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Optoma HD26 1080p Projector Review

January 18, 2016

This year, the Optoma HD26 earned high marks in the highly-competitive sub-$1,000 Full HD projector market. And it might be one of the most competitively priced models on the market, running right around $575. But even with such a great price, the projector does a number of things particularly well.

For starters, the Optoma HD26 is a capable all-around projector, delivering wonderful images in Cinema Mode for the home theater, while offering suitable brightness for the living room. Of course, as a budget option, the HD26 is a little light on features, but for the price, it’s an extremely useful option. It’s quickly become a favorite entry-level home theater/home entertainment projector. Here’s a look at the HD26’s spec sheet:
Optoma HD26: Best Features
It’s clear the HD26 is light on features, but it does include many features you’ll find in most budget projectors: HDMI connectivity, built-in audio, and Full HD 3D capabilities. Yet, there are two areas where the projector stands out compared to other sub-$1,000 projectors. These features include:

Adjustable Image Settings: One main feature that’s absent from many budget projectors is the ability to adjust image pre-sets. And that’s one thing that sets the Optoma HD26 apart. This feature enables users to calibrate and customize their own image settings, which is particularly useful for users who tend to project many different types of content. For example, the user can create his own image pre-sets for sporting events or live TV, while adjusting the Cinema Mode settings for his home theater. What’s more, the projector has several different modes that can be used, including a Bright mode and Cinema mode. The Bright mode is ideal for sporting events, gaming and live TV in the living room – it doesn’t provide the best color, but it’s perfect for the living room. And in Cinema mode, the color performance gets a bit of a boost.

Optoma HD26 Rear Inputs
Super Long Lamp Life: Lamp life in standard operating mode is off the charts for the HD26. The projector achieves up to 5,000 hours at full power, which is far above average of about 3,000 to 4,000. Yet, users can get a big jump by optimizing the machine in Eco mode, which results in 6,500 hours of lamp life. Fortunately, the HD26’s replacement lamp is very affordable, starting around $200. It is also known as part number SP.8VH01GC01. Plus, the 190-watt bulb is very powerful, rated at 3,200 lumens in Bright mode. The output is optimized in Cinema mode, with an output of about 1,200 lumens.

Other Features of the HD26
Aside from these two areas, the HD26 offers some pretty standard features for a budget projector. It’s rated up to 3,200 lumens of brightness, with a contrast ratio of 25,000:1. And it delivers Full HD video (1920×1080) in the 16:9 aspect ratio.
Some features that users will definitely like include its dual HDMI ports, one of which is MHL enabled. That means you can connect to a variety of sources, including a cable box, Blu-ray player or other HDMI device, as well as stream live video from Roku or Chromecast. Finally, the projector is super lightweight, weighing just 5.5 pounds, making it a super portable projector. But with limited zoom and no lens shift, it’s not always easy to calibrate the machine in new environments.
Overall, the HD26 does exactly what an entry-level projector should do. It provides above-average imaging with only the most useful features, including dual HDMI ports and MHL capabilities. And although it certainly doesn’t compare to higher-end projectors in terms of image quality or feature set, the HD26 is one of the best values in the 1080p home theater class.

5 Best Home Theater Projectors of 2015

December 19, 2015

This year was fairly quiet for new projectors. The majority of the major PJ brands kept new releases to a minimum, continuing to sell models that were released in 2014 and earlier. Even so, there were several new entries in the 2014-2015 projector season and many of them offered exciting new features and impressive performance.

