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The tested home cinema projectors: As different as they look
Photo: Christian Neeb
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The lights go out, popcorn bags rustle.
Excited giggles, then off we go.
Two hours in front of a huge screen that doesn't allow you to play games on your smartphone or do something in the kitchen for a moment.
If films are a religion, then cinemas are their temples.
Because the size of the picture hardly allows for a distraction.
Of course, the feeling of being in the cinema cannot simply be simulated at home.
After all, there are still enough distractions to attract or threaten.
Nevertheless it is possible to approach the feeling.
With a big screen instead of a TV.
And with a projector that projects films and series with razor sharpness.
In addition, many film studios publish their blockbusters on streaming services as long as the cinemas have to remain closed due to the pandemic.
That could be exactly the right opportunity to set up a home theater at home, not with a large TV, of course, but with a screen and projector like in the real movie theater.
I have tested these devices
BenQ W2700 for 1599 euros
Epson EH-TW7100 for 2149 euros
LG CineBeam 4K / HU70LS for 1699 euros
Optoma UHD51 for 2149 euros
Viewsonic X10-4K for 1539 euros
That's how I tested
I am a beginner at home theater.
The test is not aimed at experts who want to spend hours in Internet forums familiarizing themselves with optimal setting options.
The projectors should be tested for their suitability for beginners: How easy are they to set up?
How accessible is it to operate?
How good is the picture from a standing start.
For the home cinema, I have installed a cheap two meter wide 16: 9 motorized screen from Celexon in our study.
The projectors were mounted on a ceiling mount made by Mywall.
They were connected via an HDMI cable to an Xbox One X, which can play 4K Blu-rays.
I also watched the UHD Blu-Ray from "The Lord of the Rings", streamed the series "The Mandalorian" in UHD and played the game "Diablo 3".
BenQ W2700
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The BenQ projector starts operating with a hum, then a clear fan noise can be heard.
I have to make the first setting upside down, because the device does not automatically recognize that it is mounted on the ceiling.
Since the menu is kept very small, this is a somewhat laborious act.
display
BenQ
BenQ W2700 home theater DLP projector (4K UHD, HDR, 95% DCI-P3, 2000 ANSI lumens, 30,000: 1 contrast)
From 1,499.00 €
Price query time
01/30/2021 6:52 p.m.
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Unfortunately, the BenQ projector only comes with a rudimentary manual that does without text and only works with illustrations.
Anyone who has ever built a complex piece of furniture from Ikea knows how little that works.
A quick online search brings up the user manual as a PDF.
With the information from it, the projector can be set up quickly.
In the preset cinema mode, the projector brings a very good image onto the screen from a standing start.
If you switch to the »Light« mode, the image becomes greenish.
So the cinema mode stays on.
The device delivers brilliant colors with great brightness.
In the “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian”, the BenQ shines with its image quality.
The crisp colors are also a delight when gaming with »Diablo 3«.
The good sound of the built-in loudspeakers, which even produce a sound that appears spatial, rounds off the package.
Plus points:
brilliant picture quality ex works
Minuses:
loud fan
Connections:
2 x HDMI, 1 x RS-232, 1 x USB 3, 12-volt screen connection, audio analog and optical-digital
Accessories:
remote control, power cord, analogue and DVD instructions, calibration test
Suitable for:
UHD beginners who want a powerful complete package without any problems
RRP:
1599 euros
Epson EH-TW 7100
Icon: enlargePhoto: Christian Neeb
Even the box in which the test device is delivered is huge, and the projector in it is monstrously large and heavy.
You want it to hang upside down from the ceiling?
A somewhat queasy feeling, but unjustified.
The Epson is the only device in the test that is not compatible with the ceiling mount.
So I put it on the floor.
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Epson
Epson EH-TW7100 4K Pro-UHD 3LCD projector (3,000 lumens white and color brightness, contrast ratio 100,000: 1, integrated 10 W speakers, optional WLAN, HDMI)
From € 1,722.91
Price query time
01/30/2021 6:52 p.m.
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Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
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With its housing made of rounded white plastic, the projector resembles designs by the designer Colani.
