Dangbei Mars Review: Bright laser projector worthy of attention!
Introducing the Dangbei Mars, a Full HD laser projector designed to provide an immersive cinematic experience without breaking the bank. While more affordable than its counterpart, the Mars Pro, Dangbei Mars doesn’t compromise on performance, boasting a powerful laser light source that ensures vivid and vibrant visuals for your entertainment needs. With features like auto focus, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance, this projector promises ease of use and convenience for users.
The Dangbei Mars comes pre-loaded with several well-known apps, including native Netflix support, providing users with instant access to their favorite streaming content.
Despite its Full HD resolution, Dangbei Mars remains a good option for users who prefer a powerful laser light source and seamless integration of popular streaming apps for an enjoyable movie experience.
Dangbei Mars: Video Review
| Specs | Dangbei Mars |
| Native resolution | 1080P (1920x1080 FHD) |
| Supported Formats | HDR 10, HLG |
| Brightness | 2100 ISO Lumens |
| Speaker | 2 x 10W, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus |
| Noise | 24 dB |
| Light source | ALPD |
| Lamp life | 30000 Hours |
| Image Size | 60"~180" |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0/BLE |
| WiFi | 2.4G/5G , 2T2R,802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Connectivity | USB2.0, HDMI IN, SPDIF out, RJ45, DC-IN |
| Content | Official License from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, etc |
| Keystone Correction | Auto |
| Focus | Auto |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 20.9 x 17.3 cm |
| Weight | 4.5 kg |
Design
The Dangbei Mars is a well-built and feature-rich Full HD laser projector that is more suited for home theater use rather than travel, mainly due to its dimensions and weight. Measuring at 24.6 x 20.9 x 17.3 cm and weighing approximately 4.5 kg, it might not be the most portable option, but its solid build quality ensures durability and reliability.
Despite being encased in plastic, the overall build quality remains high, providing a sturdy feel to the projector. The lack of adjustable feet may not be a concern, thanks to its substantial weight, which helps keep the projector stable during use.
On the top of the projector, there is a touch button for turning it on, simplifying the operation.
The left side of the projector is equipped with sensors that enable automatic image adaptation to the projection surface, ensuring a horizontally aligned image with minimal keystone distortion.
In terms of connectivity, the Mars provides a range of ports, including two HDMI 1.4 inputs (one of which supports ARC), two USB 2.0 ports, an analog mini-jack audio output, an optical digital audio output (SPDIF), and an Ethernet port for wired connectivity. However, it lacks a 12V switch for automatic deployment of a mechanical shield, which might be available in other higher-end models. Nevertheless, the inclusion of Wi-Fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 5.0 allows for wireless connections and easy pairing with compatible devices.
The projector is designed with flexibility in mounting options, featuring a standard mounting hole at the bottom for ceiling or tripod mounting.
The projector incorporates two good quality 10W speakers, offering decent built-in sound for casual use. While dedicated external audio systems may still offer a better audio experience for a home theater setup, the built-in speakers provide a convenient solution for users who don’t want additional audio equipment.
Specifications
The Dangbei Mars projector employs a 0.47-inch DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) DLP chip manufactured by Texas Instruments, supporting native Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This DLP chip, in combination with the laser light source, delivers a claimed brightness of 2100 lumens. The laser technology utilizes a high brightness UHP lamp, ensuring vibrant and well-lit visuals, while also boasting an impressive LED life of 30,000 hours.
Under the hood, the projector is powered by a quad-core ARM processor, combined with 1GB of DDR4 RAM and 8GB of storage space. While this configuration might not match the performance of higher-end projectors, it is sufficient for smooth operation and handling of multimedia applications, including Full HD video playback from the integrated Netflix app.
For its operating system, the Dangbei Mars relies on a Linux-based OS, developed by the manufacturer Dangbei. Despite the Linux foundation, users interact with a user-friendly and visually appealing interface, where they can easily access factory-installed apps like Netflix and YouTube. The inclusion of these popular apps right from the start enhances the user experience and ensures immediate access to a wide range of content.
One of the standout features of the Dangbei is its front camera and Time of Flight (ToF) sensor. These components play a crucial role in facilitating automatic focusing, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance. The camera and sensor work together to automatically adjust the focus and keystone distortion when the projector is moved or placed off-axis. Furthermore, the system can resize the projected image to avoid any obstacles present in its path. This capability makes it extremely convenient for users to set up the projector in various environments without compromising image quality or experiencing any obstruction issues. However, it’s worth noting that the performance of this system may not be as precise and sharp as the higher-end Ultra HD models.
