Dangbei Mars Professional 2 evaluate: Huge and brilliant

I cherished Dangbei’s small Atom projector — giving it a close to good evaluate because the tiny however mighty gadget efficiently supplied sharp, brilliant, and colourful photographs 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.

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This Dangbei projector gave me an in-home theater experience for under $1K

The Dangbei Atom is a petite projector with Google TV built-in, loads of lumens, and highly effective sound. Particularly at $899, I am impressed.

So, with summer season across the nook and eager 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

Really useful

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

Professionals

• Brilliant, colourful picture
• Premium design
• Google TV

Cons

• Half-baked software program options
• Not one of the best audio system
• Very massive

Worth, availability and specs

The Dangbei DBOX2 is on the market now for costs beginning at $1499.99, direct from Amazon, and it is solely provided in black.

From the beginning, when unboxing the DBOX02, I used to be abundantly conscious of 1 factor: its measurement. Now measurement 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 steel all throughout and in matte black, it appears good, and has an ample number 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 dimensions and weight turn out to be a little bit little bit of a difficulty in the case of simply positioning the gadget. Once more, not an issue when you have a stand. If, nonetheless you’re shopping for this as a primary projector, do not anticipate it to be straightforward to maneuver and reposition. It is actually meant to sit down in a single spot, or on a tripod.

That apart, this can be a elegant and effectively 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 related simply and labored shortly and precisely.

What I appreciated in regards to the Dangbei Mars Professional 2

Brilliant, daring and delightful

Transferring to image high quality, to begin, this can be a laser projector which crucially signifies that it’s brilliant. That stated, after I stared instantly at it I assumed my eyeballs may soften. In practically all circumstances, other than a brilliant sunny day, it was adequate to make use of indoors with the curtains open. It could possibly attain as much as 2450 ISO lumens of brightness, which is spectacular, although I might take this with a little 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 trade customary measure is ANSI, whereas ISO is lesser recognized. One ISO lumen equals roughly 0.8 ANSI lumens, so 2450 ISO lumens interprets to 1960 ANSI lumens, much less horny however nonetheless spectacular. Dangbei has additionally been in a bit of hot water over allegedly cooking its figures a little bit. Regardless, in the true world and away from geeky numbers, this can be a brilliant projector.

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And oh boy, is it sharp too. From 80 inches as much as its full projection width, content material appeared very crisp and naturally detailed. In fact 4K video appeared greatest, however should you like essentially the most element you possibly can moderately get, this can be a good possibility. The colours too, true to normal lazer efficiency, are nice. They’re saturated and nice with out being overbearing and there’s barely any noise within the shadows. As an entire, the image high quality provided right here is great for the value.

Moreover, the projector supplies HDR10 compatibility, which means that supported content material is additional brilliant and clear, and effectively price utilizing the place it is out there.

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

Full fats Google TV with most of your favourite apps

Google TV

Ease of use

Excessive

Sensible assistants

Google Assistant

Advert presence

Average

App availability

Very broad

Notable options

AI-curated content material; Chromecast built-in

Transferring onto software program, the image is equally constructive with some giant caveats. Relatively than run its personal customized Android pores and skin because it has performed at occasions previously, Dangbei has loaded up the DBOX02 with Google TV.

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Which means entry to the Play Retailer and practically any streaming app you possibly can consider. Downloading an app is an easy course of, and upon getting it, supplied you utilize your Google account to log in, shortly accessing every app turns into a straightforward ask. Moreover, the projector has Netflix out there and absolutely licensed which is, one thing which might’t be stated for among the competitors.

What I did not like in regards to 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 might be nonetheless a big downside.

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

One other concern was app availvility. So, whereas Google TV provides broad entry to just about any service in existence, there isn’t 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 before everything. Accessing a perform like keystoning, one thing you may be doing frequently should you change your projection floor, requires a comparatively deep dive into system settings with a purpose to entry it, which is certainly extra difficult than obligatory.

Possibly too massive?

Whereas the DBOX02 is a premium projector and sized accordingly, it is extremely, very massive. You will not need to transfer it round the home, as soon as you have chosen a place it’ll possible stay stationary. For that cause, if you’re shopping for this both as a primary projector or a primary premium projector, the problem is then of whether or not it could be merely too a lot to your residing 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 likely to turn out to be drowned considerably in motion pictures, which means that speech might be more durable to listen to than may in any other case be anticipated. That is once more not sensible given the value level.

Ought to I purchase the Dangbei DBOX02?

If you need a robust, premium possibility that works effectively, has unbelievable image high quality and which has a straightforward interface, the DBOX02 is a superb possibility.

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

Dangbei DBOX02

Really useful

Furthermore, it is also giant and heavy. In case you are a primary time projector purchaser or need one thing you possibly can 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 cause it has a little 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 motion pictures sing. The included audio system do a good job of bringing a little bit stereo sound to your setup. Final however not least, there’s Google TV integration too, which means your whole favourite apps are current and proper, the interface is simple to navigate and discovering your favourite motion pictures and TV reveals is a cinch.