If you really want to recreate the cinema experience at home, even the best TV simply won't do. What you need is a projector, and the Hisense C1, which you can currently pick up for a record-low £1099 at Amazon, is the ideal first projector.
This isn't one of those projectors that requires serious installation, but it isn't one of those frivolous portables, either. This is a substantial but moveable, all-in-one coffee table projector that delivers cinematic thrills in a stylish package, and it's now £900 cheaper than when we awarded it four stars earlier this year. Now that's a Black Friday bargain.
In our full review of the Hisense C1, we said this: "the Hisense C1 has a lot going for it; easy set-up, fully-featured streaming, impressive sound and a sharp, punchy picture. All of this fits into a convenient enclosure that really sells the cinema-in-a-box concept." That should say everything about this cuboid cinema system, which we sincerely enjoy, even if it doesn't quite reach five-star expectations.
We praised the punchy picture, approving of its vibrancy, sharpness and brightness, even if it wasn't what we'd consider to be totally accurate. The C1 delivers an engaging 4K image nonetheless with HDR support in all of the major formats (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG) which is a huge bonus in our books. While contrast might not be a major strength of this projector, the vivid image is right at home with poppy animated content, or in rooms with lots of ambient light.
Furthermore, the C1's built-in speakers are very solid by projector standards. We're used to lightweight, condensed sound systems that detract from the movie-watching experience more than they add, so it is refreshing to hear the JBL-tuned speakers built into this box can reach high volumes with ample bass weight and plenty of detail. It even does a decent job of replicating spatial sound effects with Dolby Atmos.
Finally, the built-in Vidaa operating system is, by most accounts, an absolute dream to use. Most manufacturers opt for Android TV which often doesn't include Netflix support, but this issue isn't present on the C1. Generally speaking, the slick and fully featured operating system removes the need for a streaming stick.
If this convenient cinema-in-a-box sounds like what you've been looking for, then now is a great time to snap one up. At £700 off the asking price, the C1 can be found for just £1299 at Amazon and Richer Sounds.
MORE:
Check out our picks for the best projectors
Want a rival to the C1? Read our Xgimi Horizon Ultra review
And for a more traditional projector, read our Epson EH-TW7100 review
