Sharp XR-32S

Sharp’s XR-32S is a simple multimedia projector that displays low resolution multimedia presentations accurately and brightly. It struggles with high-definition content, however.

Like most Sharp projectors, the XR-32S has a glossy white cover and an offset lens. It is an attractive model that is also unobtrusive; with dimensions of 270x89x265mm it will sit discreetly at the back of a boardroom without drawing the same attention that, for example, Viewsonic’s Precision Pro8100 might.

It’s an analog-only projector, with a single VGA port that can also be converted to component input. S-Video and composite are also included, with stereo audio inputs for the projector’s mono 2 Watt speaker.

A control interface sits on the top of the unit; we would have liked the buttons to be less crowded. A remote control is also bundled with the unit, but it is also quite unfriendly and crowded.

Despite being relatively small, the image created is vibrant and impressive. With a claimed 2500 ANSI lumens, it is bright enough to be operated in a sunlit room while still projecting an image with good colour separation. This is a real boon for travellers, as well as for companies with open-plan, all-weather boardrooms.

Thanks to DLP technology, the XR-32S produces strong, clearly separated colours. Our test presentation was clear and impressive, and we were easily able to distinguish between small colour increments on a pie chart. It also doesn’t need a dust filter like the majority of projectors currently on the market.

Sharpness levels were more than acceptable, with manual zoom and focus refinement controls found on the lens. When projecting a large image it was very easy to find the optimal focus point thanks to the projector’s low resolution.

Contrasts between blacks and whites were par for the course, with a large range of shades of grey able to be displayed easily. In brighter situations this did suffer, but the XR-32S was still able to project an adequate picture.

The level of fan noise isn't very good. Sharp rates the XR-32S at 29dB in its Eco/Quiet mode, but we think this is a little optimistic. The forward-firing fan port means that if you intend to use it at the rear of a room it might annoy viewers, but it will divert noise and hot air if you to sit behind the projector.

With a minimum projection distance of 1.5 metres for a 40 inch projection surface, the XR-32S is probably more suited to being placed at the back of a room — especially when a 11.2m projection distance nets you a screen almost eight metres in size.

The lamp has a life of 4000 hours, so this projector is a good choice if you’re an intensive user.

The projector's native resolution of 800x600 pixels is acceptable if you’re using an older laptop and are projecting to a large audience (and therefore need a low resolution for easy reading). However, 1024x768 is slowly becoming the presentation standard, so you may want to consider your purchase carefully.