InFocus X3 DLP General Purpose Video Projector - Product Review

In brief, the main points I liked about the InFocus X3 were:

1. The projector runs very quiet and very cool in low power operation setting, which is suitable for screen sizes of less than 90 inches.

2. The onscreen menus and remote are very easy to use and the projector is quick to setup. The owner's manual and quick start guide were well illustrated and easy to understand.

3. The projector startup and cooldown times are fast; quicker than some projectors I have used.

4.The X3 has good overall detail, color, and contrast, black levels were good, in both 4x3 and 16x9 modes. Its light output produces a bright enough image, depending on the needed power setting for the environment.

5. All functions can be controlled via remote or on projector.

6. At less than $1,200 the X3 is very reasonably priced.

Cons

Although I found much to like about the InFocus X3, I found some items that could be improved.

1. Although the color, contrast, and detail was very good, I did experience prominent DLP Rainbow effects on some source material, in relation to my two comparison projectors - most notably on the opening credits and beginning of the Ninth Gate DVD. One note on this, sensitivity to the rainbow effect varies with each individual.

2. Although the X3 has a built-in speaker, the audio output level is relatively low, even when you turn the volume up. Although the audio level would be fine for a small conference room or for video game play, I didn't think the sound would be loud enough to cover an average-size classroom very well. However, it must also be noted that if the X3 is being used in a home theater setup, the audio would be normally be connected from the source (such as a DVD player) directly to an external AV Receiver or amplifier, so having or not having a speaker on the X3 itself would not be a factor in this type of setup.

3. Although the X3 runs very quiet in low power mode, when put into standard power mode for brighter images on larger screen sizes (such as 90 inch size or larger) - the fan noise does increase to audible levels.

4. The provided Remote control is not lighted, making its use in darkness awkward. However, an accessory lighted remote is offered by InFocus than can be purchased separately.

5. Accessing the Component video connection requires an accessory adapter that must be purchased separately.

6. No carrying case for the projector is supplied; however, it is offered as an optional accessory.

The X3 is not a dedicated, high-end, home theater video projector, and does not have high-end features, such as a native 16x9 high-contrast DLP chip with true 1280x720 high definition pixel resolution. However, I found it to be a good performer, in comparison to other DLP projectors with 4x3 chips and 1024x768 pixel resolution, at a lower price point for the consumer. The color and contrast was very good for a projector in this class, it performed well with both S-video and progressive scan component video sources.

The X3 runs cool and quiet on the low power mode, however, when put into standard power mode to obtain brighter images on large screen sizes (such as 90 inch size or larger), the fan noise does increase to audible levels.

I found the menus and remote to be very easy to use and the projector is quick to setup; both startup and cooldown times are fast. Although the projector is larger than the current "mini-sized" units, I found the size easy to work with.

On the audio side, the output level of the onboard speaker is low, even when you turn the volume up. This may not be adequate for an average-size classroom, although it may work fine for business presentations in a small conference room. For home theater, the audio is connected directly from a DVD player or other component directly to an AV receiver or other amplifier, so having or not having speakers on the projector itself is a non-issue in this case.

Lastly, it would have been nice to include a lighted remote and a carrying case as part of the basic projector package, rather than as extra accessories.

Final Take

The DLP-equipped InFocus X3 DLP video projector is an inexpensive, practical, easy-to-use video projector. Colors and shadows are even and retain their intended characteristics in dark scenes. Even though the X3 is not a dedicated higher-end home theater projector, it still provides very good value in terms of performance and features for general purpose use, which can include a basic home theater setup.

I give the InFocus X3 a rating of 4 Stars out of Five.