Are you on the lookout for a recent strategy to take pleasure in your favourite exhibits, motion pictures and even video games? If the reply is sure, then a projector is likely to be the proper answer. Whether or not you need to flip your lounge into a house theater or convey your leisure outside for film nights, discovering the most effective projector to switch your TV can utterly rework the way you watch. With their means to ship large display sizes, projectors are nice for creating that immersive, cinema-like expertise at dwelling or within the yard.
Trendy projectors come filled with options like auto focus, making setup a breeze and making certain you at all times get a pointy, clear image with out the trouble. They’re additionally extra transportable than ever, which suggests you’ll be able to simply transfer them from room to room or take them on the go for displays, gaming periods or yard film nights. In the event you’re considering of stepping up your viewing recreation, we have examined a few of the finest projectors on the market that will help you discover the proper one on your wants.
Engadget’s prime picks
As with earlier updates, I’m dividing projectors into ultra-short-throw and long-throw classes. As talked about, ultra-short-throw fashions have quickly established themselves available in the market as a result of additional efficiency and comfort, and all producers promote at the least a few fashions. Throughout the ultra-short-throw class, We’ll evaluate two worth classes: beneath $7,000 and $3,500, with three projectors every. Within the long-throw class, we’re once more projectors beneath $1,000, $2,000 and $6,000, with three merchandise in every vary. Lastly, we’ll check out the most effective transportable projectors.
Greatest UST projector beneath $7,000
SAMSUNG
Native decision: 4K | Brightness: As much as 2,800 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB, AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Show kind: DLP
Extremely-short-throw projectors are a sizzling sufficient leisure class that Samsung determined to re-enter the market with two high-end fashions as a part of its Lifestyle TV sequence. The LSP9T is the premium mannequin and it actually brings some premium specs. With separate pink, inexperienced and blue lasers, it covers 106 % of the complete Rec.2020 coloration vary (147 % of DCI-P3) — one thing we’ve hardly ever, if ever seen on any TV and even professional monitor.
It delivers a really vivid 2,800 lumens and a 1,500:1 ANSI distinction ratio. Because it makes use of TI’s higher-resolution 0.66-inch DLP chip (with pixel shifting), you get as shut as you’ll be able to to true 4K with out investing in a local 4K projector. Lastly, the LSP9T is the primary projector available on the market rated for HDR10+ — Samsung’s answer to Dolby Imaginative and prescient. On prime of all that, the LSP9T delivers 40 watts of audio utilizing Samsung’s Acoustic Beam expertise, whereas providing Samsung’s well-regarded Tizen-powered Good TV platform.
- Glorious coloration vary
- Brilliant
- Good audio high quality
Extra ultra-short-throw projectors beneath $7,000
Epson EpiqVision Extremely LS500
In the event you want the brightest doable picture, Epson’s LCD-powered EpiqVision Ultra LS500 ($3,899) delivers. It’s rated at as much as 4,000 lumens, making it one of many brightest ultra-short-throw projectors in any worth vary. It additionally helps HDR modes in HDR10 and HLG and is offered with each 100-inch and 120-inch ALR screens, making the worth successfully decrease. The principle disadvantage is that it solely gives double the pixels of 1080p, relatively than 4 instances like competing DLP tech. It additionally gives a comparatively weak 10-watt built-in speaker system.
HiSense L9G
That is HiSense’s new $4,300 flagship UST that makes use of a tricolor laser to realize excessive brightness (3,000 ANSI lumens) and an unimaginable 107 % BT.2020 HDR protection, topping even Samsung’s formidable LSP9T. It has a robust 40W Dolby Atmos sound system and built-in Android TV with Google Assistant and Alexa. Better of all, that worth features a 100-inch ALR Daylight display, or for an additional $500, you may get it with a 120-inch ALR cinema display.
Greatest projector beneath $6,000
Epson
Native decision: 4K | Brightness: As much as 2,500 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB, AirPlay 2, Chromecast | Show kind: LCD
Followers of Epson’s LCD projectors will probably be fascinated by this model, which obtained a giant replace within the type of a laser mild supply. That bumps the brightness to 2,500 ANSI lumens, and the three 1080p LCDs use a pixel shifter to quadruple the decision to one thing near true 4K. It gives very correct colours with HDR10 and HLG functionality, however can be nice for gaming due to the 120 Hz refresh price, 20-millisecond enter lag and HDMI 2.1 help. You additionally get a 3-way motorized lens, scene adaptive correction and extra for $4,000.
