Review: AWOL LTV-3500 Short Throw Projector

Projectors aren't for everyone, and expensive models like AWOL's new $5,500 LTV-3500 are even less so. Arguably, the only reason to go this hard on your entertainment system is to replicate what most people can only get in theaters: a gigantic screen that's so overwhelming that it transports you into the world of the movie you're watching.

Even though I'm partial to the large-format viewing experience, I like crisp, vibrant displays with rich color and great contrast. That can be hard to get with projectors, which tend to struggle against the ambient light coming from lamps, overhead fixtures, or even sunlight bleeding through the windows. So it was a pleasant surprise when the LTV-3500 projector managed to give me the picture I want with few of the trade-offs.

Massive TVs are wildly expensive, and most projectors require you to do so much work on your home that they're not worth it. This AWOL model, however, is what's known as an ultra short throw (UST) model. These can sit below your screen, meaning you don't need to mess with a complicated ceiling installation. This one is also incredibly bright, comparable to LG's CineBeam line, so you don't necessarily need to block out every stray photon in a room.

These two factors mean that it's feasible to set up a projector-based home theater without having to build a custom room in your basement for it. I tested the LTV-3500 (along with the 120-inch ALR projector screen AWOL sent) in my living room, which is right next to a large window with moderately light-blocking blinds. Even during the day, I was able to enjoy the massive display, but at night it truly shone.

Photograph: AWOL

Ultra short throw projectors can throw a very large image from a short distance (as the name suggests.) This differs from most typical projectors, which have to be positioned across the room to achieve their full-size image. The benefit of UST projectors is that you can put the projector just underneath your screen or display area, saving space in your setup. The downside? To achieve a short throw, these projectors have to bounce light around inside an array of mirrors, which can bulk up the size of the projector. 

This projector is a beast of a device, even for as short throw models go. It's about 2 feet wide and 6 inches tall. It's so bulky that it makes my PlayStation 5 look downright tiny, and every guest I've had over has been shocked at how large it is. 

It's most comparable to another of our top projector picks, the LG HU85LA but still substantially bigger than standard overhead projectors. It's not unusably big, but you should consider the space on your entertainment unit. This could especially be a factor when planning your screen size and placement. 

On the rear, there are a number of ports, including two HDMI inputs (one ARC), an optical audio input, and an ethernet port. The most notable feature on the back, however, is the streaming stick compartment. This is a small alcove on the back that features a third HDMI input, a USB port for power, and space for the stick itself. The projector comes with a Fire TV stick, which fits neatly in the compartment.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work for every kind of streaming device. I tried it out with my Chromecast with Google TV, and it was just a bit too big. The USB port also didn't provide enough power for the device. I love the idea of a discreet streaming stick compartment, and many of our top picks should work, but worst-case scenario, you'll still have a dongle hanging off the back like any other TV.

Photograph: AWOL

Every projector has to compete with the ambient light in a room. And in that struggle for dominance, its power level is expressed in lumens. The more lumens (or amount of light) a projector puts out, the more visible the picture is—even if light creeps in from windows or a light is turned on in the room.

Many typical projectors will put out around 2,000-2,500 lumens, but few reach the AWOL projector's 3,500 lumens. Of those, even fewer are UST projectors. And that output difference makes a huge difference. Every lamp or unobscured window can wash out your picture, and depending how much light is in the room, the display might not even be visible at all. Fortunately, the LTV-3500 managed to put out enough light that I could watch it even right next to a large, open window in broad daylight.

That doesn't mean the picture quality is good in bright light, necessarily. The ALR screen (more on that below) does a decent job of rejecting overhead light, but any light coming from the side will still result in washed-out blacks and lower contrast. With a projector, your black levels can effectively only be as dark as the light in your room.

However, this is the first projector I've used where I felt I didn't need blackout curtains (or significant modifications to my home). During the day, I could put on music videos or shows and still see what was happening perfectly well. As evening sets in, the lighting naturally becomes perfect for a movie night, with an overwhelming screen that almost (almost) makes going to a theater obsolete.

I do wish the projector offered more control over color profiles and calibration. I often watch content via my PS5, and while the HDR Vivid preset worked best with other devices, I had to switch the projector to HDR Game to compensate for the PS5's own HDR color calibrations, otherwise bright scenes were overwhelmingly blown out.

While there are a few tools to create custom HDR color profiles, adjust white balance, or set color correction, they all involve relative fiddling, instead of adjusting to a reference template (which, to be fair, is pretty common for most TVs and projectors). 

However, I was more impressed with the tools for aligning the frame of the projector. A correction chart helps you physically align the projector itself until a projected rectangle is in line with the screen you're projecting onto. If you need more adjustments after that, a manual correction tool lets you further adjust the alignment in the software. 

And finally, there's a focus tool to adjust the motorized lens, in case the projector is out of focus. Mine came focused just fine when I set it up for a 120-inch screen, but I did need to refocus when lowering the screen and moving the projector closer to the wall to make a more reasonable 90-inch projection.

The ALR screen that AWOL also sent for review is a huge benefit—but it comes at a substantial cost. Without bundles or sales, the 100-inch screen costs $1,100, while the 120-inch version–the one I tested—is a whopping $1,800. The prices for the screens alone rival the cost of many TVs. But once they're set up, it's hard to deny the difference they make.

Setting up the screen is an ordeal all on its own. The massive 120-inch version is so huge I had to move furniture just to lay it flat while attaching the frame. The whole process took a couple of hours, and it's definitely best to have at least two people to help lift it onto the wall. It also required careful measurements, not only to make sure the screen fit on my wall and was mounted properly, but also to make sure it was mounted high enough, and that the projector was far enough away from the wall to get the full 120-inch screen.

Once mounted, the picture quality from the projector improved substantially. The ALR screen is designed to reflect light from below, where the projector sits, while rejecting light from above (such as overhead lights). In practice, it gives the image a much better contrast ratio and provides a brighter picture.

The only trouble I had is how far the projector had to sit from my wall to utilize the full size of the 120-inch screen. My entertainment unit is about 16 inches deep, and it had to sit at least that far away from the wall—and still the projector sat on the very edge of the unit. Any closer and the effective screen size would shrink. Eventually, I ended up lowering the screen and moving the entertainment unit closer to the wall just to reclaim some of my living room space. 

The result was a roughly 90-inch display area, with large empty space around it. Fortunately, at night, when the projector performs at its best, it was hard to even tell that the display area was smaller than the screen itself. Nonetheless, I'd imagine that for most people, the 100-inch screen would be more than enough. Bigger isn't always better.

It's hard to say that the LTV-3500 is “worth it.” Even at the preorder bundle price of $4,800 with a screen, it's more expensive than every one of our top picks. However, the convenience can't be denied. Ultra short throw projectors are much easier to install, adjust, and move than overhead ones, and in that category, the LTV-3500 pulls its weight against the heaviest hitters we've tested.

I'd maybe wait for another bundle or sale. Currently, the list price for the LTV-3500 alone is $5,500 (though AWOL's newer, 2000-lumen little sibling projector lists for $3,500 if you don't need it to be quite so bright). Add in the cost of a good ALR screen, and it's a lot to spend unless you're building a theater room for a home renovation reality show. If you'd rather not shell out a small fortune for the AWOL, you can check out our other favorite projectors here.