8.1/ 10 SCORE Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 Pros
Plenty of sunshine
Chrome ribs affords a singular look
Cons
Color accuracy is pretty poor
Chrome end is not for everybody
Valerion VisionMaster Pro2 has a mirrored, “chrome” aesthetic that appears like somebody crushed a 1958 Buick right into a dice. Then, they one way or the other managed to suit three multigigawatt (not likely) lasers inside it, leading to an impressively shiny picture. Like many of the finest projectors, it additionally has Android TV for streaming, in addition to HDMI connections for units similar to recreation consoles and cable and satellite tv for pc packing containers. There’s even a powerful zoom management.Performance, nevertheless, is considerably combined. The projector is exceptionally shiny, and its distinction is effectively above common, however that is offset by mediocre coloration accuracy. So whereas it holds its personal in opposition to different higher-end 4K projectors, it does not fairly stand out. That is, except you actually like chrome.Specs and suchResolution: 4KHDR-compatible: YesLumens spec: 3,000Zoom: 0.9-1.5Lens shift: NoMild supply kind and claimed lifespan: At least 25,000 hoursThe VisionMaster Pro2 is a 4K projector with RGB lasers and Android TV. Despite its compact — although boxy — measurement, it has a powerful optical zoom. Disappointingly, there aren’t any zoom vary presets. This implies that in case you have a 2.35:1 display screen, you will must manually zoom out to fill it whenever you watch motion pictures with that facet ratio. Not an enormous deal, however presets could be good. Geoffrey Morrison/CNETThe Pro2 is rated at 3,000 lumens. I measured a powerful 2,301 in its most correct mode and an eye-watering 3,206 in its far much less correct (and inexperienced) Vivid mode with Brightness Enhancer on. This makes it one of many few projectors I’ve measured that truly beats its personal brightness spec. It’s additionally the second-brightest projector I’ve measured, after the Anker Nebula X1.Determining the projector’s native distinction ratio proved unnecessarily difficult because it mechanically dims the lasers when it detects a full black, 0 IRE sign. The brightness settings within the image menu that appeared to disable this characteristic didn’t, in reality, achieve this. Feeding the Pro2 a principally 0 IRE sign — with simply sufficient above 0 to forestall ramping — resulted in a distinction ratio of about 1,577:1, which ought to be pretty near an correct measurement. In side-by-side testing (defined under), its picture regarded much less punchy than the Anker X1, which has the same distinction ratio, and nearer to the BenQ W4100i, which has barely decrease distinction. Geoffrey Morrison/CNETRegardless of the precise quantity, this falls into the “good” category– above common and effectively above the median for what I’ve measured at CNET. It’s notably higher than the overwhelming majority of higher-end 4K projectors, which have lengthy struggled with distinction ratio. The subsequent vital soar in distinction ratio is simply present in far dearer LCOS projectors from Sony and JVC.The RGB lasers are rated for, basically, the lifetime of the projector. If you employ the Pro2 for 4 hours an evening, you will nonetheless recover from 17 years out of it earlier than the lasers may give out. That’s assuming, after all, that 1) the remainder of it lasts that lengthy, and a couple of) you have not upgraded to some futuristic holo-imaging, 3D photon-o-rizer — or no matter we’ll all be utilizing within the 2040s (or possibly sooner).ConnectionsHDMI inputs: 3USB port: 2Audio output: eARC, optical, 3.5mm analog, BluetoothInternet: Wi-fi, wiredRemote: Partially backlitMost projectors on this class have a single HDMI enter, largely as a result of expectation that you’re going to use the inner streaming as a substitute of something exterior. So the three on this machine appear virtually beneficiant. I at all times suggest utilizing a receiver to modify your sources for any projector setup. Geoffrey Morrison/CNETIf you simply need to ship audio to a soundbar, there’s eARC, optical and even a 3.5mm headphone jack. USB ports can help you join and energy a Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick with out the necessity for extra cables. And talking of connections, a wired Ethernet port on the again is pretty uncommon nowadays.The distant has a stunning design that matches the mirror/chrome aesthetic of the projector. It’s a pleasant contact that places the tasteless distant Anker ships with all their projectors (low-cost and costly) to disgrace. Just a few of the essential buttons are additionally backlit.Picture high quality comparisonsAnker Nebula X1BenQ W4100iI in contrast the Valerion in opposition to two shut opponents: the BenQ is the latest and most costly, however the Anker had the same worth to the Valerion when it was launched. All three projectors are exceptionally shiny. The Anker is the brightest projector I’ve ever measured, and this Pro2 is a detailed second. The BenQ is the dimmest of the three, however nonetheless brighter than most different projectors I’ve reviewed. I in contrast all three on a 1.0-gain display screen utilizing a distribution amplifier (aka an HDMI splitter).Thanks