Review: Dangbei MP1 Max projector ups image size, brightness and colour to a new level

Wales Online

a day ago

Review: Dangbei MP1 Max projector ups image size, brightness and colour to a new level
New flagship model offers a hybrid Triple Laser/LED lens, while pumping out great-sounding audio as well
Dangbei MP1 Max
Dangbei has upped the brightness and colour with its latest projector, which is now the flagship of its range, having taken over from the already excellent DBOX02.
The MP1 Max takes a different tack to the DBOX by offering a hybrid Triple Laser/LED lens. This means you can pump up the size of an image to an incredible 300ins wide, while enjoying a brightness level that I've not see before at the price bracket.
So, before we get into the tech jargon, here's what we are looking at. The MP1 Max is a sleek projector that comes with its own built-in stand capable of pointing the image pretty much anywhere you want (even on the ceiling). Because it's relatively compact, you can take it to your friends and neighbours easily enough, and it even comes with its own hard carrying case.
And you're going to want to show this off! The 4K HDR projector can deliver 3100 ISO Lumens, which means you're not going to have to pull down all the blinds in a room to see it. The brightness is excellent, and it's this, as well as the vibrant colours, that gives the MP1 its edge.
So the picture quality is superb, but what I was most surprised about was the quality of the in-built Dolby Audio speakers. They're 12W but with a larger acoustic chamber than other Dangbai projectors. This seemed to make a real difference to my ears. And that's just as well, because you are a little limited when it comes to external options (more of which later).
Dangbei MP1 Max
Setting up the device is quick and simple. The MP1 uses Google TV as its operating system and has licensed Netflix integration, and so you get a smooth experience whatever your streaming options. One thing to note, though, is BBC iPlayer is still sadly lacking from the Google store so you'll have to connect to another peice of hardware to play EastEnders at supersize!
The Bluetooth remote is nicely designed and has specific buttons for YouTube, Netflix and Amazon. This same Bluetooth means you can also connect to wireless speakers. I tested this out and didn't experience any lag, which I found was an issue with the DBOX02.
Dangbei's InstanPro AI Image Setup Technology is among the best in the business and had just been upgraded, offering automated focus, real-time Keystone correction, screen fit, obstacle avoidance, and AI brightness adjustment. It makes it all super easy, not that taking manual control is particularly difficult. Although the automated settings were so good I never really felt the need to fiddle too much.
It's worth noting the Keystone correction is dealt with by software and not hardware, meaning there is some light bleed that might turn off the purist. To be honest, after a couple of minutes you won't even notice it.
Dangbei MP1 Max
For TV and movies, the MP1 smashes it out of the park. The quality is stunning and thanks to all those ISO Lumens, it shines no matter how light it is in the room. It also handles gaming with ease thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate. It's fast and reactive, and you can't beat playing Mario on a massive screen.
There is a high-performance mode, but I wouldn't recommend it as the fans immediately go crazy and everything else seems to go to pot (or at least feels like it).
Which brings me on to a couple of little caveats. Under normal use I wouldn't call the fans whisper quiet. If you're watching a blockbuster you won't notice, but quieter fare might well suffer. You get two HDMI ports to play with, as well as a headphone jack and USB-A, but no optical audio. I found this a little puzzling as this could be a deal breaker for the true home cinephile. Also, it does support 3D and while I have no way of testing this feature, other users say they have found it to be a little underwhelming.
Another thing to note is the lifespan has been quoted to me as being more than 20,000 hours. Let feels like plenty, but is down from the 30,000 range boasted by the DBOX02. So if you're using it for a couple of hours a day it will last way over 20 years.
So it is the flagship but it's missing a couple of high-end features in return, I guess, for portability. It's a comprimise I can live with. The MP1 Max is the best and brightest Dangbei yet, and delivers a powerful viewing experience - no matter where you are.
MP1 Max is available for £1,599 from Amazon.
Alternatives
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Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 Triple Laser Projector
NexiGo TriVision Ultra, 4K Tri-LED-Laser Portable Projector