So which home theater projectors, with Full HD or 4K resolution, were the best in 2015? It’s tough to pick from the field of those that have been released since fall 2014. But there are a few models that stick out from the pack. This year saw more affordable 4K projectors, as well as improvement on existing favorite PJ models. Here are a few of our favorites that were released in 2015:
Epson EH-LS10000
In terms of image quality and performance, the LS10000 is one of the best projectors that hit the market in 2015. The projector features a laser light engine – compared to a standard replaceable lamp – which lasts the entire life of the machine and delivers image quality that’s certainly right there at the top. Black levels are rich and saturated, and contrast provides an impressive range of detail. Of course, with this advanced technology like adaptable 4K resolution and the laser light engine, the LS10000 isn’t cheap; it starts around $8,000. But it’s certainly one of the best high-end projectors released this year. But what happens when the laser is kaput?
Optoma HD141X

The HD141X is at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of price, starting just north of $1,000. But don’t let the price deceive you. The HD141X is an impressive little machine. It’s equipped with a powerful light source – a 3,000-lumen bulb – which is ideal for the living room. But in Cinema Mode, the HD141X provides 1,000 lumens of brightness and super vibrant images. Another great thing: The HD141X’s replacement lamp is cheap, which keeps cost of ownership to a minimum.
BenQ W1070+

The original BenQ 1070 has been a best-selling bargain HD projector, and its successor the 1070+ which was released in 2015 offers several improvements on the fan favorite. The Plus offers improved brightness, up to 2200 lumens, MHL capability, as well as wireless connectivity. Overall, the performance is above-par, especially for a sub-$1,000 projector. Images are crisp, clear and well-saturated. If you’re looking for an entry-level theater projector, the W1070+ — or the HD141X – are some of the best options available.
Sony VPL-HW40ES

The HW40ES was released last summer, and quickly became a favorite Sony projector. The reason: It’s the most affordable projector Sony had ever released. So what’s great about the projector? For starters, it includes Sony technology that’s only been available in more expensive models, including Reality Creation, MotionFlow, and a zoom lens capability. In effect, image quality is superb. Plus, it’s extremely low noise, offers great Cinema modes, and it’s backed by a 3-year warranty.
JVC DLA-X500R

The best feature of the X500R is the e-Shift technology, which enables the 1080p projector to shift pixels to display 4K. Overall, the image quality is right up there at the top. Black levels are ultra-dark, and the contrast 60,000:1 – which jumps to 600,000:1 when the auto iris enabled – creates a level of shadow detail that’s incredible. The system also includes a zoom lens with lens shift, delivers some of the best color performance available, and the impressive build quality.
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Optoma EH341 Data Projector Review

December 4, 2015

This year, a range of data projectors have been released, but one of the best has to be the Optoma EH341. Whereas many data projectors are built in WXGA or XGA resolution, the EH341 delivers 1080p Full HD images. Compared to other similarly priced multimedia projectors, the EH341’s images are far superior, crisper and clearer.

But that’s not the only thing the EH341 gets right. It’s also extremely portable, weighing just 5.7 pounds and offers 3,500 lumens of brightness. That makes this a fierce portable projector, capable of delivering a brightness suited for small to mid-sized venues. A projector this lightweight and that delivers Full HD images and impressive brightness is certainly a step forward, and that’s precisely why this projector might be called the best budget friendly multimedia projector of the year.
A Quick Look at the EH341’s Specs
Brightness, image quality and portability: That’s what sets this projector apart from the competition. For example, comparatively priced machines released in 2015 like the BenQ MH630 doesn’t quite match the image quality or brightness of the EH341.

Image Quality: Compared to Full HD data projectors, the EH341 is one of the premier machines. Using BrilliantColor technology and high contrast, the projector delivers some of the most vibrant, razor sharp images in the class. The contrast ratio of 20,000:1 is double that of the MH630. In effect, the EH341 is one of the best projectors for data images that feature high levels of detail and crispness, like complex diagrams and long lists of data. Plus, because of its imaging, it’s probably one of the best – if not the best – for displaying 3D images.
Brightness and Portability: It’s nothing new for a projector to weigh about 5 pounds and measure about the size of a dictionary. In fact, many similarly priced data projectors have about the same size and weight. But thanks to its 3,500 lumen output and superior imaging capabilities, the EH341 is certainly one of the best for handling mid-sized venues, something lessor data projectors just can’t handle.

