Hey there! If those flashy laser TVs have caught your eye lately with their cinema-sized 150+ inch screens but you‘re not quite sure about pulling the trigger, this comprehensive buyer‘s guide is for you. I‘m Mark, a home theater consultant who has installed over 500 display setups. Today we‘ll be taking an in-depth look at the real world advantages AND fundamental flaws holding laser projectors back from mainstream appeal.
You‘re going to get insider knowledge revealing laser TV capabilities versus limitations compared to today‘s highly compelling large flat panel options. My decade of display expertise means clearly weighing specs and pricing pros alongside compromises and pitfalls unseen in those eye-popping showroom demos. Grab a snack, settle in, and let‘s highlight the 7 biggest reasons to think twice before bringing an ultra short throw projector system home this year.
Laser TV Quick Takeaways
The Good
- Visually stunning 60 to 150 inch image sizes
- Integrated audio out via HDMI ARC or optical
- Ambient light rejection screen potential
The Bad
- Dim images with poor contrast and HDR
- Extremely narrow placement requirements
- Built quality and component longevity concerns
- No onboard TV tuners included
- 4K resolution but not 4K quality
Unpacking the Laser TV Value Proposition
Laser television represents the bleeding edge in large screen projection advancements. Utilizing proprietary short throw engines armed with advanced lasers rather than lamps, models from Samsung, LG, Epson and Optoma promise to finally bring super-sized cinematic images into practical living spaces.
With screen diameters stretching anywhere from 60 to 150 inches and integrated audio outputs removing external speaker needs, its easy to get bedazzled by laser TV‘s siren song allure. But while technological progress has better integrated ultra short throw capabilities over the past decade, practical realities muddy their viability as complete home theater replacements. We‘ll analyze seven factors making laser projectors tricky to recommend over more evolved 2023 flat panel display technologies.
Peak Brightness Ratings – Laser TV vs Mainstream Television
| Model | Type | Peak Nits | HDR Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung LSP9T | Laser | 277 cd/m2 | Not HDR Certified |
| LG HU85LA Cinebeam | Laser | 226 cd/m2 | Not HDR Certified |
| TCL 55R646 Mini-LED | LED LCD | 1800 cd/m2 | HDR 1500 Certified |
| LG G2 OLED Evo | OLED | 800-1000 cd/m2 | HDR 1500 Certified |
Reason 1: Prohibitive Pricing Across All Brand Options
Let‘s kick things off by scrutinizing laser TV‘s premium costs versus more affordable display alternatives delivering similar immersive viewing capabilities. Currently sitting as specialist niche devices lacking manufacturing scale efficiency, these ultra short throw projection systems universally launch at premium price points.
Main units currently see sticker prices ranging between $2,500 to $7,000 depending on integrated sound bars, bundled screens, and resolution capabilities. Optoma‘s CinemaX P2 projects a 120 inch image from 22 inches away but will set buyers back a staggering $5,999. Chinese import BenQ V7050i gets you to 150 inches for $3,499 but forces external audio and TV tuner purchases.
Weighing absolute cost against flat panel televisions at multiple size segments reveals staggering price gaps. Samsung‘s comprehensively equipped QN90B Neo QLED TV sees a 65 inch model with quantum HDR selling for $1,500. Stepping all the way up to the awe inspiring 85 inch screen size still only raises cost to $2,800. Adding Dolby Atmos sound bars would run another $500, keeping all-in pricing below entry laser territory requiring extra audio gear regardless.
If utilizing projectors for maximum impact, consumers could purchase giant fixed frame screens reaching 160 inches corner-to-corner matched with a bright 4K model from BenQ or Epson for around $1,500 total. This allows enjoying far larger images than laser can provide at less than half the investment, albeit limited to dark room use cases.
Verdict? You‘ll pay anywhere from 2X to 10X higher costs for the flexibility benefits laser TV introduces. We‘ll analyze what trade-offs warrant the giant premiums next.
Reason 2: Requirement of Specialized Screen Materials
On paper, utilizing dedicated projection materials tailored to ultra short throw capabilities makes sense. But like most laser TV aspects, niche ALR screen needs drive complexity up and value down from a quality vs cost perspective.
Since laser output reflects intensely off white surfaces, manufacturers strongly insist buyers invest in gray ambient light rejecting screens. These optical coatings better preserve contrast while absorbing ambient room lighting that would wash out pictures on conventional 1.0 gain materials.
