Is True 4K LCD Projector Really Good? Paris Rhône SP005 REVIEW

Today we have an article about another projector, but I am very excited about it because it is my first native 4K projector.

There are almost 100 videos about different projectors on our channel Tech Brothers, but we haven’t had a 4K projector yet.

So, meet the Paris Rhône SP005. In addition to 4K UHD resolution, it has 600ANSI Lumens brightness, HDR10+ support, 200-inch maximum screen size, 24W dual speaker, and Android operating system.

By the way, I think this is one of the most affordable 4K projectors on the market. You can buy it for only $499.

So, let’s get started on our full review of the Paris Rhône SP005 projector.

Unboxing

You know, this is my first 4K projector, but it is also probably the biggest projector I’ve ever had. So, it comes in a big box.

We can see the main features of the projector on the box, such as 4K resolution, smart TV system, wireless Wi-Fi connection and automatic keystone correction.

By the way, I haven’t heard much about the Paris Rhone brand, but it looks like it was actually born in Paris in 1915. There is even a kind of Eiffel Tower on top of the box.

When you open the box, you will first see a package with accessories, such as user manual, HDMI cable, power cable, power adapter and remote control.

Among all these, I am most surprised by the huge power adapter. It has a power output of 240W.

Next, we have the projector packed in protective foam. You know, it is not easy to get it out of the box because the projector is quite heavy and packed tightly.

We’re done with the unboxing, and let’s move on to the design.

Design

I have already told you that the Paris Rhône SP005 is the biggest projector I’ve ever owned. Its dimensions are 290 x 285 x 180 mm. The weight is 4051 grams.

So, it is definitely not a compact projector. I would recommend you find a spot for it, like on a table or on the ceiling, and don’t move it again. However, if you move it around sometimes, it is not a problem because the projector has auto focus, auto keystone correction and even smart obstacle avoidance. We will talk about that a little bit later.

The body of the projector is made of matte plastic, but the front panel has a fabric coating. The area around the lens also has a textured panel. It looks very nice.

The sensors on the front are responsible for autofocus, auto keystone correction, smart screen alignment and smart obstacle avoidance.

There are large holes on the right and left for projector ventilation.

Connectivity

I like that all the ports and connectors are in one place on the back panel. There is power input, RJ45 Ethernet port, two USB ports, two HDMI ports, audio out, USB C and IR receiver.

By the way, the rear panel is also fabric-covered.

Among the control buttons, there is only a power button. I think this is another proof that it is best to mount the projector farther away, like on the ceiling, and not touch it. You can use the remote control to operate it.

Remote Control

You know, the remote of the Paris Rhône SP005 projector looks simple, but it has useful buttons like Bluetooth mode, manual focus adjustment, auto focus, and others.

Removable Filter

I should also show you the bottom of the projector, because there is a removable filter as well as a retractable kickstand.

Basically, the projector stands on four rubberized feet, but each of them has threads. I think they can be used for ceiling mounting.

Although the projector is large and heavy, it looks and feels premium. The Paris Rhône SP005 looks like a flagship product.

Android System

Now let’s turn it on and look at the smart system.

When the projector is turned on, we see the company logo and how it automatically adjusts the focus. By the way, autofocus can be turned off in the settings. We will talk about it a little later.

When we first turn the projector on, we are prompted to connect the Bluetooth remote control, select a language, set the time, and connect to a Wi-Fi network.

So, the home screen of the Paris Rhône SP005 looks like this. I see that it is not Android TV or Google TV. However, we can go to the settings and see that the projector is running Android OS. It also has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory.

Let’s go back to the home screen. Here we have Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+ and Tubi TV. You can also go to the recently viewed apps, as well as your cinema and global news.

Other sections include Search, Apps, Video, Music and Setting.

Settings

Let’s take a look at the settings.

First, we have Wi-Fi settings. I have already connected the projector to a Wi-Fi network, but also the Paris Rhône SP005 has RJ45 Ethernet port, so you can use a wired network if you have a weak wireless signal. It looks like the projector could be even used as a hotspot. That’s very good.

In Bluetooth settings, we can see the Device name, so you can connect your smartphone to the projector, or start searching for other devices, for example, to connect external speakers or headphones to the projector.

I told you before that you can turn off autofocus. This function can be found in projection settings. There is Projection mode, Trapezoidal, Automatic Trapezoidal, Automatic Enter the Screen, Automatic Obstacle Avoidance, Startup Automatic Trapezoidal, Startup Automatic Enter the Screen, Startup Automatic Obstacle Avoidance, Four Points Correction, Automatic Focusing, Startup Automatic Focusing, Manual Focusing and Digital Zoom.

