Chinese Dangbei Network Technology Co was founded in 2013. It’s located in Binjiang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Today the company leads in software for large screens in China. In addition, Dangbei is one of the leaders in the laser projector segment.
Until last year, the list of Dangbei models in international markets included mid-focal F1, B1, C1, D1, F3, Mars Pro 4K and DBX3, which is hardly impressive compared to the lineups of Epson, BenQ, Hisense, etc. But the mid-focal Dangbei X5 Ultra became a sensation and attracted the attention of experts to this brand. This model was the first to use ALPD 5.0-based light engine.
It uses three colors of laser light sources and three colors of LED light sources. The algorithms of advanced dynamic modulation improve color accuracy by pre-analyzing the color gamut standards required for video playback. Today its price is ~ $ 2,000 / CA$ 3,190.
However, the importance of this innovation for the further development requires some explanation. As known, the light source of the projector directly affects its brightness (rich colors even in ambient light), color gamut (range of displayed shades) and color accuracy (image naturalness). Of course, the image quality significantly depends on these factors. Modern projectors use lamps, LEDs or lasers as a light source.
ALPD-based light engine
The successful development of semiconductors ended the dominance of lamps as a light source. Of course, low price, high reliability and brightness remain a significant bonus. But their intense heating requires cooling. This task requires a large internal volume for effective heat dissipation and a powerful noisy fan. Accordingly, bright lamp Home Theater projectors are too bulky and their market share is declining.
LED light sources are most popular in the portable segment. They are cheap and do not heat up, but they are low-power. However, companies are successfully solving this problem. For example, BenQ X3000i uses an additional pumping LED. XGIMI Horizon Ultra has a hybrid ‘Dual Light’ (LED + laser) light source.
The power of laser models is much higher. In fact, the laser diode is a diode with an optical resonator, the coherent radiation of which provides higher power. But the image of triple-laser RGB projectors may contain speckles due to interference.
Modern laser projectors use Advanced Laser Phosphor Display technology (ALPD). It was developed in 2007 by the Chinese Appotronics Corp. Today its projectors successfully compete under the brands Wemax, Formovie (Fengmi in the Chinese market), etc. For reference, popular Formovie is a joint venture between Xiaomi and Appotronics.
In fact, ALPD is a fluorescent laser technology that uses multi-color laser beams and disks coated with fluorescent materials. Its evolution is based on using different components, including LEDs, lasers and fluorescent disks. It includes ADLP 1.0 (2007), ADLP 2.0 (2012), ADLP 3.0 (red and blue 2-color lasers), ALPD 4.0 (2018) and ALPD 5.0 (Dangbei X5 Ultra, 2022).
ALPD 5.0 projector delivers unprecedented color gamut (206% Rec.709 / 152% DCI-P3 / 110% Rec.2020) and high color accuracy.
Dangbei Mars Pro 2
Mars Pro 2 became another Dangbei novelty.
In fact, it’s an improved version of the popular Mars Pro. The model uses DLP technology, supports 4K UHD resolution and provides up to 2,450 ISO Lumens brightness.
Dangbei Mars Pro 2:
– DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology with 0.47″ UHD DMD .
Today companies use DLP, 3LCD (Epson and some others) and expensive LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology, including JVC D-ILA (Digital Direct-Drive Image Light Amplifier), Sony SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) and Canon AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) with superb native contrast.
DLP projectors form an image using an array of micromirrors and a color wheel. This technology is relatively cheap and is most common in the budget and mid- budget segments. It uses DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) DLP chipset from the American Instrumental Texas (TI);
– 4K UHD (3,840 × 2,160) resolution.
A few years ago TI’s pixel shift-based XPR (Xpanded Pixel Resolution) technology has dramatically increased their popularity by increasing resolution without significantly changing the price. In fact, the projector divides 8 million pixels of 4K content into two or four parts (2 or 4 phase pixel shift). Then, the 2 million micromirrors of the relatively cheap 1080p chipset sequentially display two or four 1080p images, shifting them half a pixel relative to each other.
Of course, the projector displays only one 1080p image at any time. But due to the high frequency, the vision and brain perceive them as one picture with a higher resolution. The pixel shift is carried out by tilting the lens using 4 XPR module magnets.
Key features
Specs
– brightness – up to 2,450 ISO Lumens (ISO 21118 standard) or 2,340 ANSI lumens (1 ANSI lumens ~ 1,045 ISO lumens ) with AI brightness adjustment.
– HDR10+, HDR 10 and HLG support;
– Full HD 3D;
– MEMC (Motion Estimation Motion Compensation is an analogue of frame interpolation);
– Refresh Rate up to 4K@60Hz / 1080p@240Hz;
– 60″~200″ (recommended 80″~120″) Image Size with 1.27:1 Throw Ratio (100″@9.19ft / 2.8m).
– smart image adjustment (dToF+Camera Auto Focus + auto keystone adjustment ±30° + intelligent screen fit + intelligent obstacle avoidance).
– 2 x 12W speaker with Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital Plus / DTS:X support.
– Google TV OS integration (licensed Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, etc), Chromecast built-in and OTA (‘over-the-air’).
– wide set of connections (USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi 6 Dual-band 2.4/5GHz and Bluetooth 5.2/BLE).
In addition, the model supports Eye Protection, all projection methods (Front, Rear, Front Ceiling, Rear Ceiling), 100% Projection Offset and (50% – 100%) Zoom. The optional Dangbei DBOX02’s Gimbal Stand further simplifies installation.
Unfortunately, the company does not specify the light engine and gamut color. But given the price, the model hardly uses ALPD 4.0 or ALPD 5.0. It probably features the more common ALPD 3.0-based laser phosphor light engine with ~100% coverage in Rec.709 standard.
Conclusion
Pros
– relatively inexpensive;
– licensed Netflix with Google TV;
– very easy install with superb correction features;
– Full HD 3D, including Blu-Rays (with an OTA update).
Cons
– heating in bright mode;
– not ultra short throw (UST).
Google TV OS integration, licensed Netflix, 4K resolution, screen size up to 200 inches (recommended 80″~120″) and brightness of up to 2,450 ISO Lumens are perfect even for daytime viewing without additional darkening.
The model is fully in line with the popular trend with the slogan ‘premium specs at a mid-budget price’. To be fair, competitors are not asleep either. An incomplete list of new mid-focal 4K projectors includes:
– newest bright ViewSonic LX700-4K – 3,500 ANSI Lumens, $ 1,600;
– XGIMI Horizon Ultra – 2,300 ISO Lumens, $ 1,600;
– BenQ GP500 – 1,500 ANSI Lumens, $ 1,800;
– Optoma UHZ55 – 3,000 ANSI Lumens, $ 2,300, etc.
But Dangbei Mars Pro 2 (DBOX02) looks quite decent compared to them. It offers Google TV OS integration and licensed Netflix for only $ 1,500 on the site ($ 1,400 / £ 700 at some dealers with a discount). This model can claim a place among the bestsellers due to its superb price-quality ratio. Therefore, its marketing prospects seem quite cloudless.
This video introduces the Dangbei Mars Pro 2 (DBOX02) with licensed Netflix.