INTRODUCTION

    When back in 2008 I was able to see up close the very first 70" LCD TV released I honestly didn't expect that one day we'd have 115" models in the market at a fraction of the price. Of course, price had nothing to do with it, size did and well, having an TV permanently take over 2.5 meters in length is not something most people would be ok with. So even back then the best solution for people who wanted a large TV but didn't have the room or just couldn't afford even that 70" model was to buy a projector and either pair it with a projection screen or use a large enough (and flat) wall. The same of course applies today and since more and more people are looking to get their hands on very affordable models Wanbo recently released the Dali 1 model which landed in the lab a couple of months ago.

    Wanbo, it’s an intelligent and innovative brand of Shenzhen Wanbo Technology Co. Ltd, which Incorporated in 2016 with the core orientation of product appearance design and excellent user experience, committing to the development of DLP and single LCD projectors, who is a high-tech company integrated with R&D, design and research, manufacturing, sales and service for projectors.

    The latest Dali 1 projector by Wanbo is a native HD resolution (1280x720p) LED model that runs on Android TV 9.0 and sports a contrast ratio of 1500:1 with a maximum brightness of 350 ANSI lumens. The Dali 1 can cover a screen size of up to 100 inches and comes packing two 5W Hi-Fi stereo speakers (10W total - 160CC cavity), Wi-Fi6 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity (Bluetooth speaker function), cooling fan, 1GB DDR3 RAM, 8GB eMMC, HDMI v1.4 port, USB 2.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. Just like with past models the Dali 1 comes ready with Netflix available and also offers smart technologies like auto-focus, auto keystone correction (4-Point manual keystone correction available), auto screen fit, intelligent obstacle avoidance and manual zoom function (Wanbo calls this the ASA 3.0). It's clear from the above that the Dali 1 is a budget-friendly, entry-level projector model so let's check and see just how much entry level it really is.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Wanbo uses a small white box to ship the Dali 1 the front of which has a drawing of the projector surrounded by colorful objects.

The Wanbo social media are listed on the left side right over a sticker with some of the product features.

Along with the Dali 1 LED projector inside the box you'll also find the power cord with its power adapter, remote control, certificate of approval and the introduction manual.

THE DALI 1

The latest Dali 1 projector by Wanbo weighs just 0.9Kg and measures 159mm in height, 113mm in width and 123.5mm in length.

It uses high-precision glass lens capable of native HD (720p) resolution.

The sensor located just under the lens takes care of most automatic picture technologies found in the Dali 1.

As with past models the on/off button is located on top of the projector.

Taking a look at the rear we find the power port, USB 2.0 port, HDMI 1.4 port and a 3.5mm port.

Right under the ports we find a removable grille behind which there's a dust-filter (past the dust filter there's an small intake fan).

The Dali 1 sits on 4 rubber feet and has the usual 1/4 inch mounting port underneath.

Worth pointing out is that Wanbo has 4 available stands for the Dali 1, two desktop ones, one for floor use and one for ceiling use (this one I didn't end up using at all).

The floor stand pro model is height adjustable (80-100cm), can support projectors up to 5Kg in weight and can be used either via the 1/4 mount or the available anti-slip pad (sold as a bundle or separately).

The desktop stands on the other hand allow for -+15 degrees vertical angle (the mini model can hold projectors up to 1.5Kg whereas the full sized model projectors up to 3Kg heavy).

OS

Unlike previous models the Dali 1 landed us in the main OS tab which is almost identical to that of past models.

Inside the typical OS menu, you can find settings for the network, image, Bluetooth, sound and of course apps.

The about tab is quite useful as always since you can check the current firmware version (among other things).

AUDIO / VIDEO QUALITY

As with other standard/long throw projectors i used my 100" VividStorm motorized screen along with the Max Vision 4K media player by HD Dune.

720p HD resolution is by no means something I expected to blow me away in terms of detail/clarity and well, it didn't. Still, movement was quite smooth, colors quite vibrant (as you can see from the above pictures), blacks better than expected and well, for a budget-friendly projector like the Dali 1 these are sufficient.

SCORE / POWER CONSUMPTION

Since many of you asked, I decided to make a quick chart based on my objective opinion for each projector I test. This of course is my opinion based on what I see and my personal experience so just like other similar charts you should take this with a grain of salt (i do stand by my charts but in all likelihood, some will not agree). Also, since August 2023 I'll also be including a chart showcasing average power consumption while playing 4K content.

CONCLUSION

    The Dali 1 was released as a cost-effective model aimed towards non-demanding consumers taking their first steps in this particular market and well, I do think it delivers exactly that. Again, it will not blow you away with its image clarity/detail, but it does very well (for an 720p model) and it’s packed with many features (automatic ones) that you will not find with most (if not all) similarly priced models. Audio quality, power consumption and even the available mounts (sold extra) are also strong selling points so do take them into consideration when checking the Dali 1 out.

    The Dali 1 counts roughly 5 months in the market and currently retails for USD119 directly from Wanbo (Wanbostore.com), a price tag which is very tempting for one such model. At the end of the day the Dali 1 may not impress with its image quality but it’s a very honest option for non-demanding consumers and so I strongly recommend giving it a chance, it might just be exactly what you’re looking for.

PROS

- Compact Size
- WiFi6 & Bluetooth v5 Connectivity
- Auto & Manual Focus & Keystone Correction
- Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance
- Dual 5W Speakers (10W Total)
- Netflix Ready
- Available Stands/Mounts
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Brightness Levels (For Some)
- Lack Of Audio Codec Support (Built-In Player)
- Overall Picture Quality