The king of outside motion pictures, for those who can afford it

My dream projector delivers the brightest and sharpest picture. Nevertheless it additionally must be simple to maneuver round and arrange anyplace — particularly open air. Anker’s Nebular X1 long-throw projector guarantees all of that with a three-laser engine that beams out a category-leading 3,500 ANSI lumens at 4K decision. It additionally has options by no means seen earlier than on a house projector, like liquid cooling to cut back fan noise and a motorized lens gimbal that automates setup. Plus, it provides good sound that may be upgraded with optional satellite speakers.

The rub is the value. At $3,000 ($3,298 with the satellite tv for pc audio system for a restricted time) it’s one of many costlier shopper projectors, proper up there with fashions like Epson’s LS11000 or the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. After testing it, I can say that it provides the clearest, most vivid picture high quality I’ve seen and has the only setup as well. Nevertheless, the excessive value places it far out of attain for many moveable projector patrons.

Options and design

The Nebula X1 follows within the footsteps of different Anker projectors, like the unique Nebula and Cosmos, with a tall rectangular design and deal with that neatly retracts with a press. Whereas that makes it simple to hold, it additionally means the Nebula X1 hangs down greater than most indoor projectors when ceiling-mounted.

To eradicate the tedious setup that sometimes plagues projectors, Anker did a intelligent factor: it positioned the lens mechanism on a gimbal that may tilt as much as 25 levels. When mixed with a 1.67x zoom, autofocus, keystone correction and ambient gentle detection, the projector totally automates setup. First, you must select a display or wall location and place the projector at a prescribed distance between 8 and 35 toes, relying on the display or wall measurement. You must middle the projector in addition to you’ll be able to to keep away from any digital (keystone) correction that may adversely have an effect on picture high quality. Then the magic occurs on the press of a button.

The Nebula X1 makes use of a perform it calls Spatial Adaptation to scan the world in entrance of it. The lens tilts up and down, earlier than displaying a checkerboard sample after which beaming the ultimate picture just about exactly the place it needs to be. It’s not excellent, as some obstacles like small crops or tremendous wires can throw it off, nevertheless it labored properly for me on each a wall and devoted display. The projector can adapt to ambient gentle and even the wall coloration, and one other perform referred to as Spatial Recall helps you to save these settings for regularly used places.

Laser engines get scorching and are usually cooled with followers that may generate distracting noise. Nevertheless, the Nebula X1 is the primary shopper mannequin with liquid cooling which reduces fan noise to a barely audible 26dB whisper. Because of this cooling system, the projector may also have a smaller footprint. That’s a giant quality-of-life enchancment in comparison with much of the competition.

As for inputs, the X1 comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, together with one with Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) performance. That commonplace helps quick refresh charges of as much as 240Hz at 4K, although the X1 tops out at 4K 60Hz so it’s not ideally suited as a gaming projector. It additionally provides USB Kind-A and USB Kind-C ports, together with a S/PDIF optical audio port.

Google TV is inbuilt for streaming and projector management. It gives a big library of apps by way of Google Play together with a well-known interface. You additionally get Netflix’s official software with help for 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient with out the necessity to plug in a streaming machine, plus Chromecast help and Google Assistant for voice management. The draw back is that it could often be sluggish, notably with menu settings like projector picture management.

Picture high quality

Anker makes use of what it calls “cinema-grade glass” within the Nebula’s 14-element lens to extend brightness, coloration accuracy and lens sturdiness. The 4K triple laser engine is rated at as much as 3,500 ANSI lumens with a 5,000:1 distinction ratio. On the identical time, it provides coloration accuracy with a Delta E worth of lower than 0.8 and a formidable 110 % of the Rec.2020 coloration spectrum, matching high-end extremely quick throw (UST) fashions from Samsung, LG and Formovie. That 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient help I discussed can be uncommon among the many competitors.

The result’s the sharpest and brightest picture I’ve seen on any projector on this value vary. It was shiny sufficient for me to comfortably watch a soccer match on a sunny day with out the shades lowered. And for those who change it to Convention mode, you’ll be able to ramp the brightness up additional for a viewable picture even with lights on, however there’s the draw back of a slight blue coloration solid.

