Best projector for rear projection

The Best projector for rear projection is a difficult choice. The first thing to think about is the size of your room and the type of screen you intend to use.

Rear projection screens are typically larger than front projection screens, so if you have a large space, this may be more appealing.

The rear projection takes up a lot of floor space and is best suited for places of worship or boardrooms.

To use a rear projector, you must first purchase a special screen designed specifically for rear projection films, presentations, or any other purpose.

The black levels desired, ambient light situations expected, and other factors differ between the rear and front projections.

Is a special projector required for rear projection?

No, all projectors can reverse/flip the image in order to be used on a rear projection surface. However, if space is limited, a projector with a short throw lens may be required.

If you’re not sure which one to choose or don’t want to commit just yet, read our article on rear projection projectors.

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Product

Rating

Price

1

BenQ HT2150ST 1080P Short 

2

LG PF50KA 100” Portable Full HD

3

Optoma GT1080HDR

4

Epson Home Cinem

5

ViewSonic X11-4K

Buyers Guide-Best projector for rear projection

Lumens

Purchase the most lumens possible within reason; we generally recommend a starting point of no less than 2500-4000 lumens.

Lumens are the technical term for a projector’s brightness rating for first-time buyers (similar to a light bulb’s watt rating).

LCD vs. DLP

DLP projectors deliver a soft, crisp image with a little barn door effect (the crisscross pattern of dead space commonly associated with LCD projectors).

Although DLP projectors provide excellent visual depth to rear projection film and picture quality, not all projector manufacturers include DLP light engines in their models.

LCD projectors are the most common and widely used around the world; technology has changed, but these are still widely used and available.

Because of the diversity of LCD projectors, a wide range of Lumens (projector brightness) options is available.

Throw Distance

Short-throw projectors are ideal for rear projection, Standard throw projectors can typically produce a 100-inch (16:9) image from a throw distance of about 10 feet.

Short-throw projectors can produce the same size image from a distance of 3 to 4 feet.

Noise

Many projectors produce a certain amount of noise, particularly from their fans. The noise levels of rear projection projectors are low because they are designed with quiet fans.

Screen Material

Rear projectors use a translucent screen that diffuses a crisp image rather than a solid white screen.

This means that their image quality remains high even in bright environments.

However, because of how light diffuses through rear projection screens, their brightness in lumens decreases.

This is not an issue with front-facing systems. The picture quality will not suffer as a result, especially since you’ll most likely be using an ALR (Ambient Light-Rejecting) screen.

Top 6 Best projector for rear projection in 2022

BenQ HT2150ST

Best projector for rear projection

This projector is ideal for an at-home cinema because of its high colour accuracy (except for yellows) and solid resolution.

With a contrast ratio of 15000:1, the BenQ HT2150ST does not outperform its competitors.

When we look at our black and white test, it’s clear that the whites aren’t quite bright enough, and the mid-tones are difficult to distinguish.

The BenQ HT2150ST may struggle with bright whites and mid-tones, but it has excellent colour accuracy. When compared to its competitors, it shines especially brightly in the skin tone department.

The HT2150ST also has excellent colour preset modes. This is ideal for those who enjoy fine-tuning and tinkering with their projector’s colour settings.

The BenQ HT2150ST has a 1080 pixel resolution, which aids in battery life and helps keep images and videos crisp and clean.

From car chases to football games, everything appears to be seamless and smooth. The 1080p resolution produces crisp text and graphs in addition to sharp images.

If you want a high-quality image without breaking the bank, the BenQ HT2150ST is an obvious choice.

The HT2150ST has a throw ratio of 0.69 to 0.83, which is lower than that of most leading home cinema projectors on the market. In many home theatres, this can make a significant difference.

The HT2150ST’s remote control is also a favourite among our testers. Its buttons are clearly labelled and simple to use.

The button layout is simple, allowing you to quickly switch between colour modes, adjust contrast and other settings, and correct for keystoning.

The brightness of this projector was measured at 1449 lumens, which is slightly less than the manufacturer’s claim of 2200 lumens. This makes it one of the dimmest full-size (non-pico) models in our tests.

The fan on the HT2150ST is a little loud, but the lower pitch keeps it from being too distracting.

The BenQ HT2150ST is an excellent choice for those looking to save money on a home theatre system.

It has the best image quality in this price range, with stellar resolution and some of the best colour accuracy we’ve seen, particularly for skin tones.