- Brilliant
- Near 4K high quality
- 120Hz refresh price
Extra projectors beneath $6,000
Optoma UHZ65LV
Optoma’s $6,000 UHZ65LV additionally makes use of a long-lasting laser mild supply to ship a 5,000 lumen picture, a lot brighter than any lamp-powered projector. It additionally delivers true 4K decision as much as 60p, due to the TI 0.66-inch DLP chip. The additional brightness and distinction make it very best for HDR10 or HLG content material. It additionally comes with fascinating options for a long-throw laser projector, like a 1.6x zoom and vertical lens shift.
LG CineBeam HU810PW 4K
Talking of long-throw laser projectors, LG’s $3,000 CineBeam HU810PW is one other wonderful choose at a a lot cheaper price level. There are some compromises, because the laser mild pushes out a decrease 2,700 lumens (that’s nonetheless lots), and it has a smaller 0.47-inch DLP chip that delivers barely decrease perceived decision. Nevertheless, it has twin blue and inexperienced lasers which assist it ship correct HDR colours with a superb 97 % DCI-P3 protection. It additionally gives a 1.6x zoom with lens shift and an HDMI 2.1 port that permits for 4K at 60p with as much as 12-bit coloration depth. It comes with LG’s webOS, so it helps Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and different streaming companies with out the necessity for a dongle.
Sony VPL-VW295ES
In the event you’re on the lookout for a real, native 4K projector, Sony’s $4,500 VPL-VW295ES is the least expensive possibility on the market. It’s by far the sharpest 4K projector on this roundup, due to Sony’s proprietary 4K SXRD native DCI 4K (4,096 x 2,160) panels. It additionally delivers extraordinarily correct colours, with 100% DCI-P3 protection and HDR10/HLG help. You additionally get niceties like a 2.06 zoom lens with powered zoom, lens shift and focus. The principle disadvantage is a comparatively dim 1,500 lumen brightness, nevertheless it’s a prime choose if image high quality is paramount above all.
Greatest UST projector beneath $3,500
LG
Native decision: 4K | Brightness: As much as 2,500 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB, AirPlay 2 | Show kind: DLP
LG’s nice-looking HU715Q is the brand new king of ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors as a result of image high quality, tech on supply and cheap $3,000 worth. With a 20,000-30,000 hour laser mild supply, it delivers 2,500 ANSI lumens, together with correct colours throughout 86 % of the DCI-P3 gamut – sufficient for many HDR content material. And talking of that, it helps each HDR10 and HLG, together with frame-by-frame tone-mapping.
Rival fashions supply comparable specs, however the HU715Q trumps them in sound and expertise. The 20-watt 2-way stereo audio system have an amazing sound high quality on their very own, however you’ll be able to complement them with Bluetooth audio system from LG and almost another model to create encompass sound. The standout characteristic, although, is LG’s webOS sensible TV capabilities that provide you with Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and different apps, all with full 4K HDR help and encompass sound, together with eARC output for Dolby Atmos and lossless audio. It additionally helps HDMI 2.1 and higher nonetheless, full 4K (4,096 x 2,160) relatively than simply UHD.
- Nice image high quality
- Nice sound
- LG webOS sensible TV capabilities
Extra ultra-short-throw projectors beneath $3,500
Optoma CinemaX P2
Optoma’s CinemaX P2 made our checklist final yr, nevertheless it’s the most effective projectors now as a result of the worth has dropped significantly. It delivers 3,000 lumen brightness, spectacular distinction ratio and correct colours with 80 % DCI-P3 protection. It’s not fairly as sharp because the pricier projectors, because it makes use of TI’s 0.47-inch relatively than 0.66-inch DLP tech, although you’ll nonetheless get a near-4K picture.
The CinemaX P2 may higher match your lounge decor, because it is available in white relatively than darkish gray just like the P1. The 40-watt NuForce Dolby Digital 2.0 soundbar is without doubt one of the finest on any ultra-short-throw projector, as nicely. On the draw back, it does supply apps however they’re not so good as you’ll discover on, say, Google’s Chromecast.
