InFocus SP8600

The basics

At a time where you can buy projectors for under £400, the £800 asking price of the InFocus SP8600 seems pretty high. Then again, this DLP projector has a lot to offer, and the image it's capable of producing actually makes it a bit of a bargain.

The good

There's no doubt about it, the image is the thing that stands out the most about the InFocus SP8600. This DLP projector is capable of producing a full high-definition picture, and the 5,000:1 contrast ratio and six-segment colour wheel results in absolutely stunning colour reproduction. If you want a projector for your home entertainment system, this is well worth a look.

The InFocus SP8600 is also a winner when it comes to brightness – you'll have absolutely no trouble watching your favourite movies in the dark, but the 1800 Lumens output is also easily bright enough to project images when lighting is less than ideal.

Using DLP technology rather than LED means that you'll still have to change the lamp at some point in this projector's life, but it lasts for a lengthy 4,000 hours – or around three years if you used it religiously for four hours a day, every day of the year. Pretty impressive then.

The bad

There's very little to dislike about the InFocus SP8600. It features an integrated speaker, but it's not really worth using unless you're desperate. The design of the projector is also a little uninspiring, but again we're nit-picking.

The bottom line

The InFocus SP8600 is an excellent projector for both home and office use – its stunning array of colours makes it perfect for movie use, with the 1800 Lumens brightness output making it equally ideal for presentations. It may not match LED projectors for their entry-level price point, but it's got them covered when it comes to image quality.