If you happen to’re searching for a high-end ultra-short throw projector, then the Hisense PX4 Professional can challenge a large, high-brightness picture at simply 6 inches from a wall. The PX4 Professional has wonderful shade accuracy, first rate brightness and audio system that make voices straightforward to grasp.
The Hisense performs higher than another DLP-based UST projectors, just like the Xgimi Aura 2 and AWOL Aetherion Professional, however it additionally prices much more. It prices a bit of greater than the Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus, which is even brighter.
Execs & Cons
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Wonderful shade accuracy -
Decently vivid -
Adjustable iris to fine-tune brightness
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Fairly costly -
Fan noise is pretty loud -
Can not disable dynamic distinction engine
So if you need one thing sharper than the Epson and with extra mild than less-expensive USTs, the PX4 Professional is a possible possibility. It can price you, although.
Specs and such
- Decision: 4K
- Lumens: 3,500 (claimed)
- Zoom: No
- Lens shift: No
- Picture tech and light-weight supply sort: DLP, 3 laser
The PX4 Professional is rated at 3,500 lumens. In its most correct mode, which was extraordinarily correct, I measured 1,644. That’s in the identical vary as a lot of the 4K projectors I’ve reviewed in the previous few years. It’s brighter than the 2 different DLP USTs I’ve reviewed, however not as vivid because the LCD-based Epson. If you wish to sacrifice shade accuracy, you’ll be able to bump up the Hisense’s brightness to 2,747 lumens with the pretty inexperienced Brightness Enhancement set to Extremely. Whereas it’s uncommon for any projector to match its brightness specs, and there are numerous methods to measure a projector’s mild output, that’s over 20% off from spec and a bit outdoors regular measurement variations. Not egregiously so, however classifying this as a “3,000 lumen” projector could be extra becoming.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNETDistinction was equally odd. Nicely, not odd as a lot as unimaginable to measure precisely. After I check projectors I measure a small white field after which a black display in a single image mode, and the distinction between the 2 is the distinction ratio. Most projectors have little tips to attempt to enhance that quantity, usually by decreasing the laser energy or closing an iris with darkish pictures. In the event that they do that it’s known as a dynamic distinction ratio and it’s not what you’ll see at any given second. Take, for instance, a shot of two well-lit actors with the evening sky behind them, a projector with an excellent native distinction ratio would have a darkish sky. A projector with a nasty native distinction ratio may dynamically dim the entire scene to make the evening sky much less gray, however make the actors unnecessarily darkish. Native distinction is arguably a very powerful single measurement and tells you numerous about how a projector will look.
The Hisense doesn’t allow you to flip off the light-changing dynamic distinction options, and to be truthful it’s not alone on this. So I used to be unable to get an correct native distinction ratio measurement, regardless of having all these options nicely labeled within the menu. Turning them on or off does nothing to the picture or the measurements. I believe it is a firmware problem. If I trick the projector into pondering there’s a picture on display (i.e. not a totally black picture however one with some mild) it measures someplace below 2,000:1, which is roughly the way it appears to be like when subjectively in comparison with different projectors. That’s plenty of phrases to say, the distinction is ok.
Connections
- HDMI inputs: 4
- USB port: 2
- Audio: eARC, Optical, Bluetooth, 6 audio system (66W complete)
- Web: Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7
- Streaming interface: VIDAA
The PX4 Professional has a beneficiant 4 HDMI inputs, considered one of which has eARC. If you wish to join a streaming system, there’s a USB connection on the again to energy it. It’s good to see a wired Ethernet connection in case you need to take a few of the pressure off your Wi-Fi or guarantee much less buffering if the projector isn’t near your router.
The Hisense has six speaker drivers with 66 watts of complete energy. Hisense describes this as a 4.0.2 setup, implying 4 audio system and two subwoofers. I didn’t see any drivers onboard that I’d even charitably name a “subwoofer” however that description is pretty widespread for smaller units. General sound is first rate, with extra midrange than is de facto impartial, however prioritizing the vocal vary is sensible for a product like this.
