Home theater
Buying guides for home theater, ranked by the noise figures makers publish.
How loud are ViewSonic projectors? 23 to 40 dB in Normal mode, 20 to 30 in Eco
ViewSonic prints "Audible Noise (Normal)" and "(Eco)" rows for its projectors, mostly on its global and Europe pages. Of the models Amazon held as new stock when we checked on November 8, 2026, the LS901-4K and LX700-4K list the lowest Normal figure, 31dB, the LS901-4K the lowest Eco, 25dB, and the $299.99 LX60HD 40dB.
Are BenQ projectors quiet? BenQ lists 26 to 34 dB typical, 24 to 29 eco
BenQ prints a typical and an eco noise figure for each projector. In its US store on November 7, 2026, the 4LED TK705i, TK705STi and GV32 listed 26dBA/24dBA, the lowest pair; the W2720i 28/26 dBA; the lasers 28 to 31 typical; the lamp models 33 or 34. The old W1070 sheet says 33/30 dBA.
Are Epson projectors quiet? Their sheets say 28 to 38 dB in Normal mode
Five small Epson models, the Lifestudio Pop Plus, Pop, Flex, Flex Plus and EF-30, print "28 db (Normal)/23 db (ECO)", Epson's lowest Normal figure. The Lifestudio Grand Plus lists 32 dB, the Home Cinema 980 37, and the QS100 20 dB in Quiet Mode. Prices are Epson's own from November 7, 2026.
Are Optoma projectors quiet? Their spec pages say 22 to 36 dB
Optoma USA prints a minimum and maximum noise level for all 31 of its current home, gaming and portable projectors. The UHD35STx short throw lists 24 and 28 dB, the UHZ68 laser 25 and 31, and the 4K UHD38x 26 and 28. Six models name eco and bright modes instead, so they sit in their own group.
The quietest portable and battery projectors
A portable projector sits on the nightstand, in a tent or on a shelf in a kid's room, so its fan is an arm's length away. See which battery models publish a figure, what makers say happens on battery power, and why dB and dB(A) stay in separate lists.
The quietest short throw and ultra short throw projectors
A laser TV sits under the screen, in front of the couch, so its fan is closer to you than a ceiling projector. See which short throw and UST models publish a quiet or eco figure, what none of them say about brightness in that mode, and why dB and dB(A) do not line up.
The quietest projectors
Epson's LS6000 prints 22 to 25 dB, JVC's NZ700 23dB at minimum laser power, BenQ's TK705i 24dBA in eco and Optoma's UHD38x 26 to 28 dB. Home theater, native 4K and ultra short throw picks, what each maker prints for its quiet mode, and why the figures only line up within one brand.