Thanks to the adjustable feet and the manually adjustable lens, a sharp image is quickly thrown on the screen - which unfortunately does not fill the two meter wide screen.
The distance of around 2.20 meters that is possible in the test room is too small for this, the projector is designed for significantly larger rooms.
Nevertheless, it delivers a very high image quality.
The remote control is reminiscent of the cluttered, overloaded devices that were on the living room tables of tech-savvy grandparents in the 1990s.
The luminosity of the Epson is amazing.
Fine details can also be seen in the darker scenes of "The Mandalorian".
The UHD Blu-ray of "The Lord of the Rings" also shows its best side on the Epson.
The picture looks absolutely natural, you think you can smell the fresh grass of the Shire.
The projector is also not as loud as some of the other test candidates.
On the other hand, the sound is more comparable to that of a normal television.
No spatial sound like the Viewsonic sound machine.
But also not a tinny one like the mini device from LG.
A compromise that makes home cinema fans demand an external sound system.
Pros:
excellent image quality, easy image adjustment
Minuses
:
Dimensions, ceiling installation with myWall bracket not possible, sound rather mediocre
Connections:
2 x HDMI, trigger-out (control of external devices), audio output, USB connection, power for external devices
Accessories:
remote control, manual, power cord
Suitable for:
Fans of excellent picture quality with a large living room.
RRP:
2149.00 euros
LG CineBeam 4K
Icon: enlargePhoto: Christian Neeb
Inside the cardboard box is a sober white housing that is reminiscent of a router.
A heavy remote control, short instructions, a magnetic ring and a power cord with a bulky transformer complete the package.
First finding: the supplied power cord is far too short for ceiling mounting with a ceiling height of two and a half meters.
The transformer hangs halfway up in the air and must be supported so that it does not pull the cable under tension.
display
From € 1,399.00
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After switching on, the fan starts to operate loudly.
The device automatically detects its orientation.
After a few fine adjustments, the picture is beamed to the screen in 16: 9.
Settings can be made in a pop-up menu that overlays the projected image.
Focusing and aligning the image are only possible digitally, not directly on the lens.
When the Xbox starts up, the speakers sound tinny.
If you want a cinema feeling, you need an external sound system here, also to drown out the loud fan.
The intelligent control of the device is positive.
The Xbox user interface does not appear until the screen is extended.
Before that, only the green logo is emblazoned on the bare wall.
Then the remote control of the projector can also be used to control the console.
This is much more convenient than constantly switching between controller and remote control.
The first episode of the series "The Mandalorian" in 4K on the big screen was awesome.
The TV series becomes a series cinema.
The brightness of the projector is satisfactory in a darkened room.
The UHD Blu-ray of "The Lord of the Rings" has a brilliant image on the LG projector, the device throws the battles between elves and orcs very sharply onto the screen.
If it is also a little quiet, it is the "smartest" projector in the test.
Advantages:
Easy installation, good picture, well thought-out controls
Cons:
Loud fan, short power cord, weak sound
Connections:
2 x HDMI, 2 x USB, 1 x USB-C, headphones, LAN, optical audio input
Accessories:
remote control, power cord, magnetic ring
Suitable for:
Smart home tinkerers and surround system owners
RRP:
1699 euros
Optoma UHD51
Icon: enlargePhoto: Christian Neeb
Where the LG projector is an inconspicuous white box, Optoma's device looks like a racing car.
The glossy black housing is framed with a radiator grille, including a silver trim.
It's very big and heavy, not easy to hide in a white living room.
The power supply unit is built into the device and does not hang on the outside of the power cable.
This is definitely an advantage for ceiling installation, even if the supplied power cord is far too short.
This shortcoming can be remedied with a longer IEC cable.
The device does not come with detailed instructions, only brief instructions and a reference to the manufacturer's website.
The remote control of the is a small rudimentary device, not a smart remote.
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OPTOMA TECHNOLOGY
Optoma UHD51 4K DLP projector (UHD, 2400 lumens, 500,000: 1 contrast, 3D, 1.3x zoom) black
From € 1,190.83
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As soon as it is connected, the Optoma starts operating immediately, but does not automatically recognize its orientation.
