and a Normal Throw Projector
A short-throw projector can provide a 100-inch size image from only 5 feet distance while a normal projector needs at least 10 to 15 feet distance.
A short-throw projector doesn’t allow any adjustment or zoom of its lens, while you can easily adjust the lens of a normal projector.
You can use a short throw projector as a home theater for domestic use. But normal throw projectors can’t be used for domestic.
Tips to Buy Best Short Throw Projector
If you are thinking to buy the best short throw projector for your domestic use, then you should follow the below guideline.
- First measure the room space where you want to set up your projector
- What screen size you want to the mountain on your wall
- What is the distance between the screen and the projector
- Where you will set up your sound system and other related equipment
Advantages of Short Throw Projector
Here are some reasons why you should buy a short-throw projector rather than a regular projector:
Shorter Cable Length
If a projector is at the very back of the room, let’s say 15 feet away from the screen, then you will likely be running a 20-foot long HDMI cable from the projector to your A/V receiver. You must also find a way to provide power to the projector. This is assuming that the receiver is placed under the screen in an entertainment center. Depending on how the cable actually runs, it may need to be even longer. Now, if the projector is 4 or even 5 feet away from the screen, then your cable lengths will be much shorter! You can even run the power cable with a small extension along with the shorter HDMI cable to the receiver. This will save a lot of time and headache when initially running the cables and also if either the HDMI or power cable stop working for some reason.
Positioning and Issue of Shadow
Normal throw projectors that are positioned close to the back of the room, have much more room to adjust for the screen placement. With a short-throw projector, there is much less room for error and you will need to measure very precisely if you plan to mount. However, with a normal projector positioned near the back of a room, it is very likely that whenever someone walks in front of the seating area that a big ole’ shadow will be cast upon the screen. This can get quite annoying over time. If you happen to be watching the big game, and you miss your team score the final goal, touchdown, etc. The last thing you want is some poor soul receiving a black eye after walking in front of the screen. Of course, this is an exaggeration but you get the point. Shadows are no fun.
Why Short Throw Projector is better than TV
In most homes, TV is the centerpiece of an entertainment setup. TV is a fixed screen. When you want to enjoy a movie or cinema on a TV, you can’t change the screen size of your TV. But when you enjoy a movie on a short-throw projector, you can easily change the screen size. You can enjoy a movie, cinemas, etc. in your home just like a cinema hall.
The advantage of a projector is the ability to display images of varying sizes depending on the projector–screen placement. Whereas, once you buy a TV you are stuck on its screen size.
Naturally, when you buy a TV, you don’t buy a sound system, as there is a built-in sound system on the TV. But you should buy a different sound system for the projector. The different sound systems can give you more pleasure while enjoying movies or videos.
End Words
A short-throw projector can be a part of your home theater where you can enjoy videos, movies, or cinemas just like a cinema hall. It can also improve your home decoration.
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