BlogTech

Monoprice 110010: A Budget Audiophile’s Dream Amp Under $500

The Monoprice 110010 is a budget-friendly 1080p home theater projector. It offers good image quality and connectivity options at an affordable price point, making it a great option for casual users looking to set up a projector in their living room or basement without breaking the bank.

Some of the key specs and features of the Monoprice 110010 include:

  • 1080p resolution
  • 3,500 lumens brightness
  • 15,000:1 contrast ratio
  • 1.1x zoom
  • Vertical lens shift
  • HDMI, VGA, AV and USB inputs
  • Built-in 10W speaker

With 1080p resolution, the Monoprice 110010 is able to display full high definition content. The 3,500 lumens brightness rating ensures you’ll get a vivid, visible picture even in rooms with some ambient light. The projector also has a decent 15,000:1 contrast ratio for good color and black levels.

For connectivity, there are two HDMI inputs which is useful for hooking up multiple devices like a streaming stick, game console or Blu-ray player. There’s also VGA input for connecting to a computer. The built-in 10W speaker provides audio directly from the projector.

Overall, the Monoprice 110010 hits a sweet spot of resolution, brightness and connectivity for casual home theater use at an affordable price point under $500. It’s a great option for those looking to get started with a basic home projector setup without spending too much.

Design

The Monoprice 110010 is a stylish and modern looking projector with a white matte finish. It has a sleek, rounded rectangular shape that will look good in any home theater setup.

Despite its low price point, the build quality is surprisingly good. The outer casing feels sturdy and durable. There’s no creaking or flexing when you pick it up. Buttons have a satisfying click and the manual focus and zoom rings turn smoothly.

Overall, the Monoprice 110010 punches above its weight in terms of design and build quality. It looks and feels much more premium than its budget pricing would suggest. The white color helps it blend into the background instead of drawing too much attention. Those looking for an affordable home theater projector that still looks great will be pleased with the design.

Setup

Setting up the Monoprice 110010 projector was fairly straightforward. I simply placed it on a table about 8 feet from my projector screen, plugged it in, and connected an HDMI cable from the projector to my laptop.

The projector comes with an intuitive menu system that’s easy to navigate using the included remote control. Under the Settings menu, I chose my desired display resolution and adjusted the image to fit my screen. The projector has automatic keystone correction which helps square the image if the projector is placed at an angle to the screen. This worked well for me and I didn’t have to manually adjust the keystone.

The only hiccup I ran into was the projector defaulted to a low power eco mode on first startup. This made the image too dim. But it only took a moment to switch modes in the settings to full power projection which gave me a nicely bright picture. Overall, I was up and running with a great image in just a few minutes without needing to consult the manual.

Image Quality

The Monoprice 110010 projector offers excellent image quality for the price. It has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 (1080p Full HD), which is the standard for most HD content and provides a detailed, sharp picture.

The brightness is rated at 4500 lumens, which is very bright and suitable for rooms with some ambient light. You don’t need to have a completely dark room to get a good image. This makes the projector versatile for both home theater use and presentations.

The contrast ratio is specified at 15,000:1, which produces deep blacks and vivid colors. The projector is able to display subtle shadow details while still keeping dark scenes looking inky black.

As for color accuracy, the projector covers the Rec.709 color space at 120% volume. This means you get rich, saturated colors that don’t look undersaturated or washed out. Skin tones appear natural, and the image doesn’t suffer from any visible color tinting or oversaturation.

Overall, the image quality rivals more expensive projectors and will please both home theater enthusiasts and casual users looking for an immersive viewing experience on a budget. The high brightness, resolution, and contrast ratio result in a highly detailed, colorful image even in less than ideal lighting conditions.

Sound Quality

The Monoprice 110010 has decent sound quality for a budget projector. The built-in 5W speaker provides enough volume to fill a small to medium sized room. The audio is clear for dialogue in movies and TV shows, though it lacks bass and sounds tinny for music playback.

While the volume is sufficient, the speaker quality means this projector is best paired with an external speaker system for an immersive home theater experience. For casual viewing the sound is passable, but audiophiles will want to connect external speakers or soundbar for improved audio. The projector has an audio output port that makes it easy to hook up powered speakers.

Overall the 110010’s sound gets the job done for most applications but falls short of more expensive projectors. It’s fine for presentations, video conferencing, or watching shows. But movie fans will want a sound system upgrade to hear action scenes and soundtrack details. The audio clarity is decent but the weak bass and distortion at high volumes disappoint. Still, acceptable built-in audio considering the low price point.

