Horizon 20 Max

Just so you are aware, projectors basically never are useful at their maximum brightness, and the Horizon 20 Max is no exception. It is extremely noisy and has terrible colors at its maximum brightness. Real world is closer to 3,000 ISO Lumens. Which is likely more where your BenQ probably worked at. I do think that the major players are playing catch up. Epson, BenQ, and Optoma are way behind. Epson especially with their lamp-based projectors still on the market, while every other brand, for the same money, has gone to LED or laser setups. But, the lifestyle models from a long list of companies are doing a very good job of giving us the quality we should expect. I watch videos here for some of the best reviews: [www.youtube.com/thehookup](http://www.youtube.com/thehookup) I also read reviews and feedback from owners as best as my time allows to stay informed. Companies like JVC and Sony still do well at the high end with their laser driven LCoS projectors. But, those remain quite expensive and do require sources to be connected. But, that's what they were designed for. I've run into issues with control of a Valerion projector that doesn't power on/off when the Denon receiver it is connected to powers on and off. This is the type of headache that smaller brands like this deliver. It should not be that way, but it is the headache of these smaller companies as well.

I use a JVC DLA-X590 on a daily basis, but just installed the Valerion Max at my brother's home. I put the JVC up next to the Valerion and the Valerion was a great deal brighter and had a super punchy image. I would likely buy something like the Horizon 20 if I were looking to buy a new projector right now. I do think it's a really great buy.

I can't really hit all your details here. If you are not planning to use this a ton, you may want to hit up eBay and pick up a used WUXGA DLP projector. They are lamp-based, but you can get 5,000+ lumen models for well under $1,000 which are often of a higher caliber than a brand new $1,300 model. I would stick with DLP projectors as you will get better black levels. My headache, is that these models likely won't get close to 5,000 lumens. They just advertise that as their brightness, but it is more likely they are giving you closer to 3,000 usable lumens... [https://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?g=2&br=5000&br=7000<g=101&dt=3.0.0&p=500&p=2500&oop=1&sort=prlow#list](https://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm?g=2&br=5000&br=7000<g=101&dt=3.0.0&p=500&p=2500&oop=1&sort=prlow#list) Something like this though, used, would be very interesting if you have a limited use case... [https://www.projectorcentral.com/Panasonic-PT-DZ6700U.htm](https://www.projectorcentral.com/Panasonic-PT-DZ6700U.htm) It comes with a lens and has a much better lens than the cheap $1,000 models that you can get new. Rated at 6,000 ANSI lumens from a company that is very reputable. It only has a DVI input for digital video, so you'd need a $10 HDMI to DVI adapter. I've used these in the past and they work great. Something like this as well... [https://www.ebay.com/itm/257171352318](https://www.ebay.com/itm/257171352318) Just search for WUXGA DLP Projectors on eBay and sort by price. Don't look at anything that is listed as 'parts only'. eBay should cover you for 30 days on any purchase made. I've had good luck when buying through them. Old unused projectors are a tough market to sell into, so there are phenomenal deals to be had. I think I got a 6700U (Panasonic) for $80 one time. FOR AUDIO: I don't have any specifics of what is loud enough. The one time I did stuff outside, the sound came from a DJ who was there. I had communicated what connection I could give him, and he assured me he could connect it to his audio, and it all worked great. You can look at PA speakers on places like [Sweetwater.com](http://Sweetwater.com) and check pricing. They have some models for under $500 each which look solid to my untrained eye... [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Thump215XT--mackie-thump215xt-enhanced-1400w-15-inch-powered-speaker](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Thump215XT--mackie-thump215xt-enhanced-1400w-15-inch-powered-speaker) The reality is that I would likely ask on a more audio specific section of Reddit about what PA speakers may be best for this type of setup. FOR YOUR SCREEN: Any flat painted white surface will work. I used a bedsheet when I did my outdoor thing and it worked just fine. But, I would likely go to at least a 200" diagonal if you can. Amazon has some inflatable screens for under $300 which may work great for your needs... [https://www.amazon.com/Yimukaka-Outside-Support-Projection-Stable-Frame-Outdoor-Combination/dp/B08NCMN1SR/ref=sxin\_17\_pa\_sp\_search\_thematic\_sspa](https://www.amazon.com/Yimukaka-Outside-Support-Projection-Stable-Frame-Outdoor-Combination/dp/B08NCMN1SR/ref=sxin_17_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa) You do want to ensure you are using a 16:9 screen if you go this route, and I'd probably shoot for around a 200" to 240" diagonal (or so). It will give everyone a nice immersive experience.

