Philips Screeneo 2.0 – Sound Quality

The bottom half of the bucket contains a three-speaker audio system. Two main drivers and a subwoofer put out 26W of power in a Dolby Digital 2.1 configuration.

The Screeneo 2.0 has a huge advantag over rival projectors with built-in audio in that it keeps the picture and sound close together. The device’s speakers throw their sound wide – at least as wide as a 100in image – and even attempt to introduce a degree of height.

The built-in audio is also able to go louder than any rival, and even serves up some real bass. There’s at least a sense of rumbling beneath action scenes, and this provides for a far more powerful, cinematic feel than the weedy, treble-biassed audio from most projector speakers.

At the highest volumes, action scenes can sound a little harsh. The usually solid bass can occasionally drop out or “phut” as the bass drivers struggle to cope with sustained and/or extreme low-frequency effects. Voices can also become muffled during action scenes. Keep away from the Wide Sound mode,  which increases both the harshness and the loss of vocals during action scenes.

One final issue is that there seems to be a very slight delay between the audio and video tracks. This can usually be fixed by tweaking the audio delay feature that most Blu-ray players carry these days. Overall, though, the movie sound pros far outweigh the cons.

The Screeneo 2.0 can even play music streamed from your smartphones and tablets. And it does this well, especially if you take the time tweak the equaliser.

One last thing to mention here is the remote control provided with the Screeneo 2.0. Basically, this is a pretty uninspiring affair thanks to it lacking any backlighting and a tendency for its buttons not to react properly at the first push.

Should I buy a Philips Screeneo 2.0?

The Screeneo 2.0 delivers a formidable mix of convenience and performance that ensures it’s far from the gimmick it might sound on paper. It offers an effective and genuinely innovative solution to a number of traditional living room projection issues, making it unique in its field.

There are some compromises, but these aren’t severe when you consider the multiple advantages. The biggest argument against the Screeneo 2.0 is its £1,500 asking price. You can certainly get projectors that deliver a better picture performance for less; models such as the £800 BenQ W2000. Sony’s phenomenal VPL-HW40ES home-cinema projector is available for the same £1,500.

Then again, the Screeneo 2.0 is much more than simply a projector. It’s a projector for people whose homes may not be compatible with regular projectors. It’s a decent sound system for those who don’t want separate speakers. Furthermore, the mega-sized TVs the Screeneo aims to replace typically cost many times more.

Buy Now: Philips Screeneo 2.0 at Amazon.co.uk from £1,399

Verdict

The Screeneo 2.0 outperforms expectations on every front to deliver an innovative and genuinely effective big-screen solution for home-cinema fans.

Trusted Score