Optoma HD131XE Projector – Image Quality Posted on December 16, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Review: Optoma HD131Xe Projector - Optoma HD131xe Projector - Introduction - Is the Optoma HD131Xe Home Projector For You? - Optoma HD131Xe Highlights2. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Special Features - Dynamic Black - Long Lamp Life - Variable Brilliant Color3. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Special Features 2 - 3D Performance - HD131Xe Projector - HD131Xe Projector: Audio4. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Hardware Tour - Optoma HD131Xe Appearance and Layout - Zoom Control And The Control Panel - HD131Xe Projector User Guide5. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Hardware Tour 2 - Optoma HD131Xe Menus - Inputs and Connectors - Back of HD131Xe Projector - HD131Xe Remote Control - HD131Xe Lens Throw, Lens Shift6. Optoma HD131XE Projector – Image Quality - Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones - Black Levels - Black Levels and Dark Shadow Detail Image7. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Image Quality 2 - Dark Shadow Detail - Overall Color and Picture Quality - Room Lighting Conditions8. Optoma HD131Xe Projector: HDTV and Sports - HD131Xe Handling Hi-Def Sports with NFL Content - HD131Xe Projector Handling General HDTV Content - Low Ambient Light9. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance - Optoma HD131Xe Brightness Measurements - Brightness of HD131Xe - Calibrated - Brilliant Color - Affect on Brightness and Picture - Post Calibration Color Temperature10. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance 2 - Affect of Zoom Lens on Brightness - Sharpness of HD131Xe Projector - Additional Images Relating to Sharpness - Image Noise - Noise Showing Up in Skin Tones11. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Warranty - Optoma HD131Xe One Year Limited Warranty12. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Calibration Settings - Optoma HD131Xe Basic Picture Settings - Optoma HD131Xe settings for Grayscale Balance - Pre, Post Calibration Results: HD131Xe Projector13. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - About this Calibration Information - Color Management Settings - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)14. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Summary - HD131Xe Projector: Summary - Picture Quality - Projector Brightness - Gaming with the HD131Xe Projector15. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Pros and Cons - HD131XE Projector - Pros - HD131XE Projector - Cons16. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Specifications OPTOMA HD131XE PROJECTOR: PICTURE QUALITY 1 Out of the Box Picture QualityMost of the modes are pretty watchable, however, none are really very accurate. There’s a tendency to too much red in faces, although that tends not to show up on very pale faces, such as Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games. On some of the Bond images, faces have more of a slight green yellow, than red. I can’t quite get a handle on the whys, but let’s say that it didnt calibrate well, so different things happen in different brightness ranges. In most modes blue skies take on a blue-green color, not looking really believable, but some of the modes are better than others. Overall, none of the preset modes looks better than the others on all content. This is going to be a “use which ever one looks best to you. Greens can be on the strong side. In this image, Charlie Rose’s skin tones look a little off. Click Image to EnlargeSkin Tones Skin tones sometimes look good, sometimes do not, at least from my experience. That’s true not only of Mike’s calibration efforts, placed in User, but also the default modes. Unless someone else has better luck calibrating this projector (without “hacking” into the service menu, which should void the warranty, that is). The key thing here, is that if you do want great, on the money color accuracy, this probably isn’t your first choice in the under $1000 range. I’d tend to lean toward the BenQ W1070, or one of the Epsons, but each has strengths, for example, the BenQ will calibrate better but not match the black levels of this Optoma. Ditto for the Epson. The initial feedback from several owners is that they are generally pleased. And the folks on the forums are trying all kinds of settings to improve the picture. We have Mike’s recommendations here, plus different settings listed as a comment on our short “First Look” review about this HD131Xe, that I posted a few days before this full length review. Black LevelsBlack Level Images From Iron Man 2 Very respectable black level performance translates to a dynamic looking scene Better Blacks The Optoma (left) with intentional ambient light, does better blacks than the Epson HC2030 From Spiderman A very dark scene, the HD131Xe handles this shot well Optoma vs. Epson HC2030 - Black Levels This is a repeated image, that demonstrates that this Optoma beats the Epson 2030 at blacks but not dark shadow detail Black Levels and Dark Shadow Detail Image Here’s a closer look at this very dark night scene from The Hunger Games. Even the brightest parts of their faces are still relatively dim, and only look bright here because this image is intentionally, significantly overexposed so that you can make out the letterbox, and the darkest details. All considered black levels is the one area where the HD131Xe really excels compared to the competition, which includes assorted projectors from Acer, Epson, Viewsonic, Vivitek and others. The comparison with the Epson above, gives you an idea of the extra pop dark scenes have when black levels are better, but often, better blacks also come with not quite as good dark shadow detail On this image look for the darkest shadow detail in the dark almost circular area just left of center and going from the bottom of the screen to the angled log above. You can also back and look at the comparison between this Optoma and the Epson on the side by side image above. 1. Review: Optoma HD131Xe Projector - Optoma HD131xe Projector - Introduction - Is the Optoma HD131Xe Home Projector For You? - Optoma HD131Xe Highlights2. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Special Features - Dynamic Black - Long Lamp Life - Variable Brilliant Color3. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Special Features 2 - 3D Performance - HD131Xe Projector - HD131Xe Projector: Audio4. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Hardware Tour - Optoma HD131Xe Appearance and Layout - Zoom Control And The Control Panel - HD131Xe Projector User Guide5. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Hardware Tour 2 - Optoma HD131Xe Menus - Inputs and Connectors - Back of HD131Xe Projector - HD131Xe Remote Control - HD131Xe Lens Throw, Lens Shift6. Optoma HD131XE Projector – Image Quality - Out of the Box Picture Quality - Skin Tones - Black Levels - Black Levels and Dark Shadow Detail Image7. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Image Quality 2 - Dark Shadow Detail - Overall Color and Picture Quality - Room Lighting Conditions8. Optoma HD131Xe Projector: HDTV and Sports - HD131Xe Handling Hi-Def Sports with NFL Content - HD131Xe Projector Handling General HDTV Content - Low Ambient Light9. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance - Optoma HD131Xe Brightness Measurements - Brightness of HD131Xe - Calibrated - Brilliant Color - Affect on Brightness and Picture - Post Calibration Color Temperature10. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance 2 - Affect of Zoom Lens on Brightness - Sharpness of HD131Xe Projector - Additional Images Relating to Sharpness - Image Noise - Noise Showing Up in Skin Tones11. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Warranty - Optoma HD131Xe One Year Limited Warranty12. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Calibration Settings - Optoma HD131Xe Basic Picture Settings - Optoma HD131Xe settings for Grayscale Balance - Pre, Post Calibration Results: HD131Xe Projector13. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - About this Calibration Information - Color Management Settings - CMS Calibration Notes - Calibration Charts (Before and After)14. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Summary - HD131Xe Projector: Summary - Picture Quality - Projector Brightness - Gaming with the HD131Xe Projector15. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Pros and Cons - HD131XE Projector - Pros - HD131XE Projector - Cons16. Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Specifications Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Hardware Tour 2 Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Image Quality 2