Projector Reviews

A specific problem presented by the VA-LT002's picture setup shortcomings is that you can't create separate standard HD and UltraHD/HDR10 picture memories per input for sources like an Ultra HD Blu-ray player or HDR-capable streaming stick (I used an Oppo UDP-103 player and Roku Streaming Stick+ for my evaluation). Also, unlike other HDR10-capable projectors, there's no HDR brightness setting to adjust the tone-mapping of HDR programs, which can be all over the, um, map and typically need to be tweaked on a per-disc or per-stream basis. A Brightness mode with Standard and High settings is available in Vava's setup menu, but I found that this only delivered an insignificant light output boost—around 1 footlambert (ft-L)—while simultaneously altering gamma (EOTF for HDR).

While the VA-LT002's audio section can decode both Dolby Digital and DTS bitstreams, sending a bitstream to the player resulted in lip sync issues, particularly with DTS soundtracks. For this reason, it's a better idea to configure a disc player or streaming device connected to the projector to perform decoding internally and output soundtracks as stereo PCM.

Using the Customized Image Parameter settings, I was able to calibrate its grayscale to eliminate a pronounced blue-ish bias in the Warm Color temperature preset. The projector's lack of gamma and color management adjustments prevented me from making equally solid corrections on those fronts, although post-calibration measurements did reveal improvements (see Test Bench). With light output maxing out in the 15 ft-L range (post-calibration on the 0.6 gain Short Throw screen), the projector's image looked best in a dim environment, so that was the condition I primarily used for my evaluation.

HD and SDR Performance
As mentioned above, switching from a white to a gray ambient light-rejecting screen yielded immediate image quality benefits in a room with lights on. The improvement was clear with games played on an Xbox One console, but also on programs streamed for casual viewing like yoga and guitar tutorials on YouTube. With these, colors had good saturation and image brightness was decent enough that I found not much reason to complain.

Switching to more critical viewing in a mostly darkened room, I watched a Blu-ray of Logan (the black-and-white "noir" version). The VA-LT002 had good uniformity, with no noticeable tinting of the black-and-white image at any point across the screen. In a scene in an abandoned industrial plant where Logan (Hugh Jackman) administers serum to Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) to control his seizures, blacks in the dark environment weren't particularly deep, though shadow detail was generally good. I did note a few "rainbow' artifacts in this scene—a DLP torture test—but not so many that it was distracting.

The Blu-ray disc version of 2001: A Space Odyssey (2018 remastered release) looked good for the most part, though I observed that some detail was lost on the ships in the outer space shots, with the white surfaces taking on a slightly "burned out" appearance. Caucasian skin tones for the most part looked accurate, though I also noted that a degree of detail loss in faces occasionally gave them a somewhat flat look. Shadows in the prehistoric cave scene that preceded the outer space sequences showed a decent level of above-black gradations, though same as with Logan, darker shadows lacked depth.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Blu-ray fared best of the discs I viewed on Vava's projector. Watching the scene on Ego's planet where Peter and Gamora dance to a Sam Cooke tune on a balcony, the image displayed a fine level of detail and color in particular popped from the screen. When Gamora later wanders off after an argument, the rich range of color in the sky behind her had an almost vivid quality.

Ultra HD and HDR Performance
Returning to Logan (noir version), this time on Ultra HD disc, HDR didn't add anything when it came to highlight detail or visual punch. I did note some improvement in shadow detail in the industrial plant scenes, but deep blacks showed up as the same dark gray tone. I had similar impressions when watching 2001 on Ultra HD disc: a slight improvement in shadow detail, but no change to speak of when it came to highlight detail or overall visual punch. Watching this disc, I yearned for an HDR adjustment similar to what's offered on Epson's projectors to tip the visual balance to optimize image highlights, but no such luck.

With the projector's limited color gamut coverage, I didn't expect a transformation when I popped the Ultra HD disc version of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 in my player, and I didn't get one. Picture detail was somewhat more solid on the 100-inch screen, however, making the computer-generated textures of the alien landscape that much more engaging. The Meg also looked razor-sharp on Ultra HD disc, though the too-bright image balance using my Customized picture settings made me once again wish for an easily accessible HDR adjustment, or at least a second picture memory that could be optimized for discs with HDR.

Audio Performance
The performance of the Vava projector's built-in "soundbar' with my player and Roku stick feeding it PCM was impressive. Dialogue was consistently clear, music had a nice overall balance, and even bass-heavy sound effects were smoothly rendered. For example in the scene from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 where Gamora wanders off, her peaceful respite is interrupted by an aerial attack, and the sound of the ship ripping across the landscape and firing off multiple blasts was conveyed with appropriate drama.

Conclusion
All-in-one ultra short throw projectors like Vava's VA-LT002 4K Laser DLP provide an appealing solution for squeezing a bigscreen image plus sound in a room with minimal effort. When I first set the projector up and paired it with the right screen—in this case an ambient light rejecting model specifically designed for ultra short throw projectors—I was taken with its image quality for casual gaming and video viewing. Later, when I dug in deeper, I found myself disappointed with the limited setup and picture adjustment options, and by the projector's relatively low brightness, which for me made viewing in a darkened room the only real option for movies. (Vava says the projector's limited picture adjustment options were a conscious choice to ease setup for a broad range of users, while its brightness limitations are a side-effect of the projector's low cost.) And let's not even mention my abortive experience in the Aptoide app store where the projector sources built-in streaming apps.

While Vava's marketing seem to indicate that its projector can be used with any screen, or even with a white wall, you'll want to make sure you pay specific attention to that pairing if you plan to use it in anything other than a dark or, at the very least, suitably dimmed environment. With that hurdle cleared, you may very find yourself charmed by the Vava's ability to deliver instant home theater, and to do it for less than half the price of some competing all-in-one ultra short throw projectors.