to lasers and LEDs, the common projector has by no means been brighter. All three of those projectors take that notion to an excessive. While the Anker’s almost 2,400 lumens (in its correct mode) is the brightest I’ve examined, the Valerion’s 2,300 is just not far behind. Side by aspect, this distinction is sufficiently small to not matter. These are each extraordinarily shiny — and in case you have a darkish room or a smaller display screen, you will possible want to regulate the laser energy. The BenQ, with “only” 1,700 lumens, would have been the brightest projector I’ve reviewed in over two years if it weren’t for these different two. Is it dimmer than the opposite two? Yes, and that’s noticeable aspect by aspect, however for many setups, I do not suppose you will discover even 1,700 lumens inadequate. No projector can but compete with ambient mild, and the BenQ can fill an unlimited display screen, so let’s simply say that these are all greater than sufficient. Geoffrey Morrison/CNETWith distinction, issues begin to separate out a bit. A projector’s distinction ratio is essential to its visible high quality, with many projectors nonetheless showing fairly washed out in comparison with even budget-friendly TVs. The Anker seems slightly punchier in comparison with the Valerion and BenQ. It has a roughly 50% higher distinction ratio, and aspect by aspect, you may see that, along with one of many higher distinction ratios I’ve measured shortly. That 50% enchancment sounds large, however it’s not some subjective “50% better.” Really high-end projectors may have 10x any of those projectors’ distinction ratios — it is a step, however not a leap. The Valerion and BenQ, although not fairly as punchy because the Anker, are nonetheless higher than common. They’re quite a bit higher than most up-to-date 4K projectors, which generally look fairly flat. As talked about above, the Pro2’s distinction is tough to measure, however subjectively, it seems someplace between the Anker and BenQ.The largest distinction between the three is how they deal with coloration. Both BenQ and Anker produce fairly good colours. While they are not essentially the most correct projectors I’ve measured, they’re shut, producing vibrant, natural-looking photographs throughout quite a lot of content material. The BenQ seems a bit extra practical total, although the Anker’s colours are nonetheless very pleasing to observe. The Valerion stumbles right here. Its colours are much less true-to-life. Not in an enormous, distracting approach, however worse than any house projector I’ve reviewed not too long ago. Compared to the others right here, each coloration was a bit incorrect, resulting in a picture that simply did not look as pure because the BenQ or Anker. Yellows and pores and skin tones, for example, have been barely on the inexperienced aspect, whereas reds weren’t as deep or as wealthy.Lastly, as I’ve talked about in different opinions, the Valerion shares a problem frequent to RGB laser projectors: If you put on glasses, you might discover chromatic aberration, or coloration fringing, alongside the sides of objects — particularly white objects in opposition to a darkish background — the place the picture splits into its element colours. This leads to a type of single-color “shadow” or edge. This is separate from the DLP rainbows some individuals see with sure DLP projectors. It will not have an effect on everybody who wears glasses — and it will not have an effect on those that do not — however for those who do discover it, the competing BenQ mannequin does not have this difficulty.Overall, I’d rank them: Anker first, adopted by BenQ after which Valerion.Chrome fins and RGB lasers Geoffrey Morrison/CNETI’m at all times a fan of projectors with inventive, distinctive designs — a pleasant change from the countless smooth-edged packing containers in various shades of grey. Image high quality issues extra, after all, however for many of the day, this factor is simply going to be sitting in your room. It may as effectively look good whereas it does that. Epson’s Lifestudio Flex Plus ran with this concept, simply for example, although that projector is in a a lot decrease efficiency class (and worth) than the projectors we’re speaking about right here. I dig the Valerion’s seems, although just a few mates noticed it whereas I used to be testing, and their response was cut up. To every their very own, I suppose.Performance-wise, the Pro2 is impressively shiny. There’s little doubt about that, although mild output is only one facet of a projector’s total efficiency. Typically, coloration accuracy comes on the expense of brightness, so it is totally attainable {that a} model of the Pro2 that is extra correct cannot compete with the Anker by way of mild output. But then once more, the Anker is extra correct and even brighter. So ultimately, the Valerion is sweet, however simply misses out on a spot on our checklist of finest projectors.One final thing, the film Valerian (I assume the corporate’s identify is a riff on that historic identify) is dangerous in remarkably unimpressive and boring methods, however its opening sequence is a delight, and I’ll take any excuse to share it. The film goes quickly downhill from there. Thankfully, the projector does not do the identical.