InFocus X1a projector review

Posted by Scott Laird Thu, 30 Dec 2004 02:44:05 GMT

As mentioned earlier, we bought an InFocus X1a projector last month. Here are the basic specs on the X1a:

  • DLP with 2x color wheel
  • 800x600 resolution
  • 37 dB
  • 6.8 lbs
  • 1100 ANSI lumens
  • 2000:1 contrast ratio
  • 3 inputs: composite video, SVGA video, VGA. VGA supports HDTV component input via adapter cable
  • Supports computer resolutions up to 1024x768 and HDTV up to 1080i, downscaling as needed

There are two common flavors of projectors; DLP projectors and LCD projectors. In general, LCD projectors are a bit cheaper and have a bit better color, while DLP projectors have darker blacks and last longer. The X1a is a DLP projector, but I’ve been very impressed with the colors that it produces. The one downside to it is that it only uses a 2x color wheel–DLP projectors work by bouncing light from a lamp off of a “DLP” array, which consists of thousands of micromirrors that can be moved to create a picture. The DLP array doesn’t contain any color information; instead the projector uses a spinning color wheel to display red, green, and blue information in sequence. High-end DLP projectors use up to 6x wheels, which display each color repeatedly for each frame of video. Cheaper projectors, like the X1a, use 2x wheels. Some people’s eyes can see color fringing from slower wheels; I can sometimes catch it out of the corner of my eyes, but I don’t find it annoying.

The X1a is a cheaper version of the popular InFocus X1; it trades slightly longer lamp life for the X1’s Faroudja deinterlacing chip. Since we’re planning on feeding it progressive-scan video directly from a PC, the fancy deinterlacer doesn’t do us a whole lot of good. Since the X1a ended up being about $65 cheaper, it seems like a better deal.

Right now, the projector is hanging from the ceiling in our bedroom, projecting its image onto the wall at the foot of the bed. We haven’t done anything to the wall–it’s just a normal textured white wall. The projector is about 10’ from the wall, and it projects a 7’ image. For comparison, the biggest rear-projection TV that I could find is Sony’s 70” XBR Grand WEGA. I’m sure the Sony has much better image quality, but it costs $7,000, while my $740 projector produces an image that’s over a foot wider.

When used in a dark room, the X1a produces wonderful images. I’m very impressed with its color reproduction and brightness. It looks stunning. As the room gets brighter, the image quality starts to fade. Our bedroom doesn’t have particularly dark shades, but the projector is still usable in full December sunlight. It’s hard to pick details out of dark scenes, though. I’m not sure how well it’ll work in summer–we’ll probably need to pick up some black-out shades.

The X1a’s native resolution is 800x600; when projecting a 84” diagonal image, that gives us roughly 12 pixels per inch. As you’d expect, each pixel is clearly visible from close up, centered in a black “screen door” pattern. At normal viewing distances, I don’t find the screen door objectionable at all, and you get dampen it a bit by defocusing the projector slightly if it really bothers you.

Like most modern projectors, the X1a has a “keystone” adjustment, so you can project rectangular images even when the projector isn’t perfectly perpendicular to the screen. Architectural photographers face the same type of problem when taking pictures of buildings–if the camera isn’t perfectly level, the buildings don’t appear square in the image. Photographers know there are two ways to fix this sort of distortion–you can either get a lens that you can shift to control the distortion, or you can fix it in Photoshop afterwords. Generally, using the right lens produces a better image, but Photoshop is cheaper and faster. The X1 takes the “Photoshop” route, and rescales the image in software to correct for keystoning. This is very noticeable when you’re feeding it an 800x600 image from a computer–some scan lines go fuzzy, when they should all be perfectly sharp. To fix this, you need to either align the projector correctly and then disable the keystone correction or live with a crooked image. I assume that high-end projectors have shiftable lenses, but the X1a clearly doesn’t reach into that price range.

All in all, I’m really happy with the projector. My only real complaint is that it doesn’t ship with a remote control, so I’m forced to use the power switch on the side of it to turn it off and on. Since it’s hanging from our ceiling, that’s a pain. I suppose I could pay them the $60 they want for a remote (with presentation keys and laser pointer), but I’m currently too cheap for that; I’ll shop for a universal remote that can drive their projectors instead.

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Comments

  1. chad said 2 days later:

    Have you found a remote that works yet?

    Im waiting to someday find software that can output via a PC IR sender to a learning remote the codes for this thing.

  2. chad said 2 days later:

    Have you found a remote that works yet?

