Why the Hisense L9Q Is Your Ultimate Big TV Replacement

We’ve all been there. You want the 100-inch cinema experience, but you don't want to live in a darkened cave or permanently look at a giant fixed screen even when its off. For years, the trade-off with ultra short throw projectors was simple, if you wanted a massive screen, you had to sacrifice some of your living room's natural light unless you had the perfect screen.

Enter the Hisense L9Q.

While the earlier model, the Hisense PX3-PRO is the current champion of the dedicated dark cinema room, the L9Q is a different beast entirely. It is designed to conquer the modern living room. The L9Q sits at the premium end of the market, but it promises something cheaper models can't deliver: a viable, zero-compromise replacement for a television.

We’ve analysed the specs, read the reviews, and broken down exactly why this machine is worth the investment and answered the most common questions you likely have.

1. Finally, a Projector That Loves the Sun

The headline feature here is brute force. The L9Q pumps out 5,000 ANSI Lumens. To put that in perspective, most standard home theatre projectors hover around 2,000 to 3,000 lumens.

This difference changes the game. It means you don't need blackout curtains to watch Sunday football. As PCMag noted in their review, this brightness combined with the massive screen size makes the L9Q "the ultimate TV replacement." 

"For brighter rooms the L9Q is the best UST projector with unmatched 5000 ANSI lumens." — Chris Majestic, YouTube Reviewer

2. Audio That Actually Replaces a Soundbar

Usually, "projector audio" is a polite way of saying "buy a separate speaker system." Hisense tried to fix that by partnering with Devialet, the high-end French audio engineers famous for their £3k Phantom speakers.

The L9Q houses a 6.2.2 channel system with 10 speakers and 116 watts of power. It uses front-firing drivers for clarity, side-firing for width, and up-firing drivers to bounce Dolby Atmos effects off your ceiling.

TechRadar didn't hold back in their assessment:

"The most impressive sound I’ve heard from a projector... enough to put even the best soundbars to shame."

Our Take: If you are building a full dedicated theatre, you’ll still want a dedicated AVR and speakers. But for a discreet living room setup this eliminates the need for a soundbar entirely.

3. No More Oversized Media Units (0.18:1 Throw Ratio)

This might be a boring fact but throw size can matters a lot in in real life. Most Ultra Short Throw projectors have a throw ratio of 0.25:1. That means to get a 120-inch image, the projector needs to sit about 15-17 inches away from the wall. Add the depth of the projector itself, and suddenly your media cabinet needs to be nearly 30 inches deep which almost no standard furniture is.

The L9Q has a miracle 0.18:1 throw ratio. It can project a 120-inch image while sitting just ~8.5 inches from the wall. This allows it to fit on top of standard cabinets or shelfs without you having to pull the furniture awkwardly further out into the room.

However the short throw of the L9Q is also one its greatest weaknesses as well as  its strengths. When put inside (not on top) a cabinet it rarely works as the beam is cut off by the back panel. The good news is we are expecting a bespoke cabinet in January to overcome this problem which will include cooling and full automation. Contact us to find out more or pre-order the L9Q cabinet.

4. Quick-Start Settings Guide

Out of the box, the L9Q is set to show off in a bright showroom. To get that cinematic look at home, here is the consensus from the calibration experts:

• Picture Mode: Switch to Filmmaker Mode. It disables the "soap opera effect" (motion smoothing) and prioritizes accurate colours.
• Colour Temp: The default is often too cool (blue). Switch Colour Temperature to Warm 1 for natural skin tones.
• Contrast Trick: For dark room viewing, set Active Contrast to "Medium." Experts advise turning OFF "Dark Detail Enhancer" as it can cause the brightness to flicker distracting in dark scenes. 

5. Smart Features: VIDAA U7

The Hisense L9Q runs on its own VIDAA U7 interface. It is incredibly fast and supports all the major UK catch-up services (iPlayer, ITVX, etc.) alongside Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. It handles 4K streaming natively without the need for an external stick.

The Verdict: L9Q 

If you want a discreet, living-room-friendly big-screen solution that genuinely works in daytime, even through bright summer months, the Hisense L9Q stands out. Its extreme brightness allows normal TV viewing without blackout conditions, while its compact ultra-short-throw design avoids the visual dominance of a fixed screen or oversized furniture.

Despite its small physical footprint, it can scale up to a 200-inch image, delivering a true cinema experience from a surprisingly minimal setup. For buyers seeking a premium, no-compromise TV replacement that integrates cleanly into a modern home, the L9Q delivers big-screen impact in a small, elegant package.

Ready to upgrade your home cinema? 

The Hisense L9Q is in very high demand and is currently out of stock so its important to pre-order the item to guarantee delivery in Jan/Feb 2026.