I like the new laser models, but it can be a great deal to hit up eBay if you're working on a budget and you get a MUCH higher class of projector. That said, the new laser models are quite good looking. Even the smaller lifestyle models like the Horizon 20 series may be bright enough to fill a 200" screen in a dark room.

It used to be necessary to haul around home theater or business class projectors to get any usable image on a screen at all. So, if you're cool with moving around the H20 as your move about projector, then by all means, do it! It will give you a much brighter image than the portable models and it has a fantastic image. Looks like the power draw in at or under 180 watts so you should be good to go for hours of projection fun. A fair bit less if you also are running some decent audio to go with it.

Lifestyle models are basically taking over the home theater market in that price range. But, there are models which absolutely trash the old home theater models. Xgimi with their Horizon 20, the Valerion Visionmaster models, the Nexigo Trivision Ultra. These are all a different box around the projector, but the image quality they are delivering is really exceptional. Yeah, I've had issues with the format as well, but it is what the industry is doing at this point. More lifestyle models, less home theater specific models. The BenQ HT2060 is a solid 1080p LED projector, but for the money, there is just no chance I would purchase it.

Horizon 20 from XGimi is about the line I would put out there for a very good value to quality and should be exceptional for gaming.

There is a lot to unpack here. You have a surround system already, so you will just need to run a HDMI cable from the AV receiver out to the projector. If you get a projector with HDMI-ARC, you can backfeed audio into the Yamaha, or you may choose to use a streaming device directly with the Yamaha receiver like a Roku Ultra or Apple TV. Generally, third party streaming devices are better than those built into TVs or projectors. You should plan to hook any PC up to your Yamaha, and pass the video on to the projector. SOURCE->YAMAHA->PROJECTOR/ROOM SPEAKERS There are a ton of decent projectors out there, and they run the range of price and quality, but right now the XGimi Horizon 20 series is making waves for the quality it offers at a reasonable price and is where I'd start looking. Also, take a look at this video and others on his channel as it may help you understand what is out there and how they compare... [https://youtu.be/F6mFV7XQC3o?si=Ah8MisiezTxm\_Tpu](https://youtu.be/F6mFV7XQC3o?si=Ah8MisiezTxm_Tpu)

Yes, you should not have any issues connecting your PC to the Yamaha directly and it pushing video to the projector and audio to your speakers. The Horizon 20 is about $1,500. The Nexigo Trivision Ultra has some refurbs around $1,100 I believe. Not sure what else is out there around this price point which would really do a good job.

The JMGO N1S is a serious cut above the Samsung Freestyle. Remember, you want quality over cute every day of the week. Coming from something cheap, the N1S should be close in price to the Freestyle and gives you a real bump in brightness and overall performance and reliability. Yeah, models that cost $3,000 look better. Models like the XGimi Horizon 20 ($1,500) look better. But, at your budget, if it is around the same as what the Freestyle often costs, then the JMGO N1S is a real step up in what you are after. The Hook Up (as mentioned) has videos that cover this, but the N1S won their portable shootout a couple of years ago at $1,000. At half that price it is a real powerhouse of a product.

