Anker’s X1 Pro shouldn’t exist, but I’m so glad it does

The Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro has a very strange existence. It takes the excellent 4K projector and karaoke microphone from Anker’s Nebula X1 and stuffs them inside a powerful five-speaker Google TV party on wheels. It’s so ridiculous it feels like a gadget fever dream – and I’m all for it.

At the heart of this system is the same liquid-cooled, triple-laser, auto-image-correction everything projector I reviewed last summer. It’s incredibly quiet for a 3500 ANSI lumens projector that claims to be the brightest and most vivid portable projector on the market. Now it’s loudest too, with 400W of audio added to the new Nebula X1 Pro.

Inside the X1 Pro is a massive subwoofer capable of shaking a wall. It also hosts four battery-powered speakers that automatically open or pop out to create a total of seven horizontal channels and four overhead for wireless 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos immersion.

Aside from its size and some intermittent connectivity issues, the only complaint I have is that the Nebula X1 Pro sometimes lags. Very high. That’s not something I thought I’d ever say about a portable all-in-one projector.

If you’ve got $4,999 to burn, Anker’s Nebula X1 Pro is one hell of a bargain.

Since the projector’s video and karaoke capabilities are the same as the Nebula X1 I won’t repeat them here. Instead, I’ll focus on why you might choose the X1 Pro: sound.

Looking at the X1 Pro, you’ll wonder where all the speakers are. The subwoofer is internal, of course, and the two front speakers automatically unfold like wings with robotic intelligence at the touch of a button. The two rear speakers are released from the back of the unit with a strong push.

The X1 Pro operates in three sound modes: all speakers are docked for 2.1 audio (the rear speakers are disabled), the front speakers are opened for 5.1.2 surround, and all four are split across the room for full 7.1.4 separation. For the latter, Anker provides animated guidance to help you assemble your audio puzzle.

The four satellites are completely wireless with more than eight hours of battery life in my testing. Back on the projector they charge via a Pogo pin, or via USB-C. To ensure the best sound, the X1 Pro features a 4-mic array to automatically optimize the audio in the room, allowing you to drag the beautiful space into your favorite viewing area. I found Anker’s FlexView spatial audio calibration tech to work very well in my open-plan living room, but the sweet spot is only two people wide.

When separated, all four front and rear speakers synchronize audio over a proprietary 5.8GHz Wi-Fi signal, rather than Bluetooth, for high-quality, low-latency, flawless audio. The X1 Pro’s speakers performed flawlessly in my testing. They automatically connect to the projector when it’s turned on without any of the weird pops or dropouts I noticed with the X1’s single speaker pair. The speakers then go to sleep as the X1 Pro turns off to help conserve battery.

However, I experienced some inexplicable Wi-Fi connectivity issues with Google TV. About five times in two weeks of testing it refused to reconnect to my home network, even though my phone and laptop were working fine. A reboot always solves the problem, but it was very annoying when it interrupted the movie.

The bass produced by the X1 Pro’s 160W subwoofer is remarkable for a portable projector. If anything, it can, at times, be overwhelming. Each front surround has four 20W speakers dedicated to the top, center, front, and surround channels. The smaller rears each have two 20W speakers for the top and rear surround channels. The front and rear satellites have folding legs and a tripod mount to aid in positioning.

In 7.1.4 movie mode, the four speakers are separated, placed in the four corners of the room, and oh, Flax wavedthe sound rivaled my own 5.1 Sonos system built around a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear satellites.

I especially enjoyed hearing the helicopters overhead while watching the Dolby Atmos version Top Gun: The Wanderer. Everything I threw at the X1 Pro looked great and sounded accurate, incl The Dark Knight, All quiet on the Western Frontand Blade Runner 2049. Dialogue cut a hole through the soundscape in the front-center channel, bullets whizzed overhead, and dystopian machines whizzed through the dark spaces around me. At 30 percent volume, my walls were already shaking, so the X1 Pro should be perfect for outdoor movie nights come spring.

I listen to music more often than I watch videos, so I like that the X1 Pro can be quickly turned into a near-silent Bluetooth speaker, without the constant fan noise produced by most projectors. With all external speakers tuned to 2.1 audio mode, the X1 Pro can compete with those big JBL party speakers, just without the excessive light show.

Listening to Miles Davis on the X1 Pro sounded extraordinary, with bright clean horns shining against the baseline. I had to turn down the bass in Spotify’s equalizer to enjoy tracks like Yes’s “Black Skinhead” or even Alice in Chains’ “Not Shell.” Bob Dylan’s voice in “Masters of War” lost some warmth, however, compared to my Sonos system. I could easily crank the X1 Pro up to 50 percent and still enjoy music, but things got muffled above 70 percent volume.

In general, the Nebula X1 Pro’s sound is a vast improvement over the Nebula X1. But calling the X1 Pro “portable” is a stretch.

A telescoping handle and wheels make the 435 × 343 × 761mm (17.13 × 13.50 × 29.96-inch) X1 Pro mobile, because you’ll still want help lifting the 32.8kg (72.31-pound) party box up the stairs or into the car.

And I wouldn’t feel right lugging all those delicate optics and electronics around in rough places. In fact, Fine Print recommends using it on hard surfaces like concrete and wood, and “avoid dragging the projector into grass, large gravel, cobblestones, or water deeper than 50mm.” A $400 electric wagon to haul your $4,999 projector isn’t a terrible idea.

There’s also a star on the unit’s IP43 water and dust resistance. This only applies when the lens cap is off and the speakers are back and retracted, all of which are unlikely if the X1 Pro is accidentally left outside after a movie night. The projector comes with a slip-on cover for the more responsible users.

Look, as a gadget nerd, I’m pretty excited about the Nebula X1 Pro. There is nothing else like it in the market and I admire Anker’s courage to create it. But for my money, if you need a portable 4K projector, the Nebula X1 with the optional speaker kit is pretty loud outside, too, and will save you about $1,000. But if you’re after that bass, the Soundcore Nebula X1 Pro won’t disappoint.

Photography by Thomas Ricker/The Verge.