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Although Florida-based tech brand AWOL Vision could have offered a number of ultra short-throw projectors that range from basic to high-end, they decided to infuse as many of the best audio and visual technologies into their projectors for home theater enthusiasts who refuse to skimp on quality. The LTV-3000 Pro was clearly designed as a TV replacement, and after spending months watching movies and gaming on this dazzlingly bright projector, I can say that AWOL succeeded in making a projector that looks great in all lighting conditions.
Investing in a pricey projector like this isn’t for everyone, but if you loathe the thought of a huge TV mounted on the wall, need to fill a room with 3D movie theater-like sound, and won’t settle for anything less than a true cinematic viewing experience, you’ll want one for yourself.
The LTV-3000 and its components are securely packaged within multiple layers of protective foam, so I wouldn’t worry about this expensive projector getting damaged in transit. Setup was a breeze due to AWOL’s handy manual, and it took longer to get the bundled Amazon Fire TV Stick ready than it did to adjust the projector’s rubberized feet to line up the perfect projection size for my screen.
I quickly learned the device sports a safety sensor that automatically turns off the lasers if you get too close during setup (most likely to prevent accidental eye damage because its laser projections are extremely bright,) but I never tripped the safety sensor after that.
Its ports are easily accessible—plugging the TV stick into its dedicated hidden compartment took seconds—and after logging in and receiving a firmware update, I was ready to watch my top streaming apps on the big screen.
AWOL Vision sells this model for $3,999, however if you ‘re in the market for a projector and a new screen, the brand offers several bundles that will save buyers up to $2,300. For example, if you buy a LTV-3000 Pro and a 120-inch floor-rising screen together, you’ll save $2,000, and a projector purchased with a 100-inch cinematic screen will save $1,400.
Whether you’re watching a movie at high noon or in the middle of the night, this projector’s bright projections made for a reliably sharp, vibrant, and high-contrast picture. Of course, projections are a bit less vivid and black tones aren’t quite as deep if watched in a brighter room with multiple windows. However, this model’s brightness level is so high, it’s still comparable to watching a 4K TV even during the day. The LTV-3000 Pro truly shines when viewed in a pitch-black home theater where its HDR (high dynamic range) technologies, such as Dolby Vision and HDR 10+, highlight crisp and well-defined details, show a contrast between pitch black and brighter tones, and a lifelike color palette.
That’s the big selling point of this projector. While its picture will impress everyone after the sun sets for movie night, its high brightness mimics the picture quality of a high-end TV for watching shows and gaming throughout the day. As a lifelong night owl, I happily put this projector to the test by playing a collection of my favorite games and movies on my mammoth AWOL Vision Cinematic+ ALR Motorized Floor Rising Screen, and it was a treat to enjoy them all via its richly colored, high-contrast, bright picture.
If you’re in the market for a projector capable of filling a medium-size room with impactful cinematic sound, this model will not disappoint. Its four front-facing speaker drivers deliver loud, yet consistently balanced audio that delivers a true movie theater-like listening experience, but the onboard sound only gets better when you play content enhanced with Dolby Atmos for an immersive 3D feel that projects sound and envelops viewers from all directions. You may be surprised at how the dynamic sound placement greatly enhances the experience, and I found myself seeking out the Atmos boost throughout my testing time watching movies via Disney+ and Netflix, and enjoying newer Xbox games like Psychonauts 2 and Halo Infinite.
Its booming, yet dependably crisp audio will easily blanket a mid-to-large space, but huge home theaters will benefit from adding matching Dolby Atmos-compatible surround sound speakers or a soundbar to effectively cover your area.
The LTV-3000 Pro does a great job of emulating the brightness of a TV, and it is every bit as versatile as a premium smart TV too. Although the projector itself lacks any smart-device functionality, the included Amazon Fire TV Stick provides access to all the streaming apps the average viewer would ever want.
Its array of ports and wireless connectivity options make it a snap to hook up a gaming system for larger than life play, sync a laptop for a massive projected desktop, or as a room-filling Bluetooth speaker. While its latency may not be the best choice for fast-paced competitive online play, I enjoyed gaming on the big screen with my Xbox Series S with titles like Killer Instinct: Anniversary Edition, Halo Infinite, and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The vibrant colors, consistently smooth visuals, and rich contrast made for an engaging and gorgeous experience.
