Introduction
This article is the best and most curated list I put together regarding projectors with built-in speakers. I know a lot of people definitely don’t use the external speakers that a projector comes with, but there are some instances in which these make the perfect sense to have. Some people don’t always have or want a dedicated setup and that’s perfectly fine. All of the products in this article are meant for a variety of price ranges so entry-level and advanced users will find satisfaction in this.
These types of projectors are great for simple outdoor setups, business rooms, or the occasional use of a makeshift movie theater room (and for kids too).
Reminder: these projectors are specific to products that have speakers. Some of these have varying ranges of the resolution, throw distance, and some other features. I will be sure to include these specs in a brief description.
It’s hard to find specific projectors with more dedicated speakers than the crappy default ones, but there are some products that definitely went the extra mile. I did some research for you, found the best products, and checked out all kinds of reviews to make sure these were legit. Some of these I’m actually familiar with and have had some actual hands-on experience. Also note that some of these are on the higher end as well (as different price ranges can sometimes have better quality speakers).
How to know if a projector has good speakers?
Good projector speakers should have anywhere from 2 to 8 watts or higher. Watts measure how much power a speaker can output as well as how well it can handle dynamic sounds. Dedicated speaker systems will have hundreds of wattage, so obviously projector speakers won’t compete. However, the projectors that do come with speakers are usually at 2 watts or below which is horrible! You’ll find you won’t be able to turn up the volume as loud as you want and you’ll hear literally no bass effect.
Good projector speakers will be able to control volume a lot better and be a lot louder. For choosing the projectors listed below, I made sure all of them had above-average wattage, volume control, and above-average feedback.
Optoma HD243X (150)
This guy is a 3300 lumen, 12000-hour lamp life, and 1080p projector. Optoma usually makes dedicated (and more expensive) projectors than their counterparts. But I came across this one when searching for built-in speakers. It’s also designed to give higher emphasis on high-speed motion and gaming performance.
Pros
- Easy to mount. Calibration of screen size, throw distance, and angle placement is a lot easier than other brands.
- It gives a better range of volume than most projectors. This one is able to accommodate a larger group of people because of its flexible volume control. This would also mean it would be loud enough to have an outdoor setup.
Cons
- Bulky. This one would be a little harder to move around outside or if you want to put it on a tripod behind the audience.
- Some over splash. Because of the shape of the lens, there is a slightly noticeable light border that goes all around the outer edges. Most people fixed this by putting a very small and simple strand of electrical tape over the top and bottom of it.
Nebula By Anker
This projector was built to work extremely well with Android devices. But don’t worry, it works with other ones as well. The app and compatibility features are not specific to the type of phone you have. I like how this one actually has a dedicated bass system in it.
Pros
- 10 watt speakers and deep sounding bass! This projector has the speakers with the highest wattage out of any of the other ones on this list! It’s one of the few from this list where the product explicitly mentions their higher-end speakers.
- Simple and portable. You could easily set this thing up on any white wall or even in the backyard.
- Android 7.1 can stream media apps straight to it.
Con
- Resolution is 720p. It’s harder to distinguish resolutions on projectors, but this one is on the lower end. Ultimately, an occasional backyard movie or for the kids would be a perfect fit for this projector since it won’t look as HD as a TV.
- Battery powered. There’s nothing wrong with this, but you would have to plan to keep it at max charge before watching a movie or two.
BenQ HT2050A
This model along with the one below are variations of the same product. I put both of them in here because there are some notable differences that each one has. Price ranges are among one of them.
Pros
- 10 watt speakers! This model is a 1 channel unlike the Nebula one. You will still hear the dynamic sound and will be able to crank it as loud as you want.
- Picture quality is at 1080p with 2200 lumens. That’s bright! You will definitely notice picture quality is significantly better because of how bright this projector can get.
- Interchangeable color wheel. It’s nice when projector models come with lighting and color correction features. You can not only adjust the brightness but also make images a lot more satisfying to look at. You also wouldn’t need a perfectly CineWhite screen since it has a color correction feature.
Cons
- Heavier than most projectors. I’m not a fan of bulky projectors because they sometimes require the user to be a little creative with how it gets mounted.
- Lens has a very minor over splash effect. You won’t notice it unless you’re projecting on a wall smaller than 60 inches.
BenQ HT21ST50
This is the other model in the BenQ series from this article. This one has slightly different calibration features as well as structure. BenQ is a great brand to buy from overall as long as you’re aware at how their models vary from one another.
Pros
- 10 Watt and 2 channel speakers! This one comes with an additional channel compared to the HT205 series. You’ll be more satisfied with the sound quality and versatility with this one just because of this feature.
- 2200 Lumens and 1080p just like its counterpart.
Cons
- Shorter throw distance. This projector would be a better pick if you’re planning to set this up for a 120-inch screen or smaller. Also know that projectors with shorter throw distance will have a smaller throw and zoom ratio. You shouldn’t need to adjust the settings that much if you’re already planning to use this on a wall smaller than 120 inches.
- $100 more expensive. It depends on your budget ultimately. You would be paying more for this projector simply because it has a 2 channel speaker system instead of 1. Ultimately, this is the only real difference in the two models.
ViewSonic M1+ Portable
This one won a design award! Hopefully you can see why!
Pros
- Comes with built-in Dual Harman Karson Bluetooth speakers.
- Wireless screen mirroring. You can connect a laptop and even an iphone to this one. Regardless of your media platform, you can easily access all your favorite apps such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon from any wifi device you choose.
- Easy setup, especially for improvised spaces and outdoor setups. People said this one really is plug and play. As you can see from the image, you only have one node by which you can make all your adjustments.
- Very long battery life. This one lives up to its description and retains a 6-hour battery life.
