I have been looking for a replacement for my primary 75” LCD TV purchased in 2016. It had been slightly damaged in a move which ended up leaving inconsistent light levels (it appeared to have a dark smudge in the middle of the screen in certain viewing conditions). I was also mildly disappointed with its 3D picture quality (ghosting and crosstalk in most scenes).
Having spent a couple of months researching LED, OLED, projectors, and Ultra Short Throw projectors I settled on the AWOL LTV-3500. I have paired it with a motorized, floor-rising VividStorm 120” ultra short throw (UST) ambient light rejecting (ALR) screen. I could not be happier with the performance of the LTV-3500 as a full-time replacement for my 75” LCD TV.
3-D Performance: Having had disappointing experiences with LED 3D TVs in the past, I was resigned to the idea that I just couldn’t achieve a near theatrical presentation at home. I was wrong! The LTV-3500 has blown me away. Paired with DLP-Sync active shutter glasses (purchased separately online), the 3D picture is completely solid with absolutely no crosstalk or ghosting, seemingly no flicker from ambient light sources and instant, easy syncing. With such a bright, clear 3D image at 120”, I am very happy with 3D at home… for the first time.
Gaming: Gaming with a Playstation 5 the LTV-3500 has been a very good experience. I’ve played fast racing games (Wipeout, GT7), action RPGs (Diablo 3, Final Fantasy 7 Remake), platformers (Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, Sackboy A Big Adventure) and haven’t had any issues with input lag.
Watching HD streaming content: Streaming from the included Fire TV Stick 4k Max, that neatly tucks into a panel at the rear of the projector, looks great. I also have a 4k Apple TV which performs similarly to the Fire TV. Viewing programming from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Apple TV+ and other services on the 3500 has transformed programs from “a show on TV” to “an event” in my living room.
4K UHD and HD Blu-ray discs do not disappoint and really show off what the 3500 is best at: brightness, contrast and color reproduction ability.
Pair the LTV-3500 with a good UST ALR screen. It is worth the investment for enjoyment in varied lighting conditions and improved contrast overall. I’m very pleased with the 120” VividStorm. The screen came with a USB wireless dongle to plug into one of the USB ports on the projector. It raises and lowers the screen when the projector power is turned on and off. It works without any setup.
Areas of improvement: First, the system menus take some fiddling to fully understand. Second, the black levels aren’t perfect but the brightness, contrast and color fidelity more than make up for it. Dolby Vision (HDR) is currently in the works which will be a welcome addition.
Overall, I would highly recommend the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 to anyone looking to transform their TV/Movie/3D watching and game-playing into a spectacle. It is truly transformative. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to watch something.