Sounds great in theory – except quality ALR screens run 2 to 4 times higher in cost compared to standard white, grey or tensioned solutions:
| Screen Type | Gain | Cost Per Square Foot |
|---|---|---|
| White Matte | 1.0 | $10-$30 |
| Grey Acoustically Transparent | 0.8 | $30-$50 |
| ALR Ambient Light Rejecting | 0.6 | $60-$100 |
This leads to eye watering screen pricing ranging from $1,200 on the low end to $2,500+ for larger 120-150 inch class installations – not counting professional calibration. Considering constantly evolving placement needs and children inevitably touching surfaces, it‘s not hard envisioning replacement costs multiplying every 2-3 years.
Verdict? Specialized projection needs mandate specialty materials running 2-4X above standard screens. Unlike multi-purpose flat panels, short throw sets lock buyers into a single permanent arrangement.
Reason 3: Restrictive Ambient Light & Placement Limitations
Speaking of arrangements, limitation number three rears its head in laser TV‘s demanding placement requirements. While sold as living room displays, their ultra short throw nature locks viewers into an extremely narrow set of positioning constraints:
- Centered placement with slight 10 degree shift allowances
- Extremely close distance to screen plane – as little as 8 inches
- Unable to be moved or relocated after installing
- Permanent wall mounting only
This makes set up infinitely more challenging than media loving flat panels, which can be positioned nearly anywhere in rooms via universal VESA arm stands. Try hanging a laser projector on the wall or placing atop furniture – no chance.
Wall mounting also severely reduces room layout flexibility going forward. Want to rearrange your living space or shift around seating? Tough – lasers only fire straight onto their required screen pairings. Children and pets are equally challenging, since anything blocking the unit‘s fixed path wipes out picture capability completely.
Then we have the matter of brightness and ambient light interplay – perhaps laser TV‘s Achilles heel. While improved laser phosphor output has enhanced light volume versus lamp models, their images remain severely dimmer than self illuminating LED or OLED. Consider maximum lumen outputs across mainstream home theater options:
| Display Technology | Peak Nits | Perceived Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Laser Projection | 150-350 | Very Dim |
| 1080p Lamp Based Projectors | 800-2,000 | Decent |
| 4K Premium LED LCD (Full Array Local Dimming) | 1,500-4,000 | Great |
| OLED w/ heatsink | 800-1,500 | Great |
Why does this matter? Because any ambient light hitting screens washes black levels out into gray soupy messes. Sunlight streaming through windows? Performance gets cut in half. Task lighting, lamps or ceiling fixtures? Prepare for brightness fluctuations and blown out contrast. Want to catch the big game but family members prefer lights on? Not ideal.
Verdict? Laser TVs require dedicated cinema rooms. Their dim output can‘t overcome lighting conditions disrupting traditional living spaces. By comparison, today‘s premium LCD and OLED models utilize advanced panel layers and pixel level lighting control to minimize ambient light degradation.
Reason 4: Installation Requiring Professional Calibration & Leveling
Installation represents reason number four why laser TVs fail to match flat panel flexibility. Make no mistake – these are complex projection systems requiring careful hardware calibration and positioning. Between centering projectors perfectly, adjusting focus, lining up test patterns, eliminating distortion, calibrating picture quality, setting throw distances and finally adjusting software settings – it‘s a tedious process.
Getting constraint free images requires precise positioning and calibration. Even slight misalignments create distorted rectangles that most consumers lack the tools or patience to troubleshoot alone. This almost universally requires paying AV technicians $200 or more for site visits getting geometry ideal and illumination uniform. Rinse and repeat whenever shifting components even fractions of an inch.
Contrast this with the incredible flexibility engineered into modern flat panels. VESA wall brackets offer effortless repositioning, while smart software auto-corrects for size, aspect ratio and resolution no matter the video source. Pixel mapping and LED lighting algorithms deliver uniformity without obsessive leveling routines. You unbox it, mount it and start streaming quickly. No need waiting days for installers tweaking configurations.
Verdict? Getting laser TV installation right demands expertise crossing into professional territory. Flat panels practically install themselves perfectly with idiot proof designs. Another value factor favoring LED/LCD.