With proper care, they are as reliable as most other brands out there like Samsung or LG. XGimi isn't a new company and has been pretty active for over 10 years now. JMGO is newer. Hisense is a MASSIVE company and is in the same league as Samsung when it comes to electronics. Samsung is #1, but Hisense is #2. So, yeah, they are a pretty solid company. That said, companies like Hisense and Samsung don't prioritize projectors in their business model. Companies like JMGO and XGimi do. So, we are seeing more advancement from the smaller brands than the larger ones. One of the absolute top tier companies is JVC, who people barely think about when it comes to electronics these days. But, in the world of projectors, JVC is pretty close to being the top dog. There are also brands consumers have never heard of like Christie Digital and Barco who often operate at the very high end.

In the right room, projectors look great. The lifestyle models coming to market right now are very good value for the money. I think I'd take the Horizon 20 for a model under $1,500 due to the lens shift and zoom on the projector. Those are major additions that no DLP model in this price range can touch as far as I know. You have to spend a good deal more to get those features. But, in a bad room, in a room with ambient light in it, projectors can start to look quite bad. They can still be very usable though, but you have to be willing to live with the limitations. No idea what your setup is specifically like. I know it my last home we did a dual projection/TV setup. Screen came down in front of the projector so we could enjoy either one as we chose.

Being realistic, you are going to have problems dealing with any ambient light in the room with the price point you are at. A model like the Nexigo Trivision Ultra is more in line with where you would want to be, or a BenQ HT2060. The XGimi Horizon is a nice model, but isn't super bright and will need a dark room to operate the best. With ambient light, you will have a very low contrast ratio. You want to be aware of the throw distance as well.. [https://www.projectorcentral.com/XGIMI-Horizon-projection-calculator-pro.htm](https://www.projectorcentral.com/XGIMI-Horizon-projection-calculator-pro.htm)

I have the horizon 20 max and I love it. I’m not sensitive to rainbow effect so I can’t really comment on that. The input lag is negligible to me for gaming but I only play switch 2 games with it. The only downside for me is I miss the inky blacks of OLED, but the massive screen is a better payoff to me.

Ignore those deluded Valerion fans. Tbf if you only consume non subtitle dark content then maybe Valerion ebl will be the better choice for you. Assuming you're not sensitive to rbe, under $3k the best is dangbei s7 ultra max, then it's a tossed up between xgimi horizon 20 max and nebula x1. For ust, nexigo ap mk2 is better than valerion and has no rbe / speckle issue too.

Main difference - Xgimi: - has both vertical and horizontal shift - ~20% brighter even with Valerion iris fully open. - significantly cheaper at retail price - vrr for gaming Valerion: - has iris that trades brightness for contrast - better dynamic contrast dimming (ebl) but it only works if you don't consume content with subtitles - has rbe reduction feature that has high pitch noise though. - Valerion at retail price is absurd but it's ebl is nice if you don't consume content with subtitles and the rbe reduction feature is useful. Xgimi is a lot brighter, cheaper and has more features but the contrast is not as good due to lack of iris. Imo it depends on the price gap that you can get either one, and if you value contrast or brightness more. Also, check your sensitivity to rbe as this tri laser have issues with that and Valerion rbe reduction may not be enough for you if you're very sensitive to rbe.

For projector the black level is subjected to your room. So reflection from the room floor, ceiling, walls will bleed the black and raise it. Hence, ppl recommend alr screen for non ideal room (need to sample first as it has own sets of issues). Once you get the projector, you can try to see how bright content like animation don't change much between dark room and room with ambient light but then when you watch dark scenes it will look way better without the light bleeding the black. On/off your room light for bright and dark content, bright one will still look good in comparison to dark content. The valerion max with iris closed down will have the better black, up to 2x better contrast. However, this is subjected to your room. In a dark cave dedicated theater I would say pick the Valerion max but for regular room use, get the brighter and cheaper xgimi. However, if you still prefer native contrast then in the end it's Valerion due to iris.

Day use with lights on? Get ust + alr. Or if you insist on long throw then xgimi horizon 20 max as it's 50% brighter than valerion pro2. You should demo tri lasers first to check your sensitivity to rbe.

