Hisense C3 Ultra Max

A 2x optical zoom and ±120% vertical lens shift: these two figures matter just as much as brightness, as they determine where you can place the projector. The most advanced model in Hisense’s C3 family combines 5000 ANSI lumens, a triple-laser light source, sound developed with Devialet and an adjustable stand. It projects an image measuring 1.65 to 7.62 m diagonally, in a living room or a dedicated home theater.

Three lasers and 5000 lumens for living room projection

The C3 Ultra Max uses DLP technology: a 1.19 cm (0.47-inch) chip covered in micromirrors, which reproduces Ultra HD 4K resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels) by shifting each image very rapidly. Three lasers, one red, one green and one blue, illuminate this chip. As each primary color comes directly from its own source, the color gamut covers 118% of the BT.2020 color space, the reference for HDR content, with 10-bit processing delivering 1.07 billion shades.

The stated brightness is 5000 ANSI lumens, or 6250 lumens under the ISO standard. This level primarily helps keep the image clearly visible when the room is not completely dark, or illuminate a screen measuring over three meters diagonally without the picture looking dull. The native contrast ratio of 5000:1 is complemented by a CineBlack-Pro iris, which reduces the amount of light sent out during dark scenes to produce deeper blacks.

The single DLP chip and laser light source have two known drawbacks: the rainbow effect, where brief colored flashes appear on bright moving objects, and speckle, a slight graininess in areas of uniform color. The C3 Ultra Max features specific processing to counter both phenomena, and speckle is reduced by 10% compared with the C2 Ultra.

Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode for movies

The four common HDR formats are supported: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG. With the first two, each scene is accompanied by information that guides the projector in adjusting brightness and colors. IMAX Enhanced certification and Filmmaker Mode both help preserve the original color grading. In Filmmaker Mode, image processing is disabled and the picture remains faithful to what the director approved.

For sports and TV series, motion compensation (MEMC) calculates intermediate frames to make pans and fast movements smoother. It can be switched off for movies if you prefer to retain the cinematic frame rate. A 3D mode is also included.

2x zoom and lens shift: flexible projector placement

The throw ratio ranges from 0.85 to 1.7:1. For a 100-inch image (2.54 m diagonally, 2.21 m wide), the projector can therefore be placed between 1.88 m and 3.76 m from the screen, and for 120 inches, between 2.26 m and 4.52 m. In the same room, the projector can thus sit on a coffee table or at the back, on a shelf behind the sofa.

Lens shift moves the image by ±120% vertically and ±47% horizontally without moving the unit. A projector positioned off-center relative to the screen therefore does not need to digitally correct the image shape. This matters because digital keystone correction reduces the number of pixels used, whereas optical lens shift preserves the full resolution. In both respects, the Ultra Max goes further than the C3 Pro and C3 Ultra, which have a throw ratio of 0.9 to 1.5:1, a 1.6x zoom and ±100% vertical and ±35% horizontal lens shift.

A gimbal stand and automatic adjustments

The projector is mounted on an integrated gimbal stand that rotates through 360° and tilts through 260°, from 40° downward to pointing at the ceiling. You can therefore project onto a side wall without moving the furniture, or onto a bedroom ceiling.

Whenever its position changes, a time-of-flight (ToF) distance sensor measures the surface. Focus, geometry correction and alignment with the screen edges are then adjusted automatically. The projector also avoids obstacles (a picture frame or light switch) by shrinking the image to steer clear of them, and adjusts colors to the wall’s hue when projecting without a screen. Manual 9-point correction adjusts any remaining distortion. The beam’s power automatically decreases if someone passes in front of the lens.

Liquid cooling and 31 dB operating noise

The C3 Ultra Max is the only liquid-cooled model in the range, a solution adopted to dissipate the heat generated by 5000 lumens. The stated operating noise level is 31 dB, a level masked by a movie soundtrack at a reasonable volume. Power consumption reaches 360 W during operation and drops below 0.5 W in standby.

This cooling system, the longer lens and the additional sensors show up on the scales: the C3 Ultra Max weighs 11.7 kg and measures 256 × 304 × 315 mm, compared with 8 kg for the C3 Ultra. It can be moved from room to room but is by no means a travel projector. The laser light source is rated for 25,000 hours.