    Im waiting to someday find software that can output via a PC IR sender to a learning remote the codes for this thing.

  3. Scott Laird said 6 days later:

    FWIW, lirc (lirc.sf.net) has IR codes for InFocus projectors. I’m still trying to find a cheap IR transmitter for it, though.

  4. Phil said 29 days later:

    Question: Am I dreaming this up, or does the brightness vary from one unit to the next? Last week I bought an X1a at Best Buy and I found the image to be spectacular at night and resonnably good during the day, but the bulb on this particular unit wouldn’t turn on every time (about 50%) of the time, which is very annoying). So I exchanged it for another one, and the new does turn on every single time (good) but I could swear the picture is noticeably less bright. I don’t get it. I suppose I’ll try another exchange yet.

    Confused Phil

  5. Scott Laird said 29 days later:

    I only have one sample, so I can’t really speak to variations in brightness. If I was concerned about that, I’d probably pull out my camera and use it as a light meter (fixed white balance, shutter, aperture, ISO) and then compare the results before and after swapping projectors. My eyes aren’t all that good at judging brightness, and I suspect that’s pretty common.

    One thing about my X1a–it takes about a minute to come up to full brightness. When you first turn it on, it’s really dim. I’m assuming that it does this to avoid stressing the bulb.

  6. oberon said about 1 month later:

    I just purchased an x1a. I have to turn it on as many as three times{waiting till it flashes red } before the lamp lights, but then it looks great. Is this normal? I got the conductor remote off e-bay for $34.

  7. Scott Laird said about 1 month later:

    Mine turns on the first time, every time. I’d either try talking to InFocus or taking it back to your vendor for a new model.

  8. oberon said about 1 month later:

    I exchanged it today. The new one fires on the first try. Thank you.

  9. Kevin said about 1 month later:

    I got the Infocus X1, and I love it.

    My kids always wanted to watch the movies “on the wall”, then we ceiling-mounted it in a permanent configuration, projecting at a home-made screen (necessary because that wall has a window…).

    One note, it did come with the remote, but mine disappeared within a week or so of getting the projector (!! :-( I blamed the kids…). But I found it this week - I still won’t be using it to turn off the projector, because it doesn’t really turn it off - it just puts it mostly to sleep. There is still a fan running.

    For those having trouble turning it on, make sure that you leave the power off for 2 minutes after turning it off. There’s a safety measure to ensure that you don’t hammer the bulb by turning it before it is fully cooled.

    Also make sure that all lamp & vent covers are on tightly.

    kb

  10. Kevin said about 1 month later:

    I got the Infocus X1, and I love it.

    My kids always wanted to watch the movies “on the wall”, then we ceiling-mounted it in a permanent configuration, projecting at a home-made screen (necessary because that wall has a window…).

    One note, it did come with the remote, but mine disappeared within a week or so of getting the projector (!! :-( I blamed the kids…). But I found it this week - I still won’t be using it to turn off the projector, because it doesn’t really turn it off - it just puts it mostly to sleep. There is still a fan running.

    For those having trouble turning it on, make sure that you leave the power off for 2 minutes after turning it off. There’s a safety measure to ensure that you don’t hammer the bulb by turning it before it is fully cooled.

    Also make sure that all lamp & vent covers are on tightly.

    kb

  11. Kevin said about 1 month later:

    I got the Infocus X1, and I love it.

    My kids always wanted to watch the movies “on the wall”, then we ceiling-mounted it in a permanent configuration, projecting at a home-made screen (necessary because that wall has a window…).

    One note, it did come with the remote, but mine disappeared within a week or so of getting the projector (!! :-( I blamed the kids…). But I found it this week - I still won’t be using it to turn off the projector, because it doesn’t really turn it off - it just puts it mostly to sleep. There is still a fan running.

    For those having trouble turning it on, make sure that you leave the power off for 2 minutes after turning it off. There’s a safety measure to ensure that you don’t hammer the bulb by turning it before it is fully cooled.

    Also make sure that all lamp & vent covers are on tightly.

    kb

  12. jeff said about 1 month later:

    How long do you expect the lamp to last?

    Is it better to leave the lamp on if you are watching more than one movie or should there be a cool down period to help save the bulb?

    Any luck with a universal remote anybody?

    X1A lover

  13. jeff said about 1 month later:

    How long do you expect the lamp to last?

    Is it better to leave the lamp on if you are watching more than one movie or should there be a cool down period to help save the bulb?

    Any luck with a universal remote anybody?

