Wanbo Dali 1 brings the cinema experience home for HUF 40.
Watch the projector in action in my video test. If you liked the video, subscribe to my channel!
Introductory
It's no secret, I love the Wanbo brand, Wanbo projectors. These are not perfect machines either, but for the price they ask for them, they are very good, very high-quality, in fact, it is not an exaggeration to say, very extra.
When the distributor asked me if I wanted to try the latest Wanbo projector, I of course said yes, but I made a mistake. I didn't click on the PDF that described the specifications, so I got a completely different machine than I expected.
Less to know, but much more interesting anyway. Extremely small size, advanced projection system, smart functions and supposedly great sound despite the small size.
Well, this article will be about this machine called Wanbo Dali 1, read on!
Unpacking, accessories and exterior
I knew the projector was small, so I wasn't surprised that it arrived in a small box. All the more so because the stuff was almost weightless. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's really easy.
In the colorless cardboard is a colored cardboard, in which is the projector. The box is not too fancy, except for the front panel, we can safely say that it is puritanical. On a small sticker we find some information about size, weight and power supply, but nothing else.
Let's open it up!
Accessories are minimal. An external power supply, a razor cable, a description, remote control and the projector. No HDMI cable or anything else. Also, there is one interesting thing, we get a small projector holder as a gift, with the help of which we can tilt the projector forwards and backwards. We learned this part quickly, let's take a look at the machine!
Well, it's really not a big deal. It measures 113 x 123 x 159 millimeters, and its weight remains under a kilo, exactly 0,9 Kg. The manufacturer says that this is the weight of a medium-sized caffee. According to my elementary school memories, one liter of water weighs 1 kilogram. Okay, this is coffee, it's a little heavier, but still, this mass belongs to almost a liter of coffee. Where does that count as mediocre?
Well, let's move on from this, although this coffee analogy is really stupid, the weight of 0,9 kilograms is not much, in fact, very little. What kind of knowledge was packed into this small crowd will be revealed in the next chapter, but in the meantime, let's look at Wanbo Dali 1 from the outside!
The design is so Wanbo. Elegant white cube with glossy black surface around the lens. Under the lens is the exit side of the hot air, in the middle of the grill is the camera required for smart functions.
There is nothing surprising at the back either. The connectors are in the usual place, which from left to right are a power supply, a USB A, an HDMI, and at the very end, a 3,5-inch headphone output. These are also the usual, as is the fact that the only physical button is in the middle of the top of the machine.
At the bottom of the Wanbo Dali 1 are four rubber studs, in the middle is the standard thread, with which e.g. we can screw it onto a tripod. Due to the small weight, there is no need for the traditional four-point fastening, this one thread is also sufficient.
One last thing, the remote control. Exceptionally, this is not Bluetooth, but infrared. The manufacturer has returned to the usual shape and design, which is already easily accessible to me, I don't have to look for the buttons. You won't need much either, you can quickly learn what is where.
Specification
Let's start with the graphics capabilities! The first and one of the most important is that the resolution is HD, i.e. 720p. For this we get 350 ANSI brightness and we get the ASA 1 system that debuted in Wanbo DaVinci 3.0. This is actually new in name only, as it includes smart functions, which were already partially or fully available in previous projectors.
What are these smart features?
- Automatic focus
- Automatic keystone correction
- Automatic obstacle avoidance
- Automatic adjustment to canvas
These functions were also present in the Wanbo Mozart 1 projector in my previous Wanbo test.
The data for the projection system is also the image size that can be projected between 40 and 110 inches, which partly depends on the projection distance, which can vary between 1,1 and 3 meters. This is only partly because, of course, we also have a zoom function, with which we can adjust the size of the image within certain, not very broad limits.
Another important piece of information is that the orientation of the projector can be the usual four states, i.e. projection from the front, projection from the back, and upside down if we project from the ceiling. It is also important that, due to the cheapness, this projector has a 3-element lens system instead of six, although fortunately the lenses are still made of glass.
Before I forget, the manufacturer doesn't mention it in terms of capabilities, but that's why I asked them what happened to the dust-free, closed projection system used in previous Wanbo projectors. Well, the manufacturer says that the system is also closed and dust-free for this machine, but they focused on other capabilities in the promotion. That's understandable, there are quite a few interesting abilities.
Among other capabilities, the presence of Bluetooth 5.0 and the currently fastest WiFi 6 connection is important, and it is also important that the machine received full-fledged Android, version 9. Of course, this is not Android for phones, the interface has been tweaked so that we can use it comfortably on the projector with a remote control.
The manufacturer also highlights the powerful HiSilicon central chip, 1 GB of memory and 8 GB of storage. These would not be very steely values for a phone, but this hardware serves a 720p projector brilliantly.
Now let's talk a little about what was mentioned in the title music for projection!
In the tiny Wanbo Dali 1, we find two 5-watt speakers, which is quite surprising. It is already surprising that there is not only one speaker in it (one speaker is usual in this category), twice 5 watts in a box of this size is really unusual.
Wanbo points out that instead of the usual 80 cubic centimeters in mini projectors of similar size, they managed to free up 160 cubic centimeters, which made the sound much fuller and more natural.
It's a bit incomprehensible, if it's music, then why Dali became the name of the projector, why not Bach.