A 2.1 audio system designed with Devialet

On the C3 Pro and C3 Ultra, Devialet tunes the sound. On the Ultra Max, the French brand is involved from the speaker design stage. The system combines two 10 W speakers, two 8 W speakers and a 20 W subwoofer, totaling 56 W, and decodes Dolby Audio and DTS:X. DTS Virtual:X simulates surround and height channels using these speakers. Five sound modes (standard, cinema, music, voice, night) and an equalizer with advanced settings complete the setup.

For a more ambitious system, the HDMI eARC port sends sound to a home theater receiver or soundbar, while an optical S/PDIF output remains available for older equipment. The C3 Ultra Max is also compatible with WiSA wireless speakers, which receive sound over a radio link, and transmits audio to headphones via Bluetooth 5.4.

Gaming at up to 240 Hz in Full HD

Consoles and PCs can use 4K at 60 Hz or Full HD at 240 Hz, with a response time of 1 ms. Variable refresh rate (VRR, from 48 to 240 Hz in Full HD) and AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility synchronize the display with the graphics card’s actual frame rate and eliminate screen tearing. Automatic game mode (ALLM) activates as soon as a console is detected. Without a console, the Xbox Cloud Gaming app launches online games with an Xbox Game Pass subscription and a Bluetooth controller.

VIDAA U9, Wi-Fi 7 and connectivity

The VIDAA U9 system provides access to video-on-demand apps, including Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, as well as a web browser. The C3 Ultra Max receives AirPlay 2 streams from an iPhone, iPad or Mac, can be added to Apple Home and plays files from the local network via DLNA. Screen sharing also works from a phone, tablet or computer. Voice commands use Alexa or VIDAA Voice, and Control4 integration allows the projector to be controlled through a home automation system.

Network connectivity is provided by Wi-Fi 7 or a Gigabit Ethernet port, which is more stable for playing very large 4K files. On the back are two HDMI 2.1 inputs (including one with eARC and CEC), two USB 3.0 ports, an optical S/PDIF output, a 3.5 mm jack and a service port.

Technical specifications

Image and projection

• Technology: Triple-laser DLP SST, 1.19 cm chip
• Resolution: Ultra HD 4K (3840 × 2160)
• Brightness: 5000 ANSI lumens / 6250 ISO lumens
• Projection diagonal: 165.1 to 762 cm
• Throw ratio: 0.85 to 1.7:1
• Zoom: optical
• Optical lens shift:
  • Vertical: ± 120%
  • Horizontal: ± 47%
• Native contrast: 5000:1
• Refresh rate: 4K at 60 Hz / Full HD at 240 Hz
• Response time: 1 ms
• Colors: 10-bit depth, 1.07 billion colors
• Color gamut coverage: 118% of the BT.2020 color space
• HDR formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Image processing technologies: IMAX Enhanced, Filmmaker Mode, motion estimation and compensation (MEMC), CineBlack-Pro
• Geometric correction: Flat TOF, 9-point and automatic
• Obstacle avoidance: yes
• Ultra HD upscaling: yes
• 3D mode: yes

Audio

• Built-in audio system: Devialet 2.1-channel
• Total power: 2 × 10 W + 2 × 8 W + 20 W subwoofer
• Audio technologies: Dolby Audio, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, WiSA Sound
• Surround sound effect: yes
• Equalizer: advanced settings
• Sound modes: standard, cinema, music, voice, night

Smart TV and network features

• Operating system: VIDAA U9
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth: version 5.4
• Compatibility: AirPlay 2, Apple Home, DLNA
• Voice assistants: Alexa, VIDAA Voice
• Cloud gaming: Xbox Cloud Gaming
• Home automation control: Control4
• Screen sharing: computer, tablet, smartphone
• Internet browser: yes

Connectivity

• HDMI: 2 × HDMI 2.1, including 1 compatible with eARC and CEC
• USB: 2 × USB 3.0
• Ethernet: 1 × Gigabit RJ45 for local area network
• Digital audio output: 1 × optical S/PDIF
• Audio input: 1 × 3.5 mm jack
• Service port: 1

Design and operation

• Gimbal stand:
  • Rotation: 360°
  • Tilt: 260°
• Cooling: liquid cooling system
• Noise level: 31 dB
• Light source lifespan: 25000 hours

Power supply and consumption

• Power supply: 100–240 V, 50 / 60 Hz
• Operating power consumption: 360 W
• Standby power consumption: ≤ 0.5 W

Dimensions and weight

• Product dimensions (W × D × H): 256 × 304 × 315 mm
• Product weight: 11.7 kg
• Carton dimensions (W × D × H): 579 × 475 × 399 mm
• Packaged weight: 15.5 kg