Best Ultra-short Throw Projector Screen

A projector boasts many benefits over a traditional television set. Since many large format TVs are pretty expensive, projectors generally deliver a better price-to-screen size ratio. More specifically, an ultra-short throw (UST) projector provides a TV-like experience with simple set up. But if you’re using a UST projector, you’ll want the right screen. Check out the best ultra-short throw projector screen options on the market!

What is an Ultra-short Throw Projector?

Unlike televisions which feature a fixed screen size, projectors offer a variable image size. The distance from the lens to the screen dictates how large or small the picture is. A projector’s throw ratio calculates how far back a projector needs to sit in order to achieve a certain screen size. Throw ratio is listed as a number followed by a colon, then another number.

For example, a projector might have a throw ratio of 1.5:1. In this case, the first number, 1.5, represents the distance from the projector to the screen in feet. The number after the color stands for one foot of screen width. So if you want a ten-foot wide image, you’ll need to place your projector 15 feet back from the screen.

Generally, there are three varieties of projectors when considering throw ratio. Traditional projectors, or long throw projectors, require around 8 to 10 feet of distance between the lens and the screen to shoot a 100-inch image. A short-throw projector needs only four or five feet to shoot a 100-inch picture. And an ultra-short throw projector requires a mere few inches to achieve a 100-inch or larger image.

Are UST Projectors Better Than Traditional Projectors?

Short-throw projectors, and more specifically UST projectors, yield certain advantages over traditional long throw projectors. First, and most obviously, there’s the space-saving factor. Because ultra-throw throw projectors require a few inches of space between the unit and the screen to shoot a 100-inch or larger image, UST projectors are great solutions for having a home theatre in a small space.

Additionally, since the lens is closer to the screen, there’s less light saturation. As such, the resulting image from an ultra-short throw projector often appears brighter than a long- or even short-throw projector. Therefore, UST projectors are often solid TV alternatives that produce bright, vivid images even in situations where there’s a lot of ambient light.

Furthermore, you can simply plop an ultra-short throw projector on an entertainment center where you would a TV. Long and short-throw projectors still require four to eight or even more feet between the lens and screen. Accordingly, you’ll need figure out solutions to cable management and projector placement. Contrastingly, UST projectors sit directly in front of the screen and avoid any tricky cable routing or projector mounting.

What to Look for in a Screen for an Ultra-short Throw Projector

Based on how close to the screen a UST projector sits, you’ll want a specialized screen. Technically, any surface including a wall will work for a screeb. But because of the close distance from the lens to the screen, any minor imperfections will be amplified because of the optics, so screens that aren’t tensioned won’t work. Additionally, because UST projectors throw light up from the bottom of the screen, you’ll need a special type of screen, a ceiling light rejecting (CLR) screen.

Ceiling Light Rejecting (CLR) screen: A CLR screen is a type of ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen. ALR screens block light from sources other than the projector itself. This is achieved by utilizing an angular reflective surface that reflects ambient light from higher angles while at the same time reflecting light from the projector. This results in a brighter picture than a non-ALR screen. More specifically, a CLR screen absorbs light from overhead while reflecting the beam of the projector back at the viewer.

Screen size: Figure out what size screen you want to project on. Usually, projectors will have a maximum size. Often with ultra-short throw projectors, it’s somewhat lower than non-UST projectors. Usually, UST projectors top out around 150-inches. Though that doesn’t mean you can’t go larger, it typically means that images beyond the max recommended screen size will be more difficult to focus or not as bright.

Gain: Projector screen reflect light back from the projector towards the audience. The reflectivity of a screen is called gain. A higher gain translates to more reflected light, while lower gain means more light that’s absorbed by the screen. For most UST projectors, a lower gain is often better since less ambient light is reflected by the screen.

Installation type (fixed frame, drop down, floor-rising): Consider how you plan to install your projector screen. A fixed frame screen hangs on the wall and is a permanent fixture much like a TV screen. Drop-down screens hang down from the ceiling and may be stored away out of sight. A drop-down screen for UST projectors should still be made of CLR material, tensioned, and come as electric screens. Finally, you can find floor-rising screens which pop up from the floor. Like drop-down screens, a floor-rising projector screen is great for a clean set up.

Cost: Price is a major factor when selecting a screen for your ultra-short throw projector. Typically, you can expect to pay a premium for UST screens. On the low end, you can find options around $500, with mid-range and high-end screens retailing for the price of a projector.

UST projector screen considerations:

• Screen size
• Installation type – fixed frame, drop-down, floor-rising
• Gain
• CLR (ceiling light rejection)
• Price

Best Ultra-Short Throw Projector Screen Overall – Elite Screens CLR 3

The Elite Screens CLR 3-series is an outstanding ceiling light rejecting screen for UST projectors. With its ambient light rejecting properties, the CLR 3 boasts excellent color saturation and delivers gorgeous black levels. Its CLR material absorbs up to 90% of overhead lighting. 170° viewing angles, with 85° left and right viewing angles, ensure a good image from any position. An 0.8 gain offers optimal light absorption for an ultra-short throw projector.

Sporting an edge-free design, the Elite Screens Aeon CLR offers a clean, modern look that mimics modern flat panel TVs. It’s available in sizes ranging from 103-inches to 123-inches diagonally. Unfortunately, the Elite Screens CLR 3 comes unassembled. As such, set up is fairly involved and can be a bit daunting for beginners. Still, the Elite Screens CLR 3 is a fantastic ceiling light rejecting screen with wide viewing angles, low gain, and high ALR properties, making it the best ultra-short throe projector screen for most people.

Pros:

• 170-degree viewing angles (85-degrees left and right)
• 90% ambient light rejection
• Available in 103-inch to 123-inch diagonal 16:9 sizes
• UST projector screen
• Fixed frame
• Edge-less design
• Up to 85 x contrast improvement over matte white screens
• Wall mountable

Cons:

• Pricey
• Assembly required

Best Budget UST Projector Screen – VAVA ALR Projector Screen

Ultra-short throw projector screens can fetch a premium. However, VAVA offers a budget UST projector screen that provides excellent image quality for a reasonable price. Its ambient light rejecting material filters out up to 92% of overhead light which makes the on-screen picture really pop. 160-degree viewing angles ensure a lovely view from any seat in the house. 0.4-inch bezels make for a television-like experience with edge-to-edge viewing.

The fixed-frame VAVA ALR screen is wall-mountable. It does come unassembled, although set up is fairly straightforward. While the directions do leave a bit to be desired, its low price makes the VAVA the best ambient light rejecting projector screen on a budget. Providing eyecandy visuals, the VAVA ALR projection screen boasts unrivaled bang for your buck.

Pros:

• 160-degree viewing angles (80-degrees on either side)
• 92% of overhead light filtered out
• 0.4-inch bezels for edge-to-edge viewing and a TV-esque appearance
• 100-inches
• Fixed-frame
• Wall-mountable
• 0.6 gain

Cons:

• Assembly required
• Directions could be better

Best Floor-rising Projector Screen for Ultra-short Throw Projectors – Vividstorm S Pro

While fixed-frame projector screens are common, a pop-up screen lets you easily stow away the screen when not in use for a clean, uncluttered living area. The Vividstorm S Pro is an electric floor-rising projector. Available in sizes ranging from 72-inches all the way up to 120-inches, the VIvidstorm S Pro comes in an array of different configurations. Its ALR, and CLR specifically, material reflect light from the projector while blocking or absorbing ambient light from overhead. 97% ALR resistance yields top-notch ambient light-blocking, while 170-degree viewing angles allow for an image that looks superb even to the sides.

Sporting minimal set up, the Vividstorm S Pro simply needs to be plugged in. Its electric operation lets you control the S Pro with an included rechargeable IR and RF remote. Alternatively, a wireless switch dongle trigger may be plugged into your projector for automatically raising and lowering the screen when the projector is powered on or off. There’s a height lock feature for safety, and bottom brackets that can provide additional stability. What’s more, the Vividstorm S Pro is tab-tensioned. Unfortunately, it retails for a premium, costing almost as much as a decent projector. Nevertheless, if you want the best possible image and experience, the Vividstorm S Pro is hands-down the best floor rising projector screen for UST projectors.

