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When our test lab received the Nothing Projector 132" BlackCrystal Seamless ALR Screen for review, we were immediately intrigued by its ambitious promise: the market's only seamless premium ALR screen exceeding 130 inches. With the rising popularity of ultra-short throw (UST) projectors, we've tested numerous ALR screens, but most large formats rely on visible seams that can detract from the viewing experience. We put this screen through our comprehensive testing protocol to see if it lives up to its claims.
During our unboxing process, the quality of materials immediately stood out. Unlike some competitors who cut corners on frame construction, Nothing Projector uses a robust aluminum frame with a second matte black aluminum trim bezel. The 10mm bezel is among the thinnest we've seen in this category, creating an almost floating effect when mounted. Our lab team was particularly impressed by the seamless screen material - a significant engineering achievement at this size.
Let me share our installation journey - it's a story that might save you some headaches. While the manual states this can be a one-person job, I strongly advise against it. Even with our team's extensive experience installing projection screens, this 132" beast demanded respect and patience.
The frame assembly started smoothly enough - all parts clearly numbered, instructions straightforward. However, things got interesting when we reached the screen tensioning phase. In our eagerness to complete the review (and ignoring our own best practices), I made a rookie mistake: installing the springs in a "logical" order rather than following the manual's specific sequence. Big mistake.
The result? A slightly warped screen that required removing all the springs (a tedious 30-minute process) and starting over. The instruction manual could have emphasized this critical step more prominently, perhaps with a bold warning or diagram. Once we followed the correct spring installation sequence - alternating between opposing corners - the screen tensioned perfectly.
From our experience, you'll need:
The frame assembly itself deserves special mention. After laying out all components on our test lab floor (a process that consumed most of our 15' x 20' space), we began connecting the precision-cut aluminum sections. Each joint uses a dual-bracket system with alignment pins that practically eliminates any possibility of misalignment. The included screwdriver - actually two of them, a thoughtful touch for team installation - made quick work of securing the corner brackets. We noticed right away that the manufacturing tolerances were impressively tight; each joint came together with virtually no gaps.
One clever engineering detail that particularly impressed our team was the bottom mounting bracket system. Nothing Projector implemented a spring-loaded mechanism that keeps the screen securely mounted while allowing for easy removal when needed. This design proved invaluable during our testing process, as we needed to adjust the screen after our initial mistake. The mechanism consists of a lower support bracket that hooks into spring-loaded clips, letting you lift the screen off the wall mount without tools but keeping it firmly in place during normal use.
We put the BlackCrystal through our standard battery of tests, plus some real-world viewing scenarios using our 2024 previously reviewed UST projector, the Samsung Premiere 9.
During the cave sequence in "Dune" (2021), the screen's ability to maintain deep blacks while preserving shadow detail was remarkable. The texture of the cave walls remained visible without crushing blacks - a common issue with lesser ALR screens.
The opening space sequence of "Interstellar" provided an excellent test of the screen's contrast handling. Stars remained pinpoint bright against the deep black of space, while the white spacecraft maintained clean edges without blooming - a testament to the screen's 0.6 gain optimization.
Testing "Mad Max: Fury Road's" desert scenes revealed the screen's excellent ambient light rejection capabilities. Even with our lab's overhead LED lights at full brightness, the image retained punchy contrast and vibrant colors. The 95% ambient light rejection claim seems conservative based on our measurements.
Using our calibrated test patterns, we found the screen maintains excellent color neutrality across its surface. No color shifting was visible, even at extreme viewing angles - a common issue with some ALR materials.
We set up multiple viewing positions at 30-degree increments out to the claimed 170-degree viewing angle. Brightness uniformity remained within 15% of center values out to 120 degrees, with minimal color shift - impressive performance for an ALR screen.
At $1,490 (sale price), the NothingProjector positions itself in the premium segment of the UST ALR market. After our extensive testing, we believe the price is justified by:
Despite our initial installation misstep (which was admittedly our fault), the Nothing Projector 132" BlackCrystal Seamless ALR Screen impressed our entire test team. It delivers on its core promises: truly seamless construction, excellent ambient light rejection, and superior image quality.
Bottom Line: The Nothing Projector 132" BlackCrystal earns our Highly Recommended award for premium UST ALR screens. While the assembly process has a learning curve, the end result is a reference-quality display surface that elevates any UST projector's performance.
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