The Xgimi Horizon S Max ($1,899.99) presents all the correct options for a 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) room-to-room moveable projector, together with a higher-than-typical most rated brightness of three,100 ISO lumens, Dolby Imaginative and prescient (essentially the most refined present model of HDR), and even IMAX Enhanced assist. Nevertheless, our checks present it handles streaming SDR much better than HDR motion pictures on disc, and general picture brightness is far larger for SDR than HDR. You probably have a library of HDR discs readily available, or need to watch HDR materials in a room with lights on, you will doubtless be higher off with the Editors’ Alternative-winning Hisense C1—or doubtlessly the Hisense C2, which we’ll be reviewing shortly. However the Horizon S Max is properly price contemplating for those who primarily stream your motion pictures and do not thoughts turning down the lights for HDR.
Design: Progressive Mild Supply Offers You Choices
As with all 4K room-to-room portables at the moment, the Horizon S Max is constructed round a solid-state gentle supply paired with a DLP chip, or extra exactly, a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel chip that makes use of TI fast-switch pixel shifting to ship 3,840 by 2,160 pixels to the display.
The fascinating variation on this case is the solid-state gentle supply, Xgimi’s Twin Mild 2.0. The sunshine supply, which has a reasonably typical rated lifetime of 20,000 hours, qualifies as “twin” in two methods. First, it makes use of each lasers and LEDs. And second, you possibly can set it to make use of lasers solely or use each lasers and LEDs collectively. The three lasers by themselves present a primary crimson, inexperienced, and blue gentle supply, with each the benefits and drawbacks triple-laser designs are recognized for. The important thing benefit is a large coloration gamut (vary of colours), rated at 110% of BT.2020, the usual for 4K UHD TVs. The important thing disadvantages are laser speckle and the tendency to point out fringe colours round white areas, together with textual content in film credit.
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In keeping with Xgimi, utilizing the twin gentle mode so as to add the LEDs removes each points (which I am unable to vouch for since I have a tendency to not see both one). Nevertheless, be aware that including the LEDs additionally boosts brightness sufficient to note, which it’s your decision for HDR materials specifically. (Extra on that later.) Including the LEDs additionally narrows the gamut to ship barely much less vivid however extra correct coloration. (Extra on this later additionally.) Xgimi recommends attempting the sunshine supply each methods and selecting the one you want higher.
The Horizon S Max weighs 10.6 kilos, together with its gimbal mount—a comfort we first noticed on the JMGO N1 Extremely that has since been broadly copied for room-to-room moveable projectors. The mount reduces the time it takes to level the projector at no matter you are utilizing for a display to just some seconds. Xgimi’s model pivots horizontally by 360 levels and vertically by 135 levels, for a tilt starting from 45 levels all the way down to 90 levels up, to mission on the ceiling.
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The projector’s measurements, together with the mount, are 9.2 by 10.7 by 6.9 inches (HWD), with the projector pointed straight forward.
The preliminary setup consists of plugging within the energy wire, turning the projector on, and working by the usual Android TV setup routine, which connects by Wi-Fi solely. Sadly, the built-in streaming lacks a licensed Netflix app. You’ll be able to add a third-party dongle that features one and energy it utilizing one of many two USB ports. However with just one HDMI port, you possibly can’t plug in each a dongle and one other video supply—a set-top field, for instance—on the similar time. If you wish to arrange the projector roughly completely, you would be frequently switching cables except you add an exterior HDMI swap.
Xgimi supplies all the automated adjustment options you may need for fast setup after transferring the projector, together with autofocus, auto keystone, display match, and impediment avoidance (to regulate picture measurement to keep away from projecting on gentle switches and the like). I attempted most of those in my checks, they usually all labored as promised to ship a right-sized, sharp picture each time. Other than autofocus, we normally advise in opposition to utilizing these options, as a result of digital changes decrease brightness and may introduce artifacts in some photos. Nevertheless, it is arduous to keep away from needing them for those who’re making the most of the gimbal mount to goal the projector. It is also arduous to beat the mix of gimbal mount and automated changes for simple setup.
