WEMAX L176FGN Throw Smart Laser Projector Instruction Guide
- June 3, 2024
- WEMAX
Table of Contents
WEMAX L176FGN Throw Smart Laser Projector
Specifications
- Brand: WEMAX
- Item model number: L176FGN
- Connectivity Technology: Wireless
- Display resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Item Weight: 16 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 17.95 x 12.13 x 3.58 inches
- Color Name: Space Grey
- Speaker Type: Stereo, Soundbar
- Focus: Focus Auto
- Keystone Correction: 8-Point keystone correction
- CPU: Amlogic T962X-H
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Bluetooth: 1/BLE
- Wi-Fi: 4/5GHz
- Brightness: 2100 ANSI Lumen
- Light Source: 5000 Lumen
- Display Tech: DLP
- Light Source: ALPD Laser
- Native Resolution: 4K Ultra HD
- Throw Ratio: 233:1
- Display Size: 80 – 150″
What’s in the box?
Descriptions
A portable and comparatively inexpensive 4K UST projector is the Wemax Nova. The manufacturer of the ALPD 3.0 light source utilized in the Nova as well as the laser light engines for several rivals, Appotronics, is the owner of the brand. For a consumer DLP projector, the projector’s 3,000:1 natural contrast ratio is pretty impressive.
Because of the great contrast, the black level is deeper than I’m used to seeing from a DLP projector. Because of this, the Nova has better image quality than some rival USTs, at least while viewing SDR content in low light.
The Nova features a highly watchable, shockingly accurate Movie mode right out of the box, which will appeal to budget-conscious AV lovers. When operating at its brightest settings, it can also produce an image that is more than satisfactory. But as you’ll see, there are some restrictions and problems with how it handles HDR content that prevent me from endorsing it.
Features
ANSI Lumens
The Nova is a 2,100 ANSI lumen 4K DLP ultra-short-throw projector. It achieves 4K resolution using Texas Instrument’s 0.47-inch 1080p DMD with rapid XPR pixel-shifting, and the lens has a 0.23:1 throw ratio. These are typical specifications for an entry-level 4K UST projector.
The blue laser/phosphor wheel ALPD 3.0 light engine has a 25,000-hour life expectancy. This kind of laser light source is less expensive and does not have the laser speckle that RGB laser models do, but it often has a smaller range of colors. The only thing the Nova achieves 100% of Rec.709, which is all you need to fully and correctly play SDR content, is what Wemax clearly states.
4K HDR Video
And while the Nova’s color saturation is a little less intense than that of an RGB triple-laser UST, it makes up for it with excellent color accuracy and great contrast. This UST supports HDR10 source content including UHD Blue- rays, 4K HDR video games, and UHD streaming devices like my Apple TV 4K and Chrome cast Ultra. It also includes three HDMI 2.0 inputs. It regrettably does not support 3D.
Wired Connection
The Nova features a 3.5mm headphone/audio aux out connector, but you can only use one of them at once—either it or the built-in speakers. The optical- digital output functions similarly; in order to use it; you must select it, which also turns off the other audio outputs. This restriction prevents the addition of an external subwoofer as a convenient way to enhance the built-in sound.
USB port
Additionally, a USB port for local analogue audio playback and a wired Ethernet connection are included. For older sources, there is also a 3.5mm composite video input.
The lens used in this projector has motorized focusing, superb homogeneity, no discernible chromatic aberration, and low geometric distortion. An 8-point keystone adjustment tool is added to this to help make the image fit on uneven surfaces. To avoid image resampling, it is preferable to physically adjust the image to fit the screen for a permanent installation.
Compatible Screen Size
Compatible screen sizes range from 80 to 150, according to the Nova’s specifications. Currently, the largest lenticular UST ALR displays come in 100-inch or 150-inch sizes; presumably, this will change in the future. To get the best performance out of UST projectors, a suitable, dedicated ALR screen is required.
Android TV Supported
Built-in streaming is available on Android TV, along with a user interface for changing settings and playing local media. But it lacks a native Netflix app, much like many other projectors employing this platform. The Nova includes a built-in Chrome cast, but I discovered that only certain programmers on my PC, as well as those on my phones and iPad, could cast to it. This included Netflix. You will therefore require an external player for Netflix unless you want to download the Aptoide Netflix client and view in normal definition.
Some programmers, including Google Play and Amazon Prime, did appear to function flawlessly. I have little reason to doubt that the image is 4K because it appears to be sharp. However, the Vudu app was only compatible with SD when I tried to use it. I didn’t look at every app that was accessible through the projector to see what caliber they offered. However, I usually advise using an external streamer, and doing so in this case is especially practical given that you have three HDMI inputs available.
