The pandemic has changed the way we look at entertainment. Instead of getting bigger televisions, many are getting home projectors to watch movies as well as play games. This is where the ViewSonic X2 full-HD short-throw projector comes in with its capability to easily offer 150-inch images (it can go higher but at the cost of image quality).
X2 is more than an entry-level home theatre projector, which, with proper tuning, can perform above its price point. It has a sister product called the X1, which has a standard-throw lens. These are full LED smart projectors and they offer among the highest levels of brightness in the ViewSonic line-up. On the X2 you get 3100 LED Lumens.
The content of the box is simple. Besides the projector, remote and power cable, you get a USB-C cable and its integration is so good that the Nintendo Switch can connect to the X2 without a dock. In a sense, this can be used as a Switch dock.
The projector is small and light enough to be moved from room to room but, remember, it’s not a mobile projector with a standalone battery. On the back, there is a practical selection of ports — two HDMIs, both supporting HDCP 2.2, so you won’t face any issues if you want to connect Bluray players. There is one USB-C port and a 5V/1A USB, which can be used for powering something like a streaming stick. Also included is an RS-232 port.
On the sides there are enough slits for ventilation as well as stereo Harman Kardon speakers. All the image adjustment controls are on top of the projector as well as on the remote control.
PICTURE-PUMPING MACHINE
The projector processes up to UHD resolution (3840x2160) signals that it displays at 1080p, though it offers support for HDR. Even though there is no colour wheel, during the course of the review there was hardly any rainbow effect and the light source is rated to have an LED Lumen specification of 3,100.
All the physical control buttons are on the top of the projector
A few points to remember while buying the projector. The light engine offers 125 per cent gamut coverage of the Rec.709 colour space, which is quite good for a 1080p projector. Unlike lamp-based projectors, the LED light source doesn’t need to warm up to reach its full operating performance. The 30,000-hour lifespan that ViewSonic talks about depends on the brightness mode.
With vertical lens shift, 1.2x optical zoom, H/V keystone and four-corner adjustment capabilities, installing this projector is easy. Having a tight manual control ensures sharp images. From a distance of 5.2-5.5 feet, the projector can offer 100-inch diagonal image. Since it has a vertical offset of around +/- 5 degrees, the projector needs to be positioned somewhat below the screen if installed on a table. If you are going to keep the projector on a table, you can use the folding “foot” on the projector.
This is not being marketed as a gaming projector but it’s a very capable one and input latency can be as low as 17ms depending on the resolution. Helping the cause of gamers is the dual Bluetooth Harman Kardon 6W speakers, which offer room-filling sound. Having Bluetooth in/out capabilities mean you can use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker or output the audio from the projector to your Bluetooth headphones. The integrated speakers are not a replacement for a soundbar but compared to other models, it does a good job.
The remote control has all the required buttons and is sturdy
There is a small kickstand in case you decide to keep the projector on the table
SHOULD YOU BUY IT?
The built-in app store helps but the selection of apps can be improved but you can get around it using Chromecast or Fire Stick. Having vColorTuner support allows you to make picture adjustments by connecting your PC to the service port on the projector via USB. The software can be installed on your PC. When you’re happy with the settings, you can share it with other users.
Overall picture quality is quite good as long as most of the lights in the room are turned down, otherwise, black levels suffer. I also recommend getting a projection screen for the best output. ViewSonic X2 full-HD short-throw projector targets those who are looking for a reasonably-priced allin-one solution.
AT A GLANCE
ViewSonic X2 doesn’t heat up and the speaker set-up is good enough to fill a small room
Device: ViewSonic X2 short-throw projector
Price: Rs 225,000
High notes
- 1080p resolution with HDR10
- Light and easy to install
- vColor Tuner support
- Well-designed remote control
Muffled note
- Gaming input latency can be reduce