Some of the other great uses I had for this adaptable projector include using it as a speaker for my Spotify playlist, taking in 3D projected video with the help of AWOL’s 3D Glasses, and spending an afternoon using my projector as a gigantic PC display. I was also impressed at how quick and simple it was to adjust the visual settings to get the best picture for the source I tested, via its straightforward menus, color-management options, and six presets, including a convenient and dependably sharp-looking gaming mode.
Although this projector has the brightness and versatility of a huge smart 4K TV, if you were to simply plug in and turn on the AWOL LTV-3000 Pro, you’d be greeted by a simple Android 9.0-based menu. This basic menu serves its purpose for directly connecting other devices such as an Xbox Series X/S or laptop via Bluetooth, and AWOL included an Amazon Fire TV streaming stick, which perfectly sidesteps the “not a smart projector” issue. I’m a fan of its hidden rear TV stick compartment, which is easy to access and blends into the device so you don’t have to look at a plastic stick jutting off the side of your projector.
Although you could use an alternate streaming stick, the bundled Amazon Fire TV stick was a convenient option, and it provided access to a suite of popular apps including Prime TV, Netflix, Tubi, and more.
The projector also includes a sleek silver remote. You’ll mostly use your streaming device’s controls or remote, but it’s a good idea to keep the AWOL remote handy to quickly adjust the projector’s volume, visual settings, and power it down whenever you’re done for the day.
There isn’t much owners need to do to maintain their LTV-3000 Pro, but I have a few simple tips to keep your premium projector running at its best.
Gently dust its lens with a microfiber cloth once in a while to keep its picture sharp, and consider placing a towel over the projector between viewings to shield it from dust.
Although it never presented an issue for me, the LTV-3000 Pro puts out a bit of heat via its air vents. I recommend always running the projector in a well-ventilated space and turning it off after each use—especially after hours-long marathon viewings to prevent potential overheating or unneeded wear on the device. Be sure to wipe down the vents with a soft cloth to get rid of any vent-clogging dust, too.
The most common “maintenance” I regularly perform on this projector is keeping my favorite streaming apps updated so they’re ready to go when I’m ready to watch something.
The AWOL LTV-3000 Pro sports an elegant curvy design that will likely set it apart from the straight-lined tech lining the shelves of the average home, without being distracting. It features a pair of powerful front-facing speakers, extra-wide vents on its sides to keep the projector running cool, and its collection of ports are neatly tucked away on its rear.
It uses three lasers designed to last for at least 25,000 hours, which is impressive. If you were to watch this projector for six hours a day, five days a week, this projector would easily endure for 16 years before the lasers degrade.
Every component of the projector, from its highly adjustable feet to its removable back panel (to plug in your favorite TV stick), feels solidly made. My biggest recommendation is to invest in a protective cover to keep dust from settling on its lens and in the vents to extend its lifespan.
The AWOL LTV-3000 Pro 4K laser projector was designed to be the ultimate TV replacement, not just for people who hate having a massive flatscreen taking up valuable wall space and hardcore home theater enthusiasts ready to dish out big bucks for a premium projector, but for the average person who likes the idea of watching a huge, bright projection in a spot where they would otherwise flick on the TV. It’s a snap to set up and fine-tune for the best picture for your entertainment of choice and it’s a notably versatile projector for playing just about anything you would want to on the big screen. Most importantly, its 3,000 lumen bright projections, vividly colored Dolby Vision HDR 10+ high-contrast imagery, and immersive 3D sound system makes this a delightful place to watch movies no matter how bright the area around your entertainment center is.
As impressive as this ultra short-throw projector is, it does have an expensive caveat. At nearly $4,000, it’s a pricey centerpiece for the average person’s home theater setup, and that’s not including the matching screen and potential extra surround sound speakers for covering extra-large areas.
Anyone who feels nostalgic for the booming sound and crisp, larger-than-life cinematic experience of going to the movies can easily bring home and improve on the experience with the AWOL LTV-3000 Pro. Although movie lovers who install this projector in a dark home theater will get the most from this model, its ultra-bright projection simulates watching a sharp 4K television during the day, and its high-contrast, lifelike color range, and richly detailed HDR visuals make everything look incredible. It’s not an affordable pick, but you get your money’s worth for enjoying beautiful-looking, and sounding, movies and games.
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