AWOL Vision: Pioneering a New Path In Projection

When you hear the word AWOL, the first thing that comes to mind might be the definition which means “absent” or “missing”. AWOL can also mean not following the rules or taking a different path. But, for projector enthusiasts, the first thing they might think of when they hear the word AWOL might be AWOL Vision.

In less than five years, AWOL Vision has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers of Laser TVs and ultra short throw projectors, reshaping the landscape of home entertainment.

In this article, sponsored by AWOL Vision, we'll cover the company's inception and history and explain its innovative approach to building premium Laser TV solutions. We will also highlight some of the notable products and accessories available in their lineup and show you how AWOL Vision’s solutions can enhance the audio/video experience in both homes and commercial applications.

AWOL Vision embodies its namesake, choosing to diverge from conventional norms and redefine the essence of home entertainment. In 2020, a group of passionate video and TV enthusiasts started the company with the belief that the best and most outstanding home entertainment systems should be available to everyone. The team behind AWOL Vision felt that, just like the term AWOL, the market was missing options that brought the best-in-class components and the most cutting-edge technologies available in one total package that was built at the highest of standards and without compromise. So, they chose to take a different path.

When developing their first ultra short throw projector, AWOL Vision charted their own course and completely changed the way most new projection products were being created. From September 2020 to January 2022, their engineering team engaged with hundreds of customers and actually listened to what those customers wanted. They launched an Indiegogo campaign in March of 2022 and what they heard during this process was that people want a home entertainment experience that is completely immersive - that makes you feel like you are part of the experience, not just watching it on a screen. AWOL Vision provides entertainment-enthusiasts, of all levels, the feeling they get being in a movie theater but from the comfort of their own home.  

From these efforts, AWOL vision launched their first 4K 3D triple Laser ultra short throw projectors: the LTV-3500 and the LTV-2500. These projectors offered vibrant colors, intelligent features, light-weight design, and easy installation. Another unique benefit AWOL Vision offers their customers is that they don’t charge for upgrades. Since they worked with them to build the products, they want them to continue to have the best experience possible at no additional charge.

In their pursuit of making the magic of home theater easier and more affordable for all, AWOL vision opened their first retail store in June of 2022, in Delrey Beach, Florida. 

In September of 2022, they launched the Vanish TV, a 120” rollable 4K UHD 3D Laser TV which consisted of a LTV3500, a 120-inch uprising screen and a custom cabinet. The Vanish TV makes it easy to turn any room into a home theater within minutes by removing the need for hanging a large screen on a wall. 

That month they also launched their first screen - a 150” Ambient Light Rejection (ALR) screen - one of the largest available on the market at the time. This ALR screen paired with the LTV-3500 could transform any room into a cinematic experience with its large projection surface and ability to produce a vibrant image, even in a room with ambient light. 

Today, AWOL Vision continues to innovate by including features like Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Smart Home Integration into their products. They are also looking to see what is missing in the commercial market and are launching new products to help businesses and education settings also realize what is possible to increase productivity, elevate experiences, and take a different path, just as AWOL Vision has done for the home theater experience. 

AWOL Vision believes two main things separate them from other Laser TV and ultra short throw projector manufacturers: their performance-first mindset and solution-based philosophy.

So, what truly sets AWOL Vision apart from the other manufacturers? When we spoke with the president of AWOL Vision, Steven Shulman, what really stood out to us was their performance-first mindset. Many other projectors will use some premium components, but then cut corners on other parts of the product. That is one of the “missing” pieces AWOL Vision recognized in the market and set out to change. 

They believe that in order to give their customers that fully immersive experience they told the team they were looking for, there was no room for short-cuts or skimping on the best-of-the-best on every piece of the products they built. 

AWOL Vision has researched and sought out the most outstanding components and latest technologies available across the globe, incorporating the best components available and utilizing the most cutting-edge technologies to deliver class-leading picture quality.

