Boxlight SP-11i User Reviews

This projector was quite easy to set-up, then again I have not had any problems with any others. It has most of the connections that one could want, component, s-video and composite, though it does not have a digital connection. If it is connected to an operating video device it will self detect the signal, so there is little by way of set up. The screen door efffect is visible, but a slight turn of the focus ring corrects this, and it becomes hardly noticeable. The colors are very rich, and video is very clean. My only real complaint is the low contrast rating, 300:1. This is not really adequate if you are a video buff and want the best possible picture. Then again, if you want a nice projector that produces good images, is light enough to take on the road, and one that has NO rainbow effect, for $1000 this should be on your list. DVD's look great! I don't recommend TV, though EDTV (480p) should be fine. Most other HDTV formats are supported as well. I am projecting on a Da-lite 106" HDTV format (16:9) screen, with a high contrast coating. This is supposed to be able to produce a higher contrast, then say the bed sheet that I had been using as a temporary solution. And I could not be happier! I use it for two things, DVD's and company presentations. The brightness is just barely adequate for medium size rooms, and is actually ok if the lighting can be controlled. I gave the image quality a good rating because SVGA is adequate, and XGA would produce much smaller and less noticeable pixels. Then again, this can be somewhat corrected by softening the focus, so a good rating seems appropriate. Also, the contrast being 300:1 is noticeable on a bed sheet, less so on the actual screen, but still quite recognizable. Features would have received an excellent rating if there was a digital connection, but I can't complain for $999! Construction would have made it to excellent if the first projector hadn't died the first week from apparent heart failure! I mean the fan and the bulb after 12 hours! that did not seem right! Ease of use, you won't have a problem here at all. Reliability, I realize that once in a while, someone is going to get a bad apple, or lemon, I am not sure which it is, but I think that is what happened to my first one. Value, I am sure that there are some other $999 projectors out there that would give this one a run for the money, but they all have their little vices. like the X-1 with its rainbow effect (I have experienced this, and was not sure what it was at first, but became quite distracted with it, and once I found out what it was, I did not want to see it again! It can be very annoying, and straining on the eyes.) and low light mode to increase contrast (side note, the SP11i can also be run in a near silent economy mode which also appears to boost contrast slightly), and I am sure the offerings from epson and sharp will be similar to this one.

Any Problems: The first model I had, quickly died because of a bad fan and then quickly a bad bulb. Boxlight did a warranty return and I got a brand new one within a week. I would have liked a faster turn around, but their warranty is good and the people are nice, and since I live only 15 minutes from them, I feel pretty good about the situation. I had face time with their rep, which is always a good thing.