Claria CLR45 Review: Flagship 8K Auto-Focus Laser Projector
If you only ever read one Claria CLR45 review, here's the short version: this is the projector Claria builds when it stops worrying about price. It sits at the top of the Rhayon Series — 10,000 lumens, a claimed 150,000:1 contrast ratio, intelligent auto focus, an ultra-short 0.65 throw, and a connector panel that looks like it wandered in from a professional control room. The CLR12 and CLR18 are projectors you buy to watch things. The CLR45 is a projector you buy when the install itself is the point. We rate tech so you don't need to do it, so let's figure out whether the flagship earns its $11,500 sticker — or whether it's brilliance you'll never fully use.
Quick verdict
Rating: 4.7/5
- Best for: premium home cinemas, large venues, and pro AV installs where image quality and integration both have to be flawless.
- Strengths: 10,000 lumens, intelligent auto focus, 0.65 ultra-short throw, 110% DCI-P3 color, eARC, DisplayPort 2.0, XLR, RS-232/LAN/IP control, and an aluminum frame.
- Keep in mind: at $11,500 it's the priciest in the line, the 150,000:1 contrast is a claimed figure, and much of its pro connectivity is overkill for a typical living room.
Specifications
| Spec | Claria CLR45 |
|---|---|
| Brightness | 10,000 lumens |
| Contrast ratio | 150,000:1 (claimed) |
| Resolution | 8K UHD (7680×4320) |
| Color gamut | 110% DCI-P3 / Rec. 709 |
| Throw ratio | 0.65 ultra short throw |
| Focus | Intelligent Auto Focus |
| Screen size | 100" – 400" |
| Light source | Laser, ~100,000 hours |
| Noise level | ≤ 24 dB |
| HDMI | 3× HDMI 2.1 + eARC |
| Other video | DisplayPort 2.0, 2× USB-C (PD) |
| Audio out | 3.5mm + Optical + HDMI ARC + XLR |
| Control | RS-232 / LAN / IP control |
| Frame | Aluminum silver frame |
| Smart platform | Android TV 14 |
| MSRP | $11,500 |
Specs as rated by Claria.
What to expect
Two features define the CLR45 in daily use: auto focus and ultra-short throw. The 0.65 throw ratio lets it throw a 400-inch image from under a meter away, so it can live on a low console right beneath the screen instead of across the room or on the ceiling. Auto focus then keeps that image crisp without you ever touching a dial — it re-reads the surface and locks in after any nudge. Add 10,000 lumens and a 110% DCI-P3 gamut and you get a picture that's bright enough for daylight and color-accurate enough that creative pros can trust it. This is a projector that disappears into a room and just works.
Who should buy it
The CLR45 is for two kinds of buyer. The first is the no-compromise home cinema owner who wants the biggest, brightest, most hands-off setup money can reasonably buy and has the room (and budget) to justify it. The second is the professional: integrators wiring it into a control system via RS-232 or IP, venues running it at 400 inches for live events, and post-production or gallery spaces that need reference-grade color. If you don't need IP control, XLR audio, or DCI-P3 accuracy, you're paying for capability you'll never touch — and the CLR18 will serve you for $2,600 less.
In-depth analysis
Brightness
10,000 lumens is genuinely a lot — enough for semi-outdoor events, sunlit atriums, and very large screens. In a normal home it's almost more than you need, which is a nice problem to have: you get effortless headroom in any lighting and never have to compromise on screen size.
8K and color
Native 8K resolution gets the headline, but the quieter win is the 110% DCI-P3 color gamut. Covering more than the full digital-cinema color space is what separates a flagship from a merely bright projector — it's the spec that matters for anyone doing color-critical work, and it makes everything else look richer too.
Throw and auto focus
This is the CLR45's signature combination. The 0.65 ultra-short throw enables massive images in tight rooms with no long cable runs and nothing blocking the beam, while intelligent auto focus removes the single most annoying part of projector ownership. Together they make a 400-inch picture feel almost appliance-simple to live with.
Connectivity and smarts
The port panel is where the flagship flexes hardest. Three HDMI 2.1 ports plus eARC, DisplayPort 2.0, dual USB-C with power delivery, XLR audio out, and RS-232/LAN/IP control mean this slots straight into a professional AV rack. Android TV 14 handles streaming on board. For a home user it's overkill; for an integrator it's exactly the checklist they're looking for.
How it compares
| Model | CLR12 | CLR18 | CLR45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier | Entry | Performance | Flagship |
| Brightness | 6,000 lm | 8,000 lm | 10,000 lm |
| Contrast (claimed) | 70,000:1 | 100,000:1 | 150,000:1 |
| Throw | 0.8 short | 0.8 short | 0.65 ultra short |
| Auto Focus | No | No | Yes |
| Color gamut | Standard | Standard | 110% DCI-P3 |
| Pro control | No | No | RS-232 / LAN / IP |
| Max screen | 300" | 350" | 400" |
| MSRP | $6,950 | $8,900 | $11,500 |
The jump from CLR18 to CLR45 isn't really about another 2,000 lumens — it's about everything around the image: auto focus, ultra-short throw, wide-gamut color, an aluminum chassis, and full professional control. That's what the extra money buys.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 10,000 lumens — effortless brightness at any screen size
- Intelligent auto focus removes the most tedious part of setup
- 0.65 ultra-short throw fits huge images into tight rooms
- 110% DCI-P3 color for reference-grade accuracy
- Pro connectivity: eARC, DisplayPort 2.0, XLR, RS-232/LAN/IP
Cons
- $11,500 — the most expensive in the Rhayon Series
- 150,000:1 contrast is a claimed, not measured, figure
- Much of the pro I/O is wasted on a typical home setup
FAQ
What makes the Claria CLR45 the flagship?
The combination: 10,000 lumens, intelligent auto focus, 0.65 ultra-short throw, 110% DCI-P3 color, and full professional control (RS-232/LAN/IP, DisplayPort 2.0, XLR). The CLR12 and CLR18 have none of those pro features.
How close can the CLR45 sit to the screen?
Its 0.65 ultra-short throw lets it project very large images from under a meter away, so it can sit on a low console directly beneath the screen rather than across the room.
Is the CLR45 overkill for home use?
For many homes, yes — the IP control and XLR output are aimed at integrators. But the auto focus, brightness, and DCI-P3 color are real, tangible benefits for a premium home cinema.
Should I buy the CLR45 or the CLR18?
Choose the CLR45 if you want auto focus, ultra-short throw, wide-gamut color, or pro AV integration. If you mainly need brightness and 8K in a large room, the CLR18 delivers most of the experience for $2,600 less.
Bottom line
The Claria CLR45 is the rare flagship that mostly justifies its position. Auto focus and the 0.65 ultra-short throw genuinely change how you live with a projector, the 110% DCI-P3 color is a real upgrade rather than a spec-sheet flourish, and the professional connectivity makes it a serious tool for integrators and venues. The only catch is the obvious one: at $11,500 with pro I/O that many buyers won't use, it's more projector than most rooms require. For the people it's built for, it's close to perfect — a well-earned 4.7/5.
View the Claria CLR45 official page
Typically listed by distributors on marketplaces — availability varies.
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