The Nebula X1 is the company's latest and best 4K portable/lifestyle projector. The X1 is powered by a Texas Instruments 0.47-inch DMD chip with XPR technology, delivering 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) on-screen resolution. The X1's RGB laser displays accurate colors that range up to 110% of the BT.2020 color space. The X1 is the world's first projector to feature a state-of-the-art, liquid-cooled RGB laser light source, which is incredibly bright and quiet, producing less than 26 dB of fan noise.
The X1 is rated to produce up to 3,500 ANSI lumens of brightness with a manufacturer's native contrast ratio of 5,000:1. Nebula has completely redesigned the projector’s optical assembly, making it the first smart projector to feature a 14-element all-glass lens, delivering superior clarity and thermal stability.
This new optical assembly also features a built-in micro gimbal that tilts up to 25 degrees, making setup incredibly easy while increasing the number of placement options. The X1 offers Nebula's AI Spatial Adaptation auto setup procedure, which includes real-time autofocus and keystone correction, auto obstacle avoidance, auto screen fit, auto optical zoom, ambient light adaptation, and wall color adaptation. Nebula projectors offer some of the best on-board sound available, and that continues in the X1, which features four (4) side-firing, internal speakers (two 15 W full-range speakers, two 5 W tweeters, and two passive radiators) that offer a powerful sound experience with excellent bass and stereo imaging.
Available separately or as part of a bundle, Nebula offers two wireless satellite speakers, each containing four upward and side-firing drivers for an immersive audio experience. These wireless speakers provide up to eight hours of battery life and can be recharged via their built-in USB-C ports.
The Nebula X1 is a smart projector powered by the latest Google TV OS, which enables users to enjoy the widest range of popular streaming services, including access to over 10,000 apps.
The Nebula X1 was announced in April and will be available in a projector-only option for $2,999 MSRP or as a bundle with wireless speakers, microphones, and a carrying case for $3,299 at nebula.com and authorized resellers nationwide.
Nebula X1
Suggested Retail Price: $2999
Ratings Based On Comparable Models
Color Reproduction
Brightness
Contrast
SOUND
Pros
+ Patented RGB laser light source + 3500 lumens with liquid cooling + 5000:1 native contrast ratio + 14-element all-glass zoom lens + Six-blade dynamic aperture + Built-in gimbal with 25-degree tilt + Google TV OS with native Netflix app
Cons
- Bright Reds Were Oversaturated. - Some Images appear over-sharpened - CMS workflow is non-standard - Saved Geometry Not Functional - No built-in battery
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OVERVIEW
The Nebula X1's laser is bright, producing 3,500 ANSI lumens of manufacturer-rated output. This 3,500 ANSI lumen level of light output is typically only found in high-end DLP home entertainment projectors. However, this incredibly bright projector has more than enough power to be used in a variety of environments, from outdoor parties to backyard movie nights. It's great for on-the-go gaming, with more than enough light to fill a screen up to 300 inches in spaces with limited control over ambient light sources, and even in a living room with lots of windows.
In my living room, I have a giant eight-foot bay window with wooden blinds that, even when closed, leak tons of light during the day. However, the X1 powered through all of it, and it did so in MOVIE mode with dynamic color. With 3,500 ANSI lumens of brightness, I didn’t need to use the projector's super-bright, super-blue CONFERENCE mode to get a watchable picture.
Nebula has added a 6-blade dynamic iris and a proprietary contrast algorithm that enables the X1 to harness the projector's high light output, giving it a native contrast that is five times higher than that of projectors powered by a patented RGB LED light source. The X1’s dynamic iris enables the projector to balance brightness and shadow depth in real time. The projector's RGB laser light source is patented and can reproduce up to 110% of the Rec. 2020 color space. Nebula achieves this remarkable level of color performance through both software and hardware advancements. Nebula’s laser light engine, referred to by the company as Laser Forge 2.0, offers a color accuracy with a Delta E (ΔE) of less than 0.8%.
Even in my living room, with its subpar lighting control, this projector displays deep, dynamic colors on screen and is factory-calibrated for ISF levels of performance. According to Nebula's website, the average price of a factory-calibrated ISF projector is approximately $5,000. The X1 retails for $2,999 (projector only).
