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NOTE: I give it a 4-star review, but it's actually 3.5/5
I have wanted to get a projector since 2004. However, circumstances have kept me from biting the bullet. First, 1080p became a new thing, so projectors were WAY spendy for 1080p. Then, 3d came out. As I waited for those prices to drop, 4k got released. I didn't care much about 4k until HDR came around. THEN, I was interested. Since then, I have been waiting for a price-to-performance window with very specific features. I finally decided to bite the bullet and go for the LG HU80-KA.
The Good Things:
1. Portable, great for on-the-go
This projector is extremely light, and I like how everything is contained into a compact rectangle. The cord can be pulled into the projector, and you just lift up the handle and take it wherever you want to go. I plan to bring this with me to beach trips with friends, where we will barbecue and drink while movies are playing.
2. Extremely quiet
I have this mounted about two feet behind my head. I can't hear it at all, even with low volume audio while watching a movie.
I attempted to place it inside a shelf that allowed 4-5 inches of space around the projector. This caused the fans to go into overdrive. It still wasn’t all that loud. It’s comparable to a laptop running at high fan speed (which is essentially what the fans are).
3. HD video (blu-ray) looks amazing
This is a real stunner with a good quality blu-ray. I put in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it was just plain spectacular. A good blu-ray will look really good from this projector.
4. HDR color is very nice.
I’ll discuss more about my HDR misgivings next, but… I have no issues about the deep, rich color that beautifies UHD video sources. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is a perfect example. It’s like this projector and that movie were MFEO.
The Not-so-good Things:
1. HDR tone mapping can be good, or very not-good
When I first started playing 4k UHD/HDR titles, I was woefully unimpressed. The picture was way too dark, and color was flat and uninspired. But of course, it's important to tweak your stuff. I have an OLED65C7 as well, and I never ever touch the "Dynamic Contrast" setting. It's not needed. However, I have read/heard that the 2016 series LG OLED displays do a better job tone mapping the HDR data when "Dynamic Contrast" is turned on. I tried it with this projector, and BOOM - instant increase in quality!
I no longer thought "Eh, Vivid Mode might be the best option - and Vivid Mode is something that I have never, ever, EVER preferred or used in all my years of having a display." Instead, I thought "Wow, Cinema mode looks great. Technicolor mode is also nice, with a slightly yellowish golden hue that works for some movies, maybe not for others." Depending on the movie, I have a "cooler" presentation with Cinema, slightly darker/warmer settings for Cinema (User), and the Technicolor mode looks great for other movies.
NOTE: The HDR settings menus is separate from non-HDR video settings.
The real stunner UHD presentations included Hacksaw Ridge; Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2; Spider-Man: Homecoming; and Blue Planet II.
"Mad Max: Fury Road" looked great during daytime shots, but I noticed heavy macroblocking and bloom during the sandstorm sequence. Flames looked terrible as well, but I don't know if it was as bad, or worse looking, than on my OLED. They just plain look weird in HDR.
So far (I will keep tweaking settings), I noticed that highlights suffer from noise, especially white backgrounds, and gradation jumps out at me on all fronts. I don't like any of those "noise reduction" or "movie optimizer" or "frame interpolation smoothiemoothie" dongles. I am not fond of artifacting.
I watched several older movie remasters by Sony, such as Men in Black; Ghostbusters; Spider-man; and Spider-Man 2. I found the color to be slightly drained, when using the same settings used for the newer movies, but Technicolor was more pleasant with these titles. It really depends on what I'm watching for which mode I think looks best.
For older movies especially, I found the HDR made highlights too overblown. An example is during Ghostbusters at around the 1hr 10min mark, when the GB team are being greeted by hundreds of bystanders before they head into the final showdown. The street has sunlight gleaming off the tarmac as they are driving in the Ecto-1, and it's blown out and had notable macroblocking.
2. Blacks are kind of milky
I have an OLED display. It would be unfair as heck to compare a mid-range projector on a white 1.1 gain screen to the blacks available on an OLED. Or the color reproduction. I found darker movies could sometimes make me yearn for the OLED, such as when I watched "Logan" (looks good most of the time); "The Equalizer" (it looks stable enough, but on the OLED it looks much, much better); or "Men in Black 3". Look, I'm not saying it's unwatchable. I am just saying that, well... it's not a $6000 Sony projector, nor a similarly-priced JVC or Epson. Also, I am sure costs were cut using the .47 DMD instead of the newer, bigger version. They sacrificed that, I’d wager, for laser projection and a compact design. However, I figure savvy engineering can muster better performance from the same chip that is used by other devices; I compare it to the way DAC chips can be deemed unimpressive, but in the hands of another engineer (think Schiit), it becomes magic.
My room is completely dark, with tan/beige walls.
I plan to get a grey fabric screen soon, and that might help push the blacks into a slightly darker realm. For now, it's not "terrible". For most people it might not even be bad at all. I just happen to be very spoiled with my displays over the years to notice.