    X1A lover

  14. Debauc said about 1 month later:

    http://www.infocus.com/software/manager.asp?sitelang=1&siteregion=1&

    I just bought an X1a and was dissappointed about no remote with it. I upgraded the firmware and downloaded the projector manager from Infocus. http://www.infocus.com/software/manager.asp?sitelang=1&siteregion=1& It doesnt list the x1a as being supported, but it works. I now can mount my projector on the ceiling and can control all the menu settings and power from my pc. :) btw im running xp

  15. Debauc said about 1 month later:

    http://www.infocus.com/software/manager.asp?sitelang=1&siteregion=1&

    I just bought an X1a and was dissappointed about no remote with it. I upgraded the firmware and downloaded the projector manager from Infocus. http://www.infocus.com/software/manager.asp?sitelang=1&siteregion=1& It doesnt list the x1a as being supported, but it works. I now can mount my projector on the ceiling and can control all the menu settings and power from my pc. :) btw im running xp

  16. Krys said 2 months later:

    I ran a search on Google to find out the resolution of this machine (X1a) before buying it. So far I have not seen it mentioned. I can only guess that it is poor as the dealers do not list the specs.

  17. Scott Laird said 2 months later:

    You can’t find the resolution? Look at the third line of this review, it’s right there in black and white (or light orange, whatever). 800x600.

  18. Hood said 2 months later:

    What is the easiest way to convert component video to SVGA so I can watch HDTV on it? How dies it perform with HDTV?

  19. Ken said 2 months later:

    My X1a is great but other projectors that I have had , all needed a cool down period before shutting off. When I click off, it shuts off completely, The fan does not stay on at all. Does yours do that. I would think that hurts the bulb.

    Thanks Ken

  20. john said 2 months later:

    i have had 2 infous x1 x1a both with in a year the first i had to send back and a new bulb when i got it back it worked for a month same thing no fire so i bought another one and it is down in 90 days will not fire i tired the new bulb i bought for the other one and nothing i am going to oregon and throw them on there front desk i am sick of infous and sending it back to them is a 30 40 day wait

  21. oberon said 2 months later:

    Ken, When shutting down via the remote it does go through a cool down period.

    Hood, I used a Python component to 15 pin VGA cable That I found on Ebay. An adapter can also be found on the Infocus website that allows you to connect a regular component cable, in addition Dell sells a compatible cable. I have not tried HDTV, but DVD using progressive scan with this connection looks incredible.

  22. Hood said 2 months later:

    Oberon,

    Yea, I am currently viewing DVD’s via a S-Video cable, and im viewing at about 95 inches. Im very curious to see how the progresive scan improves the picture quality. I have the X1a, which I have learned does not have the de-interlacing chip.

    I ordered a component to VESA adapter from a company called Super Warehouse.

    Which setting is best to use for DVD’s? 4:3, 16:9, or Native?

  23. Hood said 2 months later:

    Wow, just hooked up the new cable box. When an HD channell is turned on, it reads “Computer 1080i”, and the picture is sharp!!!

    The honest limitations of the X1a are that you cant make the picture too big. 800x600 native resolutions and a screen door effect might becoming annoying with a large picture. I found that a 70” or so screen looks beautifull, and honestly looks better than any HDTV I’ve ever seen.

  24. Loyd said 4 months later:

    When I turn off the x1a using the power switch, the lamp and fan go off at the same time. I thought that the fan should stay on and cool the lamp. The manual isn’t real clear on the issue. Maybe I just haven’t had it on long enough (8 to 10 minutes) for it to get hot enough to need cooling, but that doesn’t sound very likely. I’ve logged the issue with InFocus but haven’t had a reply as yet.

  25. WhiteHatFord said 4 months later:

    I bought my X1a for Christmas and have it ceiling mounted. We have been using it at 82” – You just can’t beat it for the size.

    We have been shutting it off using the power switch and yes, it does cut off immediately and I can not hear the fan running or see a green light(like mentioned in the owner’s manual). This concerns me because other projectors that I have seen have a “soft” power off button to cool the unit before cutting it off. We have already gone through one bulb after about 500 hours of run time. Of course, Infocus’ answer was to send it back. 30+ days without MY projector, I don’t think so.

    I too am too cheap to spend $80 on a remote and will try the learning IR method or the PC software method.

  26. Bimal Fernando said 4 months later:

    Hi Guys, I am planning to buy a X1a soon and wondering the meaing of aspect ratio. Aspect Ratio for X1a is 4:3 does this mean i cannot watch moview in wide screen mode? i’ve seen some projectors support 16:9 ratio as well so what’s the actual limitation if i don’t have 16:9 aspect ratio support?