Optoma EH341 Rear Inputs

Of course, the projector packs in a range of other useful features that you’ll find from many 2015 releases. For example, the projector is equipped with 2 HDMI outlets, including one with MHL compatibility, and one VGA outlet. That enables a range of input devices to be connected, including tablets and smartphones.
Plus, the Eco+ technology increases standard lamp life up to 8,000 hours. That’s impressive, helping to reduce the overall cost of ownership. Additionally a built-in 10W speaker system delivers crisp audio for small to mid-sized venues.
Optoma EH341: The Final Verdict
Starting at just about $899, the EH341 is one of the best budget-friendly data projectors released in 2015. Its images are well above average and may just be the best-in-class. Plus, it carries all the capabilities that business presenters and educators need, including audio, useful connectivity, wireless options and manual zoom and focus. If you need a data projector capable for delivering finely detailed images, this is certainly the best option for you.

Optoma HD28DSE Home Theater Projector

November 25, 2015

What makes the HD28DSE different from other Optoma projectors released in 2015? For starters, the HD28 is the DARBEEVision Special Edition, hence the DSE suffix. DARBEEVision is an advanced image processing system that adds detail, clarity and saturation to images, and it’s rare for a projector of this price to be equipped with the technology.

What’s more: The HD28DSE is competitively priced for the entry-level home theater projector segment. It starts at $799, which seems middle-of-the-road in terms of pricing for feature-rich budget-friendly home theater projectors. For example, the Optoma GT1080 and the BenQ HT1085ST – both of which are best sellers in the category – cost $699 and $899 respectively and offer a similar set of features.
Finally, this Optoma delivers many of the features that are now common-place for entry-level home theater projectors: HDMI connectivity with MHL, Full HD 3D, a super long lamp life, 3,000 lumens of brightness, and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. This long list of features makes the HD28 a favorite in this hotly contested category.
Why the Optoma HD28DSE Stands Out.
The Optoma HD28 does many things right, but there are a few areas in which the projector excels where others do not. This includes:

DARBEEVision: DARBEEVision technology is designed to completely enhance images, adding additional layers of depth. For example, when DARBEEVision is engaged, shadow detail, clarity and color saturation are all enhanced, and viewers can choose which level to set the feature from 0% to 120%. This feature is especially useful for video gaming and some animated movies, as it draws out the details and boosts contrast. Yet, when used at the largest settings, DARBEEVision has been known to cause a “soap opera” effect, meaning the image looks unnatural.
Portability: Although it’s not as unique, the HD28 is a super portable projector. For starters, it weighs just 5.7 pounds. Plus, it’s equipped with horizontal and vertical keystone correction, as well as a four corners adjustment system. This enables operators to quickly adjust the image to fit the screen.

Optoma HD28DSE Inputs

Other Deciding Factors
In addition, the standard specs for the HD28 make this an attractive piece of hardware. Specs include:

3,000 Lumens ASNI Brightness
30,000:1 Contrast Ratio
4,000-, 6,000-, 8,000-hour lamp life settings
Built-in 10W speakers

Bottom line, for a home theater projector priced at $799, the HD28 provides a range of features, powerful image and color performance, and it is super portable. It is an ideal projector for home entertainment and would be at home in any living room.

Optoma H111 WXGA Multimedia Projector Projector Review

October 7, 2015

The Optoma H111 WXGA was released a little over a year ago, primarily in European and UK markets. It’s a powerful multimedia projector, which plenty of useful features and image specifications. Overall, it delivers bright images – rated at 3,200 ANSI lumens with 85 percent brightness uniformity – in WXGA widescreen resolution (1280×800).

Yet, it remains a budget-friendly business/classroom piece of hardware, and as such, the projector is limited in a few areas. For portability – one of the most important factors for business and classroom projectors – the H111 offers limited options for zoom and vertical and horizontal image correction. Fortunately, though, it weighs just 5.5 pounds, making it lightweight enough to port around from classroom to classroom. Another limitation: Advanced features like Full HD projection and WiFi connectivity are not offered with the H111.
Overall, though, the Optoma H111 delivers a large enough suite of features to make this an extremely useful multimedia projector. Images are bright, it is 3D compatible and the range of connections supports source material from just about any device. It might be a bit limited in some areas, but for the most part, the H111 delivers exactly what you’ll need for basic to intermediate presentations.

