Most of us probably have TVs in our homes that measure anywhere between 32 and 55 inches. That’s probably the sweet spot for the most popular size of TV in the average home, particularly for those of us who live in smaller houses or apartments. However, some people want to go large and are tempted to buy giant TVs measuring up to 120 inches. These screens are very impressive, but they suffer from a couple of problems.
The first problem is that massive TVs are incredibly heavy and unsuitable for today’s modern plasterboard walls. Such a large TV needs a sturdy brick or stone wall to carry the weight of such a large screen. The second problem is that TVs above 65 inches can cost a small fortune, especially as you reach 100 to 120 inches.
What can you do if you want a larger screen but don’t have walls strong enough and you haven’t got a bank balance big enough to cover the cost of a massive TV? The answer to this conundrum is surprisingly simple; instead of buying a large LED or OLED TV, buy a laser TV instead. Laser TVs are far less expensive inch for inch, plus they only require a lightweight passive screen that can be mounted on almost any wall.
Hisense makes a range of high-performance regular TVs and laser TVs. The latest addition to the brand’s premium entertainment line-up is the L9G TriChroma laser TV. The L9G is a 3,000 Lumen, 4K ultra-short throw projection TV that has the Hisense TriChroma laser engine. The L9G uses pure red, green and blue lasers to achieve 107% of the BT.2020 color space so the picture isn’t washed out or weak, like some regular video projectors. Better still, a laser TV can be watched at bright ambient light levels and you don’t need to turn the lights down to get a good picture.
The L9G laser TV is supplied with a special Ambient Light Rejecting (ALR) screen that’s lightweight and is specifically calibrated for the individual the projector will be used with. This pairing removes all the guesswork and extra expense involved in finding the right passive screen to work with L9G.
In addition to its premium primary color lasers, the L9G also features Dolby Atmos sound built-in with 40W of amplification. There’s a high-speed HDMI connection, HDR10/HLG, Filmmaker Mode, and is WiSA-Ready for use with wireless home cinema sound setups. Choosing a laser TV makes much more sense if you want a big TV but don’t have a cool $100,000 to splash out on a large conventional LED TV.
Ken Welty is director of laser TV at Hisense USA and he says: “The trend in bigger TV screens at home continues to grow. A laser TV is a compelling solution thanks to its super-bright 4K picture, massive screen, plus all the smart TV features you get with a regular TV.”
Hisense introduced its first ultra-short throw laser TV in 2014 and has been refining the technology ever since then. With each model that’s released, the company has raised the bar on what its laser TVs can do. Picture quality has been consistently improved and the units are now smaller and more convenient, bringing the luxury of big-screen TV that’s much more affordable.
The L9G can be bought with various options depending on what the customer wants. For those people who want to create a dedicated home theater, the L9G with its matching ALR Cinema Screen can achieve exceptional color accuracy with very wide viewing angles and has increased brightness and ambient light rejection capabilities so the TV can be watched without pulling the curtains.
Inside the L9G TriChroma Laser TV, the operating system is based on the Android TV OS which offers more than 5,000 apps and games, including Hulu, YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and many more. Free-to-air channels are also provided by Android TV and the unit includes Google Assistant, so consumers can use the voice remote to search for programs and find what they would like to watch. The L9G also works with Amazon Alexa and is Control4-certified so it can be easily integrated with other smart home IoT devices and control systems.
The L9G isn’t just a projection TV because it also has built-in speakers playing Dolby Atmos sound with 40W of amplification. The unit also includes Google Chromecast Built-In and Apple’s AirPlay 2, making it a versatile audio system for streaming music from a smartphone, computer or tablet.
I’ve had a brief online demonstration to see what the L9G can do. Although I couldn’t travel to China to see the L9G put through its paces, I watched an online demonstration to see what the TV can do. The brightness and color quality seemed incredibly impressive even via a webcam from the other side of the world. The projector is quite a chunky piece of equipment and weighs around 20kg, so it does need a stable surface close to the screen.
The three X-Fusion lasers inside the L9G have a lifespan of around 25,000 hours and even after long-term use, Hisense says the laser output will only reduce by around 5%. The lasers have a proximity sensor that shuts them off whenever a moving body gets too close to the projector. This safety feature can be turned off, but it is there to protect anyone placing items on the laser console or from looking directly into the projector beam.
Pricing & Availability: The Hisense L9G Laser TV, with a 100-inch or 120-inch ALR screen, is available now through Hisense authorized resellers. The 100-inch L9G retails at $5,499.99 while the 120-inch model costs $5,999.99.
More info: www.hisense-usa.com.
Features:
- 4K ultra-short-throw projector.
- 3.5x more real estate than a 65-inch TV.
- Pure red, green and blue TriChroma laser engine covering 107% of the BT.2020 color space.
- HDR with 3,000 Lumens.
- Digital micromirror device reacts faster than LED or OLED screens.
- MEMC Technology helps make fast action in sports, movies and games smoother.
- DLP technology powered by Texas Instruments.
- X-Fusion laser light technology offers up to 25,000+ hours of use.
- Ambient Light Rejecting Screen paired with the L9G projector for wide viewing angles.
- 40W Dolby Atmos sound with Google Chromecast Built-In and Apple AirPlay 2.
- High-speed HDMI port with eARC.
- Android TV OS.
- WiSA Ready for wireless multi-channel surround sound.
- Built-in WiFi, Google Assistant, Works with Alexa and Control4 certified.
