Anker Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector
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In the middle of a pandemic, the movie theater is a dangerous proposition, if there’s even one open where you live. Your backyard, on the other hand, is a much more inviting prospect. Given the greater societal context of the moment we’re living in, there’s only one option to recreate the movie theater experience: A backyard home theater.
It isn’t easy to outfit your backyard with the trappings of a theater; replacing a barbecue pit with the appropriate seating and fixtures necessary to project a crystal image onto a wall is no small task. But Timothy Dahl, the founding Editor of Charles and Hudson and the longtime DIY Editor of Popular Mechanics, makes endeavors like this his life’s blood. We spoke to Dahl about the basics of getting a next-level backyard theater operation off the ground, glossing over the equipment, time, energy, commitment and a few of the concerns that might crop up along the way. Turns out, it’s pretty simple.
Here’s what you’ll need.
You might think an immaculate white wall is all you need for projecting a clear image outdoors. This isn’t the case.
“A large white wall works best,” Dahl says, “but you can also secure a sheet across any colored wall or fence. The tighter the better.”
If your house is a different color, fear not. There are plenty of screens on the market in lieu of beautiful plaster or stucco.
WIKISH 100 Inch Projector Screen 100″ Portable Anti-Crease Foldable Indoor Outdoor Projection Screen Movie Screen 16:9 HD Home Theater Movie Screen – amazon.com
For a cheap but useful screen, Dahl recommends the WIKISH 100 Inch Projector Screen, which comes with anti-crease protection and 16:9 HD resolution. It’s only $39.99, which is about the cost of an evening at the movies for one person anyway.
“The biggest issue is sound,” Dahl warns. We live in the age of bluetooth, which can be thorny if you’re trying to rig a sound system with cables from projector to speaker. If you don’t have a bluetooth-enabled setup, Dahl recommends something that will work regardless.
“You can use a bluetooth transmitter that plugs into the audio output and can connect to your bluetooth speaker,” he says. For that purpose, he recommends the TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver. For $29.99, it’s a fair price for allowing sound to pour from your speakers, so you can eliminate those cumbersome cables.
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver, 2-in-1 Wireless 3.5mm Adapter – amazon.com
Now for the big, pivotal element: The projector. These devices can get quite sophisticated, but the classier tech comes with a heftier price. For the sake of operating on a budget, Dahl says the Anker Nebula Capsule, available for $299.95, is an interesting prospect. It’s got WiFi (because why not?), it’s cordless and has a built-in speaker, which gives it a multifaceted appeal.
There’s also its bulkier counterpart, Nebula by Anker Mars II Pro. It comes with all of the previous model’s lights and whistles and then some, and projects images at 720p.
Anker Nebula Capsule, Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector, Black, 100 ANSI Lumen Portable Projector, 360° Speaker, Movie Projector, 100 Inch Picture, 4-Hour Video Playtime, Neat Projector, Home Entertainment – amazon.com
If you’re looking for deeper reading into Anker products, the company has all the specs neatly compiled for you here. Additionally, you might try an Ermatic projector. It’s positively reviewed by basically all consumers, and emits a nice crisp image and vivid sound. And for $109.99, you can’t really beat the price.
Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Nebula by Anker Mars II Pro 500 ANSI Lumen Portable Projector, Black, 720p Image, Video Projector, 30 to 150 Inch Projector – amazon.com
Sam Blum is a serial poster, who spends too much time looking at screens. He twice played water polo for the United States Jewish National Team, which is an actual thing. Follow him @Blumnessmonster.
Ematic – EPJ590WH LCD Projector – White – bestbuy.com