12/1/2006 Optoma's new HD81, their 1080p DLP home theater projector is enroute for review. Here's an overview:

Update: 12/21/06: The HD81 review is posted.

I got a very good look at the HD81 at the CEDIA. Optoma had it in a fully darkened theater and was continuously running Phantom of the Opera in Hi-Def, using an anamorphic lens to show the movie in the full Cinemascope, on a 2.35:1 screen (the shape of most original movies). The bottom line was a truly impressive looking picture. I look forward to running the Optoma HD81 home theater projector through its paces.

For those of you who will be considering the HD81, I should point out that I will have it here, at the same time, as the BenQ W10000 home theater projector, which would probably have to be considered the HD81's closest competition. That should be very interesting! On paper, the HD81 is a touch brighter, and the W10000 has the advantage of vertical lens shift. But, back to the HD81.

Here's the basic information on the HD81 home theater projector.

MSRP: $9995, MAP (minimum advertised price): $6995
Technology: Single chip DLP Darkchip3, 1080p resolution (1920x1080)
Lens: 1.2:1 zoom (manual)
Lens shift: None
Brightness: 1400 lumens
Contrast: 10000:1
Click for more specs

Optional - a motorized anamorphic lens

Special note: The HD81 home theater projector is a two piece system. Optoma chose to go with an outboard processor to handle most of the electronics. This places the processor with your other A/V equipment. Plug in your cable/satellite, DVD players, video games and more, into the processor box (which has extensive inputs including 3 HDMI's - more than any other projector in it's price range so far). A single digital cable then connects the processor box to the projector. (This obviously simplifies wiring, and saves a lot on installation cost.) The processing electronics are from Gennum, a company with a great reputation, which includes providing the processing for higher priced projectors including Marantz.

Since placement flexibility is limited by the lack of lens shift and minimal range zoom lens, most people with ceiling mount the HD81 home theater projector.

It appears that in the 1080p home theater projector marketplace, we once again find that the DLP projectors are pricier than the LCD competition, with the HD81 selling for a couple thousand dollars more than the lower cost Panasonic PT-AE1000U and Mitsubishi HC5000, (as well as the LCOS powered Sony (SXRD).

In our review we will consider how the HD81, as the most expensive of the group, stacks up, and provide our opinion as to what type of viewers will find the Optoma HD81 home theater projectorto be the best choice for them.

As soon as the HD81 review is posted, you will be able to link to it from this projector news article, or find the review on the homepage of our site.

Stay tuned - art