in all Of the gadgets and gizmos on my desk, few have more problems than a projector. I’m tempted – everyone wants a big-format movie experience at home, and everyone thinks it’s super easy right now. How hard and expensive is it?
It turned out to be quite difficult and quite expensive. Creating a proper home theater requires a lot of other things. That’s why projectors like the LG CineBeam HU710PW, while expensive and still require some installation tools, I recommend some of them.It delivers an excellent and reasonably bright image at 4K resolution, and the settings are Very simple. It also comes with LG’s smart TV ecosystem and smart remote, so you can point and click into Netflix.
Granted, it’s not as affordable as a big TV, but it’s one of the best home theater projectors I’ve tested. From setup to long-term viewing, I am very satisfied.
Theater, Unboxed
Projectors are usually speckled, ugly things, but Cinebeam is a clear rectangle with sharp edges that is easy to maneuver and mount on my ceiling. (It’s a modest 14.3 pounds, which helps.) I immediately set it up on my 100-inch screen, using the existing stand and power supply I had installed in my viewing space. You’ll need a nearby power outlet or a separate extension cord, as this projector comes with a very heavy power brick – you don’t want to hang it in the air.
One of the best features of this model is that it has excellent built-in lens shift and zoom adjustments – knobs that allow you to move the image left, right, up or down, as well as resize the image to fit your screen. This makes the HU710PW (and its big brother, the HU810PW) the easiest projector to set up and look good in your space.
Turn on the projector and it will launch LG’s webOS interface setup, allowing you to log into streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more via the included remote. Think of a remote like the Nintendo Wiimote you probably used a decade ago. Point and click, and a small cursor on the screen follows the movements of the remote like a magic wand. quite beautiful!
Having such a great onboard OS really makes this projector stand out from the crowd. Most other home theater projectors in this price range still require you to buy a Roku or other streaming device and take on all the associated wiring and headaches. Not having to worry about plugging the projector into my surround sound system with just an HDMI cable is nice.
laser focus
A laser and two LEDs provide light and color at 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160), and the whole device becomes bright enough to support HDR10. The HU710PW delivers up to 2,000 lumens of peak brightness, which isn’t harsh but bright enough for dark or moderately dark rooms. Frankly, if your room isn’t getting dark and you’re considering buying a projector, think carefully and be prepared to spend a lot of money on a projector that’s bright enough.
I really enjoy watching movies and shows on the HU710PW. It looks fantastic and works as well as any LG TV – a testament to the company’s commitment to making all home theater products share a single user experience. Colors are bright and accurate thanks to LG’s TruMotion engine, and the TV responds well to fast motion in Sport and Game modes.
You’ll get 20,000 hours of playback before you need to think about buying another projector, which is a lot even if you leave it running 24/7. One thing you definitely need is a sound bar or surround sound system. This projector has 10-watt stereo speakers on each side, but they leave a lot to be desired. The HDMI eARC port means that any modern system can use a single HDMI cable to connect the two, as in my case. There are two other HDMI inputs, so you can plug in a gaming system or disc player.
