1080P scrambling full HD temptation is difficult to resist - Cool music as R4 projection evaluation
Smart projection is increasingly finding its way into more households. The reason is simple: a white wall and a projector can create a private audiovisual space. The allure of a large screen is still hard to resist. During this year's New Year's Eve, I connected China Unicom's IPTV—originally linked to the TV—to the HDMI port of the Cool Music R4. While the family was having dinner in the dining room, they were watching TV in the living room with a large screen, and also had a smaller TV nearby. Comparing the sizes, the smile on their faces showed how satisfied they were.
As a brand, Cool Music has always been known for capturing public attention. When it comes to product updates, they often release "wolf" products—products that stand out. For example, when the industry focused on high lumens, Cool Music introduced projectors that could be used during the day. The S3 model was personally tested, and it delivered an impressive experience. At the end of last year, as the industry started paying attention to 1080P, 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. 1080P full HD is a current pain point for consumers. The R4 is equipped with a 7-glass lens and a fully machined metal lens barrel, which provides better image quality and stability compared to some industry models using 5-layer resin lenses. The screen size used was 2.2 meters by 1.24 meters. With a standard 16:9 projector screen, the R4 was placed more than 2.6 meters away, resulting in a 100-inch image. The photo was taken with a Nikon 35mm fixed lens, without any post-imaging effects, just minor cropping. Also, due to compression during internet transmission, the actual viewing experience is even better.
In a dark living room environment, the R4's 800 ANSI lumens shine brightly. It beautifully reproduces colors, contrasts, brightness, and depth. Whether it's barbecue food, city lights, or a quiet autumn night, the R4 delivers excellent visual performance.
During resolution testing, the chart clearly showed lines and characters corresponding to 1080P, verifying the R4’s physical resolution of 1920×1080 dpi. The photo might look slightly blurry, but most of the focus is accurate. After long-term use, the corners may show slight distortion, which is an industry challenge.
The R4 uses RGGB four-channel high-current LED and overcurrent drive technology, achieving 800 ANSI lumens, which is considered a high-end brightness level in the smart projection industry. Even with bright ceiling lights on at night, there is some interference, but the content remains watchable.
To better showcase picture quality and brightness, the R4 was compared to a TV. In a dark room, although the R4 defaults to a cooler color profile, the visual effects are not much different from a TV of the same size. The R4's advantage is the ability to instantly transform into a larger screen.
Under night lighting conditions, the R4’s visual performance is slightly worse than the TV. When facing high-brightness living room lights, 800 ANSI lumens are still not enough.
For smart projectors, hardware is the foundation for content services. The R4's UI is very simple, allowing quick access to movies, music, office, and games from the boot screen. Using the remote control's arrow keys, users can easily navigate to settings, signal sources, wireless mirroring, file management, one-click cleaning, custom shortcuts, and app lists. Although intuitive, the interface needs further refinement.
Cool Music collaborates with third-party content providers, ensuring a rich and high-quality library. Partnerships with Galaxy GITV provide a good selection of films and TV shows. Of course, the latest and most popular movies require membership. To enjoy VIP content smoothly, you can install apps via the app market or a USB drive.
For office needs, you can wirelessly mirror your computer or phone to the R4 using WPS or wireless screen sharing to present PPTs, reports, or materials.
When bored, you can play games like "Landlord" or "Honor of Kings" through the projector, offering a completely different experience from mobile phones or computers.
No matter how great the movie or game is, sound is essential. The R4 features AR's custom two-channel HiFi stereo, delivering a more immersive sound experience compared to traditional centralized speakers. The sound is transmitted from both sides, creating a true two-channel effect. It performs well in small spaces and can even rival some desktop speakers. For higher demands, Bluetooth external speakers are an option.
In terms of control, the R4 supports remote controls, body keys, and WeChat remote control. The remote key layout is straightforward, following mainstream design, making it easy to use and control.
One downside is the lack of auto-focus; manual adjustment via the F+ and F- buttons on the remote is required. Electric dynamic focus would be more convenient. If you're particularly detail-oriented, consider the R4S version, where the AF feature is available.
Finally, looking at the overall value, the Cool Music R4 is one of the few projectors I've used that stands out. Its unique vertical design, full-screen audio panels on both sides, and a calfskin strap on top combine aesthetics with practicality.
The magnesium alloy frame enhances heat dissipation and product texture. The front lens cover acts as a switch and protector, sliding open for easy access.
Many modern devices have removed physical buttons, which can be inconvenient. The R4 retains a row of physical control keys on the top, eliminating the need to search for a remote. The calfskin strap at the top makes it easy to move around.
The back of the device has various interfaces, including two USB ports, one HDMI, one AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, all covered by a protective panel to maintain a clean appearance.
The four adjustable feet allow leveling the projection screen. The R4 supports up/down and left/right (2D mode) trapezoidal correction, making it easier to place the projector anywhere without being confined to the center.
In terms of cooling, after watching a movie at 26°C room temperature, the top of the R4 reached about 32°C, the back was around 40°C, and the area near the lens was the hottest at 45°C. Other panels were about 29°C, showing good cooling performance.
The R4's high value and HiFi audio make it versatile. When not projecting, it can double as a speaker in the living room or bedroom, connected via Bluetooth for stereo use.
Overall, the R4 has clear characteristics: a compact and sleek design, simple yet elegant, and a perfect fit for home decor. Though it lacks auto-focus, it offers 1080P quality at a 720P price. If you want a 100-inch high-definition screen at home, the R4 is a great value for money.
For more smart TV/box information, visit Smart TV Information Network Sofa Butler (http://), a leading website in China for smart TVs and TV boxes, providing news, communication, software, and answers to questions.
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