ViewSonic PX727-4K Review

ViewSonic PX727-4K Review

This budget model shares some very similar traits with its rivals…

It offers the same 1.2x zoom. There’s no vertical image shifting. Its claimed brightness is the same 2,200 Lumens. It’s got the same key connections: two HDMIs (one for 4K), one 3.5mm audio input, one D-Sub PC port, an RS-232 and a 12V trigger. It even shares the BenQ’s yellow ring around its lens edge. Most strikingly of all, it has exactly the same menus and adjustments as the Acer.

So does that mean it’s exactly the same as the Acer? Not necessarily. First, the PX727-4K claims a contrast ratio of 12,000:1, vs 10,000:1 on the BenQ and Acer models. It also boasts of SuperColour technology – although the way this technology combines a bespoke colour wheel design with dynamic lamp control, to deliver a wider colour gamut and enhance contrast and detailing, sounds mighty similar to what Acer’s ColorPurity system promises…

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The PX727-4K’s MoviePro menu does exactly as the Acer’s does, letting you activate colour enhancement, skin tone adjustment and Super Resolution features. Again, I don’t really think you need to use any of these features, although a 3-4 setting for Super Resolution can marginally improve the sharpness of the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 4K Blu-ray picture without causing edge noise or excessive grain.

The PX727-4K also provides the same three ‘EOTF’ options, with the same results. As with the Acer, for me the Low setting delivered the richest colours and deepest black levels.

Having found the PX727-4K and Acer V6810 close enough in their performance characteristics to end up selecting exactly the same preferred picture settings, are there any differences in the way they perform? Actually, it seemed to me that there are. Even if they’re pretty minor.

It’s a close call

Three of the differences go in the ViewSonic’s favour. First, its motion looks more natural. There’s no repeat of the rather billowy look to camera pans I witnessed with Acer’s V6810. Second, the ViewSonic’s picture looks a touch sharper, a situation perhaps helped by its focus ring being much more sensitive and easy to adjust.

Finally, when sunlight reflects on the actor’s faces in Jumanji, the PX727-4K avoids some slight bleaching in their highlighted skin tones that was apparent on the V6810.

The one thing the Acer has in its favour is that I found its contrast slightly better, despite the ViewSonic claiming a higher contrast ratio. The PX727-4K’s blacks look a little shallower and peak whites a little duller, using the same settings.

Both projectors are similar where colour is concerned. There’s perhaps a touch more refinement in the ViewSonic’s pictures when looking at facial skin tones and, say, the clothes and backgrounds of the Jumanji market sequence. But the key point is that both seem to stretch their tones further than the BenQ and Optoma models. As with the Acer, I hardly noticed any rainbow effect at all with this PJ.

There’s also parity when it comes to the PX727-4K’s audio. It too uses a single 10W speaker, and it too lacks the rounded tones and sound dispersion qualities heard from the Optoma and, especially, BenQ models. This is the cheapest PJ test, however, meaning you may be happier investing extra cash in an external sound system.

I was impressed with the Acer’s pictures and the PX727-4K’s are more or less the same (if not slightly better), while currently costing you less.

3D: No 4K: Yes. 3,840 x 2160 HDR: Yes.

HDR10 CONNECTIONS: 2 x HDMI inputs (one HDCP 2.2); powered USB; D-Sub PC port; RS-232; audio input/output; 12V trigger BRIGHTNESS (CLAIMED): 2,200 Lumens CONTRAST (CLAIMED): 12,000:1 ZOOM: 1.2x DIMENSIONS: 332(w) x 135(h) x 261(d)mm WEIGHT: 4.2kg

FEATURES: SuperColour technology; EOTF adjustments; skin tone adjustment; resolution booster; up to 15,000-hour claimed lamp life