Connectivity

The Monoprice 110010 projector has several connection options for video and audio sources.

For video, it has two HDMI inputs which support HDMI 1.4 and HDCP 1.4. This allows you to connect devices like Blu-ray players, streaming sticks, and game consoles that output HDMI. There is also a VGA input that can be used to connect to computers.

On the audio side, there is a standard 3.5mm audio jack that can be used for analog stereo audio input from devices connected via HDMI or VGA. There is also an optical digital audio output that allows you to send digital audio to an external audio system.

For added flexibility, the projector has a USB port that supports media playback from USB flash drives. You can play video, photos, and music files directly from a plugged in USB stick. This allows for quick and easy playback without any cables.

Overall, the assortment of HDMI, VGA, 3.5mm audio, optical audio, and USB connections make the Monoprice 110010 versatile for connecting modern video sources as well as older computers and devices. The dual HDMI inputs are especially convenient for hooking up multiple entertainment devices at the same time.

Remote Control

The Monoprice 110010 comes with a simple yet functional remote control. The remote is powered by two AAA batteries which are included.

The remote has all the necessary buttons to control the projector’s power, input source, menu navigation, keystone correction, and volume. There are also buttons for freezing the image and toggling between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.

The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and are well laid out. The remote is lightweight and easy to hold. It feels decent quality and operates the projector smoothly.

The only downside is the remote lacks any backlighting. This can make the buttons hard to see in a dark room. You’ll need to memorize the remote’s layout to use it effectively in low light conditions. Overall, the included remote gets the job done well for a budget projector.

Special Features

The Monoprice 110010 projector has some useful special features worth highlighting.

One standout feature is the wireless projection capability. The projector has built-in wireless functionality that allows you to connect and mirror your smartphone, tablet, or laptop screen wirelessly, without any cables. This makes it easy to share content and eliminates the need to plug in HDMI or other cables each time you want to project something new. The wireless connection is fast and reliable thanks to 5GHz WiFi support.

Another handy feature is the vertical lens shift, which gives you more flexibility in projector placement. You can make adjustments up and down to position the image where you want it without having to move the entire projector. This allows you to fine tune the image position for the perfect view.

For convenience, the Monoprice 110010 has auto power on/off functionality. When it detects a video source signal, it will turn on automatically. And when no signal is detected for a period of time, it will shut off on its own to save energy. This automation makes operation seamless.

The projector also supports 3D video and has a built-in speaker, though external speakers can be connected via the audio output jack for upgraded sound. With support for the latest video formats and projection technologies, the Monoprice 110010 is a versatile and full-featured projector.

Pros & Cons

The Monoprice 110010 offers excellent value given its price point. Here’s a quick summary of the main pros and cons:

Pros

  • Very affordable price for a 4K projector
  • Good overall image quality for the price
  • Bright projection up to 300 lumens
  • Supports 4K UHD resolution
  • Built-in speakers provide decent sound
  • Easy to set up and connect
  • Comes with a remote control
  • Lightweight and portable

Cons

  • Not true native 4K, uses pixel shifting technology
  • Short lamp life of only 30,000 hours
  • Mediocre black levels and contrast ratio
  • Speakers sound somewhat tinny
  • No zoom or lens shift capabilities
  • Only 1 HDMI input port
  • No 3D support
  • Fan noise may be distracting in quiet environments

Overall, the Monoprice 110010 offers great bang for your buck if you want an entry-level 4K projector on a budget. Just don’t expect premium performance and features. It’s a solid choice for casual home theater use.

Conclusion

The Monoprice 110010 is an excellent budget projector that delivers good image quality and decent sound for its low price point. It’s easy to set up, with minimal calibration needed to get a nice picture. The connectivity options are basic but sufficient, and the remote is simple and intuitive.

While the image and sound quality can’t compare to more expensive projectors, the Monoprice 110010 punches above its weight given its affordable cost. It’s a great choice for casual home theater use, especially in a dark room. Lacking lens shift and zoom abilities may make placement trickier in certain setups.

Overall, the Monoprice 110010 is a great value purchase for those looking for an inexpensive 1080p projector. It delivers a satisfying viewing experience for movies, TV shows, and games. For budget-conscious buyers needing a basic home theater projector, the Monoprice 110010 is easy to recommend.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button