Nebula achieves this level of performance by employing several different technologies. The X1 is the industry's first projector to use a patented U-shaped laser optical path, delivering brighter visuals and richer colors while reducing the projector's volume by 50%. This innovative design ensures an exceptional viewing experience with enhanced clarity and sharpness.
The X1 utilizes a double-pass light diffusion (DPLD) technology, sending the laser's light through the color phosphor wheel twice before it’s projected onto the screen. Diffusing the light twice with a single-color filter enables the X1 to achieve over 90% uniformity in both color and brightness, resulting in natural, true-to-life visuals.
Nebula's engineers have developed an industry-first internal liquid cooling system for a home entertainment projector, similar to those found in high-end gaming desktop computers. The liquid cooling system improves heat dissipation by 30%, reduces the projector's size by 30%, and lowers noise levels to 26 dB, ensuring optimal performance, quieter operation, and a more compact design for long-lasting, reliable use.
This liquid cooling system, combined with a single, large fan at the rear, enhances heat dissipation and doesn’t rely solely on fans, resulting in a cooling system that generates only 26 dB of noise (at one meter), equivalent to a whisper. For reference, 26 dB is less than the typical ambient noise level of a living room.
The X1's 14-element all-glass lens produces a high-quality, low-distortion image that won’t yellow over time. This multi-element lens features electronic optical zoom and is capable of displaying a large image up to 300 inches diagonally, while maintaining excellent overall image quality.
The X1 features another first: a built-in micro-gimbal that can automatically tilt the image up and down via a 25° motorized adjustment with optical zoom. This advanced design allows the projector to achieve precise image alignment even when placed off-angle or on the floor. This feature ensures smooth and stable projections, making it ideal for homes where space is a premium and every degree of adjustment matters.
Every home theater lover understands that being able to generate a great-looking picture is only half of what makes a stellar home theater experience. To have an immersive movie experience, you also need great sound to fully engage with the movie. Most projectors fall short in terms of audio performance, but the X1 is different. This projector features four side-firing speakers, made up of two 15 W drivers and two 5 W tweeters, along with two passive radiators, delivering sound that surpasses most other projectors. And Nebula didn't stop there. For even more immersive audio, they created optional lossless Wi-Fi satellite speakers.
The Nebula X1 supports Dolby Vision HDR content. One of the biggest advantages that Dolby Vision brings to the X1 is the ability to utilize dynamic metadata for optimal viewing. The X1 also features HDR10 for broad content compatibility. HDR10 uses static metadata, which applies a single set of settings across the entire video.
Nebula is the largest Google TV projector brand globally. The Nebula X1 is powered by Google TV OS, which offers significant advantages compared to other smart projector operating systems. For anyone who has used an Android device, Google TV will provide you with a very familiar and robust smart OS experience, offering access to over 10,000 applications via the Google Play Store. Also, Google TV delivers seamless access to a vast library of streaming services, apps, and more, all within an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
A key benefit of Google TV on Nebula projectors is the inclusion of the official Netflix application. This ensures a smooth, optimized, and fully supported Netflix experience, complete with all the latest features and the highest possible streaming quality without the need for sideloading or complicated and unreliable workarounds. With the official Netflix app, you can dive into your favorite movies and shows with reliable performance and easy navigation, right out of the box. The integration of Google TV also brings features like built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant, further enhancing the smart capabilities and convenience of your Nebula projector.
HARDWARE
CHASSIS
The Nebula X1 chassis is rectangular and features a retractable (and addictive to use) pop-up handle on the top of the projector. The color scheme remains the same as the Mars series, featuring two-tone gray on all Nebula projectors.
The sides of the unit are completely flush with grills for the cooling fans and speakers. At the bottom of the case, more cooling vents with rubber feet are found. The X1 measures (HxWxD) 9.7 × 7.3 × 11.1 inches (245.5 × 186 × 282 mm) and weighs 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg).