Built-in speaker
The Nova has a 30-watt audio system with a quartet of speakers that was installed by Wemax. Virtual surround sound processing is included, along with Dolby and DTS-HD audio decoding. The speaker system of the projector can be utilized separately as a Bluetooth speaker, for instance to play music from a phone. One of the HDMI ports supports ARC as a superior substitute for the optical or analogue audio outputs when connecting an external system.
Several usages
This UST has a simple, dark grey rectangular enclosure. The style is subdued and contemporary. The chassis is one of the smallest 4K USTs I have ever seen, measuring around 18 x 12 x 3.75 inches (WDH). The projector’s front is 22 inches from the screen and 23 inches from the back wall when it is placed with the rear of the device sitting about nine inches from a 100-inch screen. This is close enough to accommodate common TV stands and credenzas with a depth of 16 to 20 inches without necessitating placing the furniture too far away from the wall.
Two movable feet are located beneath the Nova to help level it. There is a lot of installation flexibility because it supports a ceiling mount and has rear projection settings for both under-screen and ceiling-mount configurations.
Bluetooth connection
The remote for the Nova connects through Bluetooth and is only moderately functional, however it has voice search. Although it does the job, I’d want to have direct access to more features, particularly a separate input button and a dedicated mute button.
Performance
Picture modes for SDR
If you use an HDMI input and navigate the menu normally, the Nova gives the same selection of picture modes for SDR and HDR: Standard, Movie, Vivid, Sports, Monitor, Game, and User. However, the Monitor and Game modes may be replaced by a mode named Child depending on how you traverse the menu or whether the projector believes the internal applications are the source. There seems to be a perplexing quirk in the menu structure that determines how you end up with one option or the other.
You don’t need to overthink anything when choosing a picture mode because each one is essentially fixed; it either works for you or it doesn’t. You should give them all a shot, but keep in mind that Movie mode is ideal for watching movies or TV in the dark, while Game mode works best with gaming consoles. Use the movie mode if the room is dark. Whether you are streaming content or watching cable, the Standard mode looks nice if you want what is on the screen to appear like a huge TV.
Want to brighten things up?
Don’t be afraid of Vivid; it’s entertaining to watch. I guess for setups in basement man caves, Sports mode is basically a Standard mode that is dimmed. However, I believe it is unnecessary, thus I advise avoiding it.
Using a PC with this UST?
There is a specialized Monitor mode, but be warned: it does not give the lower latency of Game mode and measures at about 90 milliseconds, the same as the other modes like Movie and Standard. Gamers receive the dedicated Game mode, which has a latency of 60 milliseconds, a value that is actually fairly high and only useful for recreational gaming, not for anything requiring quick reactions or a sense of being part of the action.
Picture Modes for HDR
As already mentioned, this projector’s HDR picture modes have the same names as its SDR picture settings. When moving from SDR to HDR utilizing test patterns, the color balance remains the same, suggesting that they essentially employ the same color temperature settings as their analogue counterpart. But there are also observable distinctions. For instance, the brightness of the Sports, Game, and Movie modes is slightly higher in HDR than SDR, with Sports experiencing the biggest increase (1,705 HDR lumens compared to 1,254 SDR lumens).
SDR Watching
I mostly watched basketball games and played Grand Theft Auto throughout my first week or so using the projector (a SDR title). Even though I was not considering HDR at all, I frequently found myself amazed by the Nova’s ability to create the appearance of depth.
HDR Viewing
Even at its best, the Wemax Nova’s implementation of HDR is not much different from viewing the SDR version of the same video due to its constrained color gamut. However, as was previously mentioned, it does not consistently handle HDR. I had problems with HDR picture quality when using streaming sources and Ultra HD Blu-ray during the review.
When using an external device such a Roku, Chrome cast Ultra, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV 4K, game console, etc. for app-based HDR streaming, it might be difficult to see whether the Nova is properly converting HDR or even playing HDR at all as opposed to just streaming 4K SDR.
Conclusion
I have rarely come across a projector that gave me such contradictory emotions. On the one side, it has SDR tuned in so perfectly that you can honestly claim it gives some of the greatest picture quality I have seen coming from a UST, whether it be for live TV, gaming, or 4K streaming.
The Wemax is an appealing entry-level 4K UST since it provides an SDR picture that can rival a high-end 100-inch TV in quality. It delivers an image on the screen that my jaded eyes identify as correctly adjusted and authentically cinematic despite its limited flexibility.
