Aaxa’s M1 Micro Projector Weighs In
Since we received it a few weeks ago, we here at ShopXtreme have been busy testing out Aaxa's latest projector, the M1, and comparing it to its predecessor, the P2. The M1 is undoubtedly a step up (both in size and in capabilities) from the P2, but we thought it would be best to actually give you a look at the changes. Here's what we came up with!
Product Specifications
Just as a refresher from our previous Aaxa review, we've given you the specifications for the P2 and M1 side by side to have an idea of what they translate into when you see a visual comparison:
| P2 | M1 Standard | |
| Native Resolution | 800 x 600 (SVGA) | 800 x 600 (SVGA) |
| Lumens | 33 Lumens | 66 Lumens |
| Noise (dB) | 30dB | 22dB |
| Lamp | 30,000 hour LED | 20,000 hour LED |
| Contract Ratio | 1000:1 | 1000:1 |
| Focus | Manual | Manual |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Size | 110x59x27mm | 112x105x46mm |
| Power Consumption | 15 watts | 30 watts |
| Power Supply | AC 100-240V, 50/60hz | AC 100-240V, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Battery | DC 1700mAh battery | Not included |
| Video In | Composite A/V (3.5mm jack), VGA (D-Sub) | Composite A/V (3.5mm Jack)* |
| Audio Out | 3.5 mm stereo jack | 3.5 mm stereo jack |
| Audio Output | 1w stereo speakers, Stereo speaker/ headphone mini jack | 1w stereo speakers, Stereo speaker/ headphone mini jack |
| USB | 5-Pin Mini USB | 5-Pin Mini USB |
| Onboard Memory | 1 Gigabyte | 1 Gigabyte |
| External Memory | Micro SD card | Micro SD card |
| Price | $349 |
$299 |
Now that you can see the quantitative difference, let's take a look at the qualitative differences.
Testing Comparison
For the M1 vs. P2 comparison, we decided to show how each projected a handful of images spanning a range of colors: Orange, red, blue, yellow, black, white, and pretty much everything in between...
- The cover of Red Hot Chili Pepper's Californication, with the P2 projection on the left and the M1's on the right
- Everybody's favorite evil geriatric nuclear plant owner showing off yellow and white
- A dark picture of the Orange Lantern. This one instance in which the M1 really stands out in comparison to its little brother, the P2
- An angelic Rambo shows the difference in brightness in relation to how the P2 and M1 display white.
- A photo of the Tesla Roadster showing off how each projector displays a dark red.
*All images were projected on a 55-inch display on a white wall in a room with windows (with the shades closed) on a sunny day around 2 pm.
As you can see, the M1 is head-and-shoulders above the P2 in terms of technical capabilities. With double the lumens, the jump in performance is expected, however. The downside to the M1, though, is its physical size. It's just about double the size of the P2:
Other Notes
There are two variations of the M1 available: the Standard and the Plus version. The Plus edition features a 1280x960 VGA input (in addition to the composite A/V) which the Standard lacks. Both versions include a remote control. Both have optional connectors for your iPod, Zune, or PSP.
Final Thoughts
After testing the M1 out, the only thing we were quite puzzled about was the lack of a mounting socket for a tripod. This was a problem for us, since we had to balance the M1 on top of our tripod to get an accurate comparison with the P2, but it would be a much bigger problem for consumers in our eyes. The lack of a socket means that the M1 is pretty much supposed to be used on a flat surface ONLY and nothing else. It seems like a simple thing to incorporate into the product, so it is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed.
Also, despite its size, the M1 doesn't come with a built-in battery. Aaxa does offer one that can give you 1.5 hours of usage, however, which you can buy here.
The bottom line is that the M1 performs very well in and of itself, let alone in comparison to the P2. The only real advantages that the P2 has is smaller size and a built in battery. So if you are waiting to get the VGA input with the M1 Plus, you'll have to wait about a month and a half. If you aren't, and aren't concerned about size or portability, buy one today!