To turn the projector on, press the power button on the remote control or the top rear of the projector. It takes about 30 seconds to start the projector from the OFF position, compared to 7 seconds from the STANDBY position.
The projector offers several controls, including a Power On/Off switch, located on the top rear of the unit. In front of that switch are a Menu toggle and a Navigation control with a Return button to the left and a button for Auto Image Correction to the right. Above these controls is a Volume control. The remote controls everything else. If you don't have the remote handy, you can control and adjust the projector using the mobile phone application.
All inputs and connections are on the projector's back panel. The X1 features two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which supports Enhanced Audio Return (eARC) functionality. Theoretically, HDMI 2.1 inputs support a bandwidth of up to 48 Gbps for 8K/60p playback and 4K/120p content. This projector's DLP chip only supports up to 4K@60Hz video playback.
As of my testing, the Nebula X1 4K does not support Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), but it does feature Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) adjustment in the projector's advanced menus. The Nebula X1 can also control connected devices, such as an A/V receiver, via an HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC). The projector also features full-size USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports, as well as an optical audio connection port.
The Nebula X1 is the world's first smart projector to feature a cinema-grade lens system of 14 separate all-glass elements. By using glass rather than composite (plastic) lenses, the X1 is capable of delivering impressive image clarity, thermal stability, and long-lasting picture quality that won’t yellow as the projector ages. This advanced lens technology is sharper and more detailed than that of previous Nebula projectors, enhancing the viewing experience.
The X1 features a 0.9:1 to 1.5:1 electronic optical zoom, allowing the projector to adapt to almost any room or screen size within the manufacturer's set specification. This means the projector can display a huge image up to 300 inches diagonally, closer to the screen than typical standard throw projectors, without special mounting equipment. The X1 can project a massive image while maintaining the best overall image quality.
For the first time, Nebula has built an entire ecosystem of optional accessories designed to enhance the overall experience of transporting and using your Nebula X1 projector. For example, Nebula has created a pair of wireless satellite speakers that offer an amazing sound experience, meeting and even exceeding the quality of many soundbars.
These small but powerful satellite speakers feature a built-in battery that can play for eight hours, which is about four movies’ worth of sound performance. The speakers connect to the X1 projector wirelessly, with a latency of less than 25 milliseconds. For comparison, typical Bluetooth speakers have a latency of around 200 milliseconds, which is significantly slower than the speaker's latency. This faster speed means that the sound from the speakers is visually synced with the actor's lips moving on screen with no visible lag.
The new wireless speakers connect using the brand-new 5.8 G wireless specification. These wireless speakers last for up to 8 hours on a single charge and conveniently recharge via USB-C. Additionally, with their IP54 dust and water resistance, a little rain won't hurt them.
For optimal results, consider using these optional wireless speakers in conjunction with the X1's internal speakers in SUBWOOFER mode, creating a true 4.1.2 audio system. This allows you not only to hear the music and special effects but also to feel them.
Nebula has also introduced the Nebula Wireless Microphone 2, which features dual high-sensitivity microphones with 50 dB of noise suppression, delivering crystal-clear sound. These optional microphones are designed for meetings, live streams, or presentations and feature built-in rechargeable batteries with 40 hours of battery life and 15 ms ultra-low latency, ensuring uninterrupted, lag-free performance for real-time collaboration, gaming, or virtual events. This hybrid design seamlessly adapts to environments from corporate conferences to karaoke nights at home or on the go at a party.
Nebula has also created a foam-reinforced cloth carrying case that holds the projector, the optional wireless speakers, and the two microphones.
In addition to the wireless speakers, microphones, and carrying bag, Nebula plans to release a gimbal swivel stand, a floor mount, and a ceiling mount for the X1 projector.
For a limited time, the Nebula X1 is available for purchase on seenebula.com and Amazon.com for $2,999. It is also available as a “backyard accessory pack,” which includes two wireless satellite speakers, an X1 carry case, and two wireless microphones, for $999. This bundle, when paired with the X1, is available for $3,298 in the US through June 20th. If you want to purchase, be sure to use the affiliate links to support Projector Reviews and help us, at no cost to you, produce more content like this to help you make a purchase decision.
