Laurent WillenSpecialties: digital in all its forms (marketing, development, writing, ...) Background: this blog is a hobby that has grown over time. I also have a professional background where I've worked in fields as varied as telecoms, real estate, software, automotive, travel, and air transport.
Commentaires (21)
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Florent
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello Laurent and thank you for your work. I wanted to know if your image settings for the Horizon 20 (base) visible in your test article are still valid after the 1.3.125 update...? Thank you for your reply. Sincerely Florent
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hi Florent, The settings have changed slightly, I recalibrated when I made this comparison but I still need to adapt the original article. I still have 3 videos to finish, I'll update after that (hoping there won't be another update).
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Florent
Original language of this comment: FR
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Thank you for your reply. Looking forward to hearing from you
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Guy
Original language of this comment: FR
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BJ I am interested in the xgimi one of the 3 models 20 I have a distance of 3.50 and a white screen of 110 inches that you advise me for a room semi lit thank you and good day
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Ian
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello Laurent, thank you for this wealth of information! I'm thinking of buying one of these 3 models to replace my fengmi S5 (mediocre quality, latency problem due to the correction required) I have a dedicated room (black walls and ceiling, red floor), the projection distance is 3m10, and the VP is on a tray located on the ceiling. The top of my image is 37cm from the ceiling, base 2m40, gain 1.1 I learned from you that the projected image is centered on the fixture. I was counting on positioning it upside down, but since the image is centered, it won't make much difference, and I even wonder if the lens shift will be able to rectify it. Also, using your tool, I realize that a standard would be a bit limiting in HDR. Would the fact that my room has black walls improve things?
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello, with this distance you'll have to use the zoom because without it you'll end up with a 135-inch screen. Depending on the brightness of the room, I would hesitate between the 20 Pro and the 20 Max but with a white screen the washed-out effect will be very visible in both cases so it will depend a little on your tolerance for the washed-out side. If you're watching very bright content like a sports competition, this won't be a problem, but for dark films like Batman in my example, the experience will be considerably less good. So if your room is a little bright, the 20 Pro should be able to cope, otherwise you'll have to consider the 20 Max, but with a washed-out effect in both cases.
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello Ian, Thank you! With a distance of 310cm, you'll get an image that's a bit too big with the projection ratio at 1.2 and at 1.5 it'll be too small. To make the calculation for your screen I used a 16:9 format to arrive at 240x135. With the basic model, HDR is red and will remain so even when zoomed in. For the 20 Pro, the orange will be closer to green, so I think it should be ok. With the 20 Max, there's room for improvement, so no worries there. The color of the walls won't play much of a role, with white walls there'll be more stray light and that's not likely to improve the experience. Yes, the projection is different and you can place it in the ceiling position without turning it upside down. In my projection room, I placed the Horizon 20 series at a height of 2m10 without turning them upside down. They're too big to fit in my central slot. With the 120° vertical lens shift, I can bring the image down to the bottom of the screen without any problem. It's on the horizontal axis that the lens shift is more limited, as there are only 22.5° on each side.
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello, thank you for this very useful comparison but I would need your advice. I'm hesitating between the PRO and the MAX because I only watch films in a rather dark room with a 550 cm promo screen distance and a standard white screen with a 3m base. According to your graphs, the PRO doesn't seem to be bright enough. But you recommend the MAX for viewing in a bright room... So I don't know which one to choose. On the other hand, I'm very sensitive to operating and ventilation noise, as my Prolo stands behind me, 100 cm above my head. Can you confirm that these 2 models are still silent (I don't want to turn the laser all the way up)? Thank you in advance for your help.
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello, with a distance of 550 cm, several problems will arise. Distance plays a huge role in brightness, which decreases with the square of the distance, so it's not a linear decrease. At this distance, you're going to get an image that's far too big for your screen, even with the optical zoom set to maximum. That's why everything is in red. At 450 cm and using the full optical zoom, the max will give you an image with a base height of 3m, and you're well within the brightness limits. Without using the zoom, you need to position the projector at 360cm. These projectors are very quiet, so unless you have your head really glued to them, you shouldn't be able to hear them.