BenQ V7050i
BenQ’s first UST laser projector is on the prime finish of the worth scale at $3,500, nevertheless it gives some spectacular capabilities. Mild output is a vivid 2,500 ANSI lumens and it delivers a full 98 % DCI-P3 protection for pretty much as good an HDR expertise as you may get on a projector. You additionally get a Filmmaker Mode to see colours as the administrators supposed. It’s powered by Android TV so that you get all of the streaming companies and apps you need, together with apps, video games and extra. The draw back is the dearth of respectable audio system, because it solely gives twin 5-watt audio system with clear sound however restricted bass.
Epson EpiqVision Extremely LS300W
In the event you’re okay with 1080p projection, Epson’s EpiqVision Ultra LS300W is a really fascinating possibility due to the design, wonderful sound, built-in Android TV and excessive 3,600 ANSI lumen brightness. That enables for a large coloration gamut with no rainbow impact, wonderful connectivity and excellent sound with out the necessity to purchase a soundbar or encompass sound system. Better of all, it’s priced at simply $2,000, making it one of many cheaper short-throw projectors on the market.
Greatest projector beneath $2,000
BenQ
Native decision: 4K | Brightness: As much as 2,000 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Chromecast, AirPlay 2 | Show kind: DLP
BenQ’s 4K HT3550i is an replace to final yr’s HT3550, however with an enormous addition: Android TV. With that, this sensible projector gives multi-platform wi-fi projection from Android and iOS gadgets through Chromecast or Airplay, and streaming apps like Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube — an enormous plus in comparison with rival projectors. As earlier than, it gives reference-quality 4K coloration copy in each HDR and SDR that is a match for projectors costing triple the worth. Distinction is great due to the dynamic iris, although brightness is proscribed to 2,000 lumens. It has a 1.3x zoom and vertical lens shift possibility, plus a surprisingly good built-in speaker. The fan noise continues to be current, however lower than earlier than.
- Android TV capabilities
- Chromecast and AirPlay help
- Glorious distinction
- Fan noise could be a trouble
Extra projectors beneath $2,000
Optoma UHD38
For additional brightness and pace for gaming, the reply is Optoma’s all-new, $1,600 4K-capable UHD38. It cranks the lumens as much as 4,000 and just like the Viewsonic PX701-4K, gives 240Hz gaming at 1080p with one of many lowest latency figures we’ve seen but in a projector at 4.2 milliseconds. In any other case, you are able to do 4K 60 Hz gaming with 16.7 milliseconds of lag, which could be very fast for 4K. It’s optimized extra for gaming than leisure not like BenQ’s HT3550i, however it may nonetheless deal with HDR10 and HLG. It helps each zoom (albeit simply 1.1x), but in addition vertical and horizontal lens shift.
Epson Residence Cinema 4010 4K Professional
Epson’s $2,000 Home Cinema 4010 4K Pro is the Cadillac of under-$2K dwelling projectors due to options like 2,400 lumen brightness, dynamic iris, and motorized zoom (2.1x), focus and lens shift. This Epson projector delivers in image high quality too, overlaying 100% of the DCI-P3 coloration house in cinema mode with each HDR10 and HLG. It additionally gives near-4K high quality utilizing 1,920 x 1,080 LCD picture chips with pixel shifting. The drawbacks are lack of help for 60Hz 4K as a result of HDMI 1.4 ports.
In the event you want that, need to pay a bit much less and don’t care in regards to the motorized focus, Epson’s $1,700 Home Cinema 3080 4K Pro is the best way to go. It gives comparable options like HDR10 and HLG, however helps 4K 60p due to the HDMI 2.0b ports. There’s no motorization and the zoom drops to 1.6x, nevertheless it helps beneficiant tilt, shift and zoom ranges.
Greatest projector beneath $1,000
ViewSonic
Native decision: 4K | Brightness: As much as 3,200 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB
There are only a few 4K projectors obtainable beneath $1,000, and Viewsonic’s $900 PX701-4K is without doubt one of the most up-to-date. For the cash, it gives spectacular efficiency. You get 4K HDR with 3,200 lumens of brightness through TI’s .47-inch DLP chip. Extra importantly for avid gamers, you may get a 1080p sign at as much as 240Hz with a 5-millisecond enter lag time. The drawbacks are a restricted 1.1x optical zoom, so that you’ll want to verify it suits in your house.
