I was thinking about getting a new projector, and then I started wondering if it will work at an angle to the wall. So, I looked into the topic and figured it all out: if a projector can work at an angle not. Then put it all together in this helpful article to explain whether a projector can or can’t work at an angle.
So, can a projector work at an angle? A projector will show blurriness around the edges when you face it at an angle to the viewing surface. Most projectors have a setting called keystone correction that removes the blurriness in the vertical direction. There is no such setting for a horizontal setting.
That means the projector must always be facing directly into the wall. But, you can vary its height with no blurriness. If you vary the projector by facing it towards the wall from a sideways angle, it won’t be square and it will have blurriness around the edges.
How Do Projectors Work at An Angle?
I would say you want to avoid putting your projector at anything but a 90-degree angle to the wall. This means it is facing it squarely. It works the same as if you shine a flashlight on a wall. When you put the flashlight at an angle to the wall, it becomes long and stretches outwards.
It is the same with a projector. When you put it at an angle it makes all the faces of the people in the movie a funny shape.
It can be fun for a while, laughing at how funny people and animals look. But, eventually, you’ll want to get back to a normal sized screen because it will get hard to watch. Projectors will work the same whether you have them close to the ground in a specially built cabinet. Or, safer and higher, closer to the ceiling. But, they work best projecting straight on with no angle at all.
A Sideways Angle Should Be Avoided
If you put your projector at an angle from the side, the side furthest away becomes longer and wider. It is also not as bright, because the light has to travel your screen. So, it becomes too hard to watch for the most part.
Keystone correction is a feature that comes with most projectors. If you are thinking about buying one you should check beforehand if it has it because it is very useful. This feature changes the shape of the projected image so that is not square. But, it is closer to a trapezoid, or rhombus. When this happens it changes the shape to allow for the different angles that you are using.
You will have to do some adjusting to get it just right. But, it looks much better and gives you more room around your home, lets you mount it close to the ceiling or low to the ground in a cabinet.
Putting your projector closer to the floor can be a more frustrating place to put it if you have pets such as dogs or cats. Dogs and cats will walk in front of it and blackout the screen for a second or two. But, we all know that if cats and dogs aren’t sleeping, they’re coming back and forward all the time. Over time, it gets to be a bit of pain.
Therefore, you should mount it at about the middle of the wall or screen to give the best sharpest image and to stop screen interruptions from pets.
Will A Projector Work Well If It Is Too Far Or Too Close To A Wall?
You might be wondering if you have enough space or a good place to put your projector. Some people have large and bulky furniture that they might not be enthusiastic to move around in a hurry.
According to Whattowatch.com, you should look for a setting called a throw ratio. It’s easier to start with the room you want to use and find a projector that will fit your demands. A throw ratio is a calculation you need to make to see how far from the wall your projector needs to be to get the screen size you want.
For example, if you want a screen size of 8 to 10 ft (2.5 to 3 meters) you want to first start by finding out how much space you have. Then calculating what throw ratio you need, and finding a corresponding projector.
The top manufacturers like Sony offer a distance calculator based on the projector you are using. You then multiply the throw ratio by the screen size to get the distance your projector needs to be from the wall. It’s really simple.
A general rule, which makes sense is that the further away the projector is, the bigger the screen will be. Projectors with a higher throw ratio will also make the biggest screens. But, each projector is slightly unique, so find out the throw ratio of your projector or one you are buying.
Can You Watch A Projector At An Angle?
Projectors can be watched comfortably from an angle. But, they are easier to watch than a TV at the same angle. Because a TV can have glare, and the technology they use can make it hard to see once you go past a certain angle. Much like modern laptops and phones that have screen darkening so that people can’t see that flirty text you’re sending. Or, your bank account details when you’re checking your balance.
With projectors, you are looking at secondary light. Rather than with a TV where you are looking directly at the light source. This means that they give you more flexibility on how wide you can sit or stand to watch it.
You can watch them equally as well if you are sitting on the floor. Or are tall and stand up looking down at parts of the screen. So, whether you are moving around either side to side or up and down a projector looks roughly the same. But, it won’t be if you are sitting too wide, and the best is straight in front of it.
What Is The Best Angle For A Projector?
You want the projector to be positioned so that it is perpendicular to the viewing surface. So the projector is facing the wall exactly and not at any angle. The projector should also not be at any up or down angle unless specified in the manual. Or, you have to because of how much space you have in your room.
A Guide To The Best Place To Put A Projector
The best place to put your projector depends on how you use it.
One off use such as sports or movies
If you use your projector only for random events such as sporting events or once a week movies. Then consider keeping it in a cabinet, out of sight, and danger from falling on to the floor.