Pros
  • For the price, color accuracy and contrast are excellent.
  • A short-throw lens produces a large image from a close distance to the screen.
  • For gamers, low input lag means quick reaction time.
Cons
  • The maximum input resolution is limited to 1080p (1,920 by 1,080).
  • There is no HDR support.

LG PF50KA

Best projector for rear projection

If you want all of the features of a regular-sized projector without the bulk, the LG PF50KA is the perfect choice.

The LG PF50KA is a small and portable projector that you can easily carry around in your backpack.

It weighs only 2.2 pounds, making it significantly lighter than a modern lightweight laptop. Despite this, it can quickly produce a 100-inch screen with no hiccups.

Furthermore, this projector includes a built-in battery, making it more portable than many other compact projectors on the market today.

There are two HDMI ports with ARC support, as well as a TV antenna port, a USB Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, a LAN port, and a headphone jack.

The back also has an On/Off switch and a DC in port for powering devices.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the LG PF50KA includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

This LG 1080p LED projector also has a built-in battery that can be used at any time. LG has not specified the size or specifications of the battery.

The battery, on the other hand, is rated to power the projector for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge, making it the best battery-powered projector on the market right now.

This LG 1080p projector’s small and portable size makes it an excellent choice for dorm room use. The LG PF50KA is also a smart projector with an LG Smart TV user interface built in.

The 600 ANSI lumens are ideal for using this projector in a dim environment and achieving excellent projection quality.

The lighting is handled by an LED bulb, which has a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours.

As a result, if you want a portable and compact projector with the best specifications and features, the LG PF50KA is the way to go.

Pros
  • The size is small and portable.
  • Weighs only 2.2 pounds and provides up to 600 ANSI lumens.
  • There are numerous connectivity options available, including a LAN port and a TV antenna.
  • Keystone correction is done automatically.
  • It includes LG Smart TV UI
Cons
  • The Zoom feature is missing
  • poor speaker quality.

Optoma GT1080HDR

Best projector for rear projection

In terms of price, performance, and features, Optoma’s GT1080HDR is a noticeable step up from entry-level 1080p home projectors like the BenQ TH585 and ViewSonic PX701HD.

(The suggested retail price is $1,399, but it is widely available for $799.) It has good colour accuracy out of the box, high contrast and deep blacks for its brightness level, a short lag time for gaming, and enough brightness (rated at 3,800 ANSI lumens) for a large image to stand up to ambient light.

Furthermore, thanks to a short-throw lens, it can produce that large image from close to the screen, making it an excellent choice for use in small spaces.

The Optoma also accepts 4K UHD (3,840 by 2,160-pixel) input, which it downconverts to 1080p (1,920 by 1,920-pixel) output.

The GT1080HDR is based on a 1,920-by-1,080 DLP chip and a RYGCWB (red-yellow-green-cyan-white-blue) colour wheel with six segments.

Although the GT1080HDR does not come with a carrying case, it is small and light enough to carry from room to room or to a friend’s house, or to store when not in use.

As previously stated, the Optoma’s short-throw lens provides a large picture for immersive gameplay even in small spaces.

The onboard 10-watt speaker produces usable sound at a volume sufficient to fill a small-to-medium-sized family room, but as with almost any projector, high-quality audio requires an external sound system.

When 4K HDR input is detected, the GT1080HDR automatically switches to HDR picture mode and down converts the image to 1080p.

The Optoma GT1080HDR is a solid value among home projectors by any standard. However, its key feature is its short throw; if space is limited, this alone may make the Optoma your first choice.

However, if you’re looking for a home projector for gaming, watching videos and movies, or both, and you want one with good colour accuracy and contrast.

as well as some combination of HDR support, high brightness in general, and brighter-than-average 3D, the GT1080HDR should be on your short list.

Pros
  • A short-throw lens produces a large image from a close distance to the screen.
  • HDR is supported.
  • Full-HD 3D is supported.
Cons
  • There is no support for HLG
  • There is no carrying case.

Epson Home Cinema

Best projector for rear projection

The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB 4K projector is the most recent advancement in projection technology.

It has Advanced 3LCD technology, full 10bit high dynamic range video processing, and Ultra-HD 4K resolution with four times more pixels than HDTV, making it ideal for watching television and movies.

You will enjoy exceptional 3840 x 2160 pixels with its 16:9 format at 169′′ Diana thanks to our new pixel-shifting technology.

This ultra-high definition design, combined with cutting-edge image processing, boasts a 100% precise colour gamut while also displaying excellent brightness without the “rainbowing” or “colour brightness” issues that other projection devices exhibit.

