When it comes to creating a high-end home theater experience, AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ($5,999) and Leica Cine 1 ($9,495) represent two of the most advanced ultra-short throw (UST) projectors available. Let's dive into what makes these projectors special and help you decide which one might be right for your setup.
Ultra-short throw projectors represent a relatively new approach to home theater. Unlike traditional projectors that need to sit far from the screen, UST projectors sit just inches from your wall, using clever optics to create massive images from a very short distance. This technology has revolutionized home theater by eliminating the need to mount projectors on ceilings or deal with people walking through the projection beam.
Both of these projectors use triple-laser technology, which means they create images using three separate colored lasers (red, green, and blue) instead of traditional lamps. This approach offers several benefits:
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro, released in mid-2023, brought several innovations to the market, particularly in brightness and HDR handling. It's notably brighter at 3,500 ANSI lumens, making it more versatile for rooms with ambient light. The projector can handle screen sizes from 80 to 150 inches, giving you flexibility in how you use it.
The Leica Cine 1, announced in late 2022 and released in early 2023, took a different approach. While slightly less bright at 3,000 ANSI lumens, it focuses on optical excellence with its Summicron lens system. Leica optimized their projector specifically for 120-inch screens, prioritizing image quality at this size over flexibility.
Both projectors offer 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) using pixel-shifting technology, which rapidly moves a 1080p chip to create a 4K image. However, they handle this differently:
AWOL Vision:
Leica:
If you're a gamer, the AWOL Vision has a clear advantage. It offers:
The Leica, while capable of gaming, doesn't prioritize these features. It's designed primarily for movie viewing, and this shows in its feature set.
Having spent time with both projectors, I can share some practical insights:
The AWOL's extra brightness makes a noticeable difference in rooms with ambient light. While both projectors look fantastic in dark rooms, the AWOL maintains better image quality when there's some light present. This makes it more practical for everyday use in living rooms.
The Leica's focus on a specific screen size makes initial setup easier - if you're planning on a 120-inch screen. The AWOL requires more careful adjustment but offers more flexibility in screen size.
In a properly darkened room, both projectors produce stunning images. The Leica's superior optics show their worth in the absolute clarity of the image, particularly at the edges. However, the AWOL's better HDR handling and brighter output often result in more impactful viewing, especially with HDR content.
At $5,999, the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro offers excellent value for its feature set. You're getting:
The Leica Cine 1 at $9,495 represents a premium option focused on:
Choose the AWOL Vision if:
Choose the Leica if:
Both projectors represent significant investments in your home theater, but they serve slightly different purposes. The AWOL is the more versatile choice, better suited to mixed-use spaces and varying content types. The Leica is the specialist's choice, offering unmatched optical quality in a more focused package.
Remember that proper screen selection is crucial for either projector. A high-quality ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen will significantly improve performance, especially in rooms with ambient light.
| AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ($5,999) | Leica Cine 1 ($9,495) |
|---|---|
| Brightness - Critical for daytime viewing and HDR impact | |
| 3,500 ANSI lumens (excellent for bright rooms) | 3,000 ANSI lumens (best in controlled lighting) |
| Screen Size Range - Determines placement flexibility and room compatibility | |
| 80" to 150" (highly flexible for different spaces) | Fixed 120" optimization (less flexible but potentially sharper) |
| HDR Support - Affects color and contrast with modern content | |
| Full suite including Dolby Vision (better for streaming) | HDR10 and HLG (good but missing Dolby Vision) |
| Gaming Latency - Critical for responsive gaming | |
| 8ms@1080p/120Hz, 15ms@4K/60Hz (excellent for gaming) | Standard latency (not optimized for gaming) |
| Lens Quality - Impacts image clarity and edge sharpness | |
| Good Ricoh lens (minor chromatic aberration) | Superior Leica Summicron (exceptional clarity) |
| Color Gamut - Determines color range and vibrancy | |
| 107% BT.2020 (class-leading color range) | 100% BT.2020 (excellent but slightly narrower) |
| Smart Features - Affects ease of use and streaming | |
| Android TV with integrated streaming | Basic smart features, requires external device |
| Price/Performance Value - Overall bang for buck | |
| Better value for features and brightness | Premium price for optical excellence |
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ($5,999) offers higher brightness at 3,500 ANSI lumens compared to the Leica Cine 1's ($9,495) 3,000 ANSI lumens, making it better suited for rooms with ambient light.
Both excel at movie watching, but the Leica Cine 1's superior optics provide better edge clarity and reduced chromatic aberration. However, the AWOL Vision offers better HDR support including Dolby Vision, which many streaming services use.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro is significantly better for gaming, offering 8ms input lag at 1080p/120Hz and 15ms at 4K/60Hz. The Leica Cine 1 doesn't specifically optimize for gaming performance.
Yes, both projectors work best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen designed for ultra-short throw projectors. This is essential for optimal contrast and black levels.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro offers better value with more features and higher brightness at $5,999, while the Leica commands a premium price of $9,495 for superior optics.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro has better streaming capabilities with built-in Android TV and superior HDR support. The Leica Cine 1 requires an external streaming device.
The AWOL Vision offers flexible sizing from 80" to 150", while the Leica is optimized specifically for 120" screens, offering less flexibility but potentially better image quality at its target size.
Both projectors use triple-laser technology with an estimated 25,000-hour lifespan, which equals about 8 years of watching 8 hours daily.
Both excel in dedicated theaters, but the Leica Cine 1 particularly shines in controlled lighting conditions, while the AWOL offers more flexibility for varying room conditions.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro offers better smart home features with Control4 integration and Android TV, compared to the Leica Cine 1's more basic connectivity options.
Both projectors require similar placement, typically 11-14 inches from the wall for a 100-inch image, making them excellent space-saving options for home theaters.
The AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro is better for sports viewing due to its higher brightness, superior motion handling, and better performance in ambient light conditions common during daytime sports viewing.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: projectorjunkies.com - digitaltrends.com - youtube.com - avsforum.com - dreamediaav.com - awolvision.de - projectorreviews.com - bhphotovideo.com - youtube.com - projectorjunkies.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorreviews.com - leicacamerausa.com - projectorreviews.com - whathifi.com - leicacamerausa.com - bhphotovideo.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreen.com - crutchfield.com - leicarumors.com - projectorscreen.com