It could possibly play loud sufficient to fill a midsized room, however there isn’t a lot bass. A number of sound modes can change which frequencies are boosted, although all nonetheless have further midrange. There’s sufficient treble for prime frequencies to sound sufficiently clear. If you happen to actually need to positive tune it, there’s even a seven-band EQ, although don’t anticipate miracles out of small drivers in a small field with solely 66W.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNETHisense’s personal VIDAA OS is a rarity within the projector world, the place almost all the things runs on Google. It’s… positive. You may get all the main streaming providers and possibly a lot of the minor ones. If you happen to frequently watch one thing that’s not usually US-mainstream (non-English programming, and so forth), it’s value checking if it’s out there on VIDAA before you purchase. Or you’ll be able to simply use a streaming system.
The PX4 Professional, like all UST projectors, is usually a problem to arrange in comparison with conventional projectors. They have to be a exact distance away from, and under, the display. Variations of fractions of an inch can lead to big form and dimension points with the projected picture. You possibly can use keystone correction, however that reduces picture high quality and exacerbates mild spill points. It’s essential to make use of the setup or set up directions to know precisely the place you should place the projector for it to work appropriately.
Image high quality comparisons
Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus
The Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus is a big, LCD-based UST with a instructed retail worth that’s near the PX4 Professional. It’s bulkier, and fewer aesthetically pleasing to my eye, however has some severe total efficiency. I linked them each to the identical supply by way of a distribution amplifier and watched them side-by-side on a 1.0-gain display. Like all UST projectors you need to completely get a devoted, CLR or ALR display. I’ve seen each of those projectors extensively on an ALR display, however for measurement consistency and ease of testing setup, I used a standard display right here.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNETNot surprisingly, each these projectors are fairly vivid. The Epson is likely one of the brightest projectors I’ve ever examined, however the Hisense additionally held its personal. They had been pretty related when it got here to distinction. The Hisense’s blacks had been a bit of decrease, however that was at the least partially as a consequence of simply being a bit of dimmer total. The Epson measured 1,420:1 and I believe the Hisense was increased than that and nearer to the 2 DLP USTs I reviewed a couple of months in the past. Each the Hisense and Epson carried out nicely, although inferior to the most effective conventional projectors.
Shade might be the largest distinction between the 2. As I discussed earlier, the Hisense has a few of the most correct colours I’ve measured in latest reminiscence and a really pure picture usually. The Epson, nevertheless, is able to a higher vary of colours, so HDR content material appears to be like extra vibrant. Pores and skin tones on the Epson look more healthy, and there was simply extra “wow” to the Epson’s HDR colours.
The subsequent-biggest distinction is sharpness. DLP simply tends to look extra detailed than LCD, and that was noticeable right here. Wrinkles, hairs, textures, all simply regarded extra noticeable on the Hisense in comparison with the softer Epson. By itself, the Epson doesn’t look tender, however the DLP system used within the PX4 Professional provides it an edge.
Geoffrey Morrison/CNETWhereas I didn’t examine them side-by-side, the Xgimi Aura 2 is value mentioning. It’s not as vivid at 1,200 lumens, and its shade isn’t as correct, however it’s considerably cheaper. As of this writing it’s $1,700, or simply 42% of the PX4 Professional. Subjectively, it’s in all probability 85% of the efficiency.
Hello-cents, am I proper?
The PX4 Professional has an aesthetic, understated design, first rate audio system and unbelievable shade accuracy. It’s pretty vivid with OK distinction. The primary problem is the worth. The Epson Lifestudio Grand Plus is brighter and extra colourful, and to the attention the distinction ratio is pretty shut. The Hisense is certainly sharper, however that’s much less of a difficulty because it appears given the opposite elements. The retail worth on the Epson is barely lower than the PX4 Professional, however it’s frequently on sale for much much less. If the Hisense price below $3,000 then perhaps I may say it was a pricey-but-interesting improve in comparison with the Xgimi Aura 2 and AWOL Aetherion Professional, however as is the efficiency doesn’t justify the worth.
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