3. Placement options are lame
This has a 1.0 to 1.2 zoom capability. I have a 110 inch screen. I want to watch movies from 9-13 feet away. This means that I would have to sit really far behind the projector at the 1.0 distance if it's in front of me. However, if I place the projector BEHIND me, then I need to set it 1-2 feet behind me, and I personally don't have a ceiling mount. I live in an apartment, and I can't drill holes. So, I have to place it on stands behind me to raise the projector. I do not want to use the auto-keystone feature, because 1) it reduces output quality (the more keystone smear, the worse it gets) and 2) it makes the display really, really tricky to tweak.
4. No lens shift
With a 1.0 to 1.2 zoom, it means that the projector will most likely be sitting in the middle of the exact spot that you want to be watching movies from.
If you don't mind sitting a couple feet to the right or left, that's probably fine. But for center-brained people like me, it makes placement annoying. I either need to A) place it in front of me, and it obstructs my view, and I'm sitting farther back than I prefer; or B) it is directly BEHIND me, and I'm sitting at the distance I want... but I have to be far to the right or left of center. Unless it's raised to the height of the TOP of the screen, but as previously mentioned, I can't drill holes in my ceiling.
I think a lens shift option would have greatly alleviated this complaint.
CONCLUSION (October 10 Update):
After two months of use, here are my "final thoughts".
Since this is my first projector purchase, I now have a better idea on what I want when I choose to upgrade in a couple/few years.
Lessons Learned:
- Use a grey screen, or silver grey screen. I'm getting one when I buy a home theater projector in a couple/few years. In a completely dark room, it DOES make a difference in blacks and contrast levels!
- For "ultimate video quality", it doesn't seem like laser bulbs can compete, unless you're willing to dish out a LOT more dough for the technology. Depending on what's available by 2021, I may opt for better video performance/quality instead of the great portability features of the LG HU80KA. Without a doubt, a $2500 regular bulb projector will stomp this $3000 projector in color reproduction and black levels. But, it doesn't mean this model isn't without its strong points!
- I still think LG's HDR tone mapping needs some fixing up. I don't know if any firmware update can fix it, or if LG even has the issue on their radar. If the 4k UHD movie has grain (think older movies), then the HDR algorithm goes poopy. I mentioned this already in my review, but I think adding Dynamic Contrast (to allow the HDR to "pop" the way it should) along with the projector's method of converting the content causes issues. It's still nice to look at, and I think most people will be less likely to notice. I am kind of a video quality freak. HDR with the LG HU80KA on grain-free movies is stellar!
LG HU80KA; THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY:
Don't be disappointed by the underpar performance compared to bulb projectors at this price range. There are things to like...
- It is light, and portable. I will use this for public gatherings, picnics, and to use while doing podcasts as a digital poster and/or to have motion posters when talking with guests (the mirror flipped up will be helpful for me ONLY in this circumstance haha). This means that I plan to be carrying it to many destinations. I can't think of a projector with 4k (real or fake), HDR, decent light output, good wireless connections options, as well as a lightweight design in such a small package. The laser bulb helps lighten the load, and I like the longevity of the bulb life (as well as more consistent color and brightness performance over time).
THAT is this projector's greatest strength.
- If you want to permanently mount this, and will rely on it solely for dark room "home theater" use... it's not worth it. I recommend scores of other options for $3000.
- If you like to watch broadcast television, live sports, and have low ambient light while friends are sitting around drinking and eating chips and dip... this will work out pretty nicely. ESPECIALLY if (once again) you want to move this thing around a lot! Otherwise, save some money and get a cheaper 1080p projector with 3000+ lumens ;)
UPDATE (October 1, 2018) - Trying different screen fabric samples:
I purchased the Silver Ticket Products sample kit. There are different fabrics (9"x11") allowing the customer to test the differences between each of them. Below are my impressions:
Grey - Light Grey: I found that the light grey most definitely increases black levels, while maintaining almost the same amount of brightness. Additionally, I noticed that colors were VERY SLIGHTLY more "poppy" and saturated. However, color difference is negligible. Black levels are not; it is certainly an improvement.
Silver - Silver Metallic: This fabric provides even deeper blacks, and colors are about the same as I found with the light grey material. I will do more testing soon, but out of all three fabrics, I found this one to be far and away the best option. This seems to sacrifice lumen output/brightness very slightly. However, in a completely dark room I don't think the difference will be so drastic that most viewers would be upset with the change (I would guess it decreases brightness from 1400, down to ~1100 lumens).
High Contrast - Dark Grey: The dark grey is very sensitive to variations in the flatness of the fabric (easily prone to "hotspotting"). I used Scotch tape to tape the back of the fabric. This caused bright spots where the tape was located on the back. With that said, I found the high contrast dark grey to be TOO dark.
In my opinion, the most pleasing visual marriage between the projector and fabric type the Silver Ticket Product's "Silver Metallic" finish. However, a "Light Grey" finish is most definitely an improvement over my 1.1 gain white screen.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for reading my long, LONG review. I hope some of the information contained has been helpful. Take care!
| Brand Name | LG |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 14.8 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 6.5 x 6.5 x 18.5 inches |
| Item model number | HU80KA |
| Batteries | 2 AAA batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
| Speaker Type | Stereo, Built-In |