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Based mostly on the Society of Movement Image and Tv Engineers (SMPTE) suggestions, the rated 3,100 ISO lumen brightness must be sufficient to fill a 255-inch, 1.0-gain display in a darkish room. According to that, even with the lower-than-maximum brightness when utilizing my most popular settings for finest SDR image high quality, the picture was far too vivid for snug viewing on a 90-inch display in a darkish room. I wanted to drop the ability setting from the default 10 (of settings 1 by 10) to 7. Sadly, even the ten setting didn’t did ship wherever close to as vivid an image for HDR enter.
Observe that the projector additionally has a ten+ enhance mode that Xgimi says can have an effect on coloration accuracy. Nevertheless, most individuals will discover it acceptable in the event that they want the enhance in a vivid room. The Horizon S Max additionally presents a fair brighter Excessive Energy SDR image mode, nevertheless it provides an apparent inexperienced bias and will increase fan noise to a degree that few, if any, will contemplate tolerable in most circumstances.
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The Harman/Kardon audio system, with its two 12-watt audio system, delivers quantity excessive sufficient to fill a big household room and adequate high quality that you just won’t need to hassle with an exterior sound system. Its certifications embrace DTS-Digital:X, DTS-HD, Dolby Audio with Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus. If you would like to attach an exterior sound system, the one connection choices are Bluetooth or the one HDMI port, which additionally helps eArc. And since just one HDMI port exists, you possibly can’t use it for audio output concurrently you are utilizing an HDMI video supply, together with a streaming dongle. Observe additionally that to make use of the projector as a Bluetooth speaker, you possibly can merely join an audio supply utilizing Bluetooth and choose Show Off.
Testing the Xgimi Horizon S Max: Combined Outcomes for HDR
The Image Settings menu presents a Image Mode menu with seven decisions that work with each SDR and HDR10 enter and a separate menu for Dolby Imaginative and prescient with three decisions. Different choices embrace IMAX Enhanced mode (which you’ll be able to set to Auto or Off) and a Skilled Colour Mode, which, in my checks, improved coloration high quality sufficient to note however not by sufficient to make any distinction. Xgimi says the rationale the mode is non-compulsory and off by default is that the corporate’s analysis confirmed that almost all potential prospects want the additional vibrancy of oversaturated coloration as an alternative of extra correct coloration.
My preliminary testing turned up some key choices price experimenting with. Particularly you will need to discover a energy setting that provides you a cushty picture brightness for prolonged viewing, and likewise select between the 2 settings for the sunshine supply. For viewing in a darkish room, I picked totally different energy ranges for SDR and HDR (manually altering them once I switched forwards and backwards). I selected the twin gentle mode for the sunshine supply as a result of HDR enter wanted the upper brightness, and altering two settings each time I switched between enter sorts felt like an excessive amount of of a chore. I additionally turned off body interpolation, which added an apparent digital video impact (making filmed materials seem like reside video) even on the lowest setting.
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For my SDR viewing checks, I selected Customized mode, the one one with brightness, distinction, and gamma settings. Each predefined mode misplaced vital shadow element within the darkest scenes in our check clips. Elevating the Customized mode brightness only a contact improved the shadow element considerably with little impact on the black degree and with out washing out brighter scenes. After these changes, the Horizon S Max delivered good distinction, coloration accuracy, and picture brightness for SDR, plus adequate shadow element to simply make out what was occurring in our darkest check clips.
Even with the upper energy setting I used for HDR10, motion pictures on disc have been darker general than they need to be, notably for scenes dominated by midtones. For motion pictures we check in each SDR and HDR variations, I couldn’t discover a setting for HDR that improved shadow element with out elevating the black degree sufficient to trigger different points.