When utilized in a darkened room or exterior at night time, the Nebula’s picture high quality is one of the best of any projector I’ve examined. Though it makes use of the identical Texas Devices 0.47-inch DMD (digital mirror machine) as many different 4K fashions, the picture is clearer and sharper due to the glass aspect lens. Distinction and black ranges are additionally tops on this value vary and never far off high-end projectors from JVC and Sony that value twice as a lot. As soon as once more, that’s as a result of optics together with Anker’s 6-blade dynamic iris — one other characteristic normally solely discovered on high-end projectors — and the corporate’s “NebulaMaster 2.0” image high quality algorithm.

Shade accuracy is excellent out of the field in each HDR and non-HDR modes due to the ISF (Picture Science Basis) certification usually reserved for costlier projectors. The truth is, I discovered the colour calibration practically excellent on my unit in “ISF Evening” mode. That meant photos have been near how they have been calibrated by the filmmakers for TV sequence and films like As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood, Andor, Dune 2 and Spider-Man: No Means House. If the colours aren’t fairly to your liking, you may make tremendous changes manually. Like many different 4K projectors of this kind, the X1 has a slight quantity of sunshine spill across the fringe of the picture. Nevertheless, it’s well-controlled and solely noticeable when the projected picture is especially darkish.

Sound

Anker put some additional work into the sound as effectively. Audio high quality is strong due to the 4 built-in audio system with 40 watts whole output. The dearth of fan noise is a giant assist right here. By itself, the X1 provides respectable high-end and bass, however extra importantly, dialog is straightforward to listen to and perceive.

For a giant sonic improve, you’ll be able to add a pair of Anker’s non-obligatory Nebula-branded satellite tv for pc audio system that hook up with the projector robotically by way of Wi-Fi. Every one has a pair of 40-watt entrance drivers, a 20-watt upward-firing driver and a 20-watt side-firing driver that mix to create a encompass impact. Along with the projector, they ship a formidable 200 watts of sound with Dolby Audio help (although not Dolby Atmos sadly). They’re additionally battery-powered with as much as eight hours of use, which is particularly helpful for outside viewing. Nevertheless, that additionally means it’s essential preserve them charged.

To check these audio system, I chosen a number of music-oriented motion pictures together with A Full Unknown, Maestro and Rocketman, together with an motion film that has a formidable rating and sound results, Dune 2. Despite their small measurement, the satellite tv for pc audio system stored parts like music, dialog and sound results crisp, clear and evenly balanced with highly effective dynamic bass. You would definitely do higher with a devoted 5.1 or 7.1 encompass sound system, however these audio system supply very respectable audio high quality, are simple to arrange and robotically sync with the image. The X1 additionally helps different exterior Bluetooth audio system, however you could have to regulate the timing within the menus to make sure excellent sync for image and sound.

Anker additionally provides a $4,000 package deal that features a pair of its Soundcore microphones together with the audio system. These additionally hook up with the X1 robotically and allow you to use it as a really costly karaoke machine. They supply clear sound however you don’t get the same old advantages of a karaoke setup like AI vocal elimination and vocal enhancement.

Wrap-up

The Nebula X1 is an odd proposition. It’s marketed as a transportable outside projector, nevertheless it additionally occurs to be one of the best indoor projector I’ve ever examined. With an impeccably sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate picture, the video high quality is irreproachable. The convenience of setup and general measurement additionally makes it an excellent selection if you wish to transfer the X1 round. With the non-obligatory satellite tv for pc audio system, it’s one of the best moveable projector you will get, fingers down.

The Nebula X1 doesn’t have a variety of competitors within the moveable class, aside from Valerion’s $3,000 VisionMaster Professional 2, which additionally has a 4K triple laser engine. Nevertheless, the X1 beats that mannequin on picture high quality, portability and ease of setup.

The factor is, most individuals searching for a transportable projector gained’t spend greater than $500, not to mention $3,000. So who is that this for? I believe it’s ideally suited for patrons a UST or high-end long-throw projector who desire a bit extra versatility. Some might even use it as a standalone indoor projector as it may be mounted on the ceiling or on a stand. In different phrases, in case you have the means, use it any approach you need — it’s that versatile.