Imo wait for promotion, the base 20 can be a low as $1.2k. However, with day time usage imo you will need the max with the highest brightness ~57% brighter than the base.

Which jmgo ultra? Iirc they have a few model but imo they should all be already 2k lumens of less, so the only one that will be a lot brighter is xgimi 20 max which hit 3000 lumens but iirc it can be noisy as the fan ramp up when it's that bright due to heat. Imo don't think xgimi 20 base (1900 lumens) will be significantly brighter than your jmgo. Imo you can try using this to get an estimate of the brightness you want, so just move your projector till you get the brightness you want and go from there. Here: https://www.projectorcentral.com/JmGO-N1S_Ultra-projection-calculator-pro.htm#calc

Xgimi 20 base for 2k usd is very expensive, that price should go for pro and max model. You can use this to calculate the lumens you need - https://www.reddit.com/r/projectors/comments/1qd8vvs/projector_calculator_i_built_geometry_brightness/ In color accurate mode xgimi 20 base only get ~1900 lumens and the max is ~3000 lumens so for your big screen you will need the max. So if you get xgimi 20 max, for 150" you will get 150 nits and 50 nits for 250". Hardly bright enough imo and that's with the max model so with the base model that you listed, it will be significantly dimmer.

Imo bigger is always better so get 150" but Valerion max at its best setting is only 1300 lumens, not really bright enough. 135" will be 83 nits and 150" 67 nits. At those size just get the cheaper Valerion pro2 imo or get something even brighter like xgimi 20 max (3000 lumens)

Throw distance flexibility will cost you contrast. Keystone flexibility will cost you resolution. Wdym brightness flexibility? Pro2 is not as bright as nebula x1, xgimi 20 pro/max, xgimi titan noir Imo if it's not a lot of adjustments then it's fine.

Good thing about such content is their bright colors so even with some ambient lights it will do fine, at least for those 1500 lumens and higher ones. If you plan to only watch in the dark then you can afford to lose some brightness. You need to know your throw ratio and the screen size you want for brightness level. 4m gap, imo can go to 150" but projectors can get expensive for that size lumens. Imo get ust and alr screen if you can. PQ will never be as good as tv, hence best is to get the biggest tv you can afford. Projector is only an option due to large tv being expensive or can't fit the door. Xgimi horizon 20 for less than $1.2k is a good basic starter. Or get those cheap projector and use a cheap grey alr cloth like this: https://youtu.be/po60aU4Iifw

I just set-up the Horizon20Max yesterday paired to a 130" NothingProjector ALR Screen. I am EXTREMELY happy with the purchase. I got the unit for $2400.00 no taxes/fees charged on that. I don't notice any "laser speckle" or RBE at all. The only con I will say is areas with a ton of white / very bright light, can be a bit harsh. However, you can dial down the contrast some to mitigate that. 4K discs look absolutely unreal on it e.g. Top Gun Maverick, MI Fallout IMAX scenes, Pacific Rim for HDR Demo.

XGIMI Horizon 20 Max 4K Portable Lifestyle Triple Laser Projector - 57 – ProjectorScreen.com https://share.google/ryB2Rw3XtKv3OyOmU 2399 here

I tried the Xgimi horizon 20 max and returned it for the same reason. Great picture though.