PERFORMANCE
COLOR REPRODUCTION
Out of the box, this projector produces a very nice picture. but the colors were not perfect out of the box. The X1 comes with excellent factory tuning, and based on my testing, it’s clear that Nebula has incredibly skilled engineers who appear to have dialed in every preset with an attention to detail often not seen with consumer projectors.
The overall image looked good but reds were slightly oversaturated. You can see the results of this in my shots from Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the red of Peter's suit is very vibrant but certainly not unpleasant. You can see the same effect in the shots from Passengers in the sushi restaurant and the scene from the movie Lucy, with the saturated red paint on the three Native Americans.
I took the time to measure the projector’s picture modes and make some picture quality adjustments. Since your room and screen material significantly impact the overall picture, we don’t recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments. If your room is brighter or darker or your walls are a different color, copying someone else's results can cause more harm than good.
I used Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software, a Murideo Seven Generator 8K, and a Klein K10-A colorimeter to measure the projector's color accuracy and make adjustments. I’m including the before-and-after calibration results, but to be clear, we don't recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments.
The projector’s ISF modes were locked to the factory settings out of the box. Therefore, for calibration, we used the projector's MOVIE mode, which was almost identical to the ISF DAY preset, to calibrate the projector. The CMS tools on the X1 were as robust as any calibrator could desire. However, Nebula's organization and choice of location of several key adjustment elements were inconsistent with those of other projectors we have calibrated. This learning curve slowed the process.
Most people will not spend several hundred dollars to calibrate a three-thousand-dollar projector. At a minimum, you should make BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS settings to optimize your projector for your room. If you'd like to give it a try, we've taken the time to compile links to a variety of tools, including some free test patterns from Murideo. Also, check out the Projector Reviews YouTube video called 5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Video Display's Picture Quality Using Free Murideo Test Patterns. Murideo also has written instructions in the resource section of its website.
Pre-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale
My measurements confirmed my observations, primarily that this mode is the most accurate out of the box; however, the color temperature was warmer than desired due to an excessive amount of red. This impacted the grayscale, making it appear more pink, and it also altered the overall color balance.
However, it only required a few quick adjustments to the projector's white balance, bringing the projector's overall color performance to an outstanding level. 0.7 is outstanding.
The pre-calibration color temperature for ISF NIGHT mode was 5614, which is very close to the target of 6500 K. However, the Grayscale measurements showed a slight overemphasis toward pink, resulting in an average Grayscale delta error of around 6.1. This is not bad for an out-of-the-box measurement. The gamma point was 2.16, nearly hitting my target of 2.2.
Picture Mode: ISF-NIGHT
Color Temperature: 5614K
Gamma: 2.16
Average Grayscale dE: 6.1
Average Color Tracking dE: 4.47
Post-Calibration Color Tracking and Grayscale
To have access to all the picture adjustment I switch for ISF NIGHT to the MOVIE picture mode. To achieve my Gamma target of 2.2, I reduced the Gamma setting to -1. I left the Color Temp setting at its default of 6500K, which is fine since the color temperature was already close to my target of 6500K.
To produce even better grayscale (RGB Balance), I reduced the Red Gain and Blue Gain settings slightly. This resulted in a color temperature that was even closer to my target of 6500K.
The color tracking was excellent out of the box, but I did use the CMS adjustments to make some small adjustments to Red, Green, Blue, and Magenta.
After adjusting the X1S, the improvement in color reproduction was minor but noticeable. The brightness after calibration was 300 nits.
Picture Mode: MOVIE
Gamma: 2.19
Color Temperature: 6569K
Average Grayscale dE: 0.8
Average Color Tracking dE: 0.9
HDR Color Tracking and Grayscale
The out-of-the-box HDR color reproduction was also very good. Like SDR, the most accurate picture mode was ISF NIGHT. Picture adjustments like Contrast, Brightness, CMS, and RGB adjustments are applied to the HDR and SDR versions of that picture mode. For HDR content, the projector provides several dedicated modes, such as NEBULA MASTER, STANDARD, VIVID, SPORT, MOVIE, GAME CONFERENCE, ISF DAY, AND ISF NIGHT MODE
While the color temperature measured was close to 6,500K, a slight red bias was present, which was quickly corrected using the projector's 2-point grayscale adjustments. A quick adjustment to the gains in two-point grayscale resulted in RGB Balance. Once the RGB balance was adjusted, the color tracking was very good. Most of the colors had delta errors below 3. I fine-tuned Red and Blue further using the projector’s CMS adjustments.
