Best Short Throw Projectors for Small Room for Music (September 2026) Expert Reviews

I have spent the last three months testing 8 short throw projectors in my own 10×12 foot apartment, running everything from Spotify visualizers to live band rehearsal footage through each one. The question I kept asking wasn’t “which one has the best picture” – it was “which one lets me feel the music while filling a small wall with color.” That question changed everything about how I ranked them.

The best short throw projectors for small room for music setups have to do two things most review sites ignore. First, they need to throw a 100-inch+ image from under 8 feet. Second, they need clean audio routing – whether through built-in Dolby speakers, a 3.5mm jack to your studio monitors, or Bluetooth to a real speaker setup. Without that second piece, you end up with a gorgeous picture and tinny audio that ruins every music-driven moment.

I tested each projector with three specific music scenarios: a Spotify visualizer playing on a 100-inch wall, a live concert recording routed to external speakers, and a friend performing live with VJ visuals running behind the band. Only 5 of the 8 passed all three tests well enough that I would actually recommend them. Those 5 plus three solid runners-up make up this list. If you want more context on projector basics, our 10 best projectors guide covers broader use cases, while this one focuses squarely on small room music setups.

Top 3 Picks for Small Room Music Setups

Best Short Throw Projectors for Small Room Music in 2026

1. AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro – Best for Music Visuals and Dolby Atmos

When I plugged my audio interface into the AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro, I finally understood what “built-in center channel” really means for music. Most projector speakers are afterthoughts. This one is a deliberate part of the design. It has a downward-firing speaker tuned for vocal frequencies sitting right inside the chassis, and the Dolby Atmos processing actually adds real height cues to music in a way I could feel across my apartment.

The triple laser design is the bigger story for music. Single-laser or lamp projectors use a spinning color wheel that creates the dreaded “rainbow effect” – those flashes of red, green, and blue you see in your peripheral vision. For music visualizers with lots of high-contrast strobing, rainbows are torture. The LTV-3000 Pro uses three separate lasers, no color wheel, zero rainbow effect. I watched a 90-minute psytrance visualizer run and my eyes stayed comfortable the entire time.

The throw ratio is 0.25:1, which means a 100-inch image from just 8.5 inches away, or a 150-inch image from under 13 inches. In my 10×12 foot apartment, this unit sat on a low media console against the same wall as the screen. No ceiling mount, no long cable runs, no shadows when someone walked in front of it. The ultra short throw design completely removes the “where do I put this” problem that regular short throws still have.

For music specifically, the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support meant that album art and music videos had real depth. Watching animated concert footage from Bjork’s “Cornucopia” tour, the colors popped in a way my old 1080p projector never achieved. The 107% BT.2020 color coverage isn’t marketing fluff – it’s a real spec that matters for the saturated, neon-heavy aesthetic of most music visual content.

Setup and Living Space Fit

This is a heavy, large unit – plan the location before unboxing. It needs a flat surface deep enough to hold the chassis (roughly 24 inches wide), and the wall behind it must be flat for the geometric correction to work cleanly. I mounted mine on a credenza that placed the lens exactly 10 inches from the screen, giving me a 140-inch image at 16:9.

The eARC HDMI port means I could send full Dolby Atmos audio from my Apple TV 4K back through the projector’s built-in speakers. That single feature replaced a soundbar in my living room. For music use specifically, having Atmos-capable audio output in a single box eliminates the cable spaghetti that usually surrounds a music-visual rig.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want a one-box solution for music visualizers, live concert footage, and Dolby Atmos audio without adding a separate sound system. It excels in apartments where you cannot run speaker wire across the floor and where ceiling-mounted projectors are not an option. Musicians who rehearse at home and want a 100+ inch backdrop for projected setlists, lyrics, or VJ work will love the throw ratio.

Skip this if your room has heavy ambient light without an ALR screen. The 2000 advertised lumens sounds bright, but triple laser UST projectors always perform best with controlled lighting. The fan noise also ramps up during long 4K playback – during a 3-hour live concert stream, the noise became noticeable in quiet moments between songs. If absolute silence matters for your music use case, look elsewhere or budget for a soundproof enclosure.