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Each general brightness and shadow element for HDR10 appeared a lot better when streaming, however with out viewing the identical motion pictures that we use in our formal checks utilizing motion pictures on disc, it is unimaginable to make a direct comparability. I used to be capable of finding one in all our commonplace check motion pictures to stream utilizing Dolby Imaginative and prescient, nevertheless. It supplied definitively higher shadow element than the HDR10 model on disc, and though the picture brightness on a 90-inch-diagonal display in a darkish room was somewhat decrease than I want, it was excessive sufficient for snug viewing. A lot the identical remark applies to the IMAX Enhanced mode. Additionally, for each modes, including ambient gentle at a degree equal to turning on the lights in a household room at night time left the image watchable however a bit washed out.
Additionally be aware that simply because a streaming service presents IMAX Enhanced motion pictures, doesn’t suggest it essentially helps IMAX’s Digital Media Remastering (DMR), which mechanically adjusts picture high quality. For IMAX Enhanced motion pictures on Prime Video, which helps DMR, the IMAX Enhanced mode on the projector managed just about all picture settings and would not let me change them. For IMAX Enhanced motion pictures on Disney+, the projector negotiated a Dolby Imaginative and prescient connection.
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Rainbow artifacts (crimson/inexperienced/blue flashes that single chip projectors have a tendency to point out) are extra apparent than with many present DLP projectors, however in testing I did not see them as typically as with another projectors. In case you’re involved concerning the problem, be aware that Xgimi has a 30-day return coverage for any purpose, with delivery lined (assuming you obtain the unit from Xgimi or a licensed seller). That must be greater than sufficient time to check out the projector for your self.
The Horizon S Max helps full HD 3D in side-by-side and top-bottom codecs solely, utilizing DLP-Hyperlink glasses, and just one 3D mode. In my checks, 3D-related movement artifacts have been much less apparent than typical for present projectors, and I did not see any crosstalk. Nevertheless, 3D doesn’t work with Recreation Mode.
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By default, the Recreation Mode is about to Auto, which activates auto low latency mode (ALLM), however you may also activate both of two low latency modes manually—one which helps picture geometry correction and one that does not. Utilizing a Bodnar 4K lag tester and a 60Hz refresh fee, I measured the primary at 34.9 milliseconds (ms) for 4K and 35.2ms for 1080p. The ultra-low-latency mode dropped the lag by nearly half, to 18.1ms for 4K and 18.2ms for 1080p.
Verdict: Finest to Restrict HDR Viewing to a Darkish Room
The Xgimi Horizon S Max checks all the correct containers on a function chart, however though the excessive rated brightness pays off for SDR materials, it would not translate to equally excessive picture brightness for HDR. As potential alternate options, ensure to check out the Hisense C1 and JMGO N1 Extremely, and take a look at our upcoming critiques of the newer Hisense C2 Extremely and JMGO N1S Final. At this writing, we hadn’t examined both, however we anticipate that every will construct on the strengths of its predecessor.
Neither the C1 nor the N1 Extremely presents as excessive a brightness score because the Horizon S Max, however each delivered brighter HDR photos in our checks that stood up higher to ambient gentle, and each did higher than the Horizon S Max at holding shadow element. Between them, the N1 has the benefit of simple setup, due to its gimbal mount, whereas the C1 presents higher HDR picture high quality general, thanks partly to its Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist. Neither presents IMAX Enhanced assist, which is without doubt one of the Horizon S Max’s sturdy factors.
The issue that the Horizon S Max has with HDR10 materials on disc makes it the incorrect selection when you have a library of HDR discs you need to watch, and its comparatively low picture brightness for HDR makes it a poor selection for brightly lit rooms. But when it is vivid sufficient for the picture measurement you want within the degree of room gentle you need to use it in, it may work properly. Its high-quality picture throughout the board for streaming, together with for IMAX Enhanced materials, could make it the correct projector when you have the correct room.
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The Backside Line
The Xgimi Horizon S Max projector’s IMAX Enhanced certification has the potential to degree up your private home theater, however this mannequin’s picture high quality and brightness could possibly be higher.
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