Reason 5: Weak Integrated Ports for Connectivity
Shifting gears, reason number five scrutinizes laser TV‘s connectivity limitations. Given their nature as powered projection units rather than self illuminating panels, these ultra short throw systems lack the supporting component space mainstream TVs utilize for abundant inputs.
Where value focused models like TCL‘s 55R646 stuff in 4 HDMI ports, legacy RCA plugs and ethernet for under $650, even premium laser sets like Samsung‘s LSP9T suffer from only 2 HDMI inputs. Want to hook up a streaming stick, game console, cable box AND sound system? Better have an HDMI switch handy with more hardware eating tables pace. External streaming solutions also become mandatory for accessing cloud apps and services.
Consider that virtually all modern televisions sets – even entry level 32 inch bedroom units – bake vital capabilities like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and voice assistants directly into onboard platforms. Lasers sets mostly limit integrated software to screen mirroring and rudimentary media playback. Lacking onboard speakers only steepens the functionality learning curve.
Verdict? Anemic HDMI inputs and absent tuners/smart interfaces force downstream output connectivity purchases lacking on mainstream rivals. Another value strike against the laser TV proposition.
Reason 6: Absent Integrated TV Tuners
Speaking of missing tuners, reason number six highlights the lack of any integrated televisionreceiver capabilities. Dating back to 2009 federally mandated laws, any flat panel display marketed as a television ships with onboard digital television processors allowing access to free regional broadcast stations. This allows antenna or cable connected screens to process signal feeds natively without forcing consumers to buy separate external tuners.
Inexplicably absent on laser systems sits this basic level over-the-air channel functionality. Lacking any onboard receiver, accessing local stations requires purchasing HD antenna gear PLUS an ATSC tuner module to actually view programming. These run $100-150 easily. Now throw in amplified antennas if not situated near broadcast towers, then coaxial cabling linking stations to projectors. Quickly we face $300+ in tuner technology required just granting free TV content lacking in flat panel competitors.
Verdict? In an era when OTA comprises some consumers ONLY television source, having to pay extra to unlock basic channel functionality keeps laser TV firmly situated as a premium niche rather than complete centerpiece option relative to mature LED/LCD rivals.
Reason 7: Extremely Limited Brand Selection
Wrapping up our laser TV value analysis, reason number seven highlights the incredibly narrow brand selection populating the ultra short throw category today. Despite years of languishing as "future tech just around the corner", the manufacturing complexity and optical precision needed to successfully marry lasers with large ALR screens sees the niche populated by just a handful of premium players.
As it stands, only Samsung, LG, Optoma, Epson and Hisense sell laser packages in the United States. Compare that to well over one hundred LED/LCD brands flooding the flat panel space – value names like TCL, Vizio, HiSense and Sceptre specialize in delivering advanced wide color quantum dot, full array local dimming equipped 4K resolution to buyers on budgets. OLED continues democratizing from LG stamping out 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inch sizes for under $1,300 routinely.
Until manufacturing economies kick in allowing discounted names cementing strong value reputations to enter laser TV, its hard envisioning the category becoming anything other than a sparsely populated sub-niche suited only for luxury applications. And with competitive large screen technologies like mini and micro LED promising equivalent screen real estate at higher qualities in compact form factors, lasers might forever sit just one step ahead of obsolescence.
Verdict? Consumers benefit tremendously when categories invite intense brand competition. This proven "rising tide raises all ships" formula sits years away from reaching the laser TV space, keeping premium prices inflated well above where opposing flat panel techs reside.
So Should You Actually Buy a Laser TV Today?
In my personal opinion as a home theater specialist servicing thousands of installs – no. While appreciating laser TV‘s immersive size benefits, the category still feels several product generations away from matching LED/LCD flat panels well rounded feature sets and value flexibility. Severe ambient light and placement limitations must get addressed before recommending ultra short throw projectors become practical living room centerpieces.
I advise buyers longing for maximum screen real estate start with value focused 85 inch class LEDs from TCL and HiSense packing advanced backlighting, quantum dots and next gen gaming inputs at under $2,000 all-in. Craving best in class performance? LG‘s latest generation OLED Evo panels set new standards fusing inky contrast with boosted brightness and gorgeous color reproduction. Their 83 inch G2 remains my top display splurgeforall 2023.
That wraps up our in-depth laser TV analysis! Let me know any lingering questions in the comments section below. And when that dream home theater becomes reality, I offer discount display calibration services helping realize your gear‘s full potential. Enjoy the big game season!