AWOL Vision uses some of the industry's best suppliers for the projector's Laser light engine components. The LTV-3500 Pro has a Texas Instruments 0.47 Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), a NICHA RGB Laser diode light source, and a state-of-the-art Ricoh all-glass lens. Premium components, combined with great picture tuning, have resulted in performance that rivals any major projector manufacturer.

AWOL Vision has always chosen the best components and tried to incorporate the latest technologies, including Tri-Laser light sources, better optics, and features like Dolby Vision and HDR 10+.

One of the benefits of purchasing an AWOL Vision projector is the team is constantly looking for ways to continue to improve the picture/sound quality and user experience. AWOL Vision projector owners have benefited from the additional features that have been added via “over the air” firmware updates at no cost to them. These updates include:

• Active 3D
• Dolby Vision
• Black Level Enhancement 
• Increase contrast ratio 2.5x
• Turbo Mode for Gaming at 8ms
• Film Maker Mode 24 FPS
• Professional Calibrated Settings mode
• Control 4 compatible 
• Aspect Ratio at 21:9 32:9 and 16:10
• Center Channel Speaker 

AWOL Vision would place the value of these enhancements at $2,800. In addition, their prices have never gone up on all three AWOL Visions devices. If you were one of the first customers to buy an AWOL Vision projector, you would have the same features if you bought a unit today. The features above are one of the reasons why AWOL Vision projectors continue to be cutting-edge.

Many people believe that projectors can only be used in dark rooms that are set up only for viewing such as a “man cave” or a movie room. The reality is, very few homes these days have a dedicated home theater space. AWOL Vision is set to change that perception and again, bring the immersive, cinematic experience of a movie theater to the average home. AWOL Vision’s products are built and continually upgraded with this in mind, and they offer outstanding picture quality, even in rooms with ambient lighting. 

AWOL Vision was founded on a solution-based philosophy, not just a needs-based approach meaning that they wanted to provide the customer with everything needed for the optimal experience. 

While most companies just make a projector and leave it up to the consumer to determine how to set it up, AWOL Vision offers the total package - the projector along with the cabinetry it will be housed in, the perfect screen for that specific projector, and even the sound system that will support the ideal experience. 

Not only that but because of their solution-based philosophy, they offer a wealth of additional accessories for a gamut of use cases. They understand that each customer’s need and application is unique in how and where they want to utilize their entertainment. AWOL Vision still wants to stay true to its roots by providing the best possible experience, no matter the situation. In order to do that, they offer screens of different sizes, made of different materials, and available for various installation options. 

At the heart of an AWOL Vision Laser TV is the ultra-short-throw projector, and they offer three models. All AWOL Vision projectors are equipped with a high-performance RGB triple Laser light source that eliminates the phosphor wheel and allows the units to display 107% of the BT.2020 color space. AWOL Vision lists its native contrast ratios at 2,500:1 when using the company's Enhanced Adaptive Black Level setting.

In addition, all the models support Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. They are bundled with an Amazon Fire TV Max, which allows users to access popular streaming services and smart apps.

As the chart below shows, the main difference between the three AWOL Vision projectors is brightness. Each projector can be purchased standalone or bundled with one of AWOL Vision's projection screens. 

At the heart of an AWOL Vision Laser TV is the ultra short throw projector and they offer three models. With a retail price of $5499, the LTV-3500 Pro sits at the higher end within the AWOL Vision lineup. It is a step up from the award-winning LTV-3000 Pro we reviewed about a year ago. 

The projector utilizes a DLP (.045” DMD) with XPR to display 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) on-screen resolution, delivering stunningly sharp images. It uses a laser light source known for its longevity and superior color accuracy and is rated at an impressive 3500 ANSI lumens. This brightness ensures clear, vibrant images even in well-lit rooms. 

The LTV-3500 Pro is probably one of the most full-featured, technologically advanced ultra-short-throw projectors on the market. When it comes to features, the AWOL Vision LTV3500 Pro checks every box. You would be hard-pressed to name a technology/feature found on a competitive model but not the LTV3500 Pro.