    Thanks.

  27. Scott Laird said 4 months later:

    It’s a 4:3 projector, just like most older TVs are 4:3 TVs. You can watch widescreen content, but there will be black bars at the top and bottom, just like there are on normal TVs.

    Some projectors are 16:9; if you want to watch 4:3 content on them, then you’ll have black bars on the sides. Either screen format can handle either content size, but you’ll have slightly more pleasing results if your screen format and content format match.

  28. gory said 4 months later:

    to john, if you buy the cheapest projector on the market… expect the poorest quality.

  29. Cardsharp said 4 months later:

    I’ve got a new X1a and noticed that the colors go a bit wierd in black and white or mostly black and white scenes. The reds seem to get ultra-saturated in those scenes. For example, in National Treasure, the scenes in the arctic leave all the actors looking like they need high blood pressure medication. Or, in Phantom of the Opera, the Black and White scenes have an odd shifting color tint to them. Anybody else experiencing something like that?

    Is that a normal problem with DLP?

    Other than that, great projector.

  30. Scott Laird said 4 months later:

    Cardsharp, is your video input set to ‘Presentation’ mode? That cranks up the saturation and blows out the colors. In ‘movie’ or ‘video’ mode, it should be a bit dimmer but look much better.

  31. Steve said 5 months later:

    Help, I have just purchased a X1a and the instruction for turning off? The instructions say toggling the power switch to the off position. Then it goes dead, I think the instructions it might mean off followed by on again. Is that right?

    Steve

  32. Raymond Walker said 5 months later:

    I recently biught an X1a and Im very happy with the quality for the price.

    Iam curreently running a 112’ screen size on a bare wall and its great using S-video out from my Dish network reciever ,even video games through the standard composite input are very liveable.

    Thanks Scott for the very honest “normal person” review/comments on the unit ,it helped me quite abit in considering this model : )

  33. Bimal Fernando said 5 months later:

    I bought Xia about few weeks back. I also bought a 10 meter component cable and a Component to VGA adaptor both from Infocus dealers (ENCEL Australia). Projector works fine when i connect with the SVIDEO cable but when i connect it with the compoent cable it’s behaviour is wiered. first when i swith on my YAMAHA DVD player it detected the signal as 1024*768 60Hz and displayed the logo nicely. but when i start the movie it started “searching computer..” and detected a different resolution with 50 Hz, the picture is not bad, but it’s flickering a little bit. and when i change the source from computer to Video and back to computer(using the remote) it detected a competely different resolution and the colors are totally out. Can somebody please tell me where is the problem, i read that Hood has mentioned he got a brilliant picture with his set top box, which means the projector supports component properly. and he has seen it detects as Computer 1080i, i never saw that with my DVD player. And i read Oberon has got brilliant pictures from his DVD player via Component cables. Can you guys help me to get there please.

  34. Bimal Fernando said 5 months later:

    The reason for all my problems were i haven’t switched on the progressive scan on the DVD player. when i switched it on it started detecting quick and delivered brilliant quality video. After i switched on the P-Scan it started detecting the signal as 576p. I love my X1a.

  35. mark english said 8 months later:

    i just got my x1a (tigerdirect.com $499)and im a very happy chap.Monday night football out on the deck just aint going to be the same…lol. wow! what a picture,and im just using a white pull down blind for now untill my screen arrives. i did find this for those concerned or confussed about turning off the 1xa.

    [EDIT: InFocus has recently informed ProjectorCentral.com that a hard shut-down has no detrimental effect on lamp life; instead, “the purpose for leaving the fan on to cool the lamp is to meet the requirement of allowing the customer to turn the projector back on as soon as possible with the requirement being a maximum wait time of 90 seconds. The lamp must be cooled to below 200C to re-strike it. In the X-series this occurs normally within 90 seconds so the decision was made to not cool it actively.”]

  36. null said 9 months later:

    We would be most grateful if you quote for 1pc In-Focus - Xia Digital Projector.

    Thanks as we await for you.

    P. Boateng Brantuo, Brantuo Enterprise Limited, P.O. Box AN 5228, Accra North, Ghana, Email: brantuo@ighmail.com Tel: 00233 21 221378 Cell: 00233 244 726 346

  37. Triceratops said 9 months later:

    Does anyone has idea where to get the remote for this projector. I appreciate your prompt replies.

