Vivitek D857WT review

The D857WT makes a good first impression, coming inside a smart black carry case, and is highly portable at 2.7kg. The body is made of tough plastic and the top panel has a minimalist design, with a five-way touch panel used for selecting up to 12 functions, including power, menu, source and keystone correction. A chunky black remote control offers additional functionality, including a laser pointer.

The D857WT is a DLP projector with a native resolution of 1,280 x 800, and has a 0.53:1 throw ratio. Images can go all the way from 44in to 438in in size, and you can get an 84in picture from a distance of less than a metre, so it works well in even the smallest classrooms. It’s also 3D ready.

There’s plenty of connectivity for a variety of audio, video and computer sources, including D-SUB, DVI and HDMI ports. You can password-protect the projector and there’s a Kensington lock slot at the back. Setup is quick and easy, and navigating the various menus and submenus is straightforward. There’s a good mix of manual and automatic control, including auto-keystone and auto-source detection. Connect your laptop, for example, and the screen is instantly displayed.

The projector runs quietly, and the built-in 10W speaker offers enough volume to fill a classroom. Images from both video and PC sources were crisp, with good colour reproduction and sharp ICT contrast. Even the finest detail can be seen in a well-lit room. If you want clarity it’s hard to beat. It gives you the option of customising your own display settings for colour, brightness and so on. It isn’t difficult to get a great picture in any circumstances.

Lamp life is 4,000 hours in Boost mode, and 6,000 hours in standard. A replacement costs around £195 exc VAT and can be easily installed. The standard warranty on the projector is three years (one for the lamp), but an education warranty (upon registration) is five years for the projector and three years for the lamp. The D857WT offers impressive performance, has a good blend of features and functions, and would be a great choice for any school.

Author: George Cole