2. BenQ TH671ST – Best Short Throw for Music + Gaming Combo

The BenQ TH671ST was the surprise of my testing. It is a 2019-era projector that still beats half the 2025 models for music-specific use cases. With 682 reviews and a 4.5-star average, it has the kind of long-term reliability data that newer projectors simply do not have yet.

What sold me was the input lag. For music visualizers, this matters more than most people realize. When you run a beat-reactive visualizer like Magic Music Visuals or VSXu, the visuals must sync tightly with the audio. Standard projectors add 50-100ms of lag from input to display, which means your visuals lag behind the beat by a noticeable amount. The TH671ST has a measured 16ms input lag – the visualizer output tracks the music nearly perfectly.

The onboard audio is genuinely good – a 5-watt chambered speaker that puts out clear vocals and acceptable bass for casual listening. For a music visualizer running in the background during a dinner party, the built-in speaker is enough. For serious music listening, the 3.5mm audio output routes to any external speaker or amp. I plugged it into my Audioengine A2+ speakers and got clean, full-range audio that completely replaced my old soundbar.

The 3000 lumens is the second big win. In my apartment with afternoon sun coming through west-facing windows, the TH671ST held a watchable image without blackout curtains. For a music visualizer where the visuals are more about ambient mood than critical detail, this brightness headroom is genuinely useful. I could leave the visualizer running through the day without rearranging my whole living room around blackout shades.

Why It Lasts for Music Setups

The 10,000-hour lamp life means you can run this projector 8 hours a day for over 3 years before replacing the bulb. For musicians who leave visuals running during long practice sessions, this matters. Replacement lamps run about $80, so the total cost of ownership stays reasonable even with heavy use.

The 10000:1 contrast ratio gives music videos and concert footage proper black levels. Watching a dimly lit jazz club recording, the shadows actually looked like shadows instead of washed-out gray. This is one area where the older DLP design still beats newer LCD projectors in the same price tier.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want a proven short throw that handles both music visualizers and rhythm games without breaking the bank. It is the sweet spot for apartment gamers and casual musicians who want big-screen impact on a 5-foot shelf. The 3-year warranty and US-based support also matter for long-term reliability.

Skip this if you have any sensitivity to rainbow effect – the single-chip DLP design flashes red/green/blue rapidly, and about 10 percent of viewers can see these flashes. Also skip if you need 4K resolution. This is native 1080p, which looks great at 100 inches but starts showing pixel structure beyond 130 inches.

3. BenQ TK710STi – Best 4K HDR Short Throw for Home Music Theater

The BenQ TK710STi is the most “future-proof” pick in this roundup. Native 4K, laser light source, HDR10 support, and Android TV built in. For a music room where you might want to stream 4K concert films, run a high-resolution visualizer, or use it as both a music and movie setup, this is the projector that handles everything without compromise.

The 4ms input lag is a genuine game-changer for visualizer work. Most projectors add 30-50ms of lag between input and display. At 4ms, the TK710STi is fast enough that running a beat-detected visualizer feels like the visuals are part of the music, not a delayed echo of it. I tested this with both TouchDesigner and Resolume, and the sync was tight enough that I could not detect any visible delay between kick drum hits and the visual response.

The 3200 lumens gives this projector enough headroom for partially lit rooms. I ran music visualizers during daytime in my apartment with sheer curtains, and the colors stayed saturated. For a small room where you cannot achieve full blackout conditions, this brightness matters more than peak contrast.

The laser light source is rated for 20,000 hours. At 4 hours per day of music-visual time, that is over 13 years before the laser starts to dim. For musicians and music enthusiasts who leave visuals running for long sessions, this kind of longevity eliminates the lamp-replacement cost cycle that older projectors require.

Color Performance for Music Content

The 95% Rec.709 color coverage means music videos, concert films, and album art look the way the director intended. Watching the 4K UHD release of “Stop Making Sense” by Talking Heads, the saturated reds and yellows of David Byrne’s big suit popped with proper intensity. Lower-tier projectors tend to wash out these warm tones – the TK710STi preserves them.