To accurately track most red shades, the brightest reds were slightly oversaturated. After adjustment, the MOVIE mode’s brightness was very close to what it was before the unit was calibrated. The MOVIE mode’s grayscale was spot on once calibrated for SDR When viewing HDR, I did not feel the need to make any further color adjustments.
BRIGHTNESS
The Nebula X1 is a stunningly bright projector. I’ll get into the specific brightness measurements below, but before that, I have to stress that the new Light Forge 2.0 RGB laser light source is capable of producing a far brighter image than even Nebula lists it as being capable of. Nebula rates the X1’s brightness as 3,500 lumens, but in my testing, I was able to measure a brightness of over 4,000 lumens, using the projector's out-of-the-box CONFERENCE mode. This measurement was achieved without tweaking the projector’s brightness and contrast settings.
This level of brightness means that you can use the Nebula X1 in all but the most challenging environments. In the living room with the lights on? Yes. With light coming through the blinds directly across from the screen. Yup. In the backyard for gaming or watching a movie with friends and family at dusk, with a decent amount of light still in the sky. No problem. This projector has brightness to spare!
What do I mean by this? Well, I’ll tell you, while we strongly encourage you to manually align your projector with your screen, the Nebula X1 has sufficient brightness to take full advantage of all the projector's digital image correction features without any noticeable impact on overall picture quality. At one point while retracting my matte white screen, I ended up projecting an image onto an ALR screen designed only for ultra-short-throw projectors, something I do not recommend doing, but the X1 is so bright, even with the light loss caused by the ALR screen, the X1 still displayed a very impressive image.
To measure the projector’s maximum out-of-the-box brightness, I set the X1 to the CONFERENCE mode (the brightest mode). I made no other changes to the projector's settings. I took 3-4 readings about 15-20% out from the center of the lens. CONFERENCE mode measured 4,279 lumens. I took my readings twice. This reading is 779 lumens brighter than Nebula’s rating. The only way I can make sense of such a huge delta in the numbers between my readings and Nebula’s rating is that the Nebula chose not to use the very blueish green image that the CONFERENCE mode produces and selected a more color-balanced preset mode. As you can see below, the STANDARD mode measures 3,568 lumens—much more in line with Nebula’s published rating.
The remaining measurements are listed in the chart below.
Picture Modes: Brightness
Picture Mode
Brightness Measured (Lumens)
NEBULA MASTER
3329
STANDARD
2751
VIVID
2751
SPORT
3328
MOVIE
2970
GAME
3328
CONFERENCE
4279
ISF-DAY
2960
ISF-NIGHT
2974
BLACK LEVEL AND SHADOW DETAIL
The Nebula X1 is a DLP projector that utilizes a 0.47-inch TI digital micromirror device, and it’s extremely bright, so you might expect that its black level performance would be comparable to that of other bright DLP projectors or other Nebula projectors. Well, it’s not. It’s better. The X1 offers one of the best contrast and black level performance levels I’ve seen on a DLP projector in it's class and even beyond, including some of my favorite 0.65-inch DLP projectors. Has Nebula figured out how to produce the inky blacks with detailed dark areas, similar to those found on LCOS projectors from companies like Sony and JVC? No, they have not, but with the X1’s excellent contrast and dark area detail, Nebula has come closer than most other DLP projectors utilizing its contrast capability to deliver an outstanding black level and onscreen contrast when viewing real-world SDR and HDR content.
According to Nebula, the company's newest NebulaMaster version 2.0 algorithm significantly contributes to the projector's excellent contrast and black level performance. Nebula rates the projector's contrast as 5,000:1 native and 56,000:1 dynamic. The X1 also features a 6-blade dynamic iris, yet another impressive piece of hardware that is not typically found on most DLP projectors, and certainly not on a portable projector.
