Hisense’s C2 Ultra projector will make old movies look better than ever

Hisense has improved its already excellent C1 TriChroma Laser Projector, releasing a C2 Ultra version. But is it worth shelling out an extra $1500?

Hisense's new C2 Ultra projector has a gimbal design to make installation easier.

Hisense has improved its already excellent C1 TriChroma Laser Projector, releasing a C2 Ultra version. But is it worth the extra cash?

The C1 retails for $3499 versus $4999 for the C2 Ultra. What’s more, the C1 can be nabbed on sale for $2288 from Harvey Norman and $2295 from JB Hi-Fi.

So what do you get for that coin? Well, there is a stand that can swivel and tilt, making installation easier, it’s almost twice as bright, has a built-in subwoofer and is equipped with a 4K upscaller – which increases the resolution of older movies, thanks to AI.

That sounds good, but is it still worth the upgrade and will average viewers notice the difference?

Pros

• Compact package
• Bright enough to be viewed in daylight
• Easy installation

Cons

• Needs a soundbar or external speaker for full cinematic experience
• Minimum throw is 1.2m

Unboxing

Hisense provides one of the easiest set ups for home projectors. All you need to do is plug it in, face towards the wall that you want to project on and the machine takes care of the rest, including keystone correction (which compensates the screen for non-perpendicular angles) and ensuring its correct focus. It also avoids objects such as light switches and power points.

Hisense's C2 Ultra TriChroma Laser Projector retails for $4999.

You can fine tune the keystone and focusing, but the automatic set up did a good enough job for me.

The new stand, which features a gimbal design, is also an improvement on the original. It can rotate 360 degrees and tilt 135 degrees, allowing you to even project on your ceiling and watch a movie lying flat on your couch, if you so desire. This is great if you don’t have blank white walls to project on.

The C2 runs on Hisense’s VIDAA OS. This is pretty straight forward with the most popular streaming apps installed and ready to be logged into.

Screen size

Like the C1, the C2 Ultra can project up to 300 inches – if you have a room that is at least 10 metres wide.

Its minimum throw is 1.2m, which is an improvement on the C1’s 1.73m, but means you can’t place it on a credenza or cabinet and project it onto the wall where your TV would normally be. For that functionality, you need Hisense’s TriChroma Laser TV, which has a minimum throw of 30.3cm and retails from $6499.

At 1.2m, the C2 Ultra projects a screen size of 65 inches.

Performance

The C2 Ultra is bright. It has 3000 ANSI Lumens compared with the C1’s 1600. This is a noticeable difference and I found I could still watch movies and retain vivid colours in daylight without the curtains drawn.

The gimbal design on the C2 Ultra allows you to project onto the ceiling if you desire.

The on-board sound, which comes from JBL, features DTS Virtual: X 3D surround sound. It does a decent enough job and a massive improvement on the C1, featuring two 10 watt speakers, and a 20 watt subwoofer (unlike the C1). But there is only so much high-fidelity that you can cram into such a small box and still call it a mini projector.

If you want to replicate a full theatrical experience, invest in some external speakers – a soundbar, surrounds and a subwoofer – and you won’t be disappointed.

Like the C1, it features Dolby Vision, allowing 4K high-dynamic range resolution. I like this feature because its filmmaker mode allows you to view a film in the colours the director intended and without the motion smoothing, which creates a “hyper-real” effect and I find distracting.

The 4K upscaler, which improves the resolution of 1080p or SD content, is a big plus, particularly when you project at larger screen sizes. Sharpness and colour is retained with the picture becoming pixelated or washed out. This is achieved thanks to AI recognising what is on the screen and creating the missing pixels to increase the resolution and create a more realistic image. Samsung’s flagship 85-inch Neo QLED TV, which retails for $13,799, performs upscaling in a similar way.

All in all, old movies look better than ever.

Bottom line

So is the C2 Ultra worth it? I was impressed with the C1 and it can now be bought for a bargain, making it still a compelling home theatre option. But the C2 Ultra’s increased brightness alone justifies the price tag, ensuring you won’t have buyer regret and have a more versatile piece of kit.