- 4K HDR image high quality
- Brilliant
- Comparatively reasonably priced
Extra projectors beneath $1,000
BenQ HT2050A
For round $700, the BenQ HT2050A continues to be the most effective funds 1080p projectors. It delivers the place it counts with the most effective distinction (ANSI 1,574:1) and coloration accuracy in its class, and in all fairness vivid as nicely, with 2,200 lumens in “vivid” mode. On prime of that, it comes with a 1.3x zoom and vertical lens shift possibility for max set up flexibility. The drawbacks embody barely extreme fan noise, rainbow impact and red-tinted 3D.
Optoma HD146X
In the event you’re seeking to spend rather less on a funds projector, the Optoma HD146X is your best choice. Utilizing DLP tech, it delivers 1080p at as much as 3,600 lumens with wonderful brightness, coloration accuracy, distinction and black ranges. You additionally get respectable (16.4-millisecond) enter lag for gaming. The drawbacks are a single HDMI port, 1.1x optical zoom and poor built-in audio.
Greatest funds transportable projector
XGIMI
Native decision: 1080p | Brightness: As much as 400 lumens | Connectivity: HDMI, USB, Bluetooth
Xgimi is a comparatively new model, however has began to achieve traction due to its lineup of transportable projectors. The perfect mini projector is the MoGo Pro, which could be powered by a battery (with two hours of playtime) and is sufficiently small to slot in a backpack. However this mini projector nonetheless delivers an in depth and fairly correct 1080p full HD picture, whereas providing computerized focus and vertical keystone adjustment. It even comes with Android TV, providing you with all of the streaming choices you’ll be able to want – all for $600.
- Compact design
- Could be battery powered
- Android TV capabilities
- Caps at 1080p image high quality
Extra funds transportable projectors
BenQ GS2
This $470 model is designed particularly for outside leisure, so it’s battery-powered and splash and shock resistant – making it your finest guess for yard film nights or for watching sports activities occasions, tenting and extra. It’s additionally one of many brightest transportable projectors on the market and has a battery lifetime of as much as three hours. This outside projector solely delivers 720p decision, nevertheless it does include a streaming app within the type of Aptoide TV.
Anker Nebula Photo voltaic HD
This full HD projector has a reasonably wealthy characteristic set contemplating the $600 worth together with a battery. This transportable projector delivers 400 lumens for fairly vivid outside use, has a fairly highly effective 2x3W speaker system with Dolby Digital Plus, comes with Android TV and has a built-in stand for straightforward adjustment.
What to search for in a projector
Extremely-short-throw
For the reason that final time we up to date our information, ultra-short-throw projectors have develop into the recent new class, providing a number of advantages. You may mount them near the wall like a TV, without having to run wires by way of the partitions and ceiling, however nonetheless get an immersive picture as giant as 120 inches — one thing that’s not possible with a TV until you’re very rich. They use brighter lasers that by no means must be changed — and since laser mild is collimated, focusing is eradicated.
They’re additionally bodily much less awkward to put in than a ceiling-mounted projector, although that doesn’t imply set up is tremendous straightforward. To get the proper display match and alignment, it’s essential to place them a precise top and distance out of your wall or display. This may be fairly a ache, as I’ve discovered.
You additionally want a superbly flat wall or projector display, as a result of ultra-short-throw projectors beam up at an acute angle, so any imperfections will present as shadows. For that motive, you’ll be able to’t use a roll-down display as a result of they’ve slight ripples.
For the most effective outcomes, notably with a number of ambient mild, it’s best to use an ambient light-rejecting (ALR) display. These have small ridges that replicate mild from under again to your eyes, however take up any mild (ie ambient mild) that comes from above. For a kind of, you’ll have to funds at the least $450 and way up. Some projectors, together with fashions from Epson and HiSense, include ALR screens.
Brightness and distinction
Residence theater projectors usually vary in brightness between 2,000 to 4,000 lumens, however you may have to take these figures with a grain of salt. Some fashions may really hit 3,000 lumens or extra, however cranking the lamp to that stage will damage the picture high quality and lifespan of your bulb. Additionally, some producers are likely to exaggerate most brightness.
