InFocus X9 review

With its X9, InFocus has produced a projector that's ideal for those pushed for both budget and space Tested at £499.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Small but perfectly formed, the X9 isn’t for everyone but if you’re pushed for space and money, it’s a fine solution

Pros

  • +

    Compact and versatile

  • +

    short throw ratio

  • +

    a solid all-round performance-per-pound projector

Cons

  • -

    No match for bigger, pricier machines

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Testing the InFocus X9 allows us to compare the quality available at the budget end of the market, and see where the real value lies.

One thing's for certain, it cuts a diminutive figure compared to its rivals.

It's truly portable and boasts a short-throw ratio to match, capable of displaying a picture from one metre to 12 metres from the screen, depending on how big an image you want.

The X9's versatility extends to its ability to throw an image from a tabletop, ceiling or the rear of the room, while set-up is fairly simple.

Not Full HD resolution
Unsurprisingly, considering the price, this DLP projector doesn't have a Full HD resolution, settling for 1280 x 720, but you can send 1080p/24fps HD video content via the HDMI connection.

Elsewhere there's one of each when it comes to standard video connections – component, S-Video and composite are all here – and InFocus claims a 2500:1 contrast ratio alongside a brightness of 1800 lumens.

The credit card-sized remote doesn't have a backlight and even with the lights up we found ours a little unresponsive unless we got the angle to the sensor spot on. We'd also say the X9's noticeably noisier than other models we've tested.

Projected images are bold and sharp
We start by viewing some Blu-ray content, in the form of Death Race. Jason Statham may be one-dimensional but the image delivers a decent sense of three-dimensionality, with bold, brighter hues delivered with punch.

Edges are drawn reasonably firmly and the overall image has good sharpness, with only fast action scenes causing a slight loss of clarity.

That said, the InFocus X9 is clearly a step below rivals such as the Sanyo PLV-700 and Panasonic PT-AX200E. It lacks the acute attention to detail, while contrast levels are also less impressive.

Nevertheless, InFocus' X9 projector is a clever little unit and if you're on a very tight budget, or want something that's versatile and can work in a smaller room, we're more than happy to suggest you investigate it.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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