When mounting on the ceiling, you have to read it overhead, which is cumbersome and not very intuitive with the remote control.
Adjusting the image size and sharpness mainly works manually with the Optoma using a rotary knob on the lens and a slider.
Easy for beginners, the Optoma quickly throws a good image onto the screen.
A pleasant surprise: The operating noises are kept within limits, but the built-in loudspeaker sounds significantly more full than that of the LG projector, for example.
The beamer gets along perfectly with the Xbox surface.
The playback of "The Mandalorian" via the Disney + app also works perfectly.
Overall, the brightness of the Optoma is not as high as, for example, the LG or BenQ.
“The Lord of the Rings” on UHD Blu-ray also appears a bit darker in its basic setting than with the other candidates.
But the colors are warmer.
Plus points:
beginner-friendly picture setting, good sound, low fan noise
Minuses:
no smart remote, user interface a bit awkward
Connections:
2 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x RS232, RJ-45, audio input, audio output analog and optical, 12 volt screen connection
Accessories:
remote control, power cord
Suitable for:
Style-conscious UHD fans who like to turn lenses
RRP:
2149.00 euros
Viewsonic X10-4K
Icon: enlargePhoto: Christian Neeb
The projector starts with a thump.
Literally.
The Viewsonic's sound system comes from Harman Kardon.
Powerful bass fills the room.
This does not replace a real sound system, but the Viewsonic can keep up with the many soundbars.
The projector has a fixed focal length, so the screen section cannot be adjusted.
From the position where I installed the ceiling mount, it already throws a three-meter-wide image onto the canvas.
So I took it from the ceiling again and placed it on a chair in the middle of the room to manually set the correct distance.
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ViewSonic
Viewsonic X10-4K UHD home cinema LED projector (4K, 2,400 lumens, Rec. 709, HDR, 2x HDMI, USB, USB-C, WLAN connectivity, Bluetooth, SD card reader, 2x 8 watt speakers) anthracite metallic
From € 1,399.00
Price query time
01/30/2021 6:52 p.m.
No guarantee
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Via the so-called affiliate links above, we usually receive a commission from the dealer when making a purchase.
More information here
It's easy to find, much closer to the screen - and unfortunately directly under the ceiling lamp.
He won't be able to hang there.
It would therefore not be suitable for my small home theater in the basement.
The device sets itself automatically, then it starts.
The picture is brilliant, but sometimes looks a bit dull.
The video game mode, however, lets "Diablo 3" shine in bright colors.
The sound is amazing and simulates surround sound.
The Mandalorian's blaster fire thunders and hisses across the room.
No comparison with the tinny sound of other projectors that sound like PC boxes from the 1990s.
After all: In view of the high price for the projector, you might save yourself the purchase of a sound system.
The somewhat clumsy remote control is annoying.
A very sensitive wheel in the middle is reminiscent of the controls of the first iPods.
The volume can be controlled more badly than fairly with a slider.
Plus points:
good surround sound, very good picture quality,
Minuses:
loud fan, no manual adjustment of the focal length, clumsy remote control
Connections:
2 x HDMI, microSD, LAN, 2 x USB, audio input, audio output
Accessories
: remote control, manual, USB-C cable, HDMI cable, power cable, WLAN dongle
Suitable for:
Film fans who value good sound but don't want to buy a sound system for it.
RRP:
1539.90 euros
My conclusion:
With razor-sharp images from the tested 4K projectors, even series designed for streaming such as "The Mandalorian" or "The Witcher" look like big cinema.
Multiplayer video games like "Diablo 3" are also more fun on the big screen than on the television, not to mention movies on UHD Blu-ray.
All tested projectors deliver good to excellent image quality.
Every manufacturer scores points when it comes to equipment with different details.
As a beginner, one of the things I noticed positively was the image quality of the BenQ device.
Without any adjustments, this projector immediately delivered a very good image - almost like in the cinema.
Only the rustling of the popcorn bags is missing somehow.
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