    Thanks

  38. arrow said 11 months later:

    i want to buy a x1a but i dont want to get riped off i bought a lcd tv very cheap and the picture was bad. i dont want to make the same mistake. my apt isint dark in the day but is at night i want to know if this is the product that i wont regret to have bought does contrast ratio really affect the picture and is there ant serious problems that i should know about im not planning on having a huge screem but i want the sharpest picture for a reasonable price {no more than $750} should i buy this product in your honest oppinuon.are there any bulb warrenty if your bulb dies in 2 years they will replace it. it doesnt have a good lumans should i be worryed. any way write back soon

  39. steven said 11 months later:

    is there any way i can change the color wheel to get a better pic or any othere tricks to get the full potensiol

  40. null said 11 months later:

    I just got the x1a and the projector powers up, but their is no welcome screen and the led is solid green

  41. Christian said 11 months later:

    Can you only use the USB connector if you want to use this projector manager program ? I’m connecting it to my PC using the 15pin VGA cable

  42. Raymond Walker said 11 months later:

    This is probably a bit late in coming but Triceratops was asking about a remote.

    I ordered up the baseline Navigator remote directly from infocus for $32.00 and its great ! Has all the functionality the unit itself has ,is laid out well and even has a couple of programable buttons on it. I dont see them on the Infocus website any more ?

    But there are always a few on Ebay it seems so check there if Infocus isnt offering them anymore, it sucks that you have to buy a remote but this one is definitly worth the #32.00 I paid for mine … good luck and enjoy ! ;)

  43. Joel said about 1 year later:

    Did you ever find a cheap solution for the missing remote? I’m now in the same situation, and trying to figure out the options. thanks!

  44. Alex said about 1 year later:

    I find it interesting that infocus doesn’t allow a cool down period on this model. I work in professional projection (35MM and video) and from the qualified technicians I’ve chatted with about this, we all agree infocus doesn’t have a cool down period because it can help prolong the life (even though only moderately) of a bulb. But of course they don’t want it to last longer, they want you to buy another one! It’s all about money. I just figure have a little fun and install an out-board cooling fan on the back, keeps the unit running cooler and helps when shut off. You can whip one up at radio shack for about 15 bucks, of course its not the prettiest thing in the world. Otherwise an amazing projector! Recommended to any one who wants a bang for the buck. HDTV scalier is fantastic.

  45. Kevin Johnston said about 1 year later:

    I am thinking of purchasing an x1a. So fat im quite pleased with reports generally, however, can anyone tell me a link where I could look for a replacement bulb and what they might cost?? It’s always handy to have one spare when you’re on the road!

  46. Fabrice said about 1 year later:

    Hello, I want to download Infocus projector manager but the link above is dead. http://www.infocus.com/software/manager.asp?sitelang=1&siteregion=1&

    Can anyone send me this freeware at contact@fabricegossart.com

    Thanks

  47. Joel Mann said about 1 year later:

    I have an X1-A I bought on ebay and it works ok but sometimes in the middle of a movie it just shuts down. Anyone else have this happen to them? At first I thought it was the bulb going bad but according to the machine it only has 280 hours on it. I suppose a person of poor character could have reset the counter but last night it played for about four hours without a hitch.

  48. Joel Mann said about 1 year later:

    Oh! about the lamp price. I went to topbulb.com and they want $450.00 for a new one! Aargh! the projector lamp link on this page has them for “only” $306.00 What a deal! $306.00 for a light bulb??

  49. Craig said about 1 year later:

    You have to really dig around to find this on their site, but if you’re looking for a perfectly good remote for your Infocus x1a go with this one for $21.00. here’s the link:

    http://store.infocus.com/escalate/store/DetailPage?pls=infocus&bc=infocus&pc=551-0061-00&clist=017080322b69:017080322b77:&tab=desc

  50. vern said about 1 year later:

    can someone tell me where to optain a new color wheel for the infocus lp500?

  51. Raymond Walker said over 2 years later:

    Joel Mann

    You can buy the Lamps for $299.00 directly from Infocus, you may think thats alot, but consider this … probably 95% of projector lamps on the market today average between $500.00 and $1200.00 each and are usually rated at somewhere areound 1000 to 2000 hours of life.

    Take that into consideration and the X1a bulbs are a bargain, if you dont want to cough up the dough once a year or so then a projector isnt for you.

    Considering the bang for the buck of this projector I will take that over spending a minimum of $3000.00 to $4000.00 on a TV anyday, since it will take 5 or 6 years to actually invest that much money into the projector and lamps.

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