The projector is designed to be easily connected to all current audio/video output products on the market today.

Pros
  • Excellent projector.
  • Beautiful image.
  • Outstanding performance.
  • Setup is simple.
Cons
  • Iris error in the lens

LG PH30N

lg 5

The LG Cinebeam PH30N HD Projector is the lightest and brightest projector available. so that the projector can be used anywhere thanks to its high-performance battery, which has a runtime of up to 2.5 hours!

It has a compact design, weighs 1.2 pounds, and packs a powerful punch of 250 ANSI lumens brightness with a 30,000-hour LED life, making it ideal for travel or watching your favourite movie in your backyard after dark—regardless of where you are!

This device is ideal for movie night anywhere, thanks to its built-in Bluetooth sound out capability and connectivity via USB Type-A ports.

The LG PH30N will turn any room into a movie theatre, but it’s not your typical projector – LG has managed to keep its weight down to just 1.2 pounds +0′′ (which is lighter than some laptops).

Pros
  • The image was crystal clear.
  • Simple to use
  • Powerful LED light
Cons
  • Pricey

ViewSonic X11-4K

viewsonic 6

The ViewSonic X11-4K measures 261 x 271 x 146 mm and weighs 4.5 kg. It uses 0.47-inch single-chip DLP technology with 1920 x 1080 image output.

which benefits from high dynamic range support in HLG and HDR10 formats, as well as fluid, accurate colour coverage thanks to the Rec.709 colour gamut value of 125%

The LED lighting source uses a matrix with two blue LEDs, is guaranteed to last at least 30,000 hours, and provides 2,400 LED Lumen according to the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect.

Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, a 3.5 mm jack for analogue audio output, HDMI with ARC return audio channel

an optical digital output, a microSD reader, a USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, and a 3.5 mm analogue audio input.

The Viewsonic X11-4K has its own Smart TV interface with an Apps Center that can be used to find and install the major streaming services, as well as Plex or Kodi media centres.

The LED projector has autofocus and keystone correction. In addition to two HDMI 2.0 inputs, the device has a USB-C connector, which can be used to connect a Nintendo Switch, among other things.

USB-C can deliver up to 10 watts (5V / 2A) of power. ViewSonic employs Harman Kardon speakers, with two tweeters and two woofers powered by two 8-watt amplifiers.

Music can be streamed to the projector via Bluetooth, and videos can be streamed wirelessly via a WiFi connection.

Pros
  • HDR10 compatibility
  • Handle built-in for easy portability
  • Notable audio volume and quality
Cons
  • The perceived brightness is less than the 2,400 LED lumens.
  • The color accuracy out of the box is a little off.
  • Shadow detail in dark scenes is disappointing.

The distinctions between rear and front-projection systems

There are a few distinctions between the two types of projector configurations. Front projection involves positioning the projector in front of the screen.

This necessitates the sacrifice of valuable space in order to maintain the projection angle.

All of the equipment for rear projection projectors is hidden behind the screen surfaces.

Both of these systems are reasonably priced. The decision is based on the size of your average audience.

A rear-facing system’s reflective screen is best suited to a large audience.

Can any projector be used as a rear projector?

Projectors are an excellent way to obtain a high-quality large image. If you’re wondering if you can use any projector as a rear projector, the answer is yes!

Almost every model on the market has this feature and provides an excellent movie-watching experience.

The lens system allows a projector to receive a video signal and project images.

Because of technological advancements, projectors have become versatile tools.

Not all projectors are capable of rear projection, but the majority of modern models are.

In general, these projectors are placed behind the screen in a controlled environment where ambient light does not interfere with the visualisation of images or videos.

F.A.Qs

Are rear projectors effective?

While front projection provides better visuals 90% of the time, with enough space, a rear projection setup may be a better choice.

This is because it allows ambient light to reach the back of the screen, resulting in a better image; it also helps to improve projected images on the front of the screen.

How many lumens does rear projection require?

Purchase the most lumens possible within reason; we generally recommend a starting point of no less than 2500-4000 lumens.

Is any projector suitable for rear projection?

All projectors can reverse/flip the image in order to be used on a rear projection surface. However, if space is limited you may need a projector with a short throw lens.

Final Verdict

We’ve come to an end here; go through the entire list of the best projector for rear projection and choose based on your needs.

Although all projectors can perform rear projection, we have only included the best-reviewed projectors in our list.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!