Dangbei has further expanded its projector catalog by introducing new models, but this one is particularly special because it is its flagship offering, which aims to compete with premium 4K projectors from Dangbei rivals. Dangbei's MP1 Max was first showcased earlier this year at CES and has been recently released for purchase, giving users a premium choice to view high-fidelity content at up to 4K resolution.
The MP1 Max is advertised as a 4K Home Projector, featuring Google TV OS with Licensed Netflix. With a built-in OS, it aims to offer all of your favorite content in a single place, simplifying navigation and offering numerous apps. However, the MP1 Max is more than just a device with a built-in app hub. In this review, we will take a look at how this projector performs, what features it brings, and how good it does against its competitors for a price tag of $1999.
Packaging and Content
Dangbei MP1 Max doesn't ship in a regular carton box, but rather inside a foam case that does both the jobs of protecting the device against damage and offering portability to the users. This is the type of packaging I would like to see on more projectors, particularly, that aren't that large. Dangbei's N2 Mini, unfortunately, didn't have the same packaging, but the company appears to have changed its approach as its latest offerings share a similar portable foam box.
There is a carrying handle on top of the case, enabling you to carry it without any hassle. There is a switch on top, which unlocks the case, and inside it, you will find the device and all the accessories it comes with. These include:
- MP1 Max 4K Projector
- A Remote
- User Manual
- Power Cable and Adapter
Specifications at a Glance
MP1 Max is neither too small nor too large. Compared to the pricier 4K options we reviewed, such as the AWOL LTV-3500 PRO, it's significantly smaller and weighs less but packs enough features to get started. Obviously, the LTV-3500 PRO is ahead with its specifications and connectivity options, but the MP1 Max gets all the needed features onboard without having to increase the overall size of the device.
It measures 246.7 x296 x 230 mm in dimensions and weighs roughly 5.6 kg. The projector has a dedicated stand, which allows versatile adjustments through a flexible base, allowing up to 360° horizontal rotation and up to 135° vertical tilt. This enables users to adjust the light source to project the image anywhere they want, including ALR screens, walls, or even ceilings. It's always better to opt for an ALR screen for better visual quality, but if you have a grey or black wall, it will work decently as well.
The MP1 Max uses the DLP (Digital Light Processing) technique, which utilizes tiny mirrors on a chip called DMD to reflect light and create the image. DLP is impressive when it comes to sharp image and high contrast, which we will see in the next section. The device uses a Triple Laser + LED as a light source, offering up to 3100 ISO Lumens of brightness, which is even higher than the LTV-3500 PRO. This Triple Laser + LED combo tends to improve brightness and color accuracy, and Dangbei advertises MP1 Max having an excellent color accuracy of Delta E < 1, which is even better than most mid-range and high-end monitors.
MP1 Max can also display a wide range of colors and offers 110% BT.2020 color gamut, which is a modern color standard for HDR content. Of course, the MP1 Max is also HDR compatible, offering HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG standards. Since MP1 Maix is a native 4K projector, it will be excellent for larger screens, but considering its throw ratio, you will have to place it further from the screen if you want a large image projection. So, it's not a short-throw projector and offers a standard throw ratio of 1.2:1, which is just fine.
You can adjust the aspect ratio of the projected image to either 16:9 or 4:3, whichever works for you the best. Moreover, the projector offers a digital Zoom of 50-100%, which can come in handy in various scenarios. This sums up the specifications of the MP1 Max, and in terms of its hardware, the projector uses a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor and 2 GB RAM. It's not the best out there, but quite decent for quick response. The projector uses Google TV as its OS and also offers Google Cast for screen mirroring. This allows you to control the content through your phone without even having to touch the projector remote.
Connectivity and Audio
We have got some decent options in the connectivity. Although there aren't a lot of ports on the device, Dangbei made sure to equip crucial ports for connectivity, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, with one supporting eARC for high-bandwidth audio. This allows MP1 Max to deliver uncompressed, high-quality audio to the external speakers, supporting formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, etc.
The built-in speakers on the MP1 Max already support these formats out of the box and are fairly powerful for regular use. You can either use the 12W x2 speakers on the device, or you can connect external speakers if you wish to achieve a more immersive audio experience. Returning to connectivity, the MP1 Max offers one USB 2.0 port for peripherals and a 3.5mm jack for audio devices.
For wireless connections, Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6 Dual Band are available, and that's what you get out of the box with MP1 Max. Unfortunately, the device doesn't have a LAN port, but it's okay as long as you have a stable WiFi connection.
Performance
The MP1 Max is one of the easiest to set up. All you need is to connect the adapter to the outlet and set up the Google TV OS, which may take several minutes. Once you are done, you will find all your apps on your homepage. In my case, I used my 100-inch screen and placed the MP1 Max at around 2.5 meters away on the ground. To fill the screen, I will need to put it further away, but that's a personal choice.
There is a dedicated button at the base of the projector to turn it on the projector but the rest of the stuff can be controlled via the remote or your phone since the projector offers screen mirroring. I tried playing a few high-quality 4K videos and HDR content on it and found the image quality to be excellent. Capturing the real image quality through a DSLR isn't possible, but I would say that the images were sharp and vibrant. Image brightness is quite good as well, and it dynamically adjusts according to the environment lighting.
The blacks were also excellent, and you can see from the images that they are decently deep. Of course, you shouldn't be expecting OLED quality contrast, but it was adequate. Now, coming to the built-in features of MP1 Max, you get a few settings in the Menu that allow controlling the image, its projection, sound, and miscellaneous settings. There weren't as many options through the remote, and most of the stuff I found was basic. However, the Google TV OS had plenty of options, and it felt overwhelming at first, but I liked that.
There were sufficient options to tweak the picture quality, parameters, and sound options. For image projection, there are options such as Image Correction, which adjusts Focus and offers Auto Keystone as well as Manual Keystone correction too. The Auto Keystone Correction is one of the most convenient features, which you will find across most Dangbei projectors, including the budget ones. It automatically adjusts the image to a rectangular shape and avoids obstacles in real time whenever you adjust the projection angle.
To further tweak the image projection, you can use the Manual Keystone Correction, which gets the job done quickly. If your projected image goes beyond your screen, you can limit it to the screen size by selecting the "Fit to Screen" option. One thing I found irritating here was that after the keystone correction, the original, uncorrected frame outline was still faintly visible in the background. It was distracting, but increasing the brightness helps slightly.
In the Advanced tab, you will find stuff like Smart Eye Protection, which dims the screen whenever the projector detects the presence of a person in front of the source. And then you have various Projection Modes based on where you keep the projector. Lastly, there is a One-Click Dust Removal function, which you can use once in a while to keep the dust at bay.
The Verdict
MP1 Max is truly an excellent premium projector for your personal home theatre. Without having to resort to a big form-factor, Dangbei did an excellent job in making a powerful 4K projector system that brings so much to the table. The projector does a perfect job as advertised and offers versatility through Google TV OS, which gives you plenty of apps and options to tweak.
On top of that, the foam carrying case with a dedicated handle makes it highly portable. Unlike my big LTV-3500 Pro projector, I don't need to worry about carrying it. It's not just smaller and lighter, but it comes with competitive features at half the price tag. Yes, there are some minor flaws here and there, but they are tolerable and don't affect the core functionality of the MP1 Max. You can find the Dangbei MP1 Max on the official website for a price tag of $1999, but is currently available on offer at just $1,599 on Amazon.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