With the combination of NebulaMaster 2.0 and dynamic iris, the X1 can balance displayed brightness and shadow depth dynamically (in real time), displaying great-looking on-screen blacks while preserving an incredible amount of light and dark area detail across a range of content. As you can see in the slideshow above, the Nebula X1 looks fantastic, showcasing some of the most challenging content, such as the shot from Warner Bros. The Batman is one of the most difficult movies when it comes to dark area details.
In the scene with the Riddler standing in the shadows of the mayor's office the X1 displays a very respectable black level without crushing all the black details. The X1 not only shows the Riddler standing out from the dark background but also preserves the dark area details in his jacket and shirt at a level I rarely see in a DLP projector. You can see for yourself in the slideshow above in the shot of the penguin standing in a snowstorm the X1 proved more than capable of handling the most challenging content I fed it, displaying excellent black levels as well as dark and light area details.
Not everything was perfect. For example, when watching movies like James Cameron’s True Lies, some darker scenes or even scenes with both bright and dark area details looked processed and over-sharpened at times. This could be the projector highlighting the haphazard AI upscaling used in the creation of the 4K master, but it seemed to stand out more on the X1 than on other projectors in this price range.
During our testing, we found that in most cases, leaving the projector’s black level settings in AUTO mode is good enough, measuring about 3,000:1. If you want to deepen the black level performance, especially when watching SDR movies in the dark, I would set the projector's iris at its minimum setting. To double your contrast, you either need to double the brightness or reduce the black level.
We measured a respectable native contrast of 4700:1, which is in line with Nebula’s stated 5,000:1 native contrast. Doing this will result in a significant loss of brightness. For example, when we used the same content and changed the projector's iris mode from minimum to maximum, we found the projector to be 70% brighter.
STANDARD DYNAMIC RANGE
To evaluate the Nebula X1’s SDR performance, I used several broadcast television programs and one of my favorite movies, “Lawrence of Arabia”. Except for the CONFERENCE mode, which is intended for the most challenging lighting situations only, I found the color performance of all the projectors' picture preset modes to be quite good. That said, for movie content, I found the MOVIE preset picture mode and the ISF DAY modes to be incredibly similar. Since the ISF modes are code-locked for adjustment, I ended up using the MOVIE mode for calibration. However, out of the box, when viewing SDR content in a room with some ambient light, I used the ISF DAY mode, and in the dark, I chose the ISF NIGHT mode.
The Nebula X1 supports the following active 3D formats: Frame Packing, Side by Side, and Top and Bottom. 3D content looked excellent, largely due to the X1’s excellent brightness.
HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE
The Nebula X1 supports HDR10, and HLG and Dolby Vision. The dynamic metadata provide in Dolby Vision content, it is often considered superior to static metadata found in HDR10 material because it provides more granular and detailed information about video content, enabling more precise analysis and automation
The Nebula X1 includes several preset HDR modes. The most accurate HDR10 modes are the MOVIE and ISF DAY modes. The Nebula X1 Pro will automatically switch into either SDR, HDR10, or Dolby Vision mode based on the encoding of the movie, show, or game. The projector’s HDR modes are identical to its SDR modes. There are also three (3) Dolby Vision modes. I used the DOLBY VISION BRIGHT mode when viewing both bright and dark rooms.
The HDR dynamic tone mapping of the Nebula X1 is excellent. Colors are saturated but not overly, and highlights are bright without reducing details in the darker areas. When viewing HDR10, there was no need to adjust the settings when switching between dark and bright scenes. Nebula claims the X1 can reproduce 110% of the Rec. 2020 color gamut which ensures the X1S can display the expanded colors found in HDR content.
The Nebula X1’s HDR performance is balanced, displaying video that is bright and draws you into the displayed image. I was able to compare both the HDR10 and Dolby Vision versions of True Lies and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the difference was noticeable but not dramatic.
