Hisense Introduces The PX1-PRO TriChroma Laser Cinema

By Philip Boyle

Today Hisense announced the latest addition to their ultra-short-throw projector lineup: The PX1-PRO TriChroma Laser Cinema.

It seems like only yesterday we were reviewing the Hisense L9G which is an excellent, if not one of the best, ultra-short-projectors in its class. Technology never stands still, and today's announcement of the PX1-PRO, the latest in their growing line of Laser Cinema products, has me excited about putting this projector through its paces. 

So what does this new Laser Cinema projector offer, and what sets it apart from competitors and previous Hisense models?

To start with, there is a whole new design that visually sets this projector apart from other Hisense Laser Cinema projectors. The PX1-PRO does not come with a bundled screen, thus reducing the price and allowing you to select whatever screen you wish to use. This projector enables users to adjust the screen size using a new built-in digital zoom function. Let me give you what I know about this new Hisense projector in a little more detail.

TRICHROMA LASER LIGHT ENGINE

Featuring the award-winning TriChroma triple-laser light engine, the PX1-PRO achieves full coverage of the BT.2020 color space for a true-to-life picture in beautiful 4K resolution. This wide color gamut is possible because the triple laser light engine's RGB laser wavelengths are specifically chosen to optimize the primary colors of red, green, and blue. Also, note this makes the PX1-PRO consistent with our measured performance of the Hisense L9G.

DIGITAL LENS FOCUS

This is a new feature. The product's innovative Digital Lens Focus allows for ultra-fine focus tuning via menu controls to get a razor-sharp image in sizes from 90 to 130-inches. DLF is a welcome feature, effectively making any room capable of becoming a home theater. Placed just inches from the wall, the PX1-PRO casts an image as large as 130" with excellent brightness uniformity.

4K LASER CINEMA

4K Picture with HDR10: The PX1-PRO features 4K resolution, HDR10 support, and 2,200 lumens of brightness, offering stunning color and detail and unmatched picture clarity and focus uniformity.

Video streaming platforms offer a growing amount of 4K movies, even in HDR, just not at 60fps or higher. The reality is that 24fps is the standard despite some filmmakers like Peter Jackson and Ang Lee shooting content at frame rates higher than 24fps.

HDR/HDR10

HDR is found on most full HD and 4K TVs. Both full HD and 4K TVs offer great picture quality compared to traditional technologies. HDR is being introduced to enhance picture quality and make the projected image look more realistic, like what you see with your own eyes. You see a wider range of colors and depth in contrast between lighter and darker shades with HDR. This technology also combines dimming and adjusting brightness levels to produce pictures at the highest Nit rating. A Nit is the measurement of brightness a TV screen can produce.

HDR 10 was first announced by the Consumer Technology Association, a US-based consumer electronic association. HDR 10 standard sends static metadata to the video stream. Metadata is encoded information on color calibration settings required to make a picture look real. 

High Dynamic Range expands color and contrast so you can enjoy a stunningly vibrant picture with incredible depth and detail. The Hisense PX1-PRO supports multiple HDR modes to enhance video for deeper blacks and brighter whites, greater detail in both the dark and bright parts in the same image, and greater detail within an extended color space. Dynamic HDR support ensures that video is displayed at the ideal depth, detail, brightness, contrast, and wider color gamuts for all kinds of content.

BRIGHTNESS

The TriChroma triple-laser light engine faithfully recreates a rated brightness of 2,200 lumens peak brightness, which is lower than the L5G's 2,700 lumens and the L9G's 3,000 lumens. These ratings should still allow users to achieve good highlights with deep black levels and shadow details, especially when viewed in a light-controlled space. I'll be looking closely at the brightness performance of this projector when I receive a review sample.

CINEMATIC SOUND

Premium features like eARC for lossless audio and Dolby Atmos Sound provide a listening experience beyond the built-in sound system's performance capabilities. Use eARC to pass through uncompressed audio to a multi-channel surround sound system. 

Alternatively, the built-in 30W Dolby Atmos sound should deliver spatial audio without the need for any extra equipment. 

FILMMAKER MODE

Like many high-quality projectors, the Hisense PX1-PRO includes a Filmmaker mode. Filmmaker Mode was created by collaborating filmmakers, Hollywood studios, consumer electronics companies, and the UHD Alliance. Hisense can offer Filmmaker mode on the PX1-PRO because they have agreed to abide by specific industry standards.

Filmmaker mode can be manually switched on from the projector's Settings menu. It can also be automatically activated by metadata embedded in the video bitstream. Filmmaker mode will automatically engage and disengage multiple picture settings, including frame rate, aspect ratio, motion interpolation, sharpening, and noise reduction, to best present content as the creators intended.

ANDROID TV WITH GOOGLE ASSISTANT

The PX1-PRO utilizes the Android TV operating system, and you can also access many other popular streaming services, including YouTube, Vudu, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Fandango Now, and Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, you can download various additional apps and games from the Google Play store.

Hisense brings its integrated TV OS experience to the PX1-PRO and provides the same Android TV smart platform found in their newest flat-panel TVs. The projector's menus and Android TV are seamlessly integrated, providing a smooth and well-thought-out user experience.

BUILT-IN WIFI AND BLUETOOTH

Built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, Google Assistant, Works with Alexa, and Control4 compatible, the PX1-PRO can be integrated with your smart home ecosystem to create automations to your heart's content.

GAMING

The PX1-PRO can display 4K games at 60 frames per second so gaming on next-generation consoles like the PS5 and XBOX Series X should be excellent. With the PX1-PRO's microsecond-level processor response, you never miss a moment of action. Fast-moving images should be buttery smooth and crystal clear, so whether it's sports, games, or action films, the PX1-PRO should keep pace.

Hisense Game Mode with ALLM means there's no need to manually change picture settings when you’re about to drop into a game. Auto Low Latency mode detects when a gaming console is the active source and automatically adjusts projector settings to optimize game performance.

INTEGRATED TV TUNER

The Hisense PX1-PRO is designed to be a viable alternative to a flat-panel TV, so Hisense included an onboard TV tuner which is a must-have for customers looking to replace their flat-panel TV with a projector. On the back, with the other connectors, you'll find the standard 75-ohm coaxial connector used by TV antennas. You can also plug in the coaxial cable signal from a set-top box, although most of today's boxes will offer the best performance from HDMI.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Hisense's latest Laser Cinema looks poised to deliver on the features home cinema enthusiasts care about, including eARC for uncompressed audio passthrough, custom picture modes for SDR and HDR content, multipoint greyscale calibration controls, and easy integrations with smart home controls and devices. You don't have to be a cinephile or have a dedicated theater room to appreciate the performance and ease of use of the PX1-PRO. Smart Android TV OS, built-in 30W sound, and WiFi connectivity make setting up a 130" home theater with the PX1-PRO as easy as plugging in a smart TV. 

If you are looking for a more convenient alternative to a traditional home theater system, like a flat panel television and an external sound system, the PX1-PRO Laser Cinema may just be the projector you are looking for. It can be placed just 11 inches from the wall and get a massive image allowing you to immerse yourself in your favorite games, movies, and TV shows like never before. 

Like many previous Hisense projectors, the PX1-PRO was announced and ships today. This Hisense TriChroma Laser Cinema is available through multiple retailers, including Amazon, ProjectorScreen.com, and World Wide Stereo, with an MSRP of $3,999.

If you want to learn more about the Hisense PX1-PRO or other Hisense home video projectors, be sure to go to www.hisense.com. For more information about this and other Hisense products, check out our articles and reviews at www.projectorreviews.com. Be sure to check back for the full review once we receive our product sample.