Pros & Cons
-
- Sharp text.
- 1.7X zoom.
- Good connection choices.
- Loud audio.
- Can project 3D content.
- 3-year warranty.
-
- Subpar video, with significant rainbow effect.
NEC Display Solutions NP-M322X Specs
| Engine Type | DLP |
| Inputs and Interfaces | Analog VGA |
| Inputs and Interfaces | HDMI |
| Native Resolution | 1024 by 768 |
| Rated Brightness | 3200 |
| Warranty | 36 |
| Weight | 7.7 |
The NEC Display Solutions NP-M322X ($699) is a solid data projector, for classroom or business use, that provides sharp text, loud sound, and a wide range of connectivity choices. It's a good choice if your presentations are light on video, but you still need to project 3D content.
The NP-M322X ($450.46 at Amazon) is a DLP-based projector with a rated brightness of 3,200 lumens and a native XGA (1,024-by-768) resolution. It's a large model, measuring 4.3 by 14.5 by 11.5 inches, and it weighs 7.7 pounds. At that size and weight, it's best for permanent installation (NEC sells several compatible ceiling mounts) or for placement on a cart to move between rooms. Its 1.7x zoom is a nice plus, providing considerable flexibility in projector placement.
This projector has a good set of connectors, including two HDMI ports, one VGA port, three RCA jacks for composite video/audio, and a LAN port to let you control the projector over a network, as well as send images and audio. There's also a USB Type A port that lets you project from a USB thumb drive and also fits an optional wireless dongle ($80), and a USB Type B port for connecting to a PC, both for direct USB display and for controlling the mouse from the projector remote.
Data-Image Testing
The NP-M322X threw a bright image that stood up to considerable ambient light in our test studio. I tested it from about 5 feet away, where an image of about 50 inches (diagonal) filled our test screen.
The projector did well in data image testing using the DisplayMate suite. Text quality was very good, with black text on white readable down to 6.8 points, and white text on black readable down to 7.5 points. I noticed mild green and red tinting in most color modes, however.
One difference between LCD and DLP projectors is that while LCD projectors have the same color brightness as white brightness, DLP projectors tend to have lower color brightness, causing some colors to appear dull. This was the case in our testing of the NP-M322X, with yellows appearing mustardy. However, a Color Enhancement setting, accessible using the projector's remote (through Detail Settings in the Adjust menu) makes the colors look brighter. This comes at the expense of white brightness, however, with white areas looking grayer. (For a discussion of color brightness, see "Color Brightness: What It Is, Why It Matters.")
I noticed rainbow artifacts—little red-green-blue flashes frequently seen with single-chip DLP projectors—in data images that tend to bring them out. They tend not to be an issue in data presentations, and shouldn't be with this projector.
Video and Audio
The rainbow effect was much more problematic in video. In fact, rainbow artifacts were more apparent in the NP-M322X's video than in all but a few DLP projectors I've tested. Even someone slightly sensitive to the effect will likely be bothered by it. I saw other issues such as posterization (abrupt shifts in shading or color where they should be gradual) and a tendency for some scenes to look overly red, but they were mild in comparison to the all-too-frequently-seen rainbows. Because of this, the NP-M322W's video is best kept to very short clips as part of a lesson or presentation.
The sound system is a bright spot. Audio from the 20-watt mono speaker is of good quality, and loud enough to fill a midsize classroom or conference room.
The projector can project 3D content from Blu-ray players and similar sources over an HDMI connection. You need to provide the active-shutter DLP-link glasses, though. NEC sells them for $85, though you can buy them from other vendors for less.
The Epson PowerLite 965 XGA 3LCD Projector ($758.90 at Amazon) , our Editors' Choice for XGA data projector for midsize rooms, doesn't offer 3D support. Plus, the NP-M322X has a slightly longer zoom (1.7x, to the Epson's 1.6x), and its audio system slightly more powerful than that of the Epson 965.
In our testing, the NP-M322X came close to matching the Epson 965's stellar data-image quality. In video, though, its rainbow effect was unusually severe, while the Epson projector's video quality proved better than that of most XGA projectors. If you use a lot of video in your presentations, the Epson 965 is easily the better choice. But if video quality isn't important, and you still need to project 3D content, the NEC Display Solutions NP-M322X is a strong option as a classroom data projector, thanks to its sharp text for presentations, ample zoom, and abundance of connection choices.
Best Projector Picks
- The Best Portable Projectors for 2020
- The Best Projectors of 2020
- The Best Home Projectors for 2020
- More Projector Reviews
- More from NEC