When the first portable projectors began emerging a few years ago, they were pretty gimmicky things, with the major selling point being that you could carry them around and throw up a massive image almost anywhere you went. But the picture and sound quality was always a bit of a disappointment.
Thankfully, that has changed in recent times. Multiple brands have doubled down on the concept, bolting on more advanced capabilities, beefing up the brightness, image quality and so on. Now, a startup called Audiray is pushing the needle even more, with a new offering that packs a projector, stereo speaker system, karaoke machine and smart TV hub into a single, modular package.
It’s called the Audiray X5, it’s launching on Kickstarter, and its best features include high-resolution pictures, intense brightness and incredibly powerful detachable speakers.
The startup is positioning the Audiray X5 as a kind of grab-and-go entertainment station that will cater for not only movies, but karaoke nights, music and more, and it looks like a great option for anyone going camping or simply enjoying a warm summer evening in the back garden.
For a portable device, it boasts some impressive specifications, with native 4K UHD resolution being a standout, and its brightness rated at 1,200 ANSI lumens. That’s not enough for proper daytime viewing, but so long as you draw the curtains you can probably get away with doing so. Picture quality should be decent too with the claimed 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The device has a 1.0:1 short-throw ratio, which makes it especially useful for smaller rooms and spaces, where distance is often a crippling factor when it comes to getting a large image.
There’s also smart setup features such as autofocus and auto-keystone correction, which instantly adjust the image to get it oriented the right way.
However, given that the Audiray X5 is aimed at the karaoke-loving crowd, it goes without saying that the device’s standout feature is its audio system, which totally blows away its rivals in the portable projector space. It offers a total of 60-watts of sound output from two detachable 30-watt speakers, which can be placed strategically to accentuate the surround sound effect. It also promises a strong bass and clearer vocals than any projector with a built-in sound system.
The speakers can be used with additional third-party audio devices to create an extensive theatre set up, or else they can function as a standalone stereo system, the company said. Included in the box are two wireless microphones, which transform the X5 into a powerful karaoke machine without needing to invest in anything else – that makes it an intriguing device for anyone who’s in the mood to party often. When not singing or watching anything, the speakers can be used as a powerful Bluetooth audio system.
The projector runs the Google TV operating system and has all of the major streaming apps, and connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 and HDMI, USB, AUX and audio input ports.
Despite the lack of a built-in battery, portability remains key to the Audiray X5’s design. The speakers and mics can both attach to the projector, and there’s an integrated carrying strap for lugging it around. However, you will also need a power source.
The device is raising money on Kickstarter, and is already well ahead of its $3,500 goal. The Super Early Bird pledge starts at $399, and there are still some units available at the time of writing.