None of those projectors have native 4k resolution The cheapest projector which is a very good option that is native 4k is the Sony VPL-HW 5000ES. I would not recommend it right now due to panel degradation and manual controls at that expensive price point. For a $3,000 price point, don't buy projectors like the Hisense or short throws that have no lens shift. Keystone is BAD IF and only IF your ceilings are at a good height where this projector won't hang too low, then go for the XGIMI Horizon 20 MAX. Also if you plan to place it on a table/not mount it this is a good option. If you don't want that, the number 1 projector I am recommending due to the deal right now is the Epson LS11000. I can't justify why the LS12000 (Slightly upgraded model), is so expensive. Nevertheless, the LS11000 is a great projector with lots of flexibility and at a decently decreased price point NEVER utter the words Optoma lol The newer version of the HT4550i is the W4100i. I like Benq for Home theater, but the fan noise is quite high. I would NOT spend $3000 on the W4100i, instead a GREAT option would be to buy the $1,300 refurb HT4550i from Ebay. This is the best bang-for-your-buck option and is amazing Again, projector lens shift is SO useful, so the only Valerion I would consider would be the MAX 99.99999999% of home theater projectors can project 120 inches +, that is not a good question. The other percent is a cardboard toy. Even the cheapest projectors can probably do 150 if all lights are off I don't like ultra short throw, my opinion is that you will regret if you buy it. Many things need to be perfect for it to work out well. $1,300 refurb HT4550i from Ebay would be the best option as it has 3d support and is very affordable so you can put budget elsewhere If your space permits, then you could go for the XGIMI, but I wouldn't because for half the price I can get a projector that's as good or better refurbished. Consider the Benq W2720i also but I wouldn't go with it

The max is good, don't like the pro 2. I've seen both the Pro 2 and the LS12000, and both on default settings, the LS12000 destroys the pro 2. I like the Hookup, but I don't like the screens he uses, because it doesn't show the true sharpness and black level. I would choose the LS11000 over the 12000 AND the Max. The LS11000, Horizon 20 max, and refurb HT4550i are all projectors I would choose over any of these. Maybe just me, but I would buy all these over the max.

I don't quite get what you're asking If you want to put the projector on a tripod or a table get a lifestyle projector The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is amazing The 4550i won't work well on a tripod For table, both will work I don't recommend Epson refurbished-too overpriced

yea i love that FINALLY a lifestyle projector has lens shift, but i hate the mounting option. i expect it to drift a little over time

Just because your mount is level, does not mean it won't drift. There are so many amazon mounts like wali, vivo that will get aligned the first time, but won't hold adjustments well. Especially if you have your home theater in a basement, or some place which has many vibrations, you need to invest in a good mount, like chief or peerless. The reality is that the mounts made for these lifestyle projectors aren't good. I wish these companies like chief or peerless would start to make mounts that would suit these projectors. The easiest solution though would be for all companies to just use the standard mounting holes. I was so close to buying a 20 max. but I didn't because I knew that it would drift in my basement home theater setting with a crappy mount. I couldn't choose Xgimi's mount because my ceiling was too low to support that. I am still certain the Xgimi mount would drift as it doesn't have a locking system from youtube videos.

