Unlike TVs, a projector, whether ultra-short distance or not, virtually disappears among the other furniture in the setup, at least when it’s turned off and the screen is rolled up. With a TV screen, there is always a dark rectangle on the wall. Whereas the size of the image on a conventional television is rigidly limited by the size of the screen, on a projector, there is always the possibility of varying it by zooming in or out or by adjusting the distance to the screen.
Precision work
However, there are a few things to consider when setting up an ultra-short distance projector. For example, the projector should be absolutely level on the sideboard or other furniture. For this purpose, the feet of most devices are height adjustable. Just like a standard projector, an ultrashort distance projector should be positioned as parallel as possible to the screen, i.e., the light from the optical unit should strike the screen at a right angle. With a laser TV or ultra-short distance projector, even a few millimeters of misalignment lead to strong distortions in the image. As mentioned, an ultra-short distance projector always comes with the tools to facilitate the most accurate set-up possible. If the image still tilts slightly on the screen even after painstaking work, you can always correct it with the so-called keystone correction. This is already fully automatic with many projectors, but the image can also be easily aligned manually with all projectors known to us.
Transport and setup
Even if this fine-tuning of the image seems a bit tricky and time-consuming, there is another advantage that speaks for using an ultra-short distance projector to the detriment of a TV. The TV also has to be dragged into the living room to be mounted on the wall. The larger the picture, the more difficult this becomes. A TV with a 100-inch screen is easily over two meters wide and almost 130 centimeters high – not counting the controls and, if necessary, the speakers at the bottom. Apart from the fact that the weight is considerable, such a bulky colossus can only be handled by at least two people. A single person is usually enough to put the projector in place. Image sizes of 100 inches are not a significant problem even for an ultra-short distance projector; if necessary, the sideboard can be moved a few centimeters away from the screen.
Smart? Indeed!
Especially in terms of support for streaming services and other online activities, projectors led a somewhat muted existence for a long time, unlike smart TVs, which have become very fashionable and have user interfaces reminiscent of tablets or smartphones. This is changing visibly; especially the two ultra-short distance projectors in this issue have great user interfaces. The Epson even dives into the world of streaming via an Android interface. The BenQ also has a corresponding interface and is also open for connecting and managing external drives.
So, there are many good reasons to replace the TV with an ultra-short distance projector, the proven greater potential in the sound department being just one of them.