Screen without borders: TOP 5 LED projectors for home theater

XGIMI H2 is an interesting addition to the shelf of smart home projectors. A device in a cubic form factor can work completely autonomously or as an image output means when external video sources are connected.

The model is run by the “smart” Android OS without Google services “out of the box”. However, they are easy to install from a USB flash drive, after downloading the required apk files to it. The internal "stuffing" of the projector includes a quad-core Mstar 6A928 processor, a powerful Mail-760MP4 video core, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage space. The device can play video and audio materials from local USB drives or network resources.

On the front panel of the XGIMI H2 body, you can see the projection lens "under cover" of the automatic curtain, the auxiliary camera of the autofocus system, and the Harman / Kardon inscription proudly flaunts. This is an unambiguous allusion to the use of acoustics under the sign of the brand of the same name with a total sound power of 16 watts. Back to the main point, the projector delivers Full HD images up to 300 inches diagonally, supports HDR content display, provides vertical and horizontal keystone corrections within ±45°, and offers motorized zoom/focus control.

The manufacturer claims a brightness of 1350 lm, which is quite good for an LED projector. But its contrast levels are relatively low. The model supports Apple AirPlay, DLNA and Miracast wireless technologies, is equipped with two HDMI ports and a tandem of USB connectors (one of them is version 3.0). In the bottom line, we have a completely self-sufficient device with balanced characteristics, which in terms of functionality will give odds to the lion's share of more expensive projectors.

The Asus F1 LED projector is made in the recognizable style of the Republic of Gamers product line - it has angular shapes and RGB lighting at the bottom of the case. But the device is best suited not for games, but as an image source when deploying home theater systems.

A 0.47-inch DLP matrix is installed at the heart of the projector, supported by an LED lamp with a claimed glow resource of about 30,000 hours. The Asus F1 short throw lens is capable of projecting video from a distance of 43 cm to 3.7 m. At the same time, the diagonal of the image on the canvas varies from 25 to 210 inches, which, translated into more familiar units of measurement, is 63-533 cm.

The model has a motorized focus drive and corrects keystone distortion within 30 ° both vertically and horizontally. The projector broadcasts a picture in FullHD-format with a frame rate of 60 fps. By lowering the resolution to HD-format (1280x720 pixels), the frame rate can be doubled - up to 120 fps. Accordingly, the projector is suitable for dynamic games (if you are ready to put up with not the most outstanding frame resolution).

In terms of connection interfaces, the Asus F1 shelf has two HDMI ports, a VGA connector, a USB port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Windows and Android devices can communicate wirelessly with the projector. But he, unfortunately, does not see Apple technology. The high-quality visual abilities of the model are supported by the good sound of the on-board audio system, consisting of two 3-watt stereo speakers and an 8-watt subwoofer. Yes, not just for show, but from the eminent audio brand Harman / Kardon.

Today, not only TVs have become "wiser", but also some of the detachment of projectors. In particular, the Xiaomi MiJia Laser Projection TV model offers advanced smart functionality.

The device uses a laser module paired with Advanced Laser Phosphor Display 3.0 technology. The peak brightness of the LED light source has a threshold of 5000 lm, which allows you to watch content on the projection screen even in daylight without any significant drop in quality. The projector opens up to its fullest in dark rooms when consuming HDR content at the maximum FullHD resolution (1920x1080 pixels).

Xiaomi MiJia Laser Projection TV ultra-short-focus optics projects an image onto the wall from a distance of 5 to 50 cm. The screen diagonal “floats” within 42-150 inches. The device works under the Android TV operating system with the MIUI TV interface rolled over. When the model is connected to the World Wide Web via a Wi-Fi network or via a LAN connector, it is in no way inferior in functionality to Android smart TVs.

Connecting third-party devices to the projector is implemented in many ways - via HDMI (3 pcs.) And USB (1 pcs.), As well as via AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Miracast wireless technologies. Sound support for broadcasts is provided by a tandem of tweeters and two full-range speakers with support for Dolby Audio and DTS-HD. The only disappointment is connected with the imperfect localization of the menu, where Chinese characters sometimes flash. And this is in the version of the International model - a model purely for the Chinese market sins with "Chinese" much more strongly.

The Viewsonic LS700HD is not a cheap projector. However, the investment in purchasing a device more than pays off in the short term due to the exciting experience of watching movies or other entertainment content on a large screen.

The model feels most comfortable in a relaxed homely atmosphere. “Under the hood” it has a laser-phosphor light source with a “ceiling” of brightness of 3500 ANSI lumens. The laser brightness parameters can be adjusted from 20% to 100% in 20% increments. This indicates the possibility of extending the life of the light source, as well as its flexible adaptation in brightness to a darkened room. The scheduled service life of the laser is about 20 thousand hours.

Viewsonic LS700HD delivers an image size of 1.52m diagonally at its minimum throw distance and 7.62m at its furthest distance. Support for image aspect ratio and lens shift of ±40° both horizontally and vertically contributes to optimal projector installation in a room. . In addition, four corner adjustments eliminate curvature for a proportional image.

The projector exhibits low input lag in games (16ms with a small “tail”), which means it is perfect for working side-by-side with gamer consoles. Only the sound of the built-in 2-watt speaker will need to be pumped - it is not at all a match for the juicy image here. Fortunately, the model has connection interfaces for every taste. In addition, you can “steer” it over a local network using Creston software.

The main income of the Japanese brand Epson is formed by printers and MFPs. The brand's projectors are very popular among certain consumer segments of society. For example, the advanced model EH-LS500 for home movie viewing.

In fact, the projector relies on 3LCD technology: three translucent LCD matrices are installed under the outer “wrapper” of the device. Each of them is translucent with its base color (red, green or blue), and the final color “picture” is formed from images superimposed on each other. The model's light source is based on bright laser LEDs with a lifespan of more than 30,000 hours in economy mode.

The model belongs to the guard of ultra-short-throw projection equipment. To unfold an image with a diagonal of about 120 inches, it will need to be placed at a distance of only 82 cm from the wall. The projector matrix has a physical resolution of FullHD, however, thanks to the optical filter, it is possible to broadcast content in 4K format. Also Epson EH-LS500 "eats" 3D and HDR video files.

The delay in displaying images from game consoles here fits into about 27 ms. A separate line of the audience will appreciate the balanced sound of 20-watt acoustics. Epson EH-LS500 is perfect for many hours of daily use. But be prepared to shell out a tidy sum for it and take into account the heavy category of the projector (over 10 kg).