Black Warrior: a 3D RGB Laser projector with some intriguing features

3D Laser projectors are starting to become affordable 

The Black Warrior is a cinematic laser projector available for ordering on Kickstarter. The campaign price is lower than $1000, making it an affordable laser 3D projector. Though it is announced as a 4K projector, it only specifies that it can decode 4K up to 60Hz, so we suspect the real resolution is 1920×1080, not a problem if we take in account the price (the actual campaign price, at least), aligned with other 3D non-laser projectors, which also are 1080P. For that price, we also have HDR10 support and some -how we can say it- rare features:

Added to real 3D with Active shutter-glasses, the company announces a “glasses-free 3D mode”, which consists of special formatted 2d content with visual cues to make the images appear jumping above that visual cues. This is not a real feature of the projector. In fact, any display can show that “special” content. Just play that specially formatted video on any display, including the one you’re using now for reading this article, here’s a sample:

That’s it, it is simply a trick, a trick any 2d display can do, not only this projector. We would be offended by that “feature”… But as the projector also features real 3D for a reasonable price, we’ll simply ignore that marketing trick used to fool some people.

There’s also a rare feature, at least for a projector: there is a Karaoke function with support for two microphones. It is not something we would use ever, but it’s there for those who want to use it.

Features

After speaking of those unconventional peculiarities, we can concentrate on the real things that matter to 3D enthusiasts.

The RGB laser is from Osram and its brightness is 3000 Lumens (ANSI), features HDR10 image processing (15000:1 real contrast ratio) and Active 3D supporting DLP-Link 3D glasses, unfortunately it only supports SBS images, not HDMI frame-packing. This means you cannot play your 3D Blu-ray titles directly. We consider unacceptable to not support proper 3D standards and rely on creepy 3D distorted solutions that are more than obsolete and inconvenient. In the era of Spatial Video, having to continue dealing with special distorted versions of the 3D files instead of a universal file usable by any user -2d and 3D-, is anachronistic.

An interesting feature is that when you project the image to any surface, it automatically focuses, so you don’t have to manually adjust it. So, no matter if you modify the display size from 40 to 300 inches, move/tilt the projector, or plug it in another room or place. The image will always be calibrated and in focus, even if you move it while functioning.

Remember we also have an autofocus projector on our Store.

About sound, it includes 2x10W neodymium speakers with a big acoustic chamber inside the projector. In theory, this sounds good to us, but we don’t know the speaker placement and how it will propagate the stereo sound (to appreciate stereo separation), neither which is the ideal position to enjoy the stereo sound (in front or at the back of the projector).

It comes with the classic HDMI, USB, audio, and Ethernet ports, but also optical S/PDIF (supporting 5.1 output sound) and Wi-Fi & Bluetooth. The system core is Android TV.

You can support them and reserve one on their Kickstarter page. Crowdfunding projects are unreleased products, some things can change, or the project be cancelled.