Projectors are becoming a multi purpose tool. Many people use them for business presentations. Many people use them for home entertainment. Business users are going to be looking at size, weight and picture quality when deciding which projector to buy. The Dell 3400MP not only offers a great picture, but it all comes in a small package.
Features
- Bright 1,500 ANSI Lumens (Max)
- Superior high contrast ratio of 2100:1 (Full on/Full off)
- DLP DDR technology from Texas Instruments
- Native XGA (1024 x 768), with autosync up to UXGA (1600 x 1200)
- Supports full range of television and video standards, including NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL (B/D/G/H/I/M/N), SECAM (B/D/G/K/K1/L) and HDTV (480i/P; 576i/P, 720P; 1080i) Built-in 1 watt amplifier and speaker
- Built in advanced motion adaptive hardware de-interlacing
Every projector needs a way to get video into the device. The 3400MP actually provides 3 built-in and one optional way to input video. You can choose from a M1-DA terminal, S-video and composite video terminal. An optional component-video adapter allows High-Definition signals of up to 1080i resolution to be fed into the 3400MP. If you are going to use this as a home theater projector, then I highly recommend the extra quality.
Back
There is also an audio in and an audio out plug on the back of the 3400MP. This allows you to use the internal speaker. The speaker is small and it only has a 1 watt output. This means that you are not going to get very good performance out of it. In fact I would expect most people to just use the speakers in their laptops instead.
Connectors
The 3400MP has a manual focus and zoom, which gives you more flexibility when you are placing the projector. You can make the picture up to 1.15 times larger. Focusing is done by turning the lens and zooming is done by moving the lever on top of the lens. Incorporating an automatic focus would have been a nice time saver.
Design
When you are on the go the last thing you want to do is lug around a 10 lb projector. The 3400MP only weighs 2.40 lbs and is super small. You will hardly notice the extra weight in your luggage or in your briefcase.
Compare Front
Compare
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The 3400MP even comes with its own carrying case. This would make it really easy to take it as a carry on or stash it in your luggage. The case is made out of nice firm foam that is fitted to the exact size of this projector. This means you don’t have to worry about it sliding around and getting broken. The case also has spaces for the remote and additional cables that you might bring. The only bad thing I can say about the case is that the outside is made of the same foam like material that the inside has. This means that if you lean the case against a corner or you set it on something it will leave an indention.
Case
Case Open
The 3400MP is not designed for ceiling mounting. If you want to mount it you will have to buy a 3rd party kit and doing this may void your warranty. This projector was designed for presentations and sitting on a table or desk. To help you position it correctly there are three feet that can be raised and lowered to level the projector on your screen. In the front there is one foot that is raised and lowered by pressing the button in front of it. This foot is spring loaded so it will pop down. In the back there are two feet, but they twist in and out so you can make fine adjustments.
Bottom
The remote is designed very well. It has buttons to perform just about any function that you could do with the buttons on the device itself. You can open the menus and change any value. When you are hooked up to a computer with USB you can even control the mouse curser. This means that while you are giving your presentation you don’t have to go back to your computer to switch slides or start a program. This can only be used when you have Dells M1-DA to D-sub/USB cable plugged into the projector and computer. There are IR ports on the front and back of the projector, so you can be in front or behind the projector when you are controlling it. There is a built-in laser pointer located on the remote.
Remote
The menus are very well laid out. I had no trouble finding the different settings and quickly setting the different options to meet my needs. There are tons of settings and more than you will probably need but be sure to go through them all and make sure they are correct for your situation. The menus will also enable and disable themselves based on what kind of video connection. This is nice because you don’t always have to search through tons of menus to find the options that are currently valid. I have included some pictures of the menus below which demonstrate some of the different things you can change.
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Some of the more notable menu options include: reversing the image for rear projection, brightness, contrast, aspect ratio and video mode. Video mode will adjust the settings of the 3400MP based on which kind of image you are projecting. If you are hooked up via S-Video it automatically selects Movie mode. These are also user selectable, so you can change them any time you want.
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It is inevitable that you will have to replace the lamp. Even though each lamp is suppose to last about 4000 hours in eco-mode. If you watch 4 hours of movies a day that is only 2.5 years. To make this process easier Dell provided a lamp door on the bottom. It is really easy to unscrew and open. Once you have it open you then need to unscrew the actual lamp enclosure. There is a small metal handle on the enclosure that helps you to remove it. The whole process is easy and can be done in about 5 minutes. The only down-side is that replacement lamps cost about $349. Replace the lamp a couple times and you have paid for the projector all over again.
Bulb slot
Bulb
Performance
When you talk about the performance of a projector you talk about the ability of the projector to display a picture with accurate colors and contrast. For the size and price, this projector actually performs very well.
While I am keenly aware that you cannot judge a projector by lumens alone, having 1,500 lumens sure makes the 3400MP nice. Add to that a big contrast ration of 2100:1 and you are going to get a fairly good separation of colors and black and white. DLP projectors are very different from LCD projectors in the way they handle the light. With an LCD projector you don’t want to exceed about 1000 lumens otherwise the picture gets washed out. With DLP projectors you can go much higher.
