Comments on: October and November Home Theater Projector Reviews Scheduled

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:29:27 +0000

HI Barry,

Sorry, haven’t reviewed an Optoma TX series in about 3 years. I just don’t know that much about that projector. At a different time, I just might have done some research before answering, but, I’m slammed. I do know this: It’s a “crossover” projector – a compromise between a bright biz projector and a home theater projector. It should have lots of lumens (3600 rated). It probably has a slower color filter wheel, and possibly fewer segments than most dlp HT projectors, if previous crossover Optoma and BenQ’s are any example. (without looking, probably 2x or 3x. That means for those sensitive, a lot more rainbow issues than pure home theater dlp projectors.

Black level performance should be very 2005 – no dynamic iris, just the usual 2000:1 – 2500:1 contrast found on most older DLP projectors without irises. (they claim 2200:1).

Need a light canon for football, the TX should be dandy. As a movie viewing projector, hey, it is inherently a “compromise” product. 10′s of thousands of folks, though, have brought home business projectors for movie and sports viewing. It’s right up there with most of those.

One last thing. Biz DLP projectors usually have pretty mediocre color handling in their brighter modes (far worse than any home theater projector). In such cases, there’s usually a “video” or “movie” or similarly labeled mode, that will perform much better, but, experience has it that those DLP projectors usually only put out 40% – 60% of the brightness in their best modes, that they do at brightest. The last such projector I reviewed, I compared to an Epson. Basically I found that while that projector’s best mode, was as bright, or brighter than that Epson’s “brightest mode”, the Epson, in it’s brightest mode still had better black levels and (post calibration) better color, than the “crossover” DLP. Hope that helps! -art

Last very bright crossover I reviewed was the

By: Barry Fabyan

Barry Fabyan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:43:32 +0000

Art,

I have researched and reviewed for months and months and love your work. I have a connection to get an Optoma TX 1080 at a good price but I have not been able to locate reviews on this and did not think that you had reviewed it either.

Can you tell me where it ranks in the hierarchy or provide any insight? i sure would appreciate any information you could provide.

Sincerely,

Barry

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:58:29 +0000

Thanks for the reply Art, really appreciate your work

Robert

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:57:35 +0000

Hmm, not sure about the 8100. The full review is posted. I only think I’ll need to take a second look on that one, if they have changed the color tables, which would in turn require us to recalibrate, so that the settings we publish reflect the final color tables. I point that out, because, other than some changes to the light “engine”, this is primarily the same projector as the older 6100 it replaces. The case, the overall brightness, the lamp specs, are all basically the same. (Actually “brightest” mode brightness is down with the newer Epson’s but that seems to be in exchange for much better color. To get good color for sports, HDTV last year, we had to knock the brightness of the Epson’s Dynamic or Livingroom modes down a good deal. This year, the lumens are already down, but the color is even better. Fair enough. -art

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:39:03 +0000

I know your a busy guy Art, and i’m not the only thankful reader, great job!. My question is are you going to update the Epson HC8100 fist lookwith a production unit as a review? Thanks again.

Robert

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:45 +0000

Two DI modes on the 8600 – Cinema 1, and Cinema 2. Forget cinema 2, it seems like you can actually see the iris work, that is when it closes down it’s almost if it’s visible, that the iris is creating a shadow. Nasty. Cinema 1, is a fairly typical but slower than average iris. It allows more “yo-yo” effect that most other “non-fast” irises. Watchable, but noticeable. Need to do more viewing of it. -art

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:15:02 +0000

Hey Art,

Could you send me a quick “first look” on the Optoma 8600 compared to the Optoma 8200?
Namely, how’s the Dynamic Iris?

Thanks,
scott

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:55:58 +0000

Arrgh! wrote a long response and deleted it by mistake. OK, the short version. Don’t expect the competitors page for the Sony, until I review both the Epson UB, and the PT-AE4000, so figure 3-4 weeks. Meantime, the only similarly priced good projector I’ve reviewed, is the BenQ W6000, and I’ve written up a paragraph about the W6000 vs. HW15, in the W6000′s competitors page: http://www.projectorreviews.com/benq/w6000/competitors.php Hang in there! – Guten abend! -art

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:42:33 +0000

Yeah, it’s tomorrow, but I spent most of it answering the comment above! Later my friend, later. -art

By: Matthieu

Matthieu — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:30:58 +0000

Is it tomorrow already???