Optoma H111 WXGA Projector - Inputs — Optoma H111 WXGA Projector – Inputs

A Closer Look at the Optoma H111
From image quality to maintenance costs, the H111 looks great on paper. And with a fairly reasonable price starting north of £500, users get a lot of bang for their buck. Here are a few of the most impressive features and specs:

Brightness and Contrast: At 3,200 lumens of brightness in standard mode, the H111 is certainly a bright and capable projector. That’s bright enough to counteract ambient light. Additionally, the projector has a dynamic contrast ratio of 25,000:1, providing crisp, clear images with fine details.
Lamp Life: In standard mode, the Optoma H111 lamp achieves 3,000+ hours of operation. The maximum in economy mode is 7,000 hours, which is much higher than average. Fortunately, the H111 has a low cost of ownership; replacement lamps for the Optoma H111 start at $254. The lamp part number is also known as PAW84-2400.
Built-In Speakers: The H111 is equipped with dual speakers, which provide crisp and useable audio in small to mid-sized environments. Louder spaces, like noisy classrooms or conference halls, will likely need to connect to an external audio source.
Useful Connections: With two USB connections and an HDMI input, the Optoma H111 can handle input video and audio from a variety of devices. There are a series of PC cable inputs, as well as S-Video and RGA connections.
3D Video Ready: In small business presentations, 3D video and imaging is possible with the HD111. The biggest caveat: 3D glasses are not included with the shipped H111.

One of the biggest downfalls of the H111, though, is its inability to display Full HD content. The H111 provides video up to 1080i, which is one level below Full HD. 1080i video, though, can show motion blur. In addition, the projector has limited installation flexibility, thanks to average zoom and lens shift capabilities, as well a bare-bones suite of networking tools.

Optoma Releases the EH320UST Ultra Short Throw Projector in Europe

June 5, 2015

The throw ratios of today’s short-throw projectors continue to shrink. In fact, a new category had to be created for these projectors. They’re now called ultra-short throw projectors, and they can be placed extremely close to the screen, while still achieving a massive image. Now, it looks like Optoma might have one of the shortest throw ratio – and brightest – projectors on the market.
Optoma recently introduced the EH320 Ultra Short Throw projector, and it features some impressive specs. Here’s just what that machine is capable of: The EH320UST has a throw ratio of 0.25:1. That means the projector can cast a 100-inch screen from just 55 centimeters away. That’s less than two feet away from the screen, which makes this a great projector for businesses, schools and presenters. Essentially, the projector can be placed behind the presenter, completely eliminating the risk for shadows and obstructions.

What’s more: Optoma says at 1080p Full HD resolution and 4,000 lumens of brightness, the EH320UST is one of the brightest ultra-short-throw projectors available, and it’s one of just a few UST 1080p models on the market. That’s why it’s bound to be a favorite in the space.

The EH320UST’s Great Feature List

Originally, the EH320 was introduced at the ISE 2015, and it was a hit at the conference, thanks to the machine’s useful features. That ultra-short throw ratio is just one of many reasons why the EH320 caused a splash at ISE. Here’s a look at some other useful features:

Bright Image, 1080p Resolution: Image quality is incredible for the EH320UST. For one, in spite of the 0.25:1 throw ratio, the projector is still rated at 4,000 lumens of brightness. That’s no small feat, and Optoma claims it’s one of the brightest UST projectors. Plus, it’s one of the only UST projectors that can handle Full HD content. In addition, the Optoma has a high contrast ratio 20,000:1 for added image depth, and the machine benefits from Optoma’s advanced color production. In other words, the EH320UST casts a beautiful image from just a few feet from the screen.
Powerful Built-In Audio: The EH320UST has a 16W built-in audio system. That’s powerful enough to handle mid-sized to large spaces, and the EH320 is above average in terms of built-in audio. Other similarly priced projects fall short in this respect. This is one reason why the Optoma is a great plug-and-play option; presenters don’t have to plug in to external audio to get started.

