Sega Toys Homestar Classic star projector review
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When you hear the name “Sega,” you probably think of Sonic The Hedgehog. But it turns out the Japanese entertainment company does more than just make video games: it’s also a leading maker of realistic star projectors.
The Sega Toys Homestar Classic is one of three in the Sega Toys range, alongside the Homestar Flux and Homestar Matataki. All three models are similar, but this one is the least expensive of the trio. The Flux offers a more powerful projector and the Matataki has a built-in speaker. The Homestar Classic is a bit simpler, but it’s still one of the most powerful projectors on the market, especially if you’re looking for a realistic projection of the night sky.
This is a quality product, delivered in attractive packaging that feels just as premium as its price suggests. It comes with two discs: Northern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere with Constellations, but more discs are available (costing about $20 each), making it one of the most versatile projectors on the market, provided you don’t mind spending a little more.
Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Design
- Easy to use
- Premium build quality
- Uses mains power
There is something wonderful about the design of the Sega Toys Homestar Classic. It looks worthy of the space age, thanks to its orb-like shape. It’s not over the top or too flashy either. Compared to some star projectors, it seems minimalist and sober, especially if you opt for the black or white color. The Homestar Classic is also available in red or blue, which we think may be better suited to a child’s bedroom, although you might just prefer brighter colors.
No matter what color you choose, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic of course works exactly the same. There is no remote control, with all actions taking place on the unit itself. There’s an on/off switch and three buttons that turn shooting stars, movement, and a sleep timer on or off.
The projector comes with a power adapter, which means you’ll need to place it near a power outlet. This is something to keep in mind, especially since many other projectors are powered by USB-C or even have a rechargeable battery.
The Homestar Classic has excellent build quality that doesn’t feel cheap or plasticky. Thanks to a metal stand, it feels very sturdy and easy to adjust. No matter what position you place the projector in, you need to be sure that it won’t move.
Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Performance
- Silent
- The projections are beautiful and realistic
- Requires total darkness to truly shine
If you enjoy quiet, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic is a great choice. Its operation is quiet, which is a boon for those looking for a projector to fall asleep to. That’s largely because, unlike some other projectors, the Homestar Classic doesn’t have a noisy spinning motor inside. Instead, projections can pan gently and slowly. Personally, we prefer this: it’s subtle, calming and more realistic.
The projections provided here are simply breathtaking. According to the official Sega Toys website, you see up to 60,000 twinkling stars when the projector is turned on. We didn’t count, of course, but we can believe it: you’ll want to project the Homestar Classic onto a large wall or ceiling to get the most out of it. It’s immersive and gripping, thanks to its sharpness and detail.
The only downside may be that you’ll want your room to be completely dark to truly enjoy the Sega Toys Homestar Classic showings. With only 3 watts of power (compared to 5 watts of the Flux), it’s a bit annoying if you still have a light source in your room. Wait until nighttime, draw the curtains and you will truly appreciate the beauty of the projections. If it’s still light it can be a little disappointing.
Sega Toys Homestar Classic: Feature
- A variety of discs are available
- Has a built-in sleep timer
- The focus wheel can be a little tricky
Since this is the least expensive projector Sega Toys offers, it doesn’t have the full suite of bells and whistles you’ll find on the company’s other projectors. For example, the Flux offers improved visual quality and a brighter projector. And the Matataki has a built-in speaker with a built-in library of natural sounds. These features come at a higher price though, and if you just want a realistic projector, the Sega Toys Homestar Classic has all the features you’ll need or need.
Although it doesn’t have full rotation, you can enable a gentle motion, which some users will prefer. You can also turn shooting stars on or off, which add a welcome sense of movement to the projections. Finally, there is a sleep timer, which can be set for 15, 30 or 60 minutes, after which the projector will turn off. It’s ideal if you want to use it to fall asleep, so you can be sure it won’t stay on all night.
To focus the Sega Toys Homestar Classic, you’ll need to manually turn the focus wheel, located on the outside of the projector lens itself. At first we had a little trouble getting the projector to focus clearly; the focus wheel seems a little loose and you may have to turn it for a long time before you notice a difference. However, once in focus, it should stay there. So as long as you keep the projector in the same position, you shouldn’t need to refocus.
Placing the projector between 59 and 90 inches (150 and 230 centimeters) from the flat surface you are projecting on is the ideal distance. If you’re having trouble finding a clear focus point, the spotlight may be too close or too far away, so try placing it elsewhere.
Should I buy the Sega Toys Homestar Classic?
The short answer is yes, you should buy the Sega Toys Homestar Classic. The long answer ultimately depends on your budget. At $150, it’s among the most expensive star projectors on the market, despite being the least expensive model Sega Toys offers. But if you’re looking for a realistic and believable projection, you won’t find better than this one.
If you’re just looking for a nice light show to help you relax before bed, we recommend finding a cheaper projector elsewhere. But for an accurate, scientific display of the night sky, this is truly one of the best star projectors on the market.
If the Sega Toys Homestar Classic is not for you
If you want it very Better yet, we recommend taking a look at the Sega Toys Homestar Flux. This offers similar features to the Classic, but with even better projection quality, a brighter bulb and a greater selection of projection discs available. Its price is of course higher, but that’s to be expected given its additional features.
There are of course cheaper projectors offering similar features. We’ve already called the Orzorz Galaxy Lite the best star projector on the market: it has a lower price and still offers realistic displays with interchangeable discs.
And if you’re truly on a budget, the Blisslights Sky Lite Evolve is worth considering: it doesn’t offer science projections, but it’s an impressive display nonetheless, and thanks to the app’s functionality, you can do a lot with it.
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