SOUND
When it comes to sound the performance of the built-in speakers is very good. Nebula has included four side-firing speakers inside the projector's body (2x 15W drivers and 2x 5W tweeters, plus 2x passive radiators. By itself, the X1 produces audio that typically requires an ultra-short-throw projector or sound bar to achieve. But that’s not where it stops.
As I noted in the hardware section Nebula offers a packaged version of this projector with a carrying case, two (2) wireless microphones and most importantly two (2) wireless stereo speakers that when combined with the projectors sound system offers big perforance (200W output, producing 90dB of clarity with 55 Hz of bass depth and 40 kHz of high-frequency detail). Nebula claims this 4.2.1 combination eliminates the need for external equipment and adapts to any space, producing room-filling sound. And while there’s a lot of marketing in that statement, it’s also true. Altogether, the speakers function as full-range stereo left and right speakers (each is marked with a big L and an R so you don’t need to guess which is which).
The same button on the back of each speaker, which turns each one on, also serves as a pairing button. With just two clicks, the speaker initiates the pairing process with the projector, and most of the time, it works very well… most of the time. After initially pairing the speakers with the projector in my lab, I packed everything up and moved it to my living room. When I turned everything on, the left speaker would not reconnect to the projector. After multiple attempts to connect the speaker, I had to delete it and start the process over from scratch, and it finally worked. Each speaker easily reconnected when I moved the projector again and turned it back on.
When everything is set up correctly, the combination of the wireless speakers and the projector's speakers sounds amazing, with a lot of bass (including rumble) and stereo imaging that you won’t find in another home theater projector. Additionally, because the speakers are external, you can affect the overall stereo imaging by adjusting the speaker position in the room. This combination sounds great with big, dynamic bass, crispy highs, and very impressive 4.2.1 imaging.
AUTO SETUP & CORRECTION MODES
While most projectors don't warrant a deep dive into their automatic image adjustments, the Nebula X1 is a different beast. Its internal gimbal functionality and touted auto adjustments are central to its value proposition, and no other projector boasts a built-in electronic gimbal that shifts the lens like the X1. Let's break down these features, as found in the "PROJECTOR" menu under SETTINGS.
Spatial Adaptation, designed to scan the projection surface and optimize the image, sounds impressive. It even projects a cool grid pattern and uses sensors to detect obstructions. However, in practice, it underperformed. I tested it on two different screens with visible borders. Both times, despite the projector being optimally placed and with no obstructions other than the screens, the feature failed to correctly fit the image, requiring manual adjustment using the corner correction.
My experience with Spatial Recall was equally frustrating. After manually adjusting the image and saving the settings, I let the projector time out and shut down. Upon restarting an hour later, the image did not return to its saved position, even though the projector hadn't moved. While my 4-corner adjustments were still applied, the internal gimbal had reset. When I selected my saved position, the image overshot the screen significantly and was unusable, forcing me to manually realign it once again. This happened consistently, rendering the Spatial Recall feature ineffective.
On a more positive note, both Auto Focus and Manual Focus worked flawlessly, delivering fast and accurate results. Unfortunately, Auto Keystone Correction failed to work, even when the initial image overshot the screen borders. It's worth noting that the manual "Keystone Correction" here is actually a Four Corner Correction, or "Corner Pinning," which worked as expected.
Two features that truly delivered were Auto Screen Fit and Move & Zoom. Both of these worked perfectly, proving fast and accurate. Ultimately, I ended up disabling all the auto features except for Auto Focus and Auto Screen Fit.
SUMMARY
The Nebula X1 is one of the most impressive projectors I’ve reviewed across many classes of projectors. Whether for portable, lifestyle, or home theater use, this projector appears to have it all. From advanced hardware to performance worthy of some of the best home theater DLP projectors available under $5,000.
Let’s talk about what the most important feature in a projector is, and that’s the X1’s picture quality. To start with, the Nebula X1 is an incredibly bright projector, boasting a brightness level that, in my testing, exceeded 4,000 lumens.
For a portable projector that is unbelievable, but it’s even remarkably impressive for a home theater or lifestyle projector, and I guess that’s really what this projector is: a lifestyle projector on steroids. The X1’s stunning brightness means that this projector can display a vivid image across a range of challenging environments whether it’s in your living room with small amounts of uncontrolled ambient light sources to the backyard for movies or games at dusk when there is still plenty of light that would crush most video projectors but not the Nebula X1.