As some extent of reference, many 4K flat panel TVs these days can hit 1,000 nits of brightness, however the brightest client projectors solely show between 100 and 150 nits from the display. That’s not as large a deal because it might sound, as a result of projector photos are a lot bigger and meant for use in darkish rooms, the place your eyes will mechanically modify to the sunshine and “brighten” the picture.
Distinction can be considerably completely different on dwelling theater projectors. Not like OLED TVs, projectors don’t permit for zero black ranges due to ambient mild, reflections and different causes. You can also’t have native dimming zones discovered on LED TVs for true blacks. Some projectors do have a dynamic iris to enhance the distinction scene-by-scene, however these can usually produce a “pumping” impact, with the picture dimming or brightening in mid-scene.
Mounting and fan noise
An enormous benefit of normal lengthy throw projectors is which you could mount the projector and display on the ceiling, utilizing zero house in your room. In the event you plan to do this, don’t neglect to funds for a mounting bracket and any obligatory lengthy cables, together with additional energy for Google’s finicky Chromecast (although you could possibly go for a wise projector with built-in streaming apps as an alternative). Additionally, remember that it is simpler to mount a light-weight dwelling theater projector, and DLP fashions are normally lighter than these with LCD tech.
Some projectors are noisier than others, and normally the extra you spend, the much less noise you get. Lots of the new 4K DLP projectors, when working in 4K mode, are notably noisy. There’s one different (cool) factor: if in case you have a conveyable projector and even one that’s comparatively straightforward to take down and put up, you’ll be able to take it exterior for magical evening screenings beneath the celebrities.
HDR and determination
As associated to projectors, this stuff may every take up a whole article. In truth, they’ve — for a deeper dive, check out Projector Central’s wonderful takes on HDR and resolution.
On the decision entrance, solely costly projectors have native 4K decision; certainly, most film theaters nonetheless use 2K projectors for various reasons. Nevertheless, there are various comparatively cheap DLP projectors that use pixel-shifting to achieve 4K decision. That system emits every pixel 4 instances whereas transferring it to the proper place for a 4K picture, all in lower than 1/sixtieth of a second. As such, it places as many pixels on the display in the identical period of time as a 4K native projector — and visually, it performs almost as nicely.
Then again, Epson’s LCD “4K enhanced” projectors even have 1080p decision, however the picture is simply shifted twice, not 4 instances. So, these projectors will not be 4K natively or in any other case, however do produce double the pixel depend of a 1080p projector. In the event you actually need a 4K native projector, you’ll must pay: two of the most affordable ones are Sony’s VPL-VW295ES ($5,000) and JVC’s DLA-NX5 ($5,000).
HDR is a really completely different animal on projectors in comparison with TVs. As talked about, projectors can’t produce wherever near the quantity of sunshine required (1,000 nits) to qualify as true HDR. Relatively, they use a method known as tone-mapping to suit your complete HDR gamut right into a decrease brightness vary.
For that motive, amongst others, virtually all projectors solely help HDR10. Just one makes use of Dolby Imaginative and prescient (the Xiaomi Laser Cinema 2, solely available officially in China), and simply a few fashions work with Samsung’s HDR10+ — and people are Samsung’s personal Premiere 4K fashions. Nevertheless, most help a wider 10-bit coloration gamut that permits for superior coloration copy.
Optics
In the event you’re mounting a short- or long-throw projector between 5 and 25 ft, you may want to think about the zoom vary and whether or not the projector has a lens shift possibility. A good zoom vary will make it simpler to mount the projector the place you need with the display measurement that you really want. If the projector has an auto focus characteristic, it’ll modify the lens to create a sharper picture by calculating the gap between your projector and the wall or display.
Lens shift, in the meantime, is used if the projector is mounted greater or decrease relative to the display than advisable by the producer (or any horizontal distance off middle). That creates a trapezoidal formed picture, however by dialing in some lens shift, you’ll be able to optically sq. it up. In any other case, you may need to make use of a “keystone correction,” which digitally stretches or shrinks a part of the picture, leading to noticeable distortion or pixel artifacts. Digital correction won’t work in gaming modes both, for some projector fashions.
