Optoma HD70 Projector Review - $999 for 720p DLP!

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/Optoma-HD70-projector.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 93px" alt=[optomaHD70projector] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/optomaHD70projector_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>When I found out that Optoma was taking over the entry level projector market – excuse me, I mean introducing a 720p DLP projector for under $1000 – I quickly lined up a unit for review. You heard correctly, this is a 720p-native DLP projector that is debuting for $999 (street price). To suggest that this projector might be a popular item going into the holiday season and throughout 2007 would be like saying that Reality television might be getting a bit stale. I’ll just say it now – this should be the top-selling projector of the coming year, and for good reasons that you will see outlined in this review.

[Read the Review]
 
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Davidt1

Full Audioholic
Thanks for the review. I find the information on keystoning especially useful.
 
WorldLeader

WorldLeader

Full Audioholic
Would investing in an Oppo unpconverting DVD player be a wise move for this PJ, or should I stick with a nice progressive-scan DVD player?

Also, very nice review. Would ceiling mounting this PJ be a wise choice?
 
Rob Babcock

Rob Babcock

Moderator
Great review! I didn't really need any arm twisting as I've been tentatively planning to buy one, but your review has probably put me over the top. I absolutely love that they modelled the remote on the wonderful remote of the H31, and I'm delighted that they retained the "slow fade" feature for the backlighting.

All in all a superb review!
 
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en sabur nur

Audioholic Intern
Clint, did David Bernstein work with Optoma on this projector too? I ask, because I noticed that on the fourth page of your review, the first paragraph sounded just like the first paragraph on the final page of your review of the Panasonic AX-100. The only difference being that the word "Optoma" has replaced "Panasonic":

This projector is still a hot ticket item. The picture quality is excellent “out of the box” and after a full ISF calibration the improvements were only minimal. Let me reiterate – Optoma has just about gotten a decent calibration (Cinema1) out of the box on this model. I predict that this projector will sell at least as good as its predecessor – if not better. The default color settings from colorist David Bernstein (a Hollywood colorist who, as an example, redid the 50th Anniversary edition of Gone With the Wind as well as titles like Titanic and Moulin Rouge) are decent and will provide satisfying results (using the Cinema1 mode with controlled room lighting). The following screen captures and viewing sessions were performed before calibration of the projector
 
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KevInCinci

Junior Audioholic
Clint,

Can you elaborate on how the HD70 stacks up to the HD72 in terms of picture quality and such. My dad is considering going the projection TV route on a bit tighter budget than I had when I bought the HD72, which we both love. Is the HD72 worth the bit more money now that this one is out for less?

Cheers,

Kevin
 
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justinmiller

Audiophyte
I can't seem to access other areas of the forums with my membership, so I'll post here.....

First, thanks for the great review. Second, how do you feel this projector compares to the Panasonic AX-100? Guys seem to be leaving their wives for it, but this little guy seems pretty comparable. Brightness aside, how does the contrast and general image quality compare? I am attracted to the Panny due to its focus and zoom options, and super brightness, but no use spending twice as much if I won't get much more pj for my money.

Thanks!
 
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Jimilu

Audiophyte
Clint:
Great review, i just bought this projector last week for my office, and i think i will buy one for my house.
The projector is in a light controlled enviorment, i tryed using Avia for calibration, but i did not like the results. can you publish the calibration numbers for the optoma d70 that the datacolor showed? I am no expert, no any help would be great!
 
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Droff

Junior Audioholic
My question is on screen size. I don't think I can fit a 100" screen on my viewing wall, so, say I can only go about 60"-70", does that mean I have to mount the projector closer to the screen wall? How do I determine the distance? The review said no DVI input and no RS-232 support, so can I connect a computer to this or not?
This is pretty much right in my price range for a projector, but I know nothing about them as I've never owned one.
 
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billnchristy

Senior Audioholic
I just picked one up at best buy for $899 + a $199 4 year in home protection plan that includes one bulb changeout free.

This cannot be beat!
 
htjunky

htjunky

Enthusiast
Clint, I would like to ask you two questions about your review of the HD70. Is any "Screen Door Effect" visible from a 1.5x seating distance ratio? And also did you see any "rainbows"?:confused: your reply would be greatly appreciated.
 
htjunky said:
Is any "Screen Door Effect" visible from a 1.5x seating distance And also did you see any "rainbows"
No to both. I always see rainbows if I dart my eyes, but nothing in normal viewing. You don't typically see screen door in 720p+ DLPs unless you are too close to the screen.
 
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billnchristy

Senior Audioholic
To second that, I did a cable test down in the basement the other night, and with a 480i source I had to get about 2 feet or so from the screen (a paint drop cloth) to see individual pixels.

You will have no worries at normal seating distances.
 

phidelt

Audiophyte
Optoma HD70 & Component Signal

Great review, what led me here was a problem with my HD70 that I think may be easily corrected. I have 25FT runs of both SCART/Component and straight component cables - each of which I have hooked up to my 5-7 year old Sony DVD player (dont have model # handy). My issue is that during indiscriminate times or scenes, the HD70 will "drop" the image completely with its blue splash screen, 2-5 seconds later, the image comes back. I have tried it with a SCART/Component cable as well as the straight component port and the same thing happens, even at the exact same moment in the scene on the DVD. I ran DVD over SVIDEO and no signal problems at all. My HDMI source (cable TV) has never dropped either.

Is this a cable problem? A signal degradation problem? a projector problem? If I had a spare DVD player that was easily removeable, my plan was to move it closer to the projector and test a different DVD player with a shorter cable, but I haven't been able to do that yet. It seems to happen with action scenes/sequences, and less on dramatic slightly moving images.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
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richbutler1

Audiophyte
HD70 tweaks?

Clint,

Great review! About to get my HD70 and would like to know if #1-the tweaks made to optimize it would be worthwhile to all out of the box units or varies from unit to unit. #2 - If your tweaks would benefit my OOTB unit, can you share the mods you made in your review?

FYI - My ultimate HT on a Budget:pJ & Receiver @ local PC Richard
HD70 - $855 @ after making the salesperson cry :)
Yamaha 6090 Receiver @ $615 (All inputs upconverted to HDMI, HDMI Switching, XM, XMHD, 7.1, iPod Connectivity, etc.)
Elite Screens (www.elitescreens.com) - VMAX100XWH 100" 16:9 electric w/RF &IR remote @ $300

720p DLP on a 100' electric diag. w/ sweet Yeemahaaa 7.1 for $1770...Priceless!!!....well just pretty damn cheap :)))
 
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Lou223

Audiophyte
Convinced by your article...

Clint, after reading your article I went to BBUY to pick up my HD70 but when I arrived they had the Sony Cineza HS51A for the same price on sale. Should I go for the new DLP technology in the HD70 or for last years model Sony? Which would give me a better picture? Many thanks for your help!
 
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