Dangbei Mars Professional 2 overview: Massive and shiny

I liked Dangbei’s small Atom projector — giving it a close to excellent overview because the tiny however mighty system efficiently supplied sharp, shiny, 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.

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 overview.

Dangbei DBOX02

Beneficial

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, notably from XGIMI and Anker.  

Professionals

• Vivid, colourful picture
• Premium design
• Google TV

Cons

• Half-baked software program options
• Not the most effective audio system
• Very massive

Worth, availability and specs

The Dangbei DBOX2 is accessible 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 area inside for audio system, however the DBOX02 is a big system.

Completed in steel all throughout and in matte black, it appears to be like good, and has an ample number of ports on the rear. I used to be additionally despatched a stand with my overview unit and extremely suggest it because it helps with a number of viewing angles and steadiness.

The scale and weight turn out to be a bit of little bit of a problem in terms of simply positioning the system. Once more, not an issue if in case you have a stand. If, nevertheless you might be shopping for this as a primary projector, do not anticipate it to be simple to maneuver and reposition. It is actually supposed to take a seat 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 linked simply and labored rapidly and precisely.

What I favored concerning the Dangbei Mars Professional 2

Vivid, daring and delightful

Shifting to image high quality, to start out, it is a laser projector which crucially signifies that it’s shiny. That stated, after I stared straight at it I assumed my eyeballs may soften. In practically all situations, other than a shiny sunny day, it was ample to make use of indoors with the curtains open. It will probably attain as much as 2450 ISO lumens of brightness, which is spectacular, although I would take this with a bit of 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 normal 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 bit of. Regardless, in the actual world and away from geeky numbers, it is a shiny 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 finest, however in the event you like essentially the most element you’ll be able to moderately get, it is a good choice. 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 a complete, the image high quality provided right here is superb for the worth.

Moreover, the projector gives HDR10 compatibility, that means that supported content material is further shiny and clear, and properly 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 had been introduced properly to life whereas the audio system saved up with the daft vocals with no problem.

Full fats Google TV with most of your favourite apps

Google TV

Ease of use

Excessive

Good assistants

Google Assistant

Advert presence

Average

App availability

Very vast

Notable options

AI-curated content material; Chromecast built-in

Shifting onto software program, the image is equally optimistic with some massive caveats. Relatively than run its personal customized Android pores and skin because it has performed at instances 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 a straightforward course of, and upon getting it, supplied you employ your Google account to log in, rapidly 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 concerning 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 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 choosing a single software program choice. In a single case choosing ‘3D projection’ merely brought on 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 strong stability.

One other problem was app availvility. So, whereas Google TV provides vast entry to just about any service in existence, there is not any assure that they’re going to be capable to 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 at the beginning. Accessing a operate like keystoning, one thing you will be doing commonly in the event 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 crucial.

Perhaps too massive?

Whereas the DBOX02 is a premium projector and sized accordingly, it is rather, very massive. You will not need to transfer it round the home, as soon as you’ve got chosen a place it can probably stay stationary. For that purpose, 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 in your residing state of affairs.

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Regardless of the dimensions, the audio system fail to make a lot of an impression. Whereas bass is highly effective, mids and trebles are inclined to turn out to be drowned considerably in motion pictures, that means that speech may be more durable to listen to than may in any other case be anticipated. That is once more not good given the worth level.

Ought to I purchase the Dangbei DBOX02?

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

The true query is whether or not you want it. There are projectors which have related 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 could be greater than many discover they really need.

Dangbei DBOX02

Beneficial

Furthermore, it is also massive 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 moveable, and it makes no pretense of being both.

There is a purpose it has a bit of 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 an honest job of bringing a bit of stereo sound to your setup. Final however not least, there’s Google TV integration too, that means your entire favourite apps are current and proper, the interface is simple to navigate and discovering your favourite motion pictures and TV reveals is a cinch.