XGIMI Titan Noir Max Projector Evaluate: Wonderful Picture High quality, However Quick On Options

The final two years have seen an surprising projector renaissance, with new triple-laser DLP fashions providing extremely brilliant and correct picture high quality. The most recent of these is XGIMI’s Titan Noir Max, an elegant-looking projector that emphasizes reference-grade picture high quality whereas eschewing specs like exterior audio system and good TV streaming.

On high of options like IMAX certification, a dynamic twin iris and 4K 60 fps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, the Titan Noir Max affords a straightforward and versatile setup. It additionally comes with built-in Harmon Kardon sound and 1ms gaming latency. Nonetheless, at almost $6,000 MSRP, that is additionally probably the most costly long-throw client DLP projectors accessible. It is value it for sure consumers, however most individuals would get extra for his or her cash with rival fashions.

The Titan Noir Max has a delicate, elegant design with a gray metallic chassis, entrance grill and understated crimson ring across the lens, together with Harman Kardon and gold “IMAX Enhanced” logos. The projector is across the similar measurement because the rival Valerion VisionMaster Max, however sits on tube-like toes that give it a barely alien look. It ships with a chic carrying field and comes with a pleasant trying, silver-accented distant.

I arrange the Titan Noir Max in my lounge with a 120-inch matte projector display to keep away from the “laser speckle” that may occur with ALR (ambient gentle reflecting) screens. With a 0.98-2.0x zoom lens, this projector affords a extremely versatile setup distance of 8.7 to 17.4 toes from screens as much as 300 inches in measurement. It helps a large lens shift vary as effectively (50 p.c horizontal and 130 p.c vertical), so you may set the projector effectively off middle without having to make use of distorting digital keystone correction.

On the similar time, it does have an computerized keystone setup that permits you to simply level the projector close to the center of your display and press a button to suit the picture for those who do not need to fuss. That labored effectively for me, however I wanted to regulate the picture to get it comparatively near the display measurement first. Auto display adjustment was simpler with Anker’s Nebula X1 or the VisionMaster Max, engaged on each of these fashions so long as the picture measurement was bigger than the display.

The Titan Noir Max comes with three HDMI 2.1 ports, together with one with eARC for a sound bar, together with S/PDIF optical, USB-A, a 3.5mm audio output and a gigabit ethernet connection. It lacks the Nebula X1’s liquid cooling however it’s almost as quiet — I measured fan noise at a really minimal 18db from two toes away, or 24db when brightness was pushed to the utmost.

In contrast to rivals, the Titan Noir Max lacks Google TV or one other built-in good TV service. To make use of platforms like Netflix and Disney+, you may have to buy an Apple TV 4K, Google TV or different streaming machine. This did not trouble me as I had a spare Google TV stick, which I favor anyway as a result of the Google TV interface that is constructed into some projectors might be laggy. Nonetheless, the shortage of any streaming entry could push some people to go together with one other mannequin.

The XGIMI Titan Noir Max guarantees “reference grade” video high quality and it delivers on that, beating all different luxurious projectors I’ve tested lately. It does not use the larger, sharper 0.78-inch DLP chip of the original Titan although. As an alternative, XGIMI went with the most recent “SST” 0.47-inch DLP from Texas Devices that enables a superior mix of brightness and distinction. Mixed with the brilliant RGB triple-laser engine, it could actually output over 5,000 ANSI lumens.

At its most correct setting in Filmmaker mode, the Titan Noir Max hit a powerful 4,320 lumens based on my Calibrite Show Plus meter, better than any projector I’ve examined to this point. That elevated additional to simply over 5,000 lumens once I used the Laser 10+ mode for optimum brightness, although with a substantial shade accuracy loss.

The Titan Noir Max guarantees excessive native distinction as effectively through its twin dynamic iris with handbook aperture management. When testing for optimum regular brightness, I noticed a distinction ratio of two,000:1 — an excellent end result. That may be boosted to an unimaginable 6,000:1 with the iris set on the most f7.0, although brightness drops to 800 lumens. The dynamic iris setting gives the perfect compromise with a 4,500:1 distinction ratio and a pair of,900 lumens of brightness, although I observed some brightness “pumping” typical with dynamic iris projectors. That is one thing that may happen when the projector’s iris modifications noticeably for a scene.

On high of ordinary SDR, the XGIMI Titan Noir Max helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced HDR modes. The corporate claims 110 p.c of BT.2020 shade protection, and I measured only a shade below one hundred pc with about 5 p.c accuracy — one other excellent end result. The projector additionally features a extremely efficient anti-rainbow perform that eliminates DLP shade fringing, one thing I am fairly delicate to.

Straight out of the field I used to be extremely impressed by the picture high quality. Brightness was excessive sufficient in customary mode to look at movies, TV exhibits and sports activities like tennis in daylight without having to decrease the blinds. In a darkened room with Dolby Imaginative and prescient, I used to be blown away by the brightness and shade constancy in films like F1, Interstellar and Avengers: Endgame. The wonderful distinction allowed me to see shadow element in tough scenes just like the black gap entry in Interstellar that may look overly darkish on some projectors.

The XGIMI Titan Noir Max is the perfect projector I’ve examined up to now for gaming, with 1080p at as much as 240 fps refresh charges (with VRR help) and really low 1ms latency. Whereas it does not help 4K at 120 fps as a result of limitations of DLP chips, it could actually deal with 4K 60Hz video games with a powerful 3ms of enter lag. That is considerably higher than the Valerion VisionMaster Max’s 15ms.

These specs let me do no-compromise gaming with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hole Knight: Singsong. On the similar time, the large display, shade accuracy and brilliant picture offered deep immersion that you just simply cannot get on a smaller display.

The Titan Noir Max has a built-in 24-watt Harmon Kardon audio setup, with 12 watts per speaker. It gives clear midrange, pure voices and first rate soundstage, however frankly, the bass is weak and the sound system lacks energy general. If you happen to’re laying out this type of cash, you may need to splurge on a devoted surround-sound system with DTS:X help, as Dolby Atmos is not an choice.

As compared, the Nebula X1 provides you the choice to buy non-obligatory stereo Bluetooth audio system that join routinely. For lower than the value of the Titan Noir Max, you would additionally get the Nebula X1 Professional that comes with an enormous sound system and helps Dolby Atmos.

XGIMI’s $6,000 flagship Titan Noir Max makes use of the most recent projector tech to provide cinephiles the absolute best picture high quality. It set new benchmarks in my testing for brightness, shade accuracy and distinction, however it’s very costly. In contrast to its fundamental rivals, the Valerion VisionMaster Max and Anker Nebula X1 Professional, it has no built-in good TV options or tailored audio choices.

Except you are obsessive about image high quality, you would be higher off spending much less on Anker’s $2,999 Nebula X1 or the Nebula X1 Professional, the latter of which comes with a robust, moveable sound system for $1,000 lower than the Titan Noir Max. If you happen to’re keen to accept picture high quality that is almost pretty much as good and consists of good TV options, test outValerion’s $5,000 VisionMaster Max. If you happen to’re one who will solely accept the perfect, XGIMI’s Titan Max Noir is the best choice — and also you’d do effectively to pre-order it now whereas it is nonetheless accessible on Kickstarter for $2,999.