Optoma EH320UST Rear Inputs
Built-In USB Power: USB is becoming a must-have feature, and the EH320UST has a range of USB options. One is a USB-Power port. That enables the projector to play content from an HDMI dongle, like Google Chromecast, and thus, this is a great option for watching HD video. Plus, the projector is equipped with a range of ports, making connecting to a variety of devices easier.
Long Lamp Life: In the Optoma’s energy-saving mode, the EH320 is able to achieve a lamp life of up to 6,500 hours. That’s impressive for such a bright projector, and it keeps maintenance costs low for the EH320.
TouchBeam Interactivity: The Optoma is equipped with next-generation TouchBeam tools, which enables presenters to touch the screen and draw, annotate and zoom. It’s a perfect presentation tool, and makes it easy for multiple presenters to work off the same screen at the same time. This also eliminates the need for a smart pen. The Interactive model is available as an add-on and is billed as the EH320USTi.

Where Can You Buy the Optoma EH320UST

The Optoma EH320UST will be released exclusively in Europe, and it’s will be available soon from retailers. Currently, Optoma says that it is coming soon, so you can expect to own one this fall. Pricing information hasn’t been released, but early predictions suggest it won’t be cheap. As for a North American version, Optoma hasn’t released details about availability, but it’s likely a version for the U.S. and Canada will be on the way shortly.

Projector Review: Optoma S311

May 15, 2015

If you’re on the market for a budget-friendly presentation projector, the Optoma S311 is an intriguing solution. It’s extremely affordable, starting at £229.99. The price in GBP indicates that this projector was released into the UK markets in the beginning of the production run, however a few units have made their way into North America as well after its introduction. Plus, the S311 provides tons of great functionalities, excellent data image quality, and solid construction. In terms of the bad, there isn’t much to complain about. It’s a small-price projector that packs tons of big features.

Optoma S311: The Good
From its long-lasting lamp, to a long list of standard features, the Optoma S311 provides an ideal suite of tools for presentations. The S311 is well-suited for classroom or meeting room productions, and it’s light-weight and portable, making this even better for on-the-go business meetings. Here are a few of the best features:

Bright, Long-Lasting Lamp: The S311 is equipped with a 3,200-lumen rated lamp, which delivers vibrant images even in areas that suffer from higher levels of ambient light. What’s more, the lamp has an extremely long lamp life, especially compared to similarly priced projectors. The S311 achieves a 7,000-hour lamp life in Eco+ mode; even in the standard mode the lamp performs well and is able to withstand 5,000 hours of use. Plus, Optoma boasts a suite of energy-saving features that have the potential to increase lamp life to 10,000+ hours.
Image Data Quality: Not only is the projected image from the S311 relatively bright, it’s also well contrasted and integrates vivid colors. The SVGA native resolution image (800×600) projector is aided by Optoma BrilliantColor technology, which produces vibrant, saturated coloring, and the project’s high contrast, a 20,000:1 ratio, creates images that are crisp and clear. Similar image specs are a challenge to find in this price range.
Useful Presenter Features: The S311 is a presentation tool, through and through, and it has features that are designed just for presenters. There’s the AV Mute functionality, which dims the screen and sound, to eliminate classroom distractions, and the projector also features remote control functionalities, including a remote mouse. This frees up presenters, letting them move around the room more freely.
Full 3D Support: The Optoma S311 is capable of projecting vibrant 3D images from a range of in-put sources. It’s compatible with 3D Blu-Ray and 3D Broadcasting. Plus, the S311 features a higher-than-average refresh rate of 144HZ, which improves the overall 3D performance.