Cons
- Battery powered. Remember to charge it!
- Will sacrifice image quality if trying to project on too big of a screen. This is one of those projectors that is great for occasional and convenient use for family events, gatherings, or kid’s movie nights outside.
TaoTronics Video Projector: Best Pick for Outdoor Movies
TaoTronics isn’t a commonly known projector brand. But their products are by no means any less quality than more commonly known companies like BenQ or Epson. This one is 3500 lumens (amazing) and can project on surfaces up to 200 inches!
Pros
- SRS Sound System. A dedicated sound system with good treble and bass is included. Most big-name companies don’t put as much effort into their speakers as this one does! The Dueal Stereo HiFi speakers is a quality I wish my projector had (and this one has got them).
- 1080p Resolution. Any projector with a 3500-lumen bulb is going to make its images look even better than 1080p. I would test this thing to the max with 4k media and see how well it does.
- Dual Fan Integration. Projectors often heat up the room with the heat they produce but this one has an additional fan unlike most products.
- Amazing Price. This projector could easily get priced $100 – $200 more than what it already goes for.
Cons
- No Bluetooth or Wireless Capabilities. You would have to rig up your media devices using an HDMI cord or something of that nature like most traditional projectors.
- I had a hard time finding bad reviews on it.
Nebula Capsule
This one is great if you one something portable and convenient for easy set up. A lot of people like how this one works best for outdoors because it has loudspeakers and is battery powered. Also note that it has Bluetooth and wifi connectivity.
Pros
- 8W Speakers. This provides great audio quality and you can turn up the volume as loud as you want.
- Supports Android 8.1 Streaming. You won’t need to hook it up to a media player device if you have an Android player but this not the only way you have to go about playing media.
- 200 ANSI Lumens (that’s good). You’ll get a nice and bright picture quality and can use even with moderate daylight in the area.
Cons
- 4 Hour Video Playtime. This is a little shorter than I would like it just because some movies are long and you might have to pause it or browse for a bit.
- Expensive For Resolution Output. It’s 720p that can project on up to 100 inches. Because it has shorter throw distance and resolution, I think it should definitely be cheaper than the TaoTronics one listed above.
- Some Over Splash Effect. Some people noted there is a light grey outline around the border but doesn’t distract the audience once any media is playing.
Vamvo L4200
This one is another great portable device. I wouldn’t be deceived by the price on this one since it stands up to the other projectors mentioned in this article but at a way cheaper price. It’s compatible with Fire TV, Android, and Apple devices. It also comes with a protective carrying bag and set up is super easy.
Pros
- High Satisfaction With Built-in Speakers. There were great reviews overall regarding this aspect which is why it made the top 10 list!
- 50,000 Hour Bulb Life! This will last you well beyond what you expected it to. We’re talking years and years and years of use out of this thing.
- 1080p, Up to 200-inch Display. Feel free to project this thing on as large of surfaces as you can find! Most surfaces around 100 – 120 inches are more than enough but feel free to go even bigger if you can!
- Only $100! The first projector I got was the same price as this one but nowhere near as good a quality.
Cons
- Outer Surfaces Scratch Easily. The only thing this projector loses out on is the material it is made out of.
- Material Could Be More Durable. I think the number one thing the manufacturers sacrificed on to get a more competitive price was the durability of the outer material. I would just be extra careful with not letting the lens get scratched up and always keep it in the bag when you’re not using it.
SeeYing Projector 4500L
As you can tell from the product image, it’s extremely bright (based on the number of lumens) and it comes with 4 speakers! It makes a great effort to provide a seemingly 360-degree stereo effect for listeners. This also means you won’t have to think twice about whether to put it in front of or behind the viewers.
Pros
- Significantly Brighter Than Other Projectors. This means light pollution will be even less of an issue than before.
- Firestick, Laptop, Gaming Console Compatibility. Any media devices you have will be compatible with this projector even though its design is extremely simple and looks basic.
- Fan Noise is Extremely Quiet. Fan noise can be a major annoyance with projectors but you won’t have to think twice with this one.
Cons
- Higher Price. If none of the other portable projectors in this list catch your eye, then investing in this one might be the way to go. I couldn’t find any critical reviews where people had things they were unsatisfied with. Overall, everyone was saying this was a great product.
Epson 2150: My Top Pick
The Epson 2150 is the one that I own. I reference it every now and then during other articles but this one is also relevant to this topic. I put this one in here because I thoroughly enjoy using it’s built-in speakers whenever I’m watching a movie outside or just want a fast and easy set up at a friend’s house.
I highly recommend this one also because I know how much entertainment and fun it has brought to movie nights. Be sure to check out the link above to the actual article if you’re interested!
Related Questions
What is the projector’s over-splash effect? This is when there is a slightly, pure light border around the image on the screen. Projectors that have an extremely circular or globe shape to them will sometimes create this. All you have to do to fix it is put a strip of black electrical tape over the top and bottom edge of the lens. Most people don’t even do that much and forget about it once they start watching their movie.
How many lumens should a projector have? Anything above 2500 lumens is bright enough! Some projectors will have way more than this but I would expect anything lower to look a little too dim.
Why are lumens important? Besides resolution, light pollution is the number one factor that will affect your image quality. A projector with more lumens will be able to compensate for light pollution and won’t require a completely dark setting.
Conclusion
Finding a projector with built-in speakers can be a very awesome and convenient feature if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s still something you have to keep an eye out for. Even though a projector might be extremely high end on all the other specs, that doesn’t always mean the speakers are good. Hopefully by the end of this article you’ve found some that catch your eye. At the very least, I hope that by reading through this you know what to at least look for when it comes to projectors with good default speakers. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for future articles, feel free to reach out at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond. Thanks for reading!
