The Aetherion Max menus supply what could possibly be an awesome variety of decisions, however aren’t due to the way in which they’re damaged up. You will discover eight image modes for SDR enter, one other eight for HDR10, and 4 every for HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. As well as, though HDR10 and HLG share the identical menu, the projector saves completely different settings for every. Nevertheless, the menu reveals solely the modes acceptable for the present enter supply, decreasing the record to the instantly related decisions. Each SDR and HDR menus embody a Filmmaker preset, whereas the HDR record additionally consists of one for IMAX. As well as, the complete HD 3D assist will work with any of the SDR image modes. And be aware that Recreation mode is offered just for sources related utilizing HDMI.
Every image mode gives a protracted record of choices for customizing it to style. You may as well select whether or not your settings will apply to all sources or simply the present supply, which helps you to set the identical mode otherwise for various sources if it’s worthwhile to. The projector additionally gives a shade administration system—AWOL calls it a Coloration Tuner—appropriate for performing a full calibration for many who are prepared to pay for one, or know methods to do it themselves. Most individuals will not see any want for that, nevertheless. With default settings, the colour accuracy ranges from greater than acceptable to good, relying on the image mode.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
In my preliminary viewing assessments, I shortly settled on Theater mode for SDR viewing and HDR Theater for HDR10. Each come set by default to make use of the colour temperature setting that activates the Anti-RBE function, and in every case, they provided good shade accuracy with that setting. Every wanted a slight adjustment to the Black Degree management (historically known as Brightness, however really setting black stage). I additionally modified body interpolation (on the menus as Movement Enhancement) from Customary to Movie, a setting that smooths movement considerably with out including the digital video impact that makes movie appear like stay video.
SDR Theater mode did not want every other adjustments, however HDR Theater was a bit of darkish total in scenes dominated by midtones. Setting Darkish Element to On mounted that concern with no need to strive anything, however you possibly can discover a wealth of different choices to see which settings you want greatest. Specifically, you would possibly need to experiment with Enhanced Black Degree, Brightness Enhancer, and AI Scene (all three had been off by default) in addition to Dynamic Tone Mapping (set to low by default).
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
After my changes, the Aetherion Max delivered wonderful picture high quality throughout the board, with solely minor variations between SDR and HDR variations of the identical scenes on disc. In each circumstances, the projector delivered properly saturated, correct shade; appropriately darkish black ranges; and impressively good shadow element and distinction. The shadow element was solely a contact higher in HDR, however that is as a result of it held so nicely in SDR that there was hardly any room for enchancment.
The one place the Aetherion Max stubs its toe—and badly—is 3D content material. The picture high quality maintained all of the sturdy factors that I noticed in my 2D assessments, and likewise scored nicely for 3D-related movement artifacts, nevertheless it confirmed extra apparent crosstalk than I’ve ever seen in every other projector, and it confirmed it extra typically, together with in scene after scene the place I’ve by no means seen any earlier than.
AWOL says the crosstalk is said to TI’s new DLP platform. It is working with TI to unravel it, and it expects the answer to be obtainable in a firmware replace later this yr. Within the meantime, in the event you begin a 3D film and see crosstalk, switching to a different 3D mode after which again to the proper one ought to resolve it. It is not a chic repair, and it did not work each time in my assessments, however it should allow you to watch in 3D.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
Primarily based on the Society of Movement Image and Tv Engineers (SMPTE) suggestions for a darkish room, 3,300 ANSI lumens is appropriate for a roughly 225-to-305-inch, 1.0-gain display in a darkish room. For the decrease brightness modes and settings I used, it was simply vivid sufficient with lights off to fill my 110-inch, 1.0-gain display for each SDR and HDR. In a household room with home windows, you will most likely need to change to a brighter mode for that dimension picture on a vivid day.
Even for a projector with an anti-RBE function, and particularly for one that will exhibit speckle (due to the tri-color laser mild supply), our customary recommendation applies to anybody involved about both: It is best to purchase from a supply that permits straightforward returns, so you possibly can choose each points for your self.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
For players, the Aetherion Max gives a showstopper. Along with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), it is on the vanguard of fashions which are redefining what counts as state-of-the-art-short for enter lag. My Bodnar 4K Lag Tester measured the latency at 9.8 milliseconds (ms) for 1080p/60Hz, 9.6ms at 4K/60Hz, and three.2ms at 1080p/240Hz. We have examined just one different projector with a equally brief lag—the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max—however the Aetherion Max is the primary we have seen that does not require something greater than selecting Recreation Mode to get that stage of efficiency. Notice additionally that it helps variable refresh charge (VRR) for smoother video efficiency.