Optoma S311 Projector – Inputs

Optoma S311: The Bad
The S311 does include a lot of great functionality, but it is a fairly low-cost option. That means users don’t get the full suite of features that they can expect from higher-end projectors. Fortunately, the S311 doesn’t have many pitfalls. Here’s a look at what the projector doesn’t get right:

Inadequate Audio: The S311 is equipped with a small 2W speaker. That might perform well in small classrooms and meeting halls, but it’s just not adequate enough for noisy classrooms and larger conference spaces. In addition, the projector doesn’t have an audio-out port, so for louder audio, you’ll have to synch audio with an outside source.
Limited Set-Up Flexibility: The S311 has a limited zoom ratio, just 1.1X, which compared to a number of projectors, is below-average. Plus, there is only vertical capstone correction, and the minimum projection distance is 1.2 meters. That means there’s just not a lot of space to move with this projector, and for smaller rooms, this set-up probably isn’t suited for your space. A short-throw projector would be the better option.
No USB Connectivity: The S311 does have a USB-A power port, so if you need to charge 3D glasses or a USB-connect device, you can do that. But it doesn’t have a USB input port. Presenters often prefer to save their presentations to a USB drive, and plug that directly into the projector. But that’s not possible with this Optoma.

The Optoma S311 starts at £229.99. That’s a small price to pay for a solid piece of hardware. For spacious classrooms and meeting halls, the S311 is a great choice. It’s an effective presentation tool that displays bright, high-contrast images and offers the flexibility for a wide range of in-puts. The biggest set-back is the audio, which can be overcome, and the long-throw set-up. So this isn’t the best projector for small spaces, or spaces without an audio solution. If you do have the room, though, the Optoma S311 is an affordable, high-quality choice.

4 Factors To Consider When Buying a Video Game Projector

March 13, 2015

Today’s projectors have elevated the gaming experience to all new levels. But if you’re considering purchasing a projector for video gaming, not just any projector will do.

In fact, gaming projectors hug the line between home theater projectors and business presentation projectors. That means gaming projectors need to be able to project data images and video images. Many projectors designed for “home entertainment” meet this requirement, and increasingly, there are projectors that are designed just for gamers. There are many options available today. So how can you decide? To choose the best video game projector, you need to consider resolution, brightness, refresh rate and contrast.

Native Projector Resolution

Today’s video games are becoming more and more cinematic, and that’s why resolution is so important. XGA and SVGA projectors, which were well in the classroom or for business presentations, just won’t cut it for gaming. For the best results, opt for a true HD projector, with a native 1080p resolution. This will ensure the best image quality, and the good news is Full HD gaming projectors are becoming more and more affordable. There are tons of options with 1080p native resolution, including the BenQ HT1075 and the Panasonic AR100U.

Projector Brightness

Brightness is determined on two factors: ambient light in your game room and the size of the screen you want to project. For instance, if you’re gaming room receives a fair amount of sunlight during the day, you’ll need to opt for a brighter projector. Projectors with brightness ratings of 3,000 lumens or greater would be necessary for a space with tons of natural light. If you’re in a very dark room, you can choose sometime less bright. The Optoma GT1080 is one option that provides excellent image results in a variety of settings.
Plus, screen size also helps determine the brightness you will need. One rule of thumb: Larger screen sizes require brighter projectors. So if you want a massive image – who doesn’t when gaming – you’ll need a brighter projector, especially in spaces with lots of ambient light. The largest screens of 100+ inches or greater require brighter projectors, rated at 3,000 lumens or higher. Smaller screen from 50-100 inches can be supported by a projector rated at between 1,000 and 2,000 lumens.

Projector Refresh Rate

Refresh rate – or the speed at which your projector processes video – is especially important in gaming. A better refresh rate results in more detailed, continuously flowing images. Many projectors are designed with specific gaming modes, which boost refresh rate for gaming or 3D video. As for specific refresh rates, 120Hz is a good benchmark, although the next level up 240Hz may be better suited for gaming. If the budget allows, a faster refresh rate is generally better.