Pros:

• Floor-rising design
• Electric operation
• Rechargeable RF and IR remote for controlling the screen
• Wireless trigger dongle plugs into your projector for automatic raising and lowering when the projector turns on and off
• 97% ALR properties
• 73-inch to 120-inch screen sizes available
• 170-degree viewing angles (85-degrees on either side)
• No assembly required
• Lots of safety features

Cons:

• Expensive

Best CLR Screen for UST Projectors – Elite Screens Aeon CLR-series

The Elite Screens Aeon CLR-series fixed-frame projector screen is a high-quality ceiling light rejecting screen for UST projectors. It’s outfitted with wide 180-degree viewing angles and comprised of premium StarBright CLR material. A 0.6 gain is optimized for ultra-short throw projectors, making the Elite Screens Aeon one of the best CLR screen options on the planet.

95% overhead light rejection reduces ambient light saturation resulting in a bright, lush image. The Aeon CLR from Elite Screens features thin bezels for a television-like aesthetic. Since it’s a fixed-frame screen, the Aeon CLR-series does require assembly. It’s a bit pricey, though more cost-effective than a drop-down or floor-rising UST projector screen. With a high ALR property, low gain, and stellar built quality, the Aeon from Elite Screens is the best fixed-frame CLR screen available.

Pros:

• Fixed-frame
• Thin bezels
• 0.6 gain
• CLR StarBright material
• 95% overhead light rejection
• Excellent image quality
• 90-inch to 120-inch diagonal 16:9 sizes available
• 180-degree (90-degree on either side) viewing angles

Cons:

• Assembly required
• Expensive

Best Drop-down UST Screen for UST Projectors – Vividstorm Tension Electric Drop Down Screen

Drop-down projector screens are popular options that create a clean, uncluttered living area. Vividstorm offers an electric drop-down projector screen for ultra-short throw projectors. Featuring CLR material, Vividstorm’s drop-down UST screen ushers in 170-degree viewing angles. A whopping 97% ambient light resistance minimizes light saturation while making the projector image pop. There’s a 0.6 gain and a tensioned screen which avoids a trapezoidal image.

Pros:

• 0.6 gain
• Electric operation
• Drop-down screen
• Tensioned
• 170-degree viewing angles (85-degrees left and right)
• 97% ALR properties
• Wireless 12V trigger for control
• IR remote control
• 92-inch to 120-inch 16:9 diagonal screen sizes

Cons:

• Pricey

Best ALR Screen for Ultra-short Throw Projectors – Akia Screens Edge-free Fixed Frame Projector Screen

Akia makes a fantastic ALR screen for ultra-short throw projectors. It’s available in 103-inch and 123-inch sizes. Its ceiling light rejecting material features an 0.8 gain and 90% overhead light rejection. Moreover, the Akia provides 85% better contrast than a standard matte white screen. Its bezel-less design is modern and delivers a TV-like experience. Black backing eliminates light penetration, and there’s even an optional LED backlit kit with a remote control for an ambient backlight. Unfortunately, assembly is required. Still, the Akia CLR3 and CLR4 series edge-free fixed-frame projector screens are amazing CLR UST projector screen solutions.

Pros:

• Available in 103- and 123-inch screen sizes
• 90% overhead light rejection
• 85% better contrast than matte white screens
• Bezel-less design
• Optional LED TV backlight kit fits around the screen
• Black backing to eliminate light penetration
• 0.8 gain
• CLR3-series for bright image, CLR4-series with improved black levels
• 170-degree viewing angles

Cons: 

• Assembly required

Best UST Projector Screens You can Buy – Final Thoughts

Ultra-short throw projectors come with a slew of benefits. But to get the complete experience and top-tier image quality, you’ll want the right screen. An ALR, and more specifically CLR screen, is optimal. Look for low gain, high ambient light rejection, and wide viewing angles. VAVA makes a good, cheap CLR screen for UST projectors. Vividstorm’s floor-rising and drop-down screens are high-end options, and the best projector screens for ultra-short throw projectors. Akia offers great CLR screens, while Elite Screens delivers excellent UST-compatible projector screens.

Your turn: What screen are you using with your ultra-short throw projector?