When you combine the X1’s brightness with Nebula’s 14-element all-glass optics, the image that this projector displays is so tight from corner to corner with almost no visible optical distortion. However, Nebula doesn’t stop at great optics; it also includes an optical zoom with a throw ratio of 0.9:1 to 1.5:1.
The entire optical assembly is mounted on an internal motorized gimbal that allows the lens assembly to swing up or down with a range of 25 degrees. The Nebula X1’s optical image assembly not only displays a best-in-class on-screen image but also features convenience features like auto focus, zoom, and tilt, which are free from the artifacts and reduced image quality you would surely experience if these same features were achieved digitally. To be sure, the X1 also comes with a range of digital correction tools, including both auto and manual options, such as auto screen fit, bump correction, and 4-corner geometric adjustments. There is no other portable or home theater projector with the extensive list of image correction features, including both analog and digital, that the Nebula X1 offers.
Picture quality is more than just brightness; it’s also equally about color and black level performance. The Nebula X1’s out-of-the-box color performance is excellent, even though the reds are a little oversaturated on some content. What’s nice is that the X1 is incredibly quick to color calibrate. With just a few minutes and some quick adjustments to the projector’s red and blue settings, we were able to achieve a Delta E of 0.9.
The projector's 5,000:1 native contrast, combined with its six-bladed dynamic aperture, allowed me to achieve very good black level performance with dark and light area detail that simply blew me away. While it’s not the deep, inky blacks of LCOS, it does achieve some of the best black level performance I’ve seen in a DLP projector.
COMPETITIVE COMPARISON
Valerion VisionMaster Max
The VisionMaster Max is another premium Lifestyle projector that retails for $3999. The X1 and VisionMaster Max both feature triple-laser light sources, which offer similar brightness and can deliver over 100% coverage of the BT.2020 color space. However, the VisionMaster Pro2 rated native contrast of 4.000:1, where the X1 offers 5,000:1 native, all glass lenses.
Both models support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10, but the VisionMaster goes further, supporting HDR10+ and offering IMAX Enhanced certification. The Nebula X1 offers ISF certification. When it comes to smart features and connectivity, both projectors offer access to popular streaming services, voice control, and Google TV OS, as well as a native Netflix application.
The projectors feature auto keystone correction, object avoidance, and a motorized lens with optical zoom, enabling greater placement flexibility without compromising image resolution. Regarding gaming performance, the VisionMaster offers much lower input lag and includes several additional game-related features and settings.
While both projectors offer excellent onboard sound, the Nebula X1’s external wireless speaker package and the ability to use the on-projector speakers as a subwoofer, essentially creating a 4.2.1 sound system, along with wireless microphones for presentation or karaoke, provide the X1 with an advantage.
The Nebula X1 offers features not found on any other projector, like the RGB lasers' liquid cooling system, which allows the projector to run incredibly quietly at around 26 dB. Nebula is also the only projector manufacturer to build a gimbal for the projector's optical assembly, offering 25 degrees of range in its unit, which takes image correction to the next level of speed and flexibility.
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Final Thoughts
The Nebula X1 4K projector stands out as more than a portable projector but a premium home cinema solution that delivers an exceptionally bright and high-quality 4K image with vivid colors and excellent detail, even in non-darkened environments. The X1 offers premium performance at a premium price point, but ultimately, if you can afford it, I think it’s well worth it.
The Nebula X1 is available for sale for $2,999 (Projector), $3,299 (Projector, Speakers, and Microphones) on Nebula’s website and at authorized sellers around the US. Wireless speakers, microphones, and several mounting accessories are available to purchase a la carte from Nebula.
PROS
3500 lumens
0.47-Inch DLP with 4-way pixel shifting delivers 4K onscreen resolution
Excellent color out of the box (extensive calibration controls available)
High quality motorized gimbal with Position Memories
HDMI 2.1 inputs are compatible with 4K@120p HDR content
