Casio Slim XJ-A256

The Casio Slim XJ-A256 is the top-of-the-line model in Casio's Slim series of lightweight data projectors. Like the Casio Slim XJ-A246 and the rest of the Slim and Signature lines, it features the company's hybrid LED-laser light source, which features a long-lasting, mercury-free lamp. It has the key connectivity choices for a portable data projector, and in our testing showed good data image quality.

The XJ-A256 is rated at 3,000 lumens, and the projector has WXGA (1,280 by 800) native resolution, as opposed to the WXGA (1,280 by 800) resolution of the XJ-A246. Casio's hybrid light engine is the same we've now seen in a couple of generations of Slim and Green Slim projectors. Instead of producing red, green, and blue using a standard lamp and a color wheel, it generates red with LEDs, blue with lasers, and green by shining blue laser light on a phosphor. Its optical system directs the red, green, and blue light to the DLP chip, and out the front lens.

The projector's LED lamp is designed to last up to 20,000 hours, far longer than typical projector bulbs?and it's mercury free. The projector (including the bulb) is backed by a generous 3-year warranty, though it's likely the bulb will last the life of the projector.

The Slim is appropriately thin, measuring 1.7 by 11.7 by 8.3 inches and weighing 5.0 pounds, and sports a sleek, futuristic look. The projector lacks manual lens sliders or wheels; you can change focus or use the generous 2x zoom either with the remote or from touch-sensitive nubbins on the projector itself. It has automatic keystone correction, though you can also keystone-correct using the remote.

Ports include VGA; one port that doubles as audio-in and audio-out; HDMI; serial; and a USB type A port, from which you can run presentations computer free from a USB thumb drive. You can attach the included wireless LAN adapter to connect with WiFi-enabled Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile smartphones and computers (PC or Mac) running MobiShow software, so you can run a presentation from these devices as well.

Data Testing
I tested the projector from about eight feet away from our test screen, where it projected an image about 60 inches, measured diagonally. The image held up well when exposed to a fair amount of ambient light.

I tested data image quality using the DisplayMate suite with the room darkened. Image quality was a little above average for a data projector. It did well in our text testing; white-on-black type was readable, if a bit blurred, down to the smallest size. In Graphics mode, some colors looked dull; for example, yellows tended to look a bit mustardy. I saw a mild green tinting in some images with white or gray backgrounds. Colors were brighter and more vivid in Standard mode, although the tinting increased somewhat. Switching from a VGA to an HDMI connection had little effect on image quality, which is good enough for any typical business presentation.

Video

Video was of a quality suitable for showing shorter clips as part of a presentation. Some images were on the pale side, with details in brighter areas a little washed out. The XJ-A256 suffered from the rainbow effect that we frequently see in single-chip DLP projectors, in which little red-green-blue flashes appear to people sensitive to it, especially in scenes with high contrast between dark and light areas. Though it wasn't unusually severe with this projector, it was obvious enough to me that it would likely be distracting to people who are sensitive to it.

Audio was of decent quality and of good volume for a 1-watt speaker, loud enough to fill a smallish room.

For slightly less than you'd pay for the Casio XJ-A256, the Casio Slim XJ-A246 provides the same feature set and resolution. Its rated brightness is lower (2,500 lumens, and its data image quality wasn't quite as good as that of the XJ-A256.

The Epson PowerLite 1776W Multimedia Projector and the Editors' Choice Epson PowerLite 1761W Multimedia Projector are similar in form and features to the Casio Slim projectors. At less than four pounds, they're even lighter than the XJ-A256, and they have similar connection choices. They both have good data image quality, and better video quality than the XJ-A256. Their 4,000-hour lamp life doesn't come close to the Slim line's 20,000 hours, and they also lack 3D capability.

The Casio Slim XJ-A256 does well as the high-end model of Casio's thin-and-light projector series, offering 3,000 lumens of rated brightness, WXGA resolution, and connectivity choices including HDMI, USB type A, and Wi-Fi. Its data image quality is above par, and its video quality is passable. It is 3D capable, and its lamp should last the life of the projector. Though there are some fine choices in lightweight WXGA data projectors are available for much less money, the XJ-A256's cost savings from not having to change bulbs every few years could make up at least part of the price difference over time.

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