Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance 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 PERFORMANCE: BRIGHTNESS, COLOR TEMPERATURE PRE-POST CALIBRATION Optoma HD131Xe Brightness Measurements Brightness (and Color Temp) by Mode, Pre-Calibration Mode Lumens Color Temp Cinema 1123 6734 Reference 852 6734 Photo 1247 8067 Bright 1653 6787 User Same as starting mode Same as… Overall, Brilliant Color is the dominating control in terms of brightness. Of the default modes, those that are brighter, have Brilliant Color set to 10 (a little “over the top”), while some others like Cinema, are set lower (5). But, none of the Optoma’s modes are set with really low numbers such as Brilliant Color off, or at 1 or 2. I’ve started off with our usual table showing the measured brightness of each mode, and the color temp of white (100 IRE) in that mode. Note that white (100 IRE) is mostly in the 6700K range, just a tad higher than the ideal 6500K target for movies and HDTV. The one exception is Photo, which is much cooler – stronger blues. It’s not, therefore the color temp itself, that relates to the less than stellar color, but the balance of the Red, Green, and Blue, and also to the inaccuracies of some of the individual colors. Un-calibrated: User Mode, based on Bright, Brilliant Color at 10 Mode Lumens User – Full Power 1653 User – Eco Mode 1331 Interesting that Eco mode is only 20% less bright than full power, especially since Optoma claims that the lamp life increases to 6000 hours (in Eco) from 3500 at Full power. To see that type of jump in life, typically eco-modes are at least 30% lower than full power. So it may be that there may be some smart factors added in eco mode, to help stretch lamp life. For perspective, even 1331 lumens is handily enough brightness for a typical 150″ diagonal screen, should filling a large screen or open wall be your thing! Remember, to fill a 100″ typical screen in a fully darkened room about 400 lumens is all you need, so all this horsepower, is good for bigger screens or more ambient light. Brightness of HD131Xe - CalibratedJust one number here: Calibrated Brightness: User Mode: 1591 Lumens As noted previously Mike calibrated the projector starting with Bright mode, which he claims is as well balanced as any other. To achieve this measurement, Brilliant Color was set to maximum (10), and lamp set to Full power. With few exceptions 1500 to 2200 measured lumens is about as bright as any of the current home entertainment projectors measure. (Again, we don’t measure searching for maximum lumens, but maximum watchable lumens.) Now I have written a lot about the picture quality, and the color inaccuracies of this Optoma projector, and as I’ve said, I’ve viewed mostly as Mike recommended, with Brilliant Color set to 10, but last evening, I put on the movie Red, and spent time playing with Brilliant Color settings: Brilliant Color - Affect on Brightness and Picture Brilliant Color – Affect On Brightness (Bright mode) Brilliant Color Setting Brightness 10 (maximum) 1653 lumens 5 1154 lumens 1 (minimum setting) but still on 759 lumens As you can see from the numbers above, Brilliant Color has a huge affect on the brightness of this projector. Most likely, if Brilliant Color is turned off, the brightness is even a bit lower than the 1 setting. The thing is, Brilliant Color isn’t just about brightness, it affects picture quality. In some ways it reminds me of those fancy “dynamic detail enhancement” solutions found on much more expensive projectors, but it’s apparently not as smart. BC does take a serious toll on the naturalness of the image especially when at or near the maximum setting. That said, I’m talking purist/enthusiast perspective. To the less critical, a high Brilliant Color setting translates more to “more pop, more wow factor”, rather than noticing that a skin tone isn’t as natural. If you decide, after your first projector to really get into the quest for a great picture, you’ll be looking for that much more accurate color, and more naturalness. For most first projector owners, though, this is fine, and you’ll probably prefer Brilliant Color cranked up. That said, back to Red – the movie. I watched a chunk of it with Brilliant Color set to 10, and then another 20 minutes or so, set to the default Brilliant Color setting for Cinema (6). Boy I preferred that lower setting. I noticed the drop off of brightness, but I didn’t’ need it. I can definitely recommend that if you want a more natural image, especially faces, dial down the Brilliant Color, assuming you can afford the drop in brightness. Brilliant Color provides all that extra brightness and pop, to help you cut through ambient light. In a more controlled situation, you don’t need that extra pop, nor, the brightness, so why not enjoy a better picture. Check it out. What I appreciated though was the faces were less contrasty, less likely to get blown out a bit on an very bright scene, such as a face in sunlight. Remember, if you buy a HD131Xe, it’s your projector. Watch it the way you enjoy it, rather than how you “are supposed to.” Post Calibration Color Temperature Calibrated Color Temperature Across The IRE Range IRE (100 = White) Color Temp 100 6515K 90 6445K 80 6475K 70 6503K 60 6483K 50 6429K 40 6492K 30 6549K 20 6429K Gamma, Calibrated, with Brilliant Color on 10 is a virtually dead on the money: 2.19 (2.20 is the target for movie viewing) Now a quick look at this table shows that the color temperature, post calibration very nicely stays very close to the targeted 6500K. That indicates that the color issues we discuss are coming from elsewhere, specifically, the accuracy of individual colors. Mike however, reported that when in the color management system to adjust those color attributes, that there wasn’t enough range in the controls to be able to get the ideal settings. More on this on the calibration page. 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: HDTV and Sports Optoma HD131Xe Projector – Performance 2