Projectors work so that the center of the projector lens is the bottom of the image. You can change the settings so that the bottom is also the top. For when you are mounting it to the ceiling, or putting it up really high.
So, you can place it at about waist height most of the time. On a sturdy table in a place where it won’t get bumped works well. If it falls off especially onto hardwood or tile floors it has a good chance of breaking. And you’ll have to buy a new one.
Then, just adjust how far or close it is to the wall or special screen you’re using until it is the size you want. Various projector manufacturers will also include settings to modify the display. And they also include the settings to play around within their user manual.
If you can’t find your user manual. You can generally find one, for the same brand, or maybe a slightly older model that works much the same.
Regular use = permanent fixture
If you use your projector daily for TV or as a gaming or work screen then it is a good idea to create something specifically for it. Having it mounted on the ceiling saves the most space. But, it can affect the acoustics of your room. Additionally, a nice cabinet that you can close looks nice and also protects it more from being knocked over.
Where Should You Put The Speakers For A Projector?
Most projectors have inbuilt speakers that are really good. But, you may have acoustic panels, and soundproofing which means where you put your projector can be optimized. In such cases, if it can be a good idea to hire a sound engineer. Also, many people like the 3d sound of a home theater system or a few of the speakers that come with them.
Depending on what speaker system you are using, will dictate where you put them. If you get a simple soundbar they give you an excellent sound experience. I recently put together a review of the best soundbars for the money. Read it by clicking Best Soundbars for the Money to go to the article.
With that being said, you want to put the soundbar directly in front of you. Other speakers vary a bit. There are column speakers that can be in each corner facing the middle of the room. And, subwoofers that can be put anywhere in a room.
There are also the small to mid-sized speakers with these you should put one on each side so that they play correctly. Home theatre systems sound the best when you follow the instructions from the manufacturer because they have been tested and finetuned to work best where they describe. Alternatively, you can use some trial and error to find the best placement for sound and screen.
Can TVs Work Better At An Angle Than TVs?
TVs work worse than projectors in the viewing angle department. According to Wikipedia, most TVs are best viewed within 10 degrees of straight ahead. Which isn’t that much. Only 10 degrees on either side. But, with projectors, you can view them at an angle of up to 30 degrees or so, according to Sound Vision.
The further away you sit from the screen or wall the wider you can be positioned and still be able to watch the movie comfortably. Which is an added benefit of projectors.
How Do TVs and Projectors Compare to Each Other?
Overall projectors are superior for the most part. The only reason you would get a TV is if you can’t stand a projector for whatever reason. Projectors have:
A. Bigger Screen
| A projector will have a bigger screen than the same priced TV. The video resolution and clarity are the same whether you get a TV or a projector. So, when you compare them a projector is a winner. A bigger screen is more enjoyable to watch. And, it is also more fun for computer games and working on a laptop. |
B. Better Sound Quality
| Modern flat-screen TVs are so thin that the only speakers that can come with them are too small to make a meaningful impact on your listening pleasure. They just don’t have the size to produce nice quality sound. Projectors on the other hand are square, and people aren’t so interested in how thin they are… yet. But, because of that, the sound quality is very good. And many people leave many reviews of budget projectors that they report have excellent sound. Better Sound Quality |
C. Are More Portable
| Projectors are pretty small and light when compared to a TV. Projectors usually weigh under 10 pounds (4.5 kg). With lighter models weighing only 3 pounds (1.5 kg). Whereas a 50-inch flatscreen TV can weigh anywhere from 28 to 55 pounds. Almost three times the weight. That means you can take it over to your friends or family’s house with ease. You can also move it around into different rooms. So, you can take it into your children’s room, and set it up for a movie. Or, outside on a warm night, and have a barbeque. |
D. Are Cheaper
| When you compare a 50-inch flatscreen TV a new model is around $200 to $300. But, you can find a 200-inch projector for this price. Although they have the same resolution 1080p. It’s truly remarkable. |
E. Are More Energy Efficient
| I did some in-depth analysis of the difference in energy efficiency between a projector and a TV. The bottom line is that a projector is much more efficient. Which means you can have a much bigger screen but not have to pay way more for it. To see all the numbers about the cost savings you can get by using a projector read my article by clicking here: Are Projectors Efficient? |
Conclusion
Projectors will work at an angle. But, it’s better to face them perpendicular to the wall. Most projectors have keystone imaging, where you can change the shape of the screen from a square into a rhombus or similar shape. However, it only works in the up and down (vertical) direction.
When you’re not using keystone imaging the screen size will turn into a square that is stretched on one edge – either the top, bottom, left, or right – which makes it hard on your eyes. Because the edge is blurry and a different size to the rest of the screen.