Source: Aaxa
A Review of Aaxa’s Pico and Micro Projectors
One of ShopXtreme's most popular items these past few months has been Aaxa's pico and micro projectors. These little guys are perfect for mobile projecting - lightweight, easy to use, and set at a great price for the kind of performance they deliver. However, some people are not sure about what to expect when they order them. Therefore, we here at ShopXtreme thought it would be a good idea to write a review and comparison of the different Aaxa projectors we carry and give people an idea of what to expect. After all, it's good to know that a projector displays images at 33 lumens, but what does that really look like? Read on to learn more.
Product Specifications
First off, we thought it would be a good idea for people to be able to see a side-by-side comparison of the specifications of the projectors. The table below compares the specs of the P1, P2, and upcoming M1 Standard projectors by Aaxa:
| P1 | P2 | M1 | |
| Native Resolution | 640 x 480 (VGA) | 800 x 600 (SVGA) | 800 x 600 (SVGA) |
| Lumens | 12 Lumens | 33 Lumens | 66 Lumens |
| Noise (dB) | 25dB | 30dB | 22dB |
| Lamp | LED 30,000 hours | LED 30,000 hours | 20,000 hour LED |
| Contract Ratio | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 |
| Focus | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Size | 105x58x26mm | 110x59x27mm | 112x105x46mm |
| Power Consumption | .9-1.5 watts | 15 watts | 30 watts |
| Power Supply | AC 100-240V, 50/60hz | AC 100-240V, 50/60hz | AC 100-240V, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Battery | DC 1900mAh battery | DC 1700mAh battery | Not included |
| Video In | Composite A/V | Composite A/V (3.5mm jack), VGA | Composite A/V (3.5mm Jack)* |
| Audio Out | 3.5 mm stereo jack | 3.5 mm stereo jack | 3.5 mm stereo jack |
| Audio Output | N/A | 1w stereo speakers, Stereo speaker/ headphone mini jack | 1w stereo speakers, Stereo speaker/ headphone mini jack |
| USB | 5-Pin Mini USB | 5-Pin Mini USB | 5-Pin Mini USB |
| Onboard Memory | 1 Gigabyte | 1 Gigabyte | 1 Gigabyte |
| External Memory | Micro SD card | Micro SD card | Micro SD card |
| Price |
$219.99 |
$349 |
TBA |
*Althought the M1 Standard does not feature VGA input, the M1 Plus edition will
Testing Comparison
While it is useful to have all of this information side-by-side, we thought it would be more effective if we took some time to set up the different projectors and take pictures of how each display looks. The first comparison we made was between a P1 and P2, using a Nintendo Wii:
- A P1 and P2 projector displaying a 55-inch Nintendo Wii output in a dimly light room
As you can see, the P2 fares better in this setting, which would be expected considering it uses a bulb with nearly triple the lumens than that of the P1. Next, we tried displaying a Windows desktop using the VGA port of the P2 in the exact same setting to give a sense of what it would look like to display a wider range of colors:
- A 55-inch display of a Windows desktop using a P2 projector
We have to admit that it fared much better than we had expected, given the nature of the image we were projecting. The different shades and hues of the colors were all easily visible. But what the P2 really excels at and is widely used for is displaying high contrast displays (i.e. black and white images). So we set up an Excel spreadsheet at 150% magnification on a 62-inch screen and came up with the following:
- A 62-inch display of an Excel spreadsheet at 150% from a P2 projector
As you can see, the P2 puts out a very clear and focused display, especially given the amount of light coming into the room from the window a couple of feet away. Finally, to test the upper limits of the P2, we set up a 72-inch display in the exact same environment and came up with this:
- A 72-inch display of an Excel spreadsheet at 150% from a P2 projector
It's important to take into consideration the amount of light coming into the room from two windows like the one that is partially visible in the two photographs above, and that many locations will have darker environments.
Final Thoughts
Although the P1 projector is physically smaller than the P2 and has a quieter fan (a negligible 5 decibel difference), the P2 offers much better performance in non-ideal conditions (anything other than a pitch black room). In addition to the nearly tripled lumen output and VGA port, it also comes with a small stand, remote control, and better image resolution. However, the upcoming M1 projector looks to improve on almost all of the selling points of the P2, giving much to hope for in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for a review of the M1!
Source: Aaxa