Measurements
In its HDR Game and Sports modes, the Wemax Nova 4K measured a maximum of 1,705 lumens with an HDR signal. The brightest measured brightness in its more practical SDR settings was in Standard mode at 1,685 lumens. Both figures are within the 20% tolerance allowed by ISO 21118 for brightness specifications.
Wemax Nova 4K ANSI Lumens
SDR: ANSI LUMENS
- Standard: 1,685
- Movie: 1,332
- Vivid : 1,646
- Sports: 1,254
- Monitor: 1,666
- Game: 1,391
- User: 1,626
HDR
- Standard: 1,685
- Movie: 1,470
- Vivid: 1,646
- Sports: 1,705
- Monitor: 1,666
- Game: 1,705
- User: 1,666
Uniformity of brightness: 77%
When standing close to the projector in my room, which has a 34 dB noise floor (all appliances and fans switched off), the fan noise is barely audible but otherwise undetectable. At one meter from the front of the projector, my meter ranged between 36 and 37 db.
The projector produces a distinct coil whine sound that is higher pitched than the sound of the fan however my microphone does not detect any difference in volume. I can hear it from my seat, or really anywhere in the room, and unlike the fan it is audible clearly as a distinct tone.
Input Lag
In 4K/60p mode, I discovered a 61.6 MS lag, which isn’t amazing but is adequate for casual gaming. The latency in 1080p/60 mode is 60.3 Ms.
Connections
- HDMI 2.0 (x3, one with ARC)
- Composite video in (3.5 mm)
- Optical Audio Out
- Analog audio out (3.5 mm)
- Network (RJ-45)
- RF Antenna
- USB (2 x 2.0)
- Wireless Networking
- Bluetooth
Standardized Settings
With this projector, calibration is not an option. I can only advise sticking to SDR content, using the preset modes that are most appropriate for your environment, and, for the most cinematic experience, trying the Movie mode with the lights off.
FAQ’s
Can I use this to project PDFs?
Instead of utilising the WEMAX Go Pocket Projector, which cannot project PDF files, we advise displaying PDF files through a computer and connecting the projector to the computer via an HDMI connection.
Is this device compatible with 110 and 220 volts?
it might be powered by any USB C power bank with a 30watt output.
At 25 feet, how bright is it?
You shouldn’t project from a distance of 25 feet. It would fail, to put it bluntly. The ideal distance is 6 feet. Additionally, the image quality is actually quite good for a small projector.
Is it effective for Xbox gaming?
Yes, it’s effective for gaming.
Is there a timer on this that can be set to stop after a given period of time? If it could be set to turn off once I go to sleep, that would be good.
Under timer-sleep in the settings, it can be configured.
Wemax is what kind of a projector?
The projector’s 3,000:1 natural contrast ratio is quite impressive for a consumer DLP projector. The black level is deeper than I’m used to seeing with a DLP projector because of the excellent contrast.
Surely a 4K projector or TV is better?
The factors that most people consider when deciding between a projector and a 4K TV are price, space, and ambient light levels.
Which is more effective, LED or a projector?
In conclusion, LED projectors provide excellent picture quality and require less maintenance. Compared to other varieties, projectors are often smaller, and LEDs can last up to 20,000 hours before they need to be changed. As a result, LED projectors are better than LED TVs.
What brightness level ought my projector to have?
The brightness of a projector is measured in lumens. For home theatre projectors where, ambient light is kept to a minimum, you need a minimum of 1500 lumens. The ideal projector has at least 2500 lumens and is suitable for boardrooms, lecture halls, and rooms with windows.
How long can a projector operate?
The lifespan of earlier projector bulbs was approximately 1,000–2,000 hours. Fortunately, depending on the various settings used, the majority of modern projector bulbs have a lifespan of between 2,000 and 4,000 hours.
Do projectors need maintenance?
Your projector needs very little maintenance to keep performing at its best. You may occasionally need to clean the lens in addition to the air filter and air vents to prevent the projector from overheating as a result of blocked airflow.
Can a projector be run nonstop?
A projector allows you to work continuously. The majority of projectors can run normally for long hours without experiencing any issues. Using your projector more often will reduce its lifespan because bulb bulbs have a limited lifespan. A projector can be used continuously without experiencing any issues.
Is leaving a projector on or off best?
The ideal setting for your lamp is Standby. In actuality, often turning on and off your projector reduces light life. Not only does it reduce life, but there is also a chance that the lamp could completely burn out.
What consumes more energy, a TV or a projector?
A projector consumes more electricity than an HDTV. It is only true that projectors use less electricity than HDTVs since more people use HDTVs on a regular basis. To start its bulb, a projector requires as many raw watts of electricity as feasible.