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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I haven't tested any projectors with this zoom level, but from a purely technical point of view, the following models might be suitable: Epson EH-LS12000B BenQ LK990 Sony VPL-XW5000ES Optoma ZK507 The latter is the least expensive of the lot, the others being more expensive than the XGIMI. This projection ratio is quite rare in Chinese projectors. The other solution I'd see is to use an XGIMI Horizon 20 Pro/Max with a bit of digital zoom. It's not ideal because it will generate a gray border around the image of about 16 cm with a slight loss of quality, but given the size of the image, I'm not sure it will show.
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, given my room, I can't move the projector any closer. So, which projector would you recommend to replace my sony VPL-HW45ES which dates from 2019? I'm looking for a very quiet laser and 4K projo. Thank you in advance for your help.
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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it will be 16 cm all around the screen if the projector is properly centered.
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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Yes, I was going to suggest it, because for rooms this deep, it's still the easiest way to get a great picture. If you choose a good UST projector, you won't lose quality and, on the contrary, you'll get better contrast. The best I've tested is the Formovie Theater Premium: https://www.laurentwillen.be/gadgets/test-avis-projecteurs/formovie-theater-premium-test-avis/
LaurentW
Original language of this comment: FR
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If you're in the dark, yes, but your ceiling will receive more light than with a long-throw projector. If your ceiling is black, it shouldn't be a big problem.
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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Thank you. For information I tested the Epson EH-LS12000B and Sony VPL-XW5000ES. Both very good but too noisy. (they are less than a meter behind me at 2m from the ground). I had to send them back because of this. When you talk about a 16cm gray edge, is it 16cm on all sides or 8cm on each edge? My screen is surrounded by a 6cm black velvet border... I don't know if this is going to be a problem... It's getting really complicated to find a very quiet projector...
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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Thanks again for your advice, I'll look into it...
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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I even wonder if the solution might be to switch to an ultra-short focal length... but I'm afraid of losing quality.
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cedric
Original language of this comment: FR
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If I go with this Formovie Theater Premium, can I keep my standard white screen (which dates from 2010)?
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Daniele
Original language of this comment: IT
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I am torn between getting the horizon 20 (basic) and the horizon 20 pro. I would use it in the bedroom with absolute dark condition and on a 90-inch white celexon screen. With the offers of the moment between the two models dances 330 euros and I do not know if the difference in native contrast, brightness and especially sharpness, are worth the higher cost. Laurent can you help me decide? What should I get? Thank you very much for your excellent evidence
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Daniele
Original language of this comment: FR
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Hello Laurent, thank you for your tests and the XGIMI discount codes which enabled me to buy the Horizon 20 at a reduced price. I also wanted to know if you could share the basic Horizon 20 color settings. I know that the ones you shared are no longer valid. In addition, I'd like to know if the DBLE function was corrected with the latest update and is now fully functional, or if it's better to disable it and use native contrast only. Thanks again for your valuable contribution to enthusiasts like us.
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Daniele
Original language of this comment: IT
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Merci beaucoup. Vous m'avez été d'une grande aide pour prendre ma décision. Pourriez-vous également me direment si le problème de décalage de couleur avec le DBLE activé a été résolu ? Dois-je le laisser activé ou utiliser le contraste natif ? De plus, en réglant les paramètres d'image, je me suis rendu compte que je devais absolument utiliser le mode film et la couleur D65. Devrais-je modifier d'autres paramètres pour obtenir la meilleure image possible ?
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Code promo exclusif
Code promo exclusif
I'm lucky enough to be able to get discounts (sometimes exclusive) for my readers. These discounts are 100% genuine but can sometimes be limited to certain geographic areas. Some discounts have geographic restrictions and since I can't be sure of your location, I list everything I have.
Horizon 20/20 Pro/20 Max
Regular price : 1 699€
Discounted price : 1 439€
Start date : 13/04/2026
End date : 23/04/2026
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Commentaires (21)