Reviews

Review: ViewSonic PX701-4K – Home Theater Projector with HDR

Review: ViewSonic PX701-4K is an extremely bright DLP projector that projects series, games and films with HDR within its price range.
5/5 - (4 votes)

ViewSonic is offering its latest 4K projector for 960 euros. This puts the PX701-4K in the price bracket of the usual Full HD projectors. In addition to a high light output, there is also a lot more power. If you want to experience your favorite films during the day in the living room or alternatively in the dark home cinema in XXL format, you need a projector with a high light output. After all, it has to assert itself against the incident daylight and needs a lot of radiance to display feature films and games in life size. In addition, it should of course support all common standards.

This includes playback of Full HD and the latest High Dynamic Range (HDR). If possible, the home entertainer should also be quiet and easy to use. Especially now, at times when many people are mostly at home, a change is pleasant for most film fans. Since concert halls, cinemas and theaters are currently closed, it is worth taking a look at the ViewSonic PX701-4K, to bring the big screen experience home. This small projector combines all common technologies in its compact, white housing. In addition, it is in the price segment of current full HD projectors, which alone is worth a look.

ViewSonic PX701-4K  Technical specifications

Model: ViewSonic
PX701-4k
Product Category: LED projector
Price: 960.00 euros
Warranty: – 2 years (projector)
– 1 year or 1000h (lamp)
Executions: – White
Distribution: ViewSonic Technology, Dorsten
Dimensions (HBT): 109 x 312 x 222 mm
Weight: 2.81 kg
Technology: 1-chip DLP
Brightness: 1,800 lumens (after calibration)
Contrast (On / Off):
Contrast (ANSI):
– 580: 1 (after calibration)
– 131: 1 (after calibration)
Black level: – 3.10 lumens (after calibration)
Image resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (3840 x 2160 via XPR technology)
Lens shift: No
3D playback: No
3D transmitter: No
2 meter image width: Possible from a distance of 3.00 – 3.30 meters
Connections: Inputs:
2 x HDMI
1 x USB
1 x RS-232C
Outputs:
1 x audio (3.5 mm headphones)
Scope of delivery: – ViewSonic PX701-4K
– remote control
– brief description
– power cord
Pros and Cons: + very bright
+ very good sharpness
+ UHD resolution via XPR technology
+ HDR10
+ good factory setting
+ quiet
– native contrast and black level

ViewSonic PX701-4K  – Equipment and technology

The PX701-4K is a single-chip DLP projector. It accepts films with resolutions of up to 3840 × 2160 pixels and projects them using XPR technology. For example, 4K films from Apple TV, Netflix, Prime Video and 4K Blu-ray can be played. An image width of two meters is achieved from a distance of 3.00 to 3.30 meters. Ideally, the PX701-4K is placed at the level of the lower edge of the screen – or mounted upside down under the ceiling. Thanks to its low weight of 2.81 kilograms, any commercially available ceiling mount can be used. The zoom factor is not particularly large, but offers a plus in flexibility when aligning the image on the screen. The ViewSonic does not have to be placed exactly to the last centimeter, but has a little play for installation. The unlit remote control allows quick navigation through the menus. All buttons are clearly labeled and logically arranged.

HDR: brilliant and high-resolution cinema experience

The highlight is undoubtedly the implemented HDR technology. The high-resolution playback of films is made possible here via XPR technology. The projector thus delivers detailed image content with rich and vivid colors. The advantages over Full HD: 4K / UHD films have four times more details, are significantly brighter, have more contrast and thus appear even more spectacular on the screen. To anticipate the result of my picture test (see below) in parts: The PX701-4K excites in this discipline. It displays even the smallest lines in UHD pixel resolution without errors. The overall impression of the picture is pleasantly three-dimensional. The high light output also contributes to this. A lamp with 203 watts is implemented in the ViewSonic, which delivers a whopping 2,700 lumens. Should HDR films still appear too dark or too light, the PX701-4K offers the possibility to easily adjust this in the HDR menu as required. In this way, high-resolution series, games and films can be experienced in the best quality in your own home theater.

Installation is child’s play

The picture mode “Standard” is activated ex works. The focus and zoom can be easily and precisely adjusted. The controllers make a valuable impression in the practical test. Once set correctly, the PX701-4K produces a crisp, sharp image on the screen. The ViewSonic reliably detects incoming image signals. Once “locked”, the display is stable over the entire duration. The minimal chromatic aberrations are only mentioned for the sake of completeness, they cannot be seen at normal seating distances. Two HDMI ports enable the connection of AV receivers and game consoles or streaming sticks, for example from Amazon Video or Sky. The AV receiver usually acts as a control center in a home theater. It is connected to all feeders and sends the desired image signals to the projector, while the sound is output from the speakers. Speaking of loudspeakers: My test guest has a built-in sound system that delivers decent speech reproduction. For example, to listen to the moderator in the garden during the European Football Championship in the evening, this is always sufficient.