Back to the sound, two more things. One is that Wanbo says this sound system can fill an approx. 30 square meter room, the other is that according to the paperwork, we also have the option to use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker and send music to it from our phone.
Well, please, approx. that's all. I think the Wanbo Dali 1 has got quite interesting capabilities, but now let's see what it was like to use it!
Experiences
I don't usually do this, I really don't, but this was a test in which I really didn't check in advance what the test subject could do. I imagined in advance what I would get, and then of course the surprise came.
The first thing I downloaded to the computer was DRMinfo to see if it was Widevine L1 certified. With Android 9 I was pretty sure it didn't have it, but I had to look. Then, while running DRMinfo, it appeared that the projector has a 720p resolution, so it almost doesn't matter whether it has Widevine L1 or not.
I'd say I was disappointed by the low resolution, but the truth is, until I was confronted with that fact, the lower brightness didn't make me realize I wasn't looking at FHD resolution. My disappointment would not have been honest, because Wanbo's offer was sorely lacking in a new entry-level projector offering quality services at this level.
Okay, it's a fact that 350 ANSI is not much, and I project from a long enough distance to get the 100-inch image diagonal, so the image is not so bright that it burns out my eyes. To be honest, lately I've been spoiled with 600+ ANSI brightness LCD projectors, so now 350 feels a bit low.
Of course it's not, 350 is 350, you have to darken it, but if you do it, you can go to the cinema, you won't have any complaints!
The smart functions are almost perfect, but only almost. I don't project directly, so the machine had to adjust the image every time it was turned on, and the end result was never perfect.
Many people complain that these projectors have to adjust the image every time they are turned on, but they don't. If you always project from the same point, that is, you always put the projector there, then you don't have to. The secret is to turn off the automatic settings and adjust the picture manually, so that when you turn it off and on again, the values set at the time of turning it off remain. Not complicated!
It is very interesting that obstacle avoidance almost never works, and sometimes even in extreme situations it is able to project the projected image onto a relatively small but obstacle-free surface of the wall. And take extreme here literally, you can see an example of this in the presentation video.
The Android installed on the machine was not new to me, as Wanbo uses it on its projectors that do not run the Android TV system. The hardware requirements are minimal, there are no major hiccups or stutters, there is a Play store and it has its own app store, so there are as many programs as will be enough for everything.
We also get streaming apps, Netflix and others are available, and of course a media player that can be installed, and of course also Kodi, through which you can watch the royal TV channels by installing an add-on.
Of course, it is possible to project the image of our phone, which also works flawlessly and quickly. The projector has Bluetooth 5.0, which makes the connection speed excellent, there is almost no delay, so e.g. it is perfectly fine to push car races on our phone onto a large screen.
What's extra is that in addition to the usual screen mirroring, you can also find an app called Bluetooth Speaker on the projector. And this is exactly what the name promises. You start it, connect to the projector with your phone and send your music. While the music is playing, the projection stops (that is, the LED turns off in the projector), so the Wanbo Dali 1 really only works as a Bluetooth speaker.
What I really like is that the two 1-watt speakers of the Wanbo Dali 5 sound very nice out of the box. Of course, compared to the size of the projector, because no one should expect Hi-Fi sound, but it easily competes with cheaper Bluetooth speakers, so this Bluetooth Speaker function can really be used as a full-fledged capability.
I have already written a little about the picture, now I will continue.
So 350 ANSI is not much, but thinking back to the first Wanbo I tried, the T2 Max, which had a brightness of 200 ANSI... Well, you see, I still loved it, I could live with its shortcomings, and the fact that I had to darken to use. Well, the Wanbo Dali 1 is noticeably better in this respect, because less detail is lost in dark scenes, but the fact is, it will have to be darkened here as well.
In this regard, I recommend that you try to project it on a wall instead of a canvas, because the light does not pass through it like the cheaper canvases, so more light gets back into our eyes. There are already special paints that can be used on walls, and a projection surface can be created by using them.
Like the brightness, the contrast doesn't knock the glasses off my head either, they are completely average, good. And the 720p resolution is what it is. I'm projecting from 3 meters away, and with this brightness it's hard to decide what resolution image I'm seeing. Let's just say my eyes aren't what they were when I was 20. At higher brightness, the crevices would certainly be more visible on letters and straight lines, but this way it is almost unnoticeable.
Conclusion
What can I say in summary? The Wanbo Dali 1 turned out to be a very good little machine, but I think it will be clear to everyone from what has been described that the machine is more entry-level than high-end. Despite this, and especially at the price they are asking for it, I think it is a very worthwhile piece. It has a good picture and a surprisingly good voice. And the Bluetooth speaker option is really just icing on the cake.
So the bottom line is, if you don't want to spend a lot, maybe you would like to take your projector with you sometimes, then feel free to buy it. At this price, you rarely, if ever, find such capabilities from another manufacturer, and besides, it's a Wanbo, and the quality is noticeably Wanbo, which means it's really good. Knowing and accepting its capabilities, it is clearly a lovable piece, as most of Wanbo's projectors are anyway.
Ok, then the price. Since this is a new projector and since online sales have just started (it will only be available at Banggood store) a BGEUKDL coupon code 36 800 forintgiven for (according to the search engine, the best domestic price is currently HUF 56). The delivery is free and sent by the distributor from a Czech warehouse, so no additional VAT or customs payments are incurred.
Buy by clicking on the link below:
