Dangbei Mars Professional 2 evaluation: Huge and vibrant

I cherished Dangbei’s small Atom projector — giving it a close to excellent evaluation because the tiny however mighty machine efficiently supplied sharp, vibrant, and colourful pictures at a sub-$1K value level. Nonetheless 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 eager to curate outdoor movie nights, I have been trying to find the perfect 4K projector and determined to check Dangbei’s larger, costlier, flagship mannequin: the DBOXO2 — additionally dubbed the Mars Professional 2.

Learn on for my full evaluation.

Dangbei DBOX02

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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, beauty and versatile efficiency for a value that undercuts among the competitors, notably from XGIMI and Anker.  

Execs

• Shiny, colourful picture
• Premium design
• Google TV

Cons

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

Value, availability and specs

The Dangbei DBOX2 is offered 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 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 machine.

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

The scale and weight grow to be a little bit little bit of a problem on the subject of simply positioning the machine. Once more, not an issue in case you have a stand. If, nevertheless 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 meant to sit down in a single spot, or on a tripod.

That apart, it is a stylish and properly 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 rapidly and precisely.

What I favored in regards to the Dangbei Mars Professional 2

Shiny, daring and delightful

Shifting to image high quality, to start out, it is a laser projector which crucially signifies that it’s vibrant. That stated, after I stared immediately at it I assumed my eyeballs may soften. In practically all circumstances, aside from a vibrant sunny day, it was enough 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 completely different locations have completely different takes on how they work.

The business customary 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 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, it is 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 greatest, however if you happen to like probably the most element you’ll be able to moderately get, it is 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 great for the worth.

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

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

Full fats Google TV with most of your favourite apps

Google TV

Ease of use

Excessive

Good assistants

Google Assistant

Advert presence

Reasonable

App availability

Very huge

Notable options

AI-curated content material; Chromecast built-in

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

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Meaning entry to the Play Retailer and practically any streaming app you’ll be able to consider. Downloading an app is an easy course of, and after getting it, supplied you utilize your Google account to log in, rapidly accessing every app turns into a straightforward ask. Moreover, the projector has Netflix obtainable and totally 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 achieved projector by most metrics, it has some primarily software-based flaws which can be nonetheless a major drawback.

First of those is software program reliability. I used to be capable of outright crash the projector on events by choosing a single software program choice. In a single case choosing ‘3D projection’ merely triggered the display 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 challenge was app availvility. So, whereas Google TV provides huge entry to almost any service in existence, there isn’t any assure that they’re going to be capable of set up on the projector.

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Then there’s accessing projector options. The clue is within the title, Google TV is designed for TVs at first. Accessing a operate like keystoning, one thing you may be doing frequently if you happen to change your projection floor, requires a comparatively deep dive into system settings to be able to entry it, which is certainly extra sophisticated than mandatory.

Possibly too huge?

Whereas the DBOX02 is a premium projector and sized accordingly, it is vitally, very huge. You will not wish to transfer it round the home, as soon as you’ve got chosen a place it is going to seemingly stay stationary. For that cause, in case you are shopping for this both as a primary projector or a primary premium projector, the problem is then of whether or not it may be merely too a lot on your dwelling state of affairs.

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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 grow to be drowned considerably in films, which means that speech could be more durable to listen to than may in any other case be anticipated. That is once more not sensible given the worth level.

Ought to I purchase the Dangbei DBOX02?

If you’d like a robust, premium choice that works properly, has implausible image high quality and which has a straightforward interface, the DBOX02 is a wonderful choice.

The actual 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 practically $2K it’s approaching luxurious territory, and it may be greater than many discover they really need.

Dangbei DBOX02

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Furthermore, it is also giant and heavy. If you’re a primary time projector purchaser or need one thing you’ll be able to 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 films sing. The included audio system do an honest job of bringing a little bit stereo sound to your setup. Final however not least, there’s Google TV integration too, which means your entire favourite apps are current and proper, the interface is simple to navigate and discovering your favourite films and TV reveals is a cinch.