The audio system of the Dangbei Mars includes two 10W speakers, providing a decent built-in sound experience for day-to-day use. While external audio solutions might still offer superior sound quality for a full-fledged home theater setup, the built-in speakers are suitable for general multimedia consumption.
Additionally, the projector supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, enabling seamless wireless communication with other devices.
Image quality
The Dangbei Mars projector utilizes a combination of DLP projection technology and a laser light unit to maximize Full HD content resolution and achieve a remarkable maximum brightness of 2100 ANSI Lumens. This powerful laser-driven brightness ensures that the projected content remains clear and vivid even in well-lit environments. The projector is also HDR-10 certified, enabling it to deliver enhanced contrast and color performance, providing a more immersive viewing experience.
One of the standout features of the Dangbei Mars is its smart auto-lock technology, which incorporates a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor and a camera. This innovative technology allows the projector to automatically lock onto the projection surface, detecting patterns and rectangles on the wall. With this data, the projector can quickly adjust its focus and keystone correction settings for optimal image alignment. This process is highly convenient for users as it eliminates the need for manual adjustments, ensuring a hassle-free setup and a perfectly aligned image.
The projector features fixed optics with an aspect ratio of 1.27:1, and its autofocus capabilities enable a focal length ranging from 60 inches (approximately 1.52 meters) to an impressive 180 inches (around 4.5 meters). This flexibility allows users to adjust the projected image size according to their preferences and available space, making it suitable for a wide range of room sizes and viewing distances.
The high brightness of 2100 ANSI Lumens provides outstanding visibility even in bright ambient lighting conditions. During the test period, the projector demonstrated its ability to maintain excellent contrast and picture quality when used in a well-lit room or under direct sunlight. This feature ensures that users can enjoy the projector’s capabilities even during the daytime, making it a versatile option for various viewing scenarios.
While the projector excels in brightness and image quality, it’s worth noting that DLP technology does have some limitations. For instance, the Dangbei Mars lacks optical zoom, a feature found in some other projectors. Instead, it offers digital zoom, which allows users to reduce the displayed image size but comes at the expense of resolution. While digital zoom can be useful in certain situations, it may not be ideal for maintaining the highest image quality when enlarging the projection.
Overall, the Dangbei Mars impresses with its powerful brightness, HDR-10 certification, and smart auto-lock technology using the ToF sensor and camera. The convenience of automatic focus and keystone correction adjustments ensures a user-friendly experience without compromising on picture quality. Whether used in a dark home theater environment or a well-lit living room, the Dangbei Mars proves to be a reliable and versatile projector for various entertainment setups.
Noise level
The Dangbei Mars projector is not only impressive in terms of its image quality and smart features but also stands out for its exceptional stealthy operation. Even with the sound turned off, the projector’s fans remain barely audible, making for an undisturbed and enjoyable viewing experience.
The projector’s ability to maintain such low noise levels is attributed to its well-designed chassis, which allows for the installation of larger fans that can spin at lower speeds.
In our tests, we found that the noise level remained constant even when the projector’s backlight power was reduced. The measured noise level was an 34dB, demonstrating just how discreet and unobtrusive the projector’s operation is. This whisper-quiet performance ensures that viewers can fully immerse themselves in the content without any distracting background noise.
Dangbei Mars: Conclusion
The Dangbei Mars is an Full HD laser projector that offers a combination of smart features, excellent image quality, and convenient auto-lock technology. With its DLP projection technology and powerful laser light source, it delivers a native Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a maximum brightness of 2100 ANSI Lumens. The projector’s HDR-10 certification further enhances the visual experience, ensuring vibrant colors and deep contrasts.
One of the features of the Dangbei Mars is its smart auto-lock technology, utilizing a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor and camera to automatically adjust focus and keystone correction settings.
While the Dangbei Mars boasts a user-friendly Linux-based operating system with pre-installed apps like Netflix and YouTube, it may not have an extensive app selection, which could be a drawback for some users. Additionally, the lack of optical zoom might limit flexibility in positioning the projector, and the Full HD resolution may not satisfy users seeking higher resolution options.
Overall, the Dangbei Mars is a compelling choice for a home theater setup, offering impressive image quality, smart features, and a discreet operation. However, it may not be the ideal option for those seeking portability or looking for the highest resolution available in the market. Before making a purchase decision, potential buyers should consider their specific needs and preferences to ensure the Dangbei Mars aligns with their home entertainment requirements.
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