Projector Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio is a measure of color contrast, and it’s important in gaming because many games have varied color ranges. That means your projector needs to handle very dark moments, as well as brighter images during game play. Projectors with lower contrast ratios won’t display images as crisply and detail may be lost in the shadows. The greater the contrast ratio, the better and brighter the image will be. For gaming, a 100,000:1 ratio or better will provide the best image results, but these projectors also cost more. Or something in the 40,000:1 contrast ratio range is another alternative.
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The 5 Top Full HD Home Theater Projectors Under $1,000

March 10, 2015

Looking for an entry-level home theater projector? You’re in luck. Just a short time ago, the budget-friendly projectors sacrificed image quality, for price. If you didn’t have the budget to pay more than $1,000 for a projector, you could expect sub-par image quality and construction.
The good news is that has changed. Today, there is a range of sub-$1,000 options that provide impressive image quality and that will completely enhance your home theater. So which budget-friendly projector should you choose? Really, it depends on what you’re looking for, but here are 5 projectors under $1,000 that provide excellent picture quality, solid construction, configuration flexibility, and competitive brightness.

BenQ HT1075 – For years, BenQ manufactured one of the most popular sub-$1,000 home theater projectors – the W1070. Finally, they released an update last year, the HT1075. For the price, the 1075 is tough to beat, especially in terms of picture quality. The HT1075 provides crisp, detailed images with a vibrant color array and strong contrast. Plus, the HT1075 incorporates vertical and horizontal lens shift, which is a useful feature during installation. The W1070, on the other hand, remains a solid option for your home theater, as well.

Benq HT1075

Features:

Native Full HD Resolution
2,200 Lumens
3D Ready, Available Wireless Connectivity
10,000:1 Contrast Ratio
Price: $799

Optoma HD26 – Optoma is a market leader in budget-friendly projectors, and the HD26 is hands-down the best option they offer that’s less than $1,000. As far as a home theater projector, the HD26 does reasonably well, providing a bright picture even in modestly lit living rooms. Plus, the HD26 has a built-in speaker – a 10-watt mono – which makes this a great, affordable “out-of-the-box” system for your home theater. The Optoma HD141X, which is a bit more affordable than the HD26, shares many of the same features, and is another great option from Optoma.

Optoma HD26

Features:

Native Full HD Resolution
3,200 Lumens
3D Ready, HDMI Connections
25,000:1 Contrast Ratio
Price: $699

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 2030 – Compared to the two previously mentioned projectors, the Epson 2030 is a LCD-based projector. So you won’t see any rainbow artifacts with the 2030 – which is one advantage. Plus, the Home Cinema 2030 is built for home entertainment – it can be used in your home theater, for gaming, or as a replacement for your TV. The biggest disadvantage: The 2030 doesn’t have lens shift, which limits your configuration options.

Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 2030

Features:

Built-in Audio
2,000 Lumens
3D Ready, HDMI Connections
Native 16:9 Aspect Ratio
Price: $799

Acer H6510BD – When it was introduced in 2013, the Acer H6510BD was one of the most affordable 3D-ready projectors on the market. Now, the space is a bit more crowded, and prices on a few better performing models have dropped. Overall, the Acer performs reasonably well. The picture quality is vibrant in rooms with ambient light, but in theaters, the Acer is prone to showing rainbow artifacts.

Acer H6510BD

Features:

Full HD, 3D Ready
3,000 Lumens
HDMI Connections
10,000:1 Contrast Ratio
Price: $699

5. LG PF85U – The LG PF85U might be the best replacement for your TV. LG bills this as a LED Smart Projector, which means it has a built-in smart TV. The LG PF85U can connect easily to web-based viewing sites like Hulu or Netflix. Also, the projector has a reasonably loud stereo sound system built-in. Where the LG falls short is in image quality. Overall, in dimly lit rooms, the LG performs well, but when more light is present, you’re likely to experience washed-out colors and less detailed images. Also, the LG isn’t 3D ready and there aren’t zoom capabilities, which are two other disadvantages.

