Let’s face it: I dig video and audio. Any chance I can try a new piece of technology, I’ll jump at the chance. Sometimes, the tech I review is fairly predictable, while other times, it’s eye-opening, mind-blowing, and flat-out impressive.
I’ve reviewed a few projectors over the years and have mostly found them acceptable, so when AWOL asked if I’d like to give their projector a try, I said, “Sure.” In the back of my mind, I thought, “This will be just another projector that promises more than it delivers.”
How wrong I was.
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I won’t bury the lede: the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro projector — which, to be clear, there are more affordable 100-inch screens ($1,499). The total for the entire package is $10,097.
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Yeah, that’s a big chunk of change to spend on a project setup, which means the product is targeted at those who are serious about projecting video content. I would imagine the AWOL LTV-3500 Pro is best suited for businesses or families who host larger gatherings and want the best video projection possible. Now, the specs:
LTV-3500 Pro projector
- 3000 ISO Lumens / 4K RGB Laser
- 107% BT.2020 Color Gamut
- 2500:1 Contrast Ratio
- Dolby Vision / HDR 10+
- 3D Immersive Experience
- Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual X
- Turbo Mode – 8ms Low Lag for Gaming
- Compatible with Crestron, Control4, URC, Savant, and ELAN
- Free Amazon Firestick with purchase
AWOL Vision screen
- Cinematic+ ALR Surface for UST Projectors
- 100”-120″ Diagonal 16:9 Screen Size
- Motorized Floor Rising System
- 95% Ceiling Ambient Light Rejecting
- 4K/8K and HDR
- Sync with LTV-2500 & LTV-3000 Pro & LTV-3500 Pro
Thunderbeats speakers
- Dual subwoofers
- Left and right front channels
- Left and right rear channels
- Dolby Atmos
My experience
When the packages were delivered, my first thought was, “What in the name of Jumbo is in these boxes?” They were huge… and heavy. The screen was especially cumbersome to get in the house, get out of the box, and find a location large enough to test it all out.
I had no idea what to expect from these products. First, I assumed the screen was the typical fabric and frame device that would need to be assembled and taken down every time. Little did I know.
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After unboxing the screen, I realized this was some serious technology. What I found was a long black rectangular box with a power cable and a remote. I plugged it in, hit the up button, and stood back in wonder as the screen rose to its full height. On top of that, the screen was made of black material that surprisingly displayed very little reflection of light. Impressive.
Next came the projector, which wasn’t nearly as bulky as the screen, but it did have some heft. To my surprise, the projector is placed on the floor in front of the screen and allows you to connect via USB-B, HDMI, or S/PDIF. I plugged my MacBook Pro via a docking station and HDMI.
With everything ready, I opened a clip from a project I’m currently working on, pressed play, and stood back to watch.
Quite frankly, I was shocked. First off, there was no need to adjust the keying, as the projector automatically adjusted the angle and displayed the image perfectly. Second, the video was remarkably clear, even though I’d set it up in an alcove with a giant picture window behind it. I’d never seen such a clear video from a project, especially given the ambient light. There’s some serious magic going on with this setup.
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It took me watching one minute of video to realize why this projector and screen are so costly… they blow away the competition. In my experience, I’ve never witnessed a projector work this well and this easily. Yes, the speaker setup was time-consuming, but anyone can do it. To have a projector that “just works” out of the box is impressive, but to do it with such clarity is mind-blowing.