Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 4 Posted on July 16, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. Optoma HD23 Home Theater Projector Review - Optoma HD23 Projector Highlights - Optoma HD23 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD23 Special Features - HD23 Superwide - HD23 Lamp Life - 1.2:1 Zoom Lens - HD23 ImageAI3. Optoma HD23 Projector – Physical Tour - Optoma HD23 Projector - Appearance - HD23 Control Panel - HD23 Projector - Input/Output4. Optoma HD23 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - HD23 Menus - Optoma HD23 Remote Control - Optoma HD23 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen5. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality - Optoma HD23 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD23 Projector - Flesh Tones6. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Optoma HD23 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD23 Projector - Bottom Line7. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Optoma HD23 - Overall Color & Picture Quality8. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Optoma HD23 Projector: HDTV and Sports Viewing - Optoma HD23 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports9. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance - Optoma HD23 Brightness - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 713 lumens - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Bright mode)10. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 2 - Comparing Image Modes11. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 3 - Optoma HD23 Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Optoma HD23: Bottom Line Sharpness12. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 4 - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise13. Optoma HD23 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD23 Color Temperature - Optoma HD23 Basic Settings14. Optoma HD23 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Optoma HD23 Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - HD23 RGB Settings15. Optoma HD23 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD23 Projector Screen Recommendations16. Optoma HD23 Projector – Warranty - Optoma HD23 Projector - Warranty17. Optoma HD23 – Review Summary - Optoma HD23 Projector - The Bottom Line - The Very Bottom Line on the HD23 projector - Optoma HD23 Projector: Pros and Cons - Optoma HD23 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD23 Projector: Cons18. Optoma HD23 – Full Specifications Light LeakageTsk, Tsk! The front grill of the projector leaks a fair amount of light for a home projector. It’s mostly off to the front right. In a really dark room, with a dark scene, you can spot it. For the typical use of this projector, I don’t see it as anything to be concerned about. After additional consideration, I have to admit the light leak lights up the front of the projector in a colorful (reds orange and white), and impressive way. Gives the projector some real character. Image NoiseI’d say the HD23 has typical DLP levels of mosquito noise – your basic background noise. And that seems to be a touch more than projectors using the other technologies. We’ve been living with this since the start of home theater projectors. The tendency of a bit more background noise hasn’t dampened the enthuisasm for DLP projectors in general. Video panning is pretty good. In general Optoma projectors do very well on the Silicon Optix test disc. Audible NoiseIt’s definitely not quiet at full power. Small single chip DLP projectors tend to be a bit noisy. At full power, the Optoma HD23 has to be considered one of the noisier around. Part of the trade-off is the HD23 projector’s very small size. Larger projectors have more room to baffle the sound. In other words, this HD23 is fairly typical for projectors in this price range, even if there are dramatically quieter projectors at 3 times the price. Perhaps we should say that audible noise is one of the things (not the key difference) that separates home theater projectors from home entertainment projectors. I observed that there was a whine that varied in intensity, and at times, rose to be heard above the fan noise. Even so, if you’re watching sports, or most TV, you probably won’t notice unless you are sitting real close. It’s no louder than my PS3 when it feels it needs to cool down. The good news: Drop lamp to low setting and the projector is reasonably quiet. The pitch is low and you have to get close and listen to hear any whine. Back to my PS3, vs. my PS3. When you are in Standard (low power) on the HD23, and that same PS3 kicks it’s fan up, the PS3 easily drowns out the HD23, even though the PS3’s 10 feet from my seat, and the HD23 is less than 4. In other words, don’t sweat it. For most viewing, you should find high power to be fine. If you are watching the kind of soft spoken movie with lots of very quiet scenes, and you notice the projector, try low power! 1. Optoma HD23 Home Theater Projector Review - Optoma HD23 Projector Highlights - Optoma HD23 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD23 Special Features - HD23 Superwide - HD23 Lamp Life - 1.2:1 Zoom Lens - HD23 ImageAI3. Optoma HD23 Projector – Physical Tour - Optoma HD23 Projector - Appearance - HD23 Control Panel - HD23 Projector - Input/Output4. Optoma HD23 Projector – Physical Tour 2 - HD23 Menus - Optoma HD23 Remote Control - Optoma HD23 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen5. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality - Optoma HD23 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Optoma HD23 Projector - Flesh Tones6. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 2 - Optoma HD23 Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance - Shadow Detail Comparison - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: HD23 Projector - Bottom Line7. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 3 - Optoma HD23 - Overall Color & Picture Quality8. Optoma HD23 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Optoma HD23 Projector: HDTV and Sports Viewing - Optoma HD23 Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV Sports9. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance - Optoma HD23 Brightness - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 713 lumens - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Bright mode)10. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 2 - Comparing Image Modes11. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 3 - Optoma HD23 Sharpness - Sharpness Comparison Images - Optoma HD23: Bottom Line Sharpness12. Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 4 - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise13. Optoma HD23 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD23 Color Temperature - Optoma HD23 Basic Settings14. Optoma HD23 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Optoma HD23 Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - HD23 RGB Settings15. Optoma HD23 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD23 Projector Screen Recommendations16. Optoma HD23 Projector – Warranty - Optoma HD23 Projector - Warranty17. Optoma HD23 – Review Summary - Optoma HD23 Projector - The Bottom Line - The Very Bottom Line on the HD23 projector - Optoma HD23 Projector: Pros and Cons - Optoma HD23 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD23 Projector: Cons18. Optoma HD23 – Full Specifications Optoma HD23 Projector – Performance 3 Optoma HD23 Projector Calibration and Settings