Anker Nebular X1 projector overview: The king of outside films, when you can afford it
My dream projector delivers the brightest and sharpest picture. Nevertheless it additionally needs to be straightforward to maneuver round and arrange wherever — 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 affords good sound that may be upgraded with non-compulsory satellite tv for pc audio system.
The rub is the worth. At $3,000 ($3,298 with the satellite tv for pc audio system for a restricted time) it’s one of many dearer shopper projectors, proper up there with fashions like Epson’s LS11000 or the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. After testing it, I can say that it affords the clearest, most vivid picture high quality I’ve seen and has the only setup as well. Nevertheless, the excessive worth places it far out of attain for many transportable projector consumers.
Engadget/Anker
Anker’s Nebula X1 is marketed as a conveyable projector but it surely’s ok for use indoors too. Nevertheless, it’s very costly.
- Excellent picture high quality
- Easy computerized setup
- Crisp and loud sound
- Surprisingly transportable
- Costly
- Google TV can sometimes lag
- No Dolby Atmos
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 straightforward to hold, it additionally means the Nebula X1 hangs down greater than most indoor projectors when ceiling-mounted.
To remove the tedious setup that usually 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, it’s important to select a display screen or wall location and place the projector at a prescribed distance between 8 and 35 toes, relying on the display screen or wall measurement. You need to heart the projector in addition to you may 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 operate it calls Spatial Adaptation to scan the realm 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 ought to be. It’s not excellent, as some obstacles like small crops or high-quality wires can throw it off, but it surely labored properly for me on each a wall and devoted display screen. The projector can adapt to ambient gentle and even the wall shade, and one other operate referred to as Spatial Recall helps you to save these settings for ceaselessly used areas.
Laser engines get sizzling 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 an enormous quality-of-life enchancment in comparison with a lot of the competitors.
As for inputs, the X1 comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, together with one with Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) performance. That normal helps quick refresh charges of as much as 240Hz at 4K, although the X1 tops out at 4K 60Hz so it’s not very best as a gaming projector. It additionally affords 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 offers a big library of apps by way of Google Play together with a well-recognized interface. You additionally get Netflix’s official software with assist for 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient with out the necessity to plug in a streaming system, plus Chromecast assist and Google Assistant for voice management. The draw back is that it might sometimes be sluggish, significantly 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, shade 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 similar time, it affords shade accuracy with a Delta E worth of lower than 0.8 and a formidable 110 % of the Rec.2020 shade spectrum, matching high-end extremely brief throw (UST) fashions from Samsung, LG and Formovie. That 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist 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 worth vary. It was vivid sufficient for me to comfortably watch a soccer match on a sunny day with out the shades lowered. And when you change it to Convention mode, you may ramp the brightness up additional for a viewable picture even with lights on, however there’s the draw back of a slight blue shade forged.
When utilized in a darkened room or outdoors at evening, the Nebula’s picture high quality is the most effective of any projector I’ve examined. Although it makes use of the identical Texas Devices 0.47-inch DMD (digital mirror system) as many different 4K fashions, the picture is clearer and sharper due to the glass factor lens. Distinction and black ranges are additionally tops on this worth vary and never far off high-end projectors from JVC and Sony that price twice as a lot. As soon as once more, that’s because of the optics together with Anker’s 6-blade dynamic iris — one other characteristic often 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 dearer projectors. Actually, I discovered the colour calibration almost excellent on my unit in “ISF Night time” mode. That meant photos have been near how they have been calibrated by the filmmakers for TV collection and films like As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood, Andor, Dune 2 and Spider-Man: No Means Dwelling. If the colours aren’t fairly to your liking, you can also make high-quality 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 further work into the sound as nicely. Audio high quality is strong due to the 4 built-in audio system with 40 watts whole output. The shortage of fan noise is an enormous assist right here. By itself, the X1 affords first rate high-end and bass, however extra importantly, dialog is simple to listen to and perceive.
For an enormous sonic improve, you may add a pair of Anker’s non-compulsory 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 assist (although not Dolby Atmos sadly). They’re additionally battery-powered with as much as eight hours of use, which is particularly useful for out of doors viewing. Nevertheless, that additionally means it’s essential to hold them charged.
To check these audio system, I chosen a number of music-oriented films together with A Full Unknown, Maestro and Rocketman, together with an motion film that has a formidable rating and sound results, Dune 2. Regardless of 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 may actually do higher with a devoted 5.1 or 7.1 encompass sound system, however these audio system provide very respectable audio high quality, are straightforward to arrange and robotically sync with the image. The X1 additionally helps different exterior Bluetooth audio system, however you might have to regulate the timing within the menus to make sure excellent sync for image and sound.
Anker additionally affords 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 standard advantages of a karaoke setup like AI vocal removing and vocal enhancement.
Wrap-up
The Nebula X1 is an odd proposition. It’s marketed as a conveyable out of doors projector, but it surely additionally occurs to be the most effective indoor projector I’ve ever examined. With an impeccably sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate picture, the video high quality is irreproachable. The benefit of setup and total measurement additionally makes it an impressive alternative if you wish to transfer the X1 round. With the non-compulsory satellite tv for pc audio system, it’s the most effective transportable projector you may get, fingers down.
The Nebula X1 doesn’t have a whole lot of competitors within the transportable class, other than 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 on the lookout for a conveyable projector gained’t spend greater than $500, not to mention $3,000. So who is that this for? I believe it’s very best for consumers a UST or high-end long-throw projector who need 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, you probably have the means, use it any approach you need — it’s that versatile.