Based on our testing, the LTV-3500 Pro did not disappoint when it came to picture quality. In terms of color accuracy, black level, and image detail, the unit easily rivals the best Laser TVs on the market. To learn more about the LTV-3500 Pro, check out our upcoming review.

The AWOL Vision LTV-3000 Pro, which retails for $3,999, is also a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) ultra short throw home theater projector. Its feature set is similar to the LTV3500 Pro but its rated brightness is 2400 ANSI lumens which is less than its big brother. 

The LTV-2500 is AWOL Vision’s entry level model but it is still feature packed. It incorporates most of the technologies and smart features found in the brighter, higher-end models. This 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) ultra short throw home theater projector brightness is rated at 2000 ANSI lumens.

Many people think Laser TVs are just for watching movies and TV shows. However, there are other applications where you could utilize an AWOL Vision projector to enhance your experience. A great example would be gaming.

In recent years, there has been a huge growth in the trend of using projectors for gaming, which makes a lot of sense to us. The level of immersion delivered by a projector and a massive projector screen can’t be matched with a gaming monitor or TV. Projecting onto a 120-inch screen will make you feel like you are really in the game.

With gaming transitioning from 1080P resolutions to stunning 4K HDR imagery, it offers the player a much better and more realistic game play. Progressing from a limited palette of colors to lifelike environments boasting billions of shades, the advancements are truly remarkable.

Using a Laser TV projector for gaming gives the user the ability to project a flexible 50 to 150-inch image onto any surface in the home, with the projector positioned just inches away. 

AWOL Vision is not only forging a new path in the consumer projection market, they recognized that their outstanding products and unique approach could be applied to the commercial market as well.

We've all been in meeting spaces with flat-panel TVs, where you had to squint and try to read the information from the back of the room. Utilizing a larger projector-based display solution in conference rooms, classrooms, and other business environments can improve productivity and the experience.

While ultra-large flat panels are becoming more affordable in environments where screens exceed 100 inches, a Laser TV solution offers the best dollars-per-inch ratio. Gone are the days when you had to sit in the dark as you reviewed PowerPoint slides and Excel spreadsheets. When an ultra-short-throw projector is combined with an ambient light-rejecting screen, the Laser TV can be utilized even when the lights are on.

This makes an AWOL Vision Laser TV a great option for business and education settings, but they are also an excellent solution for other commercial applications like sports bars and museums. The possibilities are endless. Also, since the system utilizes an ultra-short-throw projector, the unit sits in the front of the room, making installation easier, and you don't ever have to worry about the image being blocked by the presenter or participants walking around the room.

What if you don't want to see the screen when the projector is off? Simple—install a retractable screen that descends from the ceiling or rises up from the cabinet when in use. When the presentation or web meeting is over, the screen retracts and disappears; you can even have more whiteboard space on the wall that is covered by the screen only when it's being used.

Large 21:9 aspect ratio displays are being utilized more and more in the business and education markets. The 21:9 display is optimal for collaboration in these environments because it provides a much wider viewing area and allows for more screen real estate to display the participants, presentations, multiple windows side-by-side, and more.

Another benefit to using an AWOL Vision projector in a business setting is that their Tri-laser light source can display colors that most flat panels cannot. This is beneficial when reviewing ad campaigns, artwork, graphics, and other materials where color accuracy is critical.

AWOL Vision has come a long way and certainly followed their own path to transcend traditional norms and emerge as a pioneering force in the realm of home entertainment in a very short amount of time. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, innovative product offerings, and a commitment to customer-centricity, the company has revolutionized the way we perceive and experience entertainment. Their solution-based philosophy and performance-first mindset is allowing more and more people the opportunity to experience an outstanding visual and audio experience from the comfort of their own home. 

Not only that, with their focus on performance and holistic solutions, they are also bringing better solutions to the conference room, the classroom, and beyond. AWOL Vision continues to chart new paths and redefine what is possible, and we are excited to see what trail-blazing paths they continue to forge into the future!