Sound levels from the fan are not usually a problem. The normal ambient noise from an office or the noise from a home stereo should easily drown out the noise produced by the cooling fan. If you want to reduce the fan noise, then you can always switch to eco-mode. This not only slows down the fan, but also extends the life of the bulb . With eco-mode turned on you will notice a slight decrease in the brightness of the video. You will also want to watch out for the heat that the 3400MP puts out. If you happen to be sitting right next to it you may find yourself getting uncomfortable. Make sure you give the projector plenty of breathing room so it can circulate the air.
The sound that comes from the single speaker is obviously weak. It was designed to play simple sounds that you might find in a presentation or something. For movies you will certainly want a separate speaker system.
The only notable downside of the 3400MP is the perceptible rainbow effect that plagues edges of objects. You really only notice this when you move your eyes back and forth really fast or you look away from the picture and back again. If you are going to use this as a home theater projector, then I recommend that you make the picture small enough and sit back far enough so that you can see the whole picture in one shot and you don’t have to move your eyes back and forth. This is something that affects all DLP projectors so keep this in mind when you are choosing between DLP and LCD. Also, some people I had look at this projector could not see the Rainbow effect, so you will want to demo one at a store before you make your final decision.
For those who are interested, here are a couple of images that show the difference in picture between the 5100MP and 3400MP.
3400MP vs 5100MP yellow flower
3400MP vs 5100MP red flower
Conclusion
I can easily recommend the 3400MP for any sort of business application. The lightweight and small design make this perfect for anyone that travels and needs to take a projector with them. This will also be good as a budget home theater projector. By messing with the brightness and contract I was able to get a good picture. The low price tag of $1299 sure helps to make the projector more appealing. Especially since Dells next best projector costs $3499.
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Hello,
I am looking to get a home cinema projector and I was going to get the Dell 3400Mp projector, however now that I have read your reviews I was thinking of the HP vp6320 XGA. Is there much difference between the two? I can probably get the dell one through a friend for 20% off would this make it the more attractive package?
Are there any other projectors that you would recommend?
Cheers,
Peter
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Thanks for reading the reviews.
This is a difficult question. Both performed very well in our tests. Unfortunately, we didn’t have them at the same time, so we were unable to test them side by side.
On the surface it may seem like the HP vp6320 XGA Projector is better because it has better brightness and contrast, but that does not tell the whole story. The difference between the two projectors is actually very minor. The extra brightness of the HP vp6320 is nice if you are going to be showing it in a lighter and bigger room but if you have a room where you can seal off all the light then the extra brightness does not matter. In fact, the extra brightness may make it too bright if your room is small. The contrast ratio differences between the two projectors are probably not enough that you would notice unless you had them side by side and you have a very discerning eye. The Dell 3400MP Projector has better resolution, so if you are going to use this with a computer that may be better for you.
Also the Dell 3400MP comes with a nice protective carrying case. If you see yourself on the road a lot this is a huge plus. The HP vp6320 has a handle built into the projector.
So how do you tell? Well if it were me, I would probably put more weight on price and service. Unfortunately, I have had nothing but bad experiences with HP support and some good and some bad experiences with Dell support. So it comes down to price, right? Wrong they are both about the same in price also. While the HP vp6320 is about $200 more the bulbs are about $50 cheaper. So it would only take about 4 bulb replacements with the Dell 3400MP and you would have used up the price advantage that you got initially.
Now, you mentioned that you could get the Dell 3400MP cheaper through your friend. If you can get it cheap enough to justify the higher priced bulbs, then I say go for it. In fact I would probably by the Dell 3400MP myself even without the discount because by the time you went through 4 bulb replacements the projector will be between 6 and 8 years old and may need replacement anyways.
On a side note, I have had many video professionals tell me that the projector, relatively speaking, is probably less important then the screen. A good screen has the ability to make a bad projector look good and a cheap screen can make a good projector look bad. So take the $200 that you save with the Dell projector, add an additional $200 and buy yourself a really nice screen.
Good luck with your decision, I hope my ramblings helped. Please let us know how it turns out. We would be very interested in which one you choose and why.
Ryan
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For the Dell review you mention rainbow effects being noticable especially for the 3400, would you not consider this to be an issue when comparing the two? Do you have any recomendations for good screens?
Peter
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If you can see the Rainbow effect with one DLP projector, then you can see it with all DLP projectors. This is because, without going into too much detail, of the way that DLP projects the image. DLP uses a color wheel that spins really fast. Because the colors are separated on the color wheel your eyes can sometimes see the separate colors on the screen. Some people cannot see it. I guess I have sensitive eyes. Go down to a store the sells projectors and have them demonstrate a DLP projector and see if you can see it. I notice it most when I am looking at a dark scene and my eyes are moving back and forth across the screen really fast or if my eyes move away from the movie and then back again really fast, it also helps if the room is dark. If you can see the rainbow effect and you don’t like it then your only option is to buy an LCD projector. Some newer DLP projectors coming out his year have technology that is supposed to reduce the rainbow effect, but these are usually very expensive. One thing I noticed that helped reduce the effect was to make the screen small enough, or sit back far enough, so that I could see the whole screen with out moving my eyes around. Because I didn’t have to move my eyes a lot I didn’t see the rainbow effect as much.