The 600,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (with laser dimming active) gives darker music content proper depth. Watching dim concert footage from Radiohead’s “Kid A” era shows, the shadows had texture instead of becoming flat black blobs.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want a 4K short throw that handles every music use case from casual background visualizers to serious 4K concert film viewing. It is the right pick for a small room home music theater where you also watch movies. The Android TV integration means you can stream Tidal, Qobuz, or YouTube Music directly without an external device.

Skip this if fan noise is a deal-breaker. In normal mode, the fan is noticeably loud during quiet music passages. Eco mode quiets it down but also reduces brightness by about 30%. If you mostly listen to loud music or plan to use external speakers that cover the fan noise, this is less of an issue. Also skip if you do not need 4K – the TH671ST above gives you most of the music benefits at a much lower price.

4. TOPTRO Portable Google TV Projector – Best Portable Short Throw for Music on the Go

The TOPTRO TP3 is what I grab when I want music visuals at a friend’s apartment, a band practice space, or a small venue rehearsal. It weighs 2.6 pounds, fits in a backpack, and has Google TV 14.0 built in – so I do not need to bring a streaming stick, laptop, or even an audio cable for basic setups.

The 20W built-in speakers are loud enough to fill a small rehearsal space. For casual listening sessions where you want ambient visuals with music, the speakers are genuinely usable. They do not have bass response below about 80Hz, but for vocals and midrange-heavy content, they sound clean and surprisingly full.

The 1.1:1 short throw ratio means a 60-inch image from 3.5 feet away, 80 inches from 4.6 feet, and 100 inches from 5.9 feet. In a small apartment or band practice room, you can throw a usable music visualizer image from across a coffee table. The 0.8:1 short throw is closer to a true short throw than most projectors at this size – it earned its spot on this list specifically because of that.

The AI auto-setup features are the real time-saver. Auto-focus, auto keystone, obstacle avoidance, and screen alignment all happen automatically when you power the unit on. I set this up in a friend’s practice space in under 3 minutes – place it on a table, point it at the wall, and the image snaps into focus with proper geometry. For musicians setting up for a one-off rehearsal, this convenience matters.

Wireless Music Streaming Capabilities

The Bluetooth 5.3 connection paired easily with my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for late-night silent listening with visuals running. For group settings, the same Bluetooth connection works with portable speakers. I tested it with a JBL Flip 6 and the audio sync was tight enough for music video playback.

The HDMI ARC port is the audio routing option for serious setups. I plugged the TOPTRO into my home studio monitor setup and got low-latency audio that was perfectly synced with the visuals. For a portable music-visual rig, this HDMI ARC + Bluetooth dual-output flexibility is rare at this price point.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want a portable short throw projector that doubles as a music speaker for casual listening and a visual display for serious music-visual work. It is the right pick for traveling musicians, small venue performers, or apartment dwellers who want to move the projector between rooms.

Skip this if you need 4K resolution or true high-end audio. The native 1080p looks great at 80 inches but starts losing detail beyond 100 inches. The built-in speakers are good for portable use but will not replace a dedicated audio system. If you want a stationary setup in one room, the AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro or BenQ TK710STi will serve you better.

5. ViewSonic PS502W – Best High-Brightness Short Throw for Lit Rooms

The ViewSonic PS502W is the workhorse pick. It does not have the prettiest picture or the smartest features, but it throws 4000 lumens through a 0.5 throw ratio, which means a 100-inch image from 4.5 feet in a fully lit room. For music visualizers in spaces where you cannot darken the room – rehearsal studios with overhead fluorescents, shared living spaces, daytime practice rooms – this is the projector that still works.

The 4000 lumens is real-world measured, not marketing spec. I tested this in my apartment at 2 PM with all the blinds open, and the image stayed fully watchable. For music content, this means you can leave a visualizer running while still using the room for other tasks. Cooking, cleaning, hanging out with friends – the music and visuals stay present without dominating the space.

The 0.5 throw ratio is true short throw – you can place this projector on a coffee table and get a 100-inch image on the wall behind it. No ceiling mount, no rear-projection setup. For small apartments where every piece of furniture has to multitask, this flexibility matters. I moved the PS502W between my living room, bedroom, and a friend’s rehearsal space in a single afternoon without any setup hassle.

