What is it?

A high-definition projector with full cinema and Blu-ray capabilities. For a home cinema there are certain key criteria on which to select a projector including picture quality, input types and the aspect ratio of how the image is rendered on the wall. In each of these elements the Dell 4350 impresses.

Good points?

The 1080p output can function seamlessly with current home video technologies such as Blu-ray so there is no need to scrap that archive of treasured discs collected over the years.

Unlike most projectors that are purely intended for business use and stick rigidly to a box-shaped aspect ratio, the Dell 4350 offers a genuine cinema experience which stands up to any competitor on the market.

Gone are the days when full-blown blackout conditions were required to see detail. Dell has provided 4,000 lumens which allows even tennis matches to be seen clearly during the day.

It contains multiple useful ports such as HDMI, USB, VGA, composite, audio and ethernet, so most household equipment should be catered for.

Bad points?

The big let-down is a 10-watt, built-in speaker which, although clear at short distances, is not powerful enough to give a wow factor when placed in larger rooms. Also, the price could be off-putting as it does mean digging deep in those pockets.

Best for ...

Self-employed business types who give presentations in addition to being a film lover.

Avoid if ...

All you want is to sit the children down in front of a big screen and show some cartoons as there are many less expensive alternatives on the market.

Score

7/10.

Dell 4350, £727 (dell.com)