Most of us have a TV as the main device of their home entertainment setup. Although the best TVs cannot be beaten for delivering 4K picture quality, your picture will not be bigger than 75 inches.
Another option for your home theater is a video projector and screen. In fact, 75 inches is the beginning if you have a good projector.
You may think of projectors as either expensive, but with the latest technology, it’s possible to find 4K HDR projectors with near theater-quality images for $1,000 or less.
When it comes to buying new projectors, there are a lot of different factors to consider and we know how confusing it is reading the specification sheet and understand some terms for many people.
One of the most confusing decisions you have to make is to choose between a short throw or long throw projector.
What Does The Term Throw Means?
So, where exactly is the difference between these two types of projectors? Let´s start with the term “throw“. Simply put, this is the distance between the lens of the projector and the screen on which the image is displayed. To make it a little bit easy for the customer, most brands put initials at the end of model number: ST for a short throw, LT for a long throw, and UST for the ultra-short throw.
Video Projector Throw Distance Categories:
There are three throw distance categories you can find on video projectors:
- Long Throw (standard throw)
- Short Throw
- Ultra Short Throw
Our Top Projectors
Affiliate links: Clicking the device names, images or check price buttons will redirect you to the product listing on the appropriate Amazon.com (.co.uk, .de, etc.) / Image courtesy of Amazon
Short-Throw Vs. Long Throw Projectors: What’s The Difference?
As you probably know, the difference between short and long throw projectors is how far from the screen you have to put them. Long throw (or standard throw) projectors should be far from a projection screen while short throw can be closer.
What’s A Short Throw Projector?
A short throw projector (ST) comes with lenses that are able to display large images from shorter distances and they have a throw ratio between 0.4 and 1. You can get a 100-inch image from as little as 1,2 meters (4 feet) or less away from the screen. This ability is making them perfect for small rooms or school classes. They can also be used for gaming or for golf simulators.
However, the main disadvantage of short-throw projectors is the price. Examples of Short throw projectors: Benq HT2150ST and Optoma GT1080Darbee.
What’s A Long Throw Projector?
Long throw projectors (LT), also called standard projectors, need a little bit more distance from the screen to display the image. In order to display images of 80-inches or larger, the long throw projector needs 1.8m (6 feet) or more. There are many benefits to having this type of projector. The first is the price, these are much cheaper than other models.
Another huge advantage is the fact of how well they work in large spaces. They are perfect for exhibitions, a large room or outdoor theater. Examples of long throw projectors: the Epson Home Cinema 2100 and Optoma HD29Darbee.
What’s A Ultra Short Throw Projector?
While expensive, they are able to display an image of up to 100-inches from about 0.6m (2 feet) or less. Because they are very expensive, ultra short throw projectors (UST) are most used for business and education and are typically wall-mounted above the screen. For home entertainment, if you have money, go for the UST. This type of projector offers the advantage of being in front of the viewer, nobody will create shadows on the image. Examples of ultra short throw projectors: LG HF65LA and Optoma GT5600.
Which Is Better for You?
When shopping for a video projector, there are 3 most important considerations you should make: the size of the room, the placement of your projector, and the size of the screen.
Taking these facts into consideration, short throw projectors would be the best bet for small or mid-sized rooms and for a person who wants to place the device on a stand or ceiling in front of a sitting position. Do you want to buy a long throw projector? Why not, LT projector is mostly cheaper, but you should have a larger room and place it on a stand or on the ceiling behind your seating position in the back of the room.
Recommended
Disclaimer: Some of the links we add to this page are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission if the purchase is made through those links… this adds no additional cost to you.
Clicking the device names, images or check price buttons will redirect you to the product listing on the appropriate Amazon.com (.co.uk, .de, etc.), where you can find the updated prices, customer reviews, and more product details.