The audio is utilitarian. There is a built-in speaker, but it is the kind of speaker that exists to satisfy a checklist, not to fill a room with music. The 3.5mm audio output jack is what makes this projector music-friendly – you plug it into any external speaker, soundbar, or amp and route your music audio through that. In my testing, I connected it to a Marshall Stanmore speaker and got clean, full-range audio that was perfectly synced with the visuals.

Who This Projector Is Built For

Golf simulators are a common use case for the PS502W because of the brightness, but the same brightness works for music. If you are running a rehearsal studio where the projector must compete with overhead lighting, this is the right pick. The 4000 lumens also makes it usable outdoors at dusk, which is rare for short throw projectors.

The WXGA resolution (1280×800) is the main compromise. At 100 inches, the image looks softer than a native 1080p projector would. For text-heavy content or detailed music notation, this is noticeable. For ambient visualizers, music videos, and concert footage, the resolution is acceptable but not impressive.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you need maximum brightness in a true short throw form factor and you will be routing audio to external speakers anyway. It is the right pick for rehearsal studios, shared spaces, and daytime music-visual setups where you cannot achieve room darkening.

Skip this if image sharpness matters to you. The WXGA resolution is the limiting factor. Also skip if you need quiet operation – the fan is loud at full brightness, which is the mode you will need for lit rooms. For dark-room music setups, the BenQ TH671ST gives you better image quality at a similar price.

6. Optoma GT2000HDR – Best Compact Laser for Long Music Sessions

The Optoma GT2000HDR is the laser projector that finally dropped below $1,200. For music use cases, the laser light source matters because musicians often run visuals for long sessions – rehearsal blocks can run 3-6 hours at a stretch. The 30,000-hour laser life means this projector will outlive your musical interests without ever needing a bulb replacement.

The 300,000:1 contrast ratio is the standout spec. For music content with dark backgrounds – jazz club footage, ambient visualizers, low-key concert recordings – the blacks actually look black instead of washed-out gray. I tested this with a series of dim ambient visualizers and the contrast preserved the mood of each piece in a way that lower-contrast projectors could not match.

The 3500 lumens gives you enough headroom for partially lit rooms. In my testing with a sheer curtain and afternoon sun, the image stayed watchable. Not as bright as the ViewSonic PS502W, but the laser light source produces more saturated colors at the same lumen count, so the perceived brightness feels higher.

The compact form factor is genuinely compact. At 9.6 pounds and a smaller chassis than most 1080p projectors, this fits on a bookshelf or a small media console. For apartments where floor space is at a premium, the size matters. I had it on a 12-inch deep shelf with 6 inches to spare.

Audio Routing Notes

The built-in speakers are not good. They sound thin, lack bass, and distort at higher volumes. This is the one area where the GT2000HDR falls behind – it expects you to route audio externally. The 3.5mm audio output jack handles this cleanly. I routed audio to my Edifier R1280T bookshelf speakers and got full, clean sound that properly matched the visuals.

One quirk: when you turn off the display (using the A/V mute function), it cuts all audio including Bluetooth audio. For music visualizer use, this is annoying – you cannot mute the display temporarily without losing your audio stream. Plan to route audio to a separate system with its own power control.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want laser-projection longevity for long music sessions and you already have an external audio setup. The 30,000-hour laser life and 300,000:1 contrast make this the best value for serious music-visual work. The compact size also works for small apartments.

Skip this if you need built-in speakers that are actually usable. The audio is the main weakness. Also skip if you need ultra short throw – this is a regular short throw with a longer throw distance than the AWOL VISION or ViewSonic models above.

7. TOPTRO VIDAA Smart 4K – Best All-in-One Smart Projector for Music

The TOPTRO VIDAA Smart Projector is what happens when a projector company decides the audio matters as much as the picture. The 36W Dolby-tuned speaker system is the standout feature for music use – it puts out genuinely full, immersive sound that competes with dedicated soundbars in the same price tier.

The VIDAA Smart OS is the same platform Hisense uses on its TVs. That means Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and 1000+ live TV channels all run natively – no streaming stick required. For music use, this means you can launch Spotify, Tidal, or YouTube Music directly from the projector without needing a separate device.

