Projectors
WELCOME
Our buying guide is based on the Sound+Image Awards presented each year. This is now fully updated with the latest winners from our 2023 Awards, announced in all their glory last issue. But we also list the best from previous awards, and also, as an EISA member, include recent EISA winners.
Projectors
In a dedicated or darkened room, projectors deliver bigscreen images of which even the largest TVs can only dream. There are four ‘ranks’ in the market – portable models of relatively low resolution, full-HD projectors, those which deliver UHD by pixel-shifting, and those with genuine native 4K resolution. Here are our current award-winners.
BENQ GV30
W2022 ∕ $999 ∕ www.benq.com.au
Very neat, very clever, and impressively portable, BenQ's little GV30 is an excellent way to get your bigscreen entertainment rolling.
EPSON EH-TW7100
W2021 ∕ $2899 ∕ www.epson.com.au
An attractive price for a bigscreen Epson delivering the company's 3LCD colour brightness and ‘4K Pro UHD’ imaging.
EPSON EH-TW6250
W2023 ∕ $2099 ∕ www.epson.com.au
Epson's little projector comes with Android TV smarts inside and some key benefits of 4K, delivering great images at an attractive price.
BENQ X3000i
W2023 ∕ $3299 ∕ www.benq.com.au
This is a smart projector with good gaming credentials but also great TV and movie performance, with Android TV smarts too.
EPSON EH-TW9400
W2021 ∕ $4999 ∕ www.epson.com.au
We awarded the early wireless version (the 9400W), but this is the same projector without that connection, using Epson's ‘4K Pro UHD’ imaging to deliver a 4K signal to the big screen.
BENQ TK700STi
W2022 ∕ $2679 ∕ www.benq.com.au
Built for big-screen gaming, this BenQ projector's smooth, bright and colourful UHD imagine is also fab for movies and TV viewing.
XGIMA AURA
E2022-3 ∕ $4199 ∕ www.xgimi.com.au
A complete solution, with Android TV and speakers on board, this ultra-short throw delivers good optics and lumens at the price.
EPSON EH-LS12000B
W2023 ∕ $8999 ∕ www.epson.com.au
The latest (and real UHD) version of Epson's 4K Pro UHD technology, with laser light source and versatility that yields an effortlessly smooth and cinematic bigscreen performance.
Key
W = Sound+Image Award Product of the Year
HC = Sound+Image Award Highly Commended
E = EISA Award winner
Systems & wireless speakers
Systems & wireless speakers
All-in-one solutions: here are our award picks of portable Bluetooth speakers, home lifestyle wireless systems, also active speakers with a highly hi-fi sound along with active and/or wireless convenience. These are thoroughly modern music systems, often loaded with tech for streaming and/or multiroom operation under app control from phone and tablet.
JBL FLIP 6
E2022-3 / $169.95 / www.jbl.com.au
It's hard to go past JBL for top portable Bluetooth performance: the Flip 6 has impressive sound for the size, waterproofing too. Not hi-fi, of course, but good on the go.
W2022 ∕ $1299 ∕ www.synergyaudio.com
Simultaneously classic and modern in its style and abilities, Ruark's R3 proves a lovely compact system for CD, radio and streaming.
KLIPSCH THE FIVES
W2022 ∕ $1749 ∕ www.klipsch.com.au
All the benefits of an active speaker solution along with profoundly solid sound whether from TV, computer, Buetooth or vinyl