Epson 5050ub or Benq W4100i both for exactly $3000 IF you can spring for it, I'd go for the Epson LS1000 at $3,799.99, or even better, the LS9000 at $3,999.99 These two projectors both DON'T have 3D, so if you're interested in that, go with either the 5050ub or W4100i Also, the difference between the LS9000 and LS11000 is not just that the 11000 has 300 more lumens. The epson "Pro cinema Line" like the LS9000 have epson's UB technology, which means that they have better black levels. The 5050ub, while not in the "pro cinema line" still has this as per the name. The LS11000 does NOT. This essentially means that yes, in black levels, the cheaper Epson 5050ub WILL beat the Epson LS11000. But..... at least for me, the slight increase in black levels doesn't justify having a bulb-based projector in 2025. The Epson LS11000 has a great laser system that I would take any day over the 5050ub. (each bulb for the 5050ub is quite expensive) Here are my rankings in terms of practicality from lowest to highest 5050ub --> W4100i --> LS11000 --> LS9000 Here are my rankings for Picture Quality W4100i = 5050ub = LS1000 --> LS9000 The reason that I put 3 projectors equal to each other is because they all have their own strengths, and it is up to you to decide which one would fit you best. For example, if you had a larger screen, I would go with the W4100i because it is really bright with still having Great picture quality. As I said before, if you like 3D (which a lot of people do, but I don't), then both the LS11000 and 9000 don't have this feature. Now.... what would I choose. Personally, If I brought my budget up, I would get either the LS11000 or LS9000 (Depending if I need the extra brightness of the 11000 or not) For most cases, though, I would go with the LS9000 due to its updated processor. For your original $3000 budget, if I went 128 inches or less, I would go with the 5050ub and accept the fact that I'd have to replace bulbs. If I went greater than 128, I would go with the Benq W4100i. I just love that Epson has motorized lens controls instead of manual like Benq, although Benq's picture is still amazing. As always, if less than 110 inches, just get a 98-100 inch tv if you can fit it to your location Screen: If you could send pics of setup, I could help you choose the screen that would fit it best. I would recommend from this brand. [https://www.amazon.com/STR-169135-WAB-Silver-Ticket-Cinema-Projector/dp/B00DGW15NU/ref=sr\_1\_1?adgrpid=186195495323&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-yj0K7HyxyowTE1geUOnKLJmYxZ7rvlDk5sAOL8LIBcKKO\_PK50-DV0iowdnrMqEoA7VRzO3LlXb90deFXWmKox8ZkEt42eE7rTh2Tv5\_MMcWS-CWaQtajh-1DGYU5ghFF7KfaOkQA2s\_ac\_wLnnn3iIrdLavHVShk1KOSwzb5Y.e7eEZx83imHP7ZmMkwZvGro89PjuqXJfXkSPyCvl4Ns&dib\_tag=se&hvadid=779670249503&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9024587&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4942747731622494611--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4942747731622494611&hvtargid=kwd-851485877401&hydadcr=7466\_13183999\_2061416&keywords=silver%2Bticket%2Bscreen%2Bamazon&mcid=3535ff67b77d340db16219e2dbe83334&qid=1764275348&sr=8-1&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/STR-169135-WAB-Silver-Ticket-Cinema-Projector/dp/B00DGW15NU/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=186195495323&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-yj0K7HyxyowTE1geUOnKLJmYxZ7rvlDk5sAOL8LIBcKKO_PK50-DV0iowdnrMqEoA7VRzO3LlXb90deFXWmKox8ZkEt42eE7rTh2Tv5_MMcWS-CWaQtajh-1DGYU5ghFF7KfaOkQA2s_ac_wLnnn3iIrdLavHVShk1KOSwzb5Y.e7eEZx83imHP7ZmMkwZvGro89PjuqXJfXkSPyCvl4Ns&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779670249503&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9024587&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4942747731622494611--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4942747731622494611&hvtargid=kwd-851485877401&hydadcr=7466_13183999_2061416&keywords=silver%2Bticket%2Bscreen%2Bamazon&mcid=3535ff67b77d340db16219e2dbe83334&qid=1764275348&sr=8-1&th=1) Go with a Chief RPMAU mount if you're mounting. You will regret anything else

Correction: The W4100i is $2,699.99 so I would get it over the 5050ub for any screen size unless you plan to mount very off center, in which you would need the huge lens shift of the 5050ub. The W4100i has amazing lens shift, but the 5050ub has HUGE lens shift for off-center applications. But once again, both LS projectors will beat this, but those don't have 3D and don't have nearly as many lumens as this. You should use this website for determining throw distance: [https://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm](https://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm)

Nice Room! I would suggest a 7.2 sound system all in wall. If you give me a budget for audio, I can tell you what equipment to buy. That wall looks perfect to put an acoustic transparent screen so could you do me two things. 1. Measure the diagonal of that wall where the tv is on 2. Measure the depth of the room (the distance from the wall that the tv is on to the back wall near the sofa, so I can find a projector that would project the screen size you measure with that distance.

I missed the part you wrote about the size of the screen. Like others are saying, I’d go with the pro or max for a screen that’s 150” or larger — if you’ve got the budget, that is. From what I’ve seen, those models seem to have a crisper image, which will be needed for a screen that big.