Features:

Built-in Audio
1,000 Lumens
HDMI Connections
Extended-life LED lamp
Price: $999

If you’re planning a home theater on the cheap, you have options available to you that will enhance your home theater. Is there a clear winner? The BenQ HT1075 is one of our favorites, but depending on the features you’re looking for, all five of these projectors offer something a little different. Plus, they’re all affordable and perform well.

Best Home Theater Projectors of 2014

February 24, 2015

Last year, A/V enthusiasts had a lot to be excited about. Many of the biggest players in the projector game released updated versions of many of their best-selling models, like the BenQ HT1075, which replaced the ever-popular W1070. Plus, more and more 4K projectors are being released, and the prices, while still expensive, continue a slow march downward. We looked at some HD projectors that were released in 2014 (and one at the end of 2013) and picked 5 of my favorites, based on image quality, available features and more. These are a few of the best home theater projectors:

Epson Home Cinema 5030UB

Technically, the Epson 5030UB was released at the tail-end of 2013, but it made the most waves in 2014. The 5030UB is a higher-end projector from Epson, starting at $2299, but it’s worth the price. Rated at 2400 lumens, the projector is more than bright enough for light-controlled rooms, and can even deliver in moderately lit rooms.
Plus, the image quality is spectacular. The contrast ratio has been doubled from previous versions, up to 600,000:1, while color accuracy and shadow detail are impressive. Specs include:

•Full HD 1080p

•1x Zoom Ratio

•Classic Black-and-White Cinema Mode

•3D ready with two pairs of 3D glasses

BenQ HT1075

If you’ve shopped for a budget home theater projector, you’re probably aware of the HT1075’s predecessor, the W1070. That’s been one of the most popular projectors in recent memory. The updated HT1075 doesn’t pack in a variety of new features, but, true to the W1070, it’s one of the best budget projectors released in 2014. Specs include:

•Full HD with 3D

•2,200 Lumens

•10,000:1 Contrast Ratio

•New Mobile Hi-Definition Link (MHL) Support

•A Redesigned Menu

Sony VPL HW600ES

The Sony VPL HW600ES takes an exciting step forward; it’s a native 4K Ultra HD projector, taking image quality to all new heights. Although, the Sony VPL is expensive, starting at more than $14,000, it’s one of the more reasonably priced 4K projectors. The biggest difference, of course, is resolution; 4K projectors pack in four times the pixels in each image. For non-4K content, the pixel rate is upgraded to 3840×2160; so even non-4K content benefits. That translates to some of the most impressive detail available, even as you move further from the screen. Specs include:

•200,000:1 Contrast Ratio

•1700 Lumens

•Ultra HD, Full HD 3D

•Automatic calibration

Lens shift and zoom

Optoma HD26

For a sub-$1,000 projector, the Optoma HD26 is one of the brightest. It’s rated at 3,200 lumens, providing bright, saturated colors, and really, for the price, it’s a contender for best image quality. There aren’t many projectors this affordable that are as bright. One point: There is a slight rainbow effect on black-and-white images. But for the price, the image quality is pretty impressive. Specs include:

•3,200 lumens

•Full HD 3D

•5,000-hour lamp life

•MHL support

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3000

The Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3000 is the long-awaited update to the Epson 8350, and for those who waited, there are new features to be excited about. This is an entry-level 3LCD projector, starting at roughly $1,200, and it offers advantages over less expensive projectors. For instance, Cinema Mode features a bright 1,700 lumen picture with impressive color accuracy and saturation. Specs include:

•Full HD 3D

•2 pairs of 3D glasses

•Vertical and horizontal lens shift

•3,500-hour lamp life

•60,000:1 contrast ratio

•2,300 lumens

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Epson Home Cinema 5030UB

BenQ HT1075

Sony VPL HW600ES

Optoma HD26

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 3000