I don’t know much about screens, but I bet you can go down to your nearest home theater store and they can tell you what makes a good screen.
Again good luck with you decision.
Ryan
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One last question. the more I look into projectors the more complex they seem to become. I was reading somewhere that people were trying to match the resolution of the projector to the DVD player and things like that. is it not just the case that you buy the projector and plug in a DVD player and once you have the correct zoom for the projector you can start watching movies? Also i was presuming that the home cinema speakers and DVD player that i have would be compatable with the Dell projector, am I correct with this presumption? Thanks, Peter
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I definitely agree with you, the water can get muddy really fast. I think the people that you reading about are high end shoppers that have thousands of dollars to spend on making sure that everything is matched up perfectly. The rest of us have to settle for less, but that does not mean it is bad.
The projector is just like a TV, it will show you the image that is being sent to it. As long as the projector has the ability to connect to your DVD player then it will show what the DVD player sends. Keep in mind that you are not buying a Home Theater projector. These two projectors are budget models and are geared toward business use rather than home use. That does not mean that they will not work, it just means they are not the best for the situation. If you want to spend more money I can suggest a couple $3000 – $5000 projectors that will display a better picture.
This projector is compatible with the following video formats: NTSC, NTSC 4.43, PAL (B/D/G/H/I/M/N), SECAM (B/D/G/K/K1/L) and HDTV (480i/P, 576i/P, 720P, 1080i). In addition it can take the following inputs: Component, S-Video and M1-DA for component HDTV. I highly recommend that you do not use Component. S-video is what I would say most people use for DVD, and it is fairly standard on all DVD players. M1-DA is for connecting a computer and for HDTV. I would have liked to have seen a set of component inputs, but like I said, this is not a high end projector.
Speakers are completely separate from the projector. The projector only needs to be compatible with the DVD player.
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One last question I was talking to a friend and they were suggesting that I get a projector specifically made for home video and that the dell would not be advisable due to the fact that it would not have a proper “video processor” and that there was probably not a “6 section colour wheel”. She said that without these the picture would be jumpy and there would be noise in the background. Have you ever heard of this stuff and does it make a difference for home cinema? Thanks Peter
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It sounds like your friend probably knows more about projectors than I do. I have not heard of those things but that does not mean they don’t matter. Keep in mind that this is not a “home theater” projector, but you are also not pay a “home theater” projector price. I am sure these things make a difference in the picture quality, but projectors that come with powerful processors and big color wheels are going to cost you a lot more money. If you do find a projector with these things, and it does not cost much, then be wary because that means they skimped on something else. The old saying “you get what you pay for” is especially true with technology.
Now, as to the performance of this projector. I can honestly say that when I had the projector I watched movies on it and I did not notice a jumpy or grainy picture. It has been a while, but I think if the picture had been really bad I would have mentioned it in the review.
I believe that Dell has a 30 day return policy on all its products. You may want to buy it and then send it back if you don’t like it. You will probably have to pay shipping, but that is a small price to pay for peace of mind and no buyers remorse.
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You mention that “an optional component-video adapter allows High-Definition signals of up to 1080i resolution to be fed into the 3400MP. If you are going to use this as a home theater projector, then I highly recommend the extra quality.”
What is this and where can I get one?
Thanks,
PT
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Thank you for your question.
The adapter you are looking for is the M1-DA-to-RCA Extension Cable for the Dell 3400MP. You can find it on the Dell website right here: http://accessories.us.dell.com.....u=310-4734
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Hi Just purchased a 3400 MP from dell.
I can see the rainbow effect very clearly.
i’m using composite video at the moment to use the projector mainly as a video projector.
i really get a headache sometimes from watching.
i’m considering to adjust my living room in order to be able to sit farther away from the screen as this minimizes the problem.
What else can i do to minimize the problem of the rainbow effect??
it is especially clearly visible in white area’s of the screen….
thanks
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I agree that the rainbow effect is really annoying. During my review I did not find much about the environment or projector that I could adjust in order to reduce the rainbow effect. Moving your eyes while watching the video is how you see the rainbow effect. So you need to reduce your eye movement, which is impossible to eliminate completely. The main thing, like you said, is to sit further away from the screen. The reason you do this is so you can see the entire picture in one shot and you don’t have to move your eyes around the screen. You could also move the projector closer to the screen to reduce the size of the picture. Moving the projector closer is often easier then rearranging your room.
Please let us know how it goes.
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If we are playing a cd with pictures and music for a slideshow, does this projector have the capability to plug into a sound system or do we plug the computer into the sound system to play over the speakers?? Does this unit have the capability to plug into a Mac???
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Hi
I just bought a dell 3400mp but it hasn’t arrived yet, my question is do I need is there a way to connect a USB flashdrive to the unit without using my computer?
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No, the projector does not have any memory card slots.
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