Leica releases $14,000 short throw projector

Leica is continuing to make moves into the audio and home theatre world, with the German company announcing it will release a short throw projector, the Leica Cine 1, in Australia.

Designed to be less intrusive than similar sized TVs, short throw projectors remain a relatively niche product in the home theatre world, largely owed to their high cost of entry compared to mass-produced LCD or LED tvs. And that's probably not going to change with the $13,999 Cine 1. 

The Cine 1 will be available in 4K on 100 or 120-inch displays, and comes with a Dolby Atmos surround sound system. Leica says the 'sustainable design' of the Cine 1 is made from aluminium and features an automatic dust cover, perforated loudspeaker cover and of course, an iconic red dot.

Leica says the Cine 1 is built with triple RGB laser technology, which features a service life of over 25,000 hours and low energy consumption. The company says the projector has been manufactured in accordance with 'Leica standards for cinematic experiences', with the lens produced with similar technology as the brand's Summicron lenses. 

The Leica Cine 1 also incorporates features found on most smart TVs, such as voice control, an integrated triple tuner, Apple AirPlay and direct access to streaming platforms.

It's worth noting that despite the less intrusive size of the unit compared to a traditional LED TV, Leica still recommends the use of a high-contrast screen with ALR (ambient light rejection), be mounted on the wall and matched to the Leica Cine 1. That said, motorised roll-up screens are also an option if the aesthetic thing is a dealbreaker. 

The Leica Cine 1 is available now from Leica Stores, and will be rolling out in authorised specialist AV dealers in Australia over the next few weeks. The recommended retail price is $13,999 for the 100-inch model and $14,999 for the 120-inch model.

You can find out more at Leica Store.