Dangbei Mars Professional 2 evaluate: Large and vibrant

I liked Dangbei’s small Atom projector — giving it a close to excellent evaluate because the tiny however mighty gadget efficiently offered sharp, vibrant, and colourful pictures at a sub-$1K worth level. Nevertheless spectacular, it compromised on some extra “premium” projector options like a full setting suite and lacked a stand.

So, with summer season across the nook and desirous to curate outdoor movie nights, I have been trying to find the perfect 4K projector and determined to check Dangbei’s greater, dearer, flagship mannequin: the DBOXO2 — additionally dubbed the Mars Professional 2.

Learn on for my full evaluate.

Dangbei DBOX02

Beneficial

The Dangbei DBOX02 is a premium 4K laser projector which gives as much as 2450 ISO lumens in brightness and built-in audio system, plus Google TV performance. It delivers nice image high quality, beauty and versatile efficiency for a worth that undercuts a few of the competitors, significantly from XGIMI and Anker.  

Execs

• Shiny, colourful picture
• Premium design
• Google TV

Cons

• Half-baked software program options
• Not the perfect audio system
• Very massive

Worth, availability and specs

The Dangbei DBOX2 is accessible now for costs beginning at $1499.99, direct from Amazon, and it is solely supplied in black.

From the beginning, when unboxing the DBOX02, I used to be abundantly conscious of 1 factor: its dimension. Now dimension is a commerce off when going premium, fancy projectors want cooling followers and loads of house inside for audio system, however the DBOX02 is a big gadget.

Completed in metallic all throughout and in matte black, it appears to be like good, and has an ample collection of ports on the rear. I used to be additionally despatched a stand with my evaluate unit and extremely suggest it because it helps with a number of viewing angles and steadiness.

The scale and weight turn into a bit little bit of a difficulty in terms of simply positioning the gadget. Once more, not an issue in case you have a stand. If, nonetheless you might be shopping for this as a primary projector, do not count on it to be straightforward to maneuver and reposition. It is actually supposed to take a seat in a single spot, or on a tripod.

That apart, this can be a stylish and nicely constructed projector. The port choice is comparatively beneficiant, with two HDMI inputs, two USB-A ports, and an ethernet jack.

Fortunately, the DBOX02 additionally comes with a Bluetooth distant, which linked simply and labored shortly and precisely.

What I preferred concerning the Dangbei Mars Professional 2

Shiny, daring and delightful

Transferring to image high quality, to start out, this can be a laser projector which crucially signifies that it’s vibrant. That stated, after I stared instantly at it I believed my eyeballs would possibly soften. In almost all circumstances, other than a vibrant sunny day, it was ample to make use of indoors with the curtains open. It may attain as much as 2450 ISO lumens of brightness, which is spectacular, although I might take this with a bit pinch of salt. Lumens are the measure of brightness in a projector, however totally different locations have totally different takes on how they work.

The business commonplace measure is ANSI, whereas ISO is lesser identified. One ISO lumen equals roughly 0.8 ANSI lumens, so 2450 ISO lumens interprets to 1960 ANSI lumens, much less attractive however nonetheless spectacular. Dangbei has additionally been in a bit of hot water over allegedly cooking its figures a bit. Regardless, in the true world and away from geeky numbers, this can be a vibrant projector.

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And oh boy, is it sharp too. From 80 inches as much as its full projection width, content material seemed very crisp and naturally detailed. In fact 4K video seemed finest, however when you like probably the most element you may moderately get, this can be a good choice. The colours too, true to basic lazer efficiency, are nice. They’re saturated and nice with out being overbearing and there’s barely any noise within the shadows. As a complete, the image high quality supplied right here is superb for the value.

Moreover, the projector gives HDR10 compatibility, which means that supported content material is further vibrant and clear, and nicely price utilizing the place it is obtainable.

Watching Eurovision 2024 with a white display was a deal with, the colours of the loopy performers had been introduced properly to life whereas the audio system saved up with the daft vocals with no situation.

Full fats Google TV with most of your favourite apps

Google TV

Ease of use

Excessive

Sensible assistants

Google Assistant

Advert presence

Reasonable

App availability

Very broad

Notable options

AI-curated content material; Chromecast built-in

Transferring onto software program, the image is equally optimistic with some giant caveats. Moderately than run its personal customized Android pores and skin because it has accomplished at occasions prior to now, Dangbei has loaded up the DBOX02 with Google TV.

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Which means entry to the Play Retailer and almost any streaming app you may consider. Downloading an app is a straightforward course of, and after you have it, offered you utilize your Google account to log in, shortly accessing every app turns into a straightforward ask. Moreover, the projector has Netflix obtainable and absolutely licensed which is, one thing which might’t be stated for a few of the competitors.

What I did not like concerning the Dangbei Mars Professional 2

Software program caveats

Whereas the Dangbei is an completed projector by most metrics, it has some primarily software-based flaws which are nonetheless a big downside.

First of those is software program reliability. I used to be in a position to outright crash the projector on events by choosing a single software program choice. In a single case choosing ‘3D projection’ merely brought on the display to show purple and jagged. Solely a tough reset resolved the difficulty. When the outlay is above $1K, on the very least you expect rock strong stability.

One other situation was app availvility. So, whereas Google TV gives broad entry to almost any service in existence, there is not any assure that they will be capable of set up on the projector.

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Then there’s accessing projector options. The clue is within the identify, Google TV is designed for TVs at the start. Accessing a perform like keystoning, one thing you will be doing repeatedly when you change your projection floor, requires a comparatively deep dive into system settings in an effort to entry it, which is unquestionably extra difficult than essential.

Perhaps too massive?

Whereas the DBOX02 is a premium projector and sized accordingly, it is extremely, very massive. You will not wish to transfer it round the home, as soon as you have chosen a place it’s going to possible stay stationary. For that motive, if you’re shopping for this both as a primary projector or a primary premium projector, the difficulty is then of whether or not it may be merely too a lot on your dwelling scenario.

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Regardless of the scale, the audio system fail to make a lot of an impression. Whereas bass is highly effective, mids and trebles are inclined to turn into drowned considerably in films, which means that speech will be more durable to listen to than would possibly in any other case be anticipated. That is once more not good given the value level.

Ought to I purchase the Dangbei DBOX02?

If you need a robust, premium choice that works nicely, has improbable image high quality and which has a straightforward interface, the DBOX02 is a superb choice.

The true query is whether or not you want it. There are projectors which have comparable mainstream attraction for lower than $1K, and there are additionally many TVs which obtain the identical. At almost $2K it’s approaching luxurious territory, and it may be greater than many discover they really need.

Dangbei DBOX02

Beneficial

Furthermore, it is also giant and heavy. In case you are a primary time projector purchaser or need one thing you may simply transfer all through the house, this is not it. The DBOX02 is not petite, it is not transportable, and it makes no pretense of being both.

There is a motive it has a bit junk within the trunk, and that is image high quality. Boasting a 4K decision, with brightness to spare and colours that pop, it makes films sing. The included audio system do a good job of bringing a bit stereo sound to your setup. Final however not least, there’s Google TV integration too, which means all your favourite apps are current and proper, the interface is straightforward to navigate and discovering your favourite films and TV exhibits is a cinch.