The other settings include Power on Source, Power Mode, Language and Brightness.

You can also go to Options, but there is nothing interesting here.

Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube

Now let’s have a look at streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video. As you can see, they are not installed yet, but it only takes a couple minutes.

When I launched Netflix, I saw the mouse cursor. It looks like a browser-based Netflix page, not an official app.

Prime Video also has a mouse cursor, and it also doesn’t look like an official app.

As for the YouTube app, it looks like the official one, but when I tried to log into my account, there was an error – Something went wrong, sign-in failed. I tried several times, but still couldn’t log into my YouTube account.

Wi-Fi Screen Cast

By the way, I saw the screen cast app on the home screen. Let’s try connecting a smartphone to the projector via Wi-Fi.

So, we can use Miracast and HappyCast. I think the Miracast for Android and Windows devices, while HappyCast for iOS devices.

The projector is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, so all you have to do is take your smartphone, go to Screen Mirroring and select HappyCast.

The latency is very low – only a few milliseconds.

Built-in Speaker Quality

One of the main features of the Paris Rhône SP005 projector is the built-in dual 24W speaker system.

You know, the volume level is so high that I cannot listen above 60%. If you have a very large room or you are using the projector outdoors, you can turn up the volume.

The sound quality is very decent, and I like the powerful bass. You know, that’s very rare for a projector.

Speaker Mode

The Paris Rhône SP005 even has Bluetooth mode. You can press the Bluetooth button on the remote control, and you will enter Speaker mode.

Now, you can take your smartphone, go to the Bluetooth menu, and select PE-SP005 device.

Now turn on the music on your smartphone and it will play through the projector’s speaker. You can also turn off the projection when listening to music to extend the lamp life.

Fan Noise

Paris Rhône SP005 is an LCD projector with a white LED light source. Unlike laser projectors, LCD projectors are equipped with quite noisy fans.

The noise level near the new Paris Rhone projector is 54 dB.

However, you will most likely place it 1 meter or more away from the wall, so its noise will be about 48 dB.

I think it is quiet enough for its large size, because I have tested 5 times smaller projectors with the same fan noise.

Finally, let’s talk about image quality.

HDMI Connection

Since I was having trouble logging into my YouTube account, I decided to connect a laptop via HDMI. The projector detected the device connection and invited me to jump into HDMI 2.

Projection Quality

It looks like the maximum resolution via HDMI connection is 1080P 60Hz. Although my laptop only has a Full HD screen, maybe that’s why the projector also has a 1080 resolution.

Anyway, the image is very clear. I didn’t notice any blurring in the corners at all.

Even white lines on a black screen are crisp.

Screen Size

By the way, I tested a projector with a screen size of about 120 inches, but it supports a maximum screen size up to 200 inches.

I already told you that this is my first native 4K projector, and it has the best image quality of any projector I have tested.

Colors

The contrast ratio of Paris Rhône SP005 is 1600 to 1, and it is even higher than some DLP projectors.

I really enjoy the clarity and colors of this projector.

Brightness

As for the brightness, it is 600ANSI lumens. At first, I thought this wasn’t too much because I have tested projectors with 800 and even 1000ANSI lumens. However, I even feel like the Paris Rhône SP005 is even brighter. I am very surprised at the brightness of this LED projector. It is on par with DLP or even laser projectors.

By the way, most other LED projectors have a lamp life of 30000 hours, but the Paris Rhone SP005 has 40000 hours of lamp life. That’s very good.

Light On/Off

Another proof that the projector has a high brightness is that you can use it in a room with light. You can even see details on the projection in a bright room, but the colors are better in a dark room.

Conclusion

So, I can say for sure that the Paris Rhone SP005 is the best projector I have tested. It has a very good image thanks to its native 4K resolution, as well as a high brightness of 600ANSI. You can watch dark movies in a dark room, or even some shows or videos on YouTube in a bright room.

Flagship features, such as auto focus, auto keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, make this projector easy to set up.

I believe the sound quality is just as important as the image quality, and the Paris Rhone SP005 has a very good dual speaker.

My only complaint about this projector is the smart system, because I was unable to log into my YouTube account. I would like the projector to have Android TV or Google TV.

In my opinion, the Paris Rhone SP005 is the best projector under $500, and it is one of the best LCD LED projectors in general.