Light, contrast and colors

The color temperature is a little too high on delivery. Around 7,500 Kelvin ensure somewhat cooler images. Many users should already like that because snow, for example, simply appears whiter. The “Film” image mode then ensures more precise color reproduction. The maximum brightness here is a very good 1800 lumens. That is enough for a picture width of up to 4.60 meters – or with increasing external light for correspondingly smaller screens. The on / off contrast is 580: 1. The color spaces Rec.709 and Rec.2020 / P3, however, are not completely covered. Green tends slightly towards lime. If you need an even higher light output, switch to “Max. Brightness”. Now the light output increases to a whopping 2,700 lumens! In this picture mode, the ViewSonic surprises with consistently realistic colors. There is no unsightly green tint, as is the case with many other projectors in the brightest preset. The X701-4K is also bright enough to watch the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoons with controlled residual light.

Setting tips for the PX701-4K

ViewSonic once again makes it very easy for the user.
In order to reproduce Full HD image content optimally and in precise colors, only the following changes are required:
– Call up image settings
– Select “Film” color mode
– Brightness to “50”
– Contrast to “0”
– Color temperature to “6,500K”
– Gamma to “2.2”
– Extended => sharpness to “9”

For HDR content:
– Call up picture settings – Select
“Standard” color mode
– Brightness to “50”
– Contrast to “0”
– Color temperature to “6,500K”
– EOTF to “Medium”
– Extended => Color to “35”
– Extended => Sharpness to “9”

Movies in full HD

Immediately after switching on, I noticed the low noise level of the PX701-4K. Even in high lamp mode, this DLP projector can compete with much more expensive models in this regard. The rainbow effect (RBE) is pleasantly inconspicuous. Sensitive minds can also take a look here. After the corrections made quickly in terms of color space and color temperature, the PX701-4K quickly runs up to top form. When James Bond lands in “Casino Royale” in the Bahamas, the turquoise sea shines in full splendor. The white plane stands out from the background completely without any discoloration. Palm trees and the blue sky exude a real holiday feeling. The PX701-4K also displays the secret agent’s tanned face in detail and with accurate colors.
In “Interstellar” all stars near the black hole are shown. The interior of the spaceship appears tangible. Despite the contrast, which could be slightly improved, the images in IMAX format appear credible. Dark and light scenes are well drawn.

Brilliant colors in HDR

In “Tomb Raider”, the black leather jacket of the title heroine (Chapter 2) is excellently drawn as she enters her father’s company building and is mistaken for a bicycle courier by the reception. All contents from 0.005 to 6,000 nits are projected. The skyscrapers are represented very vividly. Even the smallest window can be seen, which I attribute to the excellent sharpness of the projector. In the jungle, Lara then meets her father. The palm trees lack a trace of green, which can be attributed to the limited green in the color spectrum. The letterbox bars are not quite as dark as I am used to from much more expensive projectors. Since there is no interframe calculation, movies “stutter” minimally when moving. But that is more of a complaint at a high level and will hardly be of any consequence in most application scenarios. For a projector in the price range of less than 1,000 euros, the ViewSonic does an excellent job.

Details and highlights

The PX701-4K provides proof of this at any time. For example in the passage when Lara Croft is captured in front of the cave. Light / dark components harmonize perfectly and the blue sky shines realistically. The ViewSonic also excellently removes the fine sand and all rock structures. In addition, highlights with up to 2,400 lumens are popped onto the screen. It looks so impressive that I find it difficult to break away from the film. But when it comes to quality and intensity, people like to sit in front of the screen. The practical test can then take a little longer. And after this session it will continue. In addition to HDR, the game mode is another highlight for me …

Navigate games without delay

The low input delay of 4.2 milliseconds and the refresh rate of 240 Hz ensure ultra-smooth imaging. For natural gaming, the ViewSonic tells me that I should switch to the “game” mode for the short reaction time when switching over. Said and done. With a click on the OK button on the remote control the special picture mode opens. Now all unnecessary image processes are bypassed. So the maximum performance can be exploited. I find the high light output to be very pleasant, as I usually turn on a lamp while gaming. First-person shooters on the huge screen are just great fun here. You just have to experience that. When my avatar is controlled through enemy territory within three meters of the screen, I can really immerse myself in the action. Commands from the controller are implemented promptly. This is really great cinema that the ViewSonic also offers in this discipline!

ViewSonic PX701-4K – Conclusion

With the ViewSonic PX701-4K , ViewSonic presents an extremely bright DLP projector that projects series, games and films with HDR. Construction and installation are very easy. Even in the factory settings, the picture pleases due to the natural appearing colors. With just a few changes, the image quality can be trimmed even further. In this way, 4K / UHD films can be experienced in high resolution, razor sharp, in natural colors and all details at home. All of this at an extremely attractive price of less than 1,000 euros!

Positives of ViewSonic PX701-4K

  • Low cost
  • Bright enough to throw a big, nonfading image
  • Good contrast for the price
  • Low input lag delivers fast reaction time for gamers
  • Supports 3D

Negatives of ViewSonic PX701-4K

  • Default settings make at least some colors in every picture mode obviously off target
  • Maximum input resolution is quite limited
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