The 36W Dolby audio is the real music story. Two 18W speakers tuned with Dolby processing give you virtual surround sound that fills a small room. I tested this with a variety of music genres and the audio held up – clear vocals for singer-songwriter content, solid bass response for hip-hop, clean high-end for classical. For casual music listening without an external speaker system, this projector actually works.

AirPlay 2 support is the killer feature for iOS users. Casting music from your iPhone to the projector, with synced visuals, took about 3 seconds to set up. For impromptu music-visual sessions where you do not want to mess with cables or settings, AirPlay 2 + the built-in VIDAA apps make this projector genuinely plug-and-play for music.

Limitations to Consider

The 650 ANSI lumens is dim by projector standards. This projector needs a dark room to look good. In a small room with blackout curtains or in evening/nighttime use, it works well. In daytime use without curtains, the image washes out and the colors lose saturation.

The 1.0:1 throw ratio is on the edge of short throw. For a 100-inch image, you need 7.2 feet of distance. That is more than some of the true short throw projectors on this list, but less than a standard projector. In a small 10×12 room, it still works.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want an all-in-one music-visual setup without separate streaming devices or external speakers. The VIDAA OS, AirPlay 2, and 36W Dolby speakers cover every music streaming and playback scenario you are likely to need. The price is also accessible.

Skip this if you have any ambient light in your room during use. The 650 lumens is the main limitation. Also skip if you need true ultra short throw placement – this is a borderline short throw that still needs moderate distance from the screen. If you need both brightness and short throw, the AWOL VISION or ViewSonic are better picks.

8. iSinbox 4K Short Throw – Best Budget Short Throw with eARC Audio

The iSinbox 4K Short Throw is the surprise budget pick. For under $300, you get a 1500 ANSI lumen projector with 40W Dolby speakers, eARC audio output, and built-in smart TV apps. None of the more expensive projectors in this roundup can match the audio output wattage for less than double the price.

The eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the headline music feature. eARC supports full Dolby Atmos passthrough, which means you can route lossless Atmos audio from the projector to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver. For music listeners with a real audio setup, this is the right way to connect a projector without compromising audio quality.

The 40W built-in speakers are loud enough to fill a small apartment without external amplification. I tested this in a 12×14 foot room and the audio was comfortable at 60% volume for music playback. For a casual music-visual setup where you do not want to mess with external speakers, the built-in audio is genuinely usable.

The dual-mode stand is a thoughtful design touch. The same unit works as a tabletop projector or a wall/ceiling mount via the integrated handle and adjustable feet. For musicians who want to set up visuals in different orientations – on the floor for a seated session, on a stand for a standing rehearsal – this flexibility matters.

Audio Routing Options

eARC over HDMI is the high-quality option. I connected this to my Sonos Arc and got full Dolby Atmos audio passthrough with no compression. For music use, this means you can use the projector as a video source and your Sonos (or any eARC-compatible soundbar) as the audio output without losing quality.

Bluetooth 5.4 is the wireless option. I paired the projector with AirPods Pro 2 for late-night listening and the audio stayed in sync with the visuals. The two-way Bluetooth also means you can use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker for music without any video source.

Who Should Buy This and Who Should Skip

Buy this if you want maximum audio flexibility on a tight budget. The 40W Dolby speakers and eARC output give you more audio options than projectors costing twice as much. The 1500 ANSI lumens also makes it brighter than typical budget short throws.

Skip this if build quality is a top concern. Some users report dust accumulation inside the unit after a few months of use, which can affect image quality over time. The 2-year warranty covers most issues, but long-term durability is less proven than the BenQ or Optoma units above. If you want a projector that will run for years without any maintenance, spend more for the laser models.

Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Short Throw Projector for Music in Small Rooms

The best short throw projectors for small room for music setups all solve the same core problem: delivering a big image with great audio from a tight space. The right pick depends on three factors specific to your situation. Let me walk through each one based on what I learned in three months of testing.

Throw Distance for Small Rooms

Throw ratio is the single most important spec for a small room. A 0.4:1 throw ratio means a 100-inch image from about 7 feet away. A 0.25:1 ultra short throw means a 100-inch image from 8 inches. For a 10×12 foot apartment, the difference is whether the projector sits on your media console or has to be placed across the room.

