1080P scrambling full HD temptation is difficult to resist - Cool music as R4 projection evaluation
Smart projection is gradually making its way into more households. The reason is simple: a white wall and a projector can create a private entertainment space. The allure of a large screen is hard to resist. During this year's Spring Festival, I connected China Unicom's IPTV, which was originally linked to the TV, to the HDMI port of the Cool Music R4. While the family was dining in the restaurant, they were watching TV in the living room with a large screen, and also had another TV nearby. Comparing the size with the projector, the smiles on their faces were the greatest satisfaction.
When it comes to Cool Music as a brand, it has always been known for creating products that appeal to the masses. When updating its product line, it often introduces "wolf" products—innovative and bold. For example, while the industry focused on high brightness, Cool Music introduced projectors that could be used during the day. The S3 model was personally tested and proved to be impressive. At the end of last year, the industry started to focus on 1080P, and Cool Music launched the R4 with a "Full HD 2.0" concept, offering 1080P quality at a 720P price point.
This review started with real shots from the R4. The current consumer pain point is 1080P, and the R4 is equipped with a 7-glass lens and a full-metal precision-milled lens barrel, which provides better image quality and stability compared to some industry models using resin lenses. The screen size used here is 2.2 meters by 1.24 meters. Using a standard 16:9 projector screen, the R4 is placed more than 2.6 meters away, projecting an image exactly 100 inches. The photo was taken with a Nikon 35mm fixed lens, without any post-processing, just minor cropping. Also, due to compression when streaming online, the actual viewing experience is even better.
In a dark living room environment, the R4's 800 ANSI lumens shine brightly, showcasing vivid colors, city night lights, and autumn scenes, demonstrating excellent color reproduction, contrast, brightness, and depth.
During the resolution test chart review, the lines and characters corresponding to 1080P were clearly visible, verifying the R4's physical resolution of 1920×1080 dpi. The photo might seem slightly blurry, but in reality, most of the focusing is very accurate. After long-term use, the corners may appear slightly warped, which is a common issue in the industry.
The R4 uses RGGB four-channel high-current LED and overcurrent drive technology, reaching 800 ANSI lumens, which is considered one of the highest brightness levels in the smart projection industry. Even with bright overhead lights on at night, there is some interference, but it's still watchable.
To display picture quality and brightness more intuitively, the R4 was compared with a TV. In a dark room, although the R4 defaults to a cooler picture, the visual effects are not much different from those of the TV. The main advantage of the R4 is its ability to instantly transform into a larger screen.
In a lit environment, the R4's visual effect is slightly worse than the TV. When facing high-brightness living room lights, 800 ANSI lumens may not be enough.
For smart projectors, hardware is an extension and carrier of content services. The R4's UI is very simple, allowing quick access to films, music, office, and games from the boot screen. With the remote control's arrow keys, you can enter settings, signal sources, wireless screen mirroring, file management, one-click cleaning, custom shortcuts, app lists, and more. Although the operation is intuitive, the interface could use further refinement.
Cool Music collaborates with third-party content providers, offering a wide range of high-quality video and music. Through partnerships like Galaxy GITV, the content is both abundant and well-curated. However, the latest and most popular movies require membership. If you want smoother access to VIP content, you can install apps via the app market or a USB drive.
For office needs, such as presenting PPTs or reviewing reports, you can use wireless screen mirroring or WPS sharing to project content from your computer or phone onto the R4.
When bored, you can play games like "Landlord" or "Honor of Kings" on the projector, offering a completely different experience compared to mobile phones or computers.
No matter how good the movie or game is, sound is essential. The R4 features AR's custom two-channel HiFi stereo, delivering sound from both sides for a true two-channel experience. The audio quality is comparable to desktop speakers, making it ideal for small spaces. For higher demands, Bluetooth external speakers are also supported.
In terms of control, the R4 supports remote controls, body buttons, and WeChat remote control. The remote control layout is simple and follows mainstream design, making it easy to use and operate.
One drawback of the R4 is the lack of auto-focus. It requires manual focusing using the F+ and F- buttons on the remote. Dynamic electric focus is more noticeable. If you're particularly meticulous, the R4S version with AF is recommended.
Finally, looking at the value of color, the R4 is one of the few projectors I've used, and it's among the more successful designs. Its unique vertical design, full-screen audio panels on both sides, and a calfskin strap on top combine aesthetic design with practical value.
The magnesium alloy frame of the R4 helps with heat dissipation and enhances the product's texture. The front lens cover acts as a switch and protector by sliding.
Many products now remove physical buttons, which can be inconvenient in real use. The R4 retains a row of physical control keys on the top, eliminating the need to search for the remote. The calfskin strap on top makes it easy to move.
Various interfaces are hidden on the back of the unit and covered with protective covers to maintain a clean appearance. Standard ports include two USB, one HDMI, one AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack—enough for daily use.
The four adjustable feet at the bottom allow for leveling the projection screen. The R4 supports up/down and left/right (2D mode) trapezoidal correction, making it easy to adjust the image even if the projector isn't placed centrally. Most of the image is properly aligned, except for the rightmost side, which is slightly skewed. This flexibility allows for more placement options.
In terms of cooling, after testing at 26°C room temperature, the top of the R4 reached about 32°C, the back around 40°C, and the area near the lens was the hottest at 45°C. Other panels were around 29°C, showing good cooling performance.
The R4’s high-value features and HiFi audio shouldn’t go to waste. When not in use for projection, it can serve as a speaker in the living room or bedroom, and can also be used as a Bluetooth stereo.
Overall, the R4 has clear characteristics: a compact and sleek design, simple yet elegant, and can double as home decor. Although it lacks auto-focus, it delivers 1080P quality at a 720P price. If you're looking for a 100-inch high-definition screen at home, the R4 offers great value for money.
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