Gaming
In the event you’re fascinated by a gaming projector, you’ll need to search for the refresh price and enter lag figures. Some new projectors from Viewsonic, Optoma and others supply as much as 240 Hz 1080p refresh charges and enter lag settings right down to 4 or 5 milliseconds. When paired with a suitable projection display, you’ll be able to count on an immersive expertise out of your recreation console on the large display. Nevertheless, some projectors designed extra for dwelling leisure have very poor enter lag and refresh charges at simply 60 Hz.
Transportable projectors
Lastly, transportable projectors have develop into well-liked sufficient to advantage dialogue this yr. They’re comparatively low-cost, compact and transportable and may run on batteries – making them very best for leisure exterior or whereas tenting. These outside projectors will not be almost as vivid as others, in fact, however are extra designed for a enjoyable evening of leisure beneath the celebrities.
The technology: LCD and DLP projectors
Listed here are the fundamentals: Conventional projectors usually use two varieties of expertise, LCD and DLP. They’re basically completely different methods, with their very own benefits and downsides.
The rise of ultra-short-throw projectors and brighter long-throw fashions, in the meantime, has been powered by falling costs in laser illumination expertise. Lasers are a much better answer than lamps, as a result of they’re brighter and final far longer — as much as 30,000 hours as an alternative of 6,000. That’s primarily a lifetime of use (about 10 years).
Most projector producers now use DLPs, or digital mild processing models, manufactured almost completely by Texas Devices (TI). The center of the tech is an optical semiconductor known as a digital micromirror machine (DMD) that comprises hundreds of thousands of aluminum mirrors. These tilt both towards the sunshine supply (on) or away from it (off) at as much as 5,000 instances per second.
Funds projectors like BenQ’s HT3550i use TI’s 0.47-inch DMD, whereas greater finish fashions, just like the Samsung Premium LSP9T use the 0.66-inch chip. Each use mirrors that tilt by +12 and -12 levels for white and black, however TI not too long ago unveiled a brand new 0.47-inch 4K-capable DMD with +/-17 levels of tilt, which ought to improve each brightness and distinction.
DLP projector makers embody LG, Optoma, LG, BenQ and Panasonic. The advantages of the tech are portability (like Samsung’s The Freestyle 180-degree projector), excessive distinction, much less fringing and cheaper projectors, particularly 4K and ultra-short-throw fashions. The most important disadvantage is the rainbow impact, or vivid pink/blue/inexperienced artifacts that have an effect on some viewers greater than others.
LCD tech, in the meantime, makes use of a prism to separate a lightweight supply into pink, inexperienced and blue beams. These then cross by way of LCD shows containing the picture and converge through one other prism earlier than passing by way of the projector’s lens.
Epson is the first consumer of LCD tech, together with Sony, Sanyo and others. LCD projectors are typically sharper, extra environment friendly and extra coloration correct, however have decrease distinction ratios and may expertise picture degradation over time. Usually, they’re additionally costlier.
Projector FAQs
Are 4K projectors higher?
Sure, as a result of greater decision is extra noticeable on bigger screens, so 4K is especially helpful with projectors since they beam photos as much as 200 inches in measurement. That being stated, brightness and distinction are extra vital.
Is a projector higher than a TV?
Projectors can present a extra immersive expertise due to the big display, however they’re not essentially “higher.” Because you normally must dim the lights with a projector, TVs are superior for on a regular basis use.
Is 2000 lumens vivid sufficient for a projector?
Sure, 2000 lumens is well vivid sufficient, even with some ambient mild within the room. Nevertheless, the picture will nonetheless be arduous to see with the home windows open on a vivid day.
Ought to I get a 4K or 1080p projector?
That will depend on your funds and wishes. In case your funds is under $1,000, search for a 1080p projector with the most effective brightness and distinction. Between $1,000-$2,000, you’ll have to weigh whether or not brightness or 4K decision is most vital. Above that, select the brightest 4K projector you’ll be able to afford.
What are the most effective projectors in daylight?
The perfect projectors in daylight are extremely quick throw (UST) fashions, as they’ve the brightest and sharpest picture. Nevertheless, they often value greater than $2,000.
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