NexiGo - Aurora Pro Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector

If you're going to use it in a living room, you should really consider UST projectors. They're sometimes referred to as "Laser TV's" - but it's just a projector you put on a bench in front of your screen on the wall. The screen needs to be a specific ALR (ambient light rejecting) screen. That screen technology combined with how the projector is firing light from below makes them untouchable for use in a somewhat lit environment, even compared to high lumen long throws. Your budget is problematic. You can't get into an UST with a proper screen for quite that amount. It's close, maybe $2500 or so would do it, something like a Nexigo Aurora Pro and a cheap Wemax or Nothing Projector 120 inch ALR screen. No projector performs well without a screen, but UST's especially stand or fall with having an ALR screen imo. For any projector solution you absolutely want the ability to at the very least block all outside light coming in, but with a long throw projector on a white screen you need to pain the walls black too... which can be an issue in a non-dedicated room.

Nexigo Aurora Pro, the previous version, can be had for $2 grand but you also need to spend $700 or thereabouts (or up) for a 120 inch ambient light rejecting screen for UST's. The Aurora Pro is possibly still the best UST projector for black level and dark room viewing. The screen you have won't cut it for an UST, you need a specific one for a "Laser TV". Built in sound is not going to cut it, but if you spend about $2.5k on the projector and screen, the remaining $1000 can buy you an entry level 5.1 (or 7.1, sometimes those are cheaper) AV receiver, an affordable subwoofer and five affordable speakers to dot around the room. A Denon entry level AVR being one choice, like the AVR-S770H or the X1800 or the X1700 (the 1700 being previous gen but still great).

The two front runners right now are probably the Nexigo Aurora Pro MKII and the Hisense PX3-Pro. Both mid-priced at $3000+ and triple lasers. Also add $1000 and up for an ALR (ambient light rejecting) screen for UST projectors (99.9% mandatory imo). At 100 inches, possibly the Formovie Fresnel one. The Nexigo Aurora Pro (previous gen) is sold around $2000 and is still a top notch choice for dark room movie viewing, it has solid black levels and dark image handling. The UST specific ALR will let you have some light in the room and still a satisfying level of black in the image (albeit not remotely plasma blacks or OLED blacks, but good). Without a screen you'll have a lesser image and need 100% blackout in the room; 100% blackout recommended even with an ALR.

The top of the line JVC projector is pretty good value for money. I mean, sure, it's $30000, but still great value for money if you're rich. And what I mean by that is state your darn budget... If you plan to go all in and start playing with anamorphic lenses for 2.35:1 and installing a MadVR processor then you want a long throw projector to accommodate that use case, but there's a lot to be said these days for UST projectors as well, the ALR screens really help, even in a darkened room. They're also silent (well, quiet) since they're expected to be in the room with you. Long throw projectors should ideally be in another room with a hole hacked in the wall for the lens. I personally qustion the wisdom of putting a device with fans literally over your head when watching a movie now that options exist. You'd have to pay a pretty big chunk of change to beat the image from a Hisense PX3 UST and, say, a 132 inch Nothing Projector ALR screen, or some other screen like Spectra Vision or similar that does cost more. Or the Nexigo Aurora Pro projector, that's still by all accounts the champ of dark room viewing and is in the $2000 ballpark (without screen). There's a pre-order opportunity for the Aurora Pro MK 2 that will sell for $1999 on pre-order, but that's still a few months out from shipping and of course there's some risk it won't be great (but honestly, I personally expect it to become the best UST on the market based on specs and what info is out here).

AWOL 3500 is bright but has atrocious black level. Avoid imo. Hisense great. LG is old shit, it's not worth the money, I believe its RBE is reportedly also bad. Formovie Theater Premium, top notch, like the PX3 Pro. Another option not listed: Nexigo Aurora Pro, has the best black level vs these and is great for dark room viewing, should be gettable for about 2 grand, not sure of exact price now. But, Aurora Pro Mk2 is in pre-order for $2299 if you want to roll the dice, they added features that on paper should make it superb. On paper. Sight unseen. Thus, "roll the dice". Whichever one you get *you need a proper ALR screen* and those are maybe a thousand bucks for a 120 inch, and I think Nothing Projector has a 132 inch for under 2 grand. A motorized floor rising from Spectra Vision, Vividstorm or similar is in the $2 grand ballpark for a 120.

Valerion Pro 2. Although unless there's a very compelling reason to go lifestyle, I'd buy a Nexigo Aurora Pro MKII ultra-short throw and a proper ALR screen for it. Just plonk it down in front of the screen. No weird digital keystone required, no trapezoidal light spill or shit, just a super clean image. But of course if you can't use a fixed screen, a proper motorized ALR is a chunk of change; https://www.projectorscreen.com/vividstorm-motorized-floor-rising-alr-projector-screen-for-ultra-short-throw-projectors-92-inch-with-acoustically.html Keep in mind you still want a good tensioned screen regardless of what you get; granted a normal crappy white screen can be had for less. But an UST + ALR will mitigate most of the other problems with the room because it doesn't spill light as much, and it also rejects what other light is there.

You'd probably be better off with a 5050ub even though it's bulb fed. It has considerably better black levels. They're cheaper too (well.. same ballpark). Or, you could look into the Valerion projectors, the Pro 2 model almost certainly gives you a better image in just about every way. Or the Max, better yet. Since you're talking about in-wall speakers, UST projectors are out (can't combine UST ALR screen with perforations) otherwise one of those would have been a choice, at 120 inches; a $2000-ish Nexigo Aurora Pro provides a better image and better dark room viewing than the LS11000 (haven't seen it with my own eyes, have seen a comparo online by The Hook Up). Epson projectors also all have loud fans; I'm an Epson owner myself. I have to run mine on 70% power to shut the fan up otherwise it sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

If you are in a room with some ambient light, or even with white walls, Nexigo is better. If you are in a completely dark room, Hisense might be better.

If you don’t need extra brightness, Valerion is a better option than Nexigo. Just be aware you may have to choose the screen carefully for RGB laser projectors. But if your room has all-white ceilings, the black level may not differ too much. The extra brightness, almost doubled, could give you a better HDR/DV experience. XGIMI is great if you need more flexible position with its optical zoom and lens shift.

For the budget, the original Nexigo Aurora Pro with their Fresnel screen bundle would give you very good results in your setup. Or px3-Pro and Aurora Pro MKII, but you will pay some extra for the screen.

I have a barely used Nexigo Aurora Pro for sale well under your budget. If that product fits your needs let me know.

I have nexigo pro and it’s been nothing but great.

If moving the ceiling mount would be an option, I would definitelly go with a Nexigo. Perfect for the dark room and also for gaming. I have one if youre interested: https://www.ebay.de/itm/146680115778?chn=ps&_ul=DE&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=707-134425-41852-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=146680115778&targetid=2352311494706&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9193546&poi=&campaignid=21674171206&mkgroupid=172695884331&rlsatarget=pla-2352311494706&abcId=10011800&merchantid=7364532&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21674171206

I picked up a trilaser Nexigo and it's native 4k. Ran me 1300 on Prime Day.

Not sure if it helps or makes your comparison harder, but the Nexigo does drop to around $1399-1499 on sale. Maybe even the Valerion Plus or Plus 2 should merit consideration at that price point.