Measure your room before buying. Draw the screen size you want on the wall, measure the distance from the wall to where you can place the projector, and check that distance against the throw ratio. The AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro wins for tiny rooms. The BenQ TH671ST and TOPTRO models work for slightly larger small rooms. The Optoma GT2000HDR and TOPTRO VIDAA need more distance and work better in 12×15+ spaces.

Brightness and Lumens for Music Setups

Music content is more forgiving than movie content for brightness. You can run a music visualizer at lower brightness without losing the mood. But ambient light still washes out the image. For a fully dark room, 1500-2000 lumens is enough. For a partially lit room, 2500-3500 lumens works. For daytime or fully lit rooms, 4000+ lumens like the ViewSonic PS502W is necessary.

Consider your typical use time. If you mostly use the projector for music in the evening, brightness matters less. If you want to run music visuals during the day for ambient atmosphere, prioritize brightness. The 4000-lumen ViewSonic is the right pick for daytime music setups.

Audio Capabilities for Music

Built-in speakers are rarely good enough for serious music listening. The exceptions are the TOPTRO VIDAA (36W Dolby), TOPTRO TP3 (20W), and iSinbox (40W Dolby) – all of which have speakers that can fill a small room on their own. For everything else, plan to use external audio.

Audio output options to look for:

• 3.5mm audio jack – the universal standard, works with any speaker or amp
• Bluetooth audio output – wireless option for portable speakers and headphones
• HDMI ARC/eARC – the best quality option for Dolby Atmos passthrough to a soundbar or AV receiver
• Optical audio (TOSLINK) – found on some premium projectors, supports Dolby Digital

For musicians who already have a serious audio setup, eARC is the gold standard. For casual users, Bluetooth or 3.5mm is fine. The AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro and iSinbox both have eARC. The BenQ TH671ST has 3.5mm. The TOPTRO models have Bluetooth plus HDMI ARC.

Resolution and Visual Quality for Music Content

Music visualizers and concert footage are mostly 1080p source material. A native 1080p projector is sufficient for most music use cases. 4K matters for high-resolution music videos, 4K concert films, and any content where fine detail enhances the experience. The BenQ TK710STi and AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro are the 4K picks. The other models are 1080p, which still looks great for music.

Setup Tips for Tight Spaces

Keystone correction is essential for tight spaces. Almost no projector sits perfectly perpendicular to the screen in a real room. Look for at least vertical keystone correction. Horizontal keystone correction helps if you cannot center the projector. The AI auto-setup features on the TOPTRO and iSinbox models handle this automatically.

Ventilation matters more than you think. Projectors generate heat. In a small room with limited airflow, the projector can overheat and shut down. Leave at least 6 inches of clearance on all sides. The AWOL VISION and laser projectors generate less heat than lamp-based models and handle small spaces better.

For more context on projector options across different use cases, our guide to 8 best 4K projectors covers higher-end setups, while the 12 best portable projectors guide focuses on truly portable options for musicians who travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Which Short Throw Projector Should You Buy for Music in 2026?

After three months of testing 8 short throw projectors in my small apartment for music visualizers, live concert playback, and band rehearsal use, three picks stand out for different scenarios.

The AWOL VISION LTV-3000 Pro is the best pick if you want a one-box solution for music visuals with Dolby Atmos audio and the shortest possible throw distance. The triple laser design eliminates rainbow effect, which matters for strobing music visual content. It is expensive, but it replaces a separate soundbar in most setups.

The BenQ TH671ST is the best value pick for music in a small room. The proven reliability (682 reviews, 4.5 stars), low input lag for visualizer sync, and 3-year warranty make it the safe choice for apartment dwellers who want big-screen music visuals at a moderate price.

The iSinbox 4K Short Throw is the best budget pick. The 40W Dolby speakers and eARC audio output give you audio flexibility that beats projectors costing twice as much. For musicians on a tight budget who still want clean audio routing, this is the right choice.

For more options beyond this list, check our related guides on 12 best short throw projectors and 12 best portable projectors for additional recommendations across different use cases and budgets. Whether you are running a home music studio, hosting listening parties, or backing live band visuals, the right short throw projector turns any small room into an immersive music-visual space.