Optoma HD806 Projector Review-2 Posted on December 15, 2008 By Art Feierman 1. Optoma HD806 Projector Review - Optoma HD806 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD806 Projector Review-2 - HD806 Projector Highlights - Specs for Optoma HD806 - Special Features - Color Wheel and Lamp3. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour - Optoma HD806 Physical Appearance - HD806 Projector - Control Panel - Optoma HD806 Inputs and Outputs4. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour-2 - Optoma HD806 Menus - Optoma HD806 Remote Control5. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour-3 - HD806 Lens Throw - HD806 Lens Shift - HD806 Anamorphic Lens6. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality - HD806 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones7. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-2 - HD806 Black Levels & Shadow Detail8. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-3 - Shadow Detail Performance9. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-410. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-511. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-612. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-713. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-8 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD806 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports14. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-915. Optoma HD806 – Performance - Optoma HD806 Brightness - Sharpness16. Optoma HD806 – Performance-217. Optoma HD806 – Performance-3 - Optoma HD806: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage18. Optoma HD806 – Performance-4 - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Optoma HD806 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD806 Color Temperature - Optoma HD806 Basic Settings - Optoma HD806 Post Calibration Grayscale20. Optoma HD806 Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - RGB Settings21. Optoma HD806 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD806 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Optoma HD8000 Projector Specifications23. Optoma HD806 – Competitors - HD806 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB - Optoma HD806 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Optoma HD806 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z70024. Optoma HD806 – Competitors-2 - Optoma HD806 vs. BenQ W5000 - Optoma HD806 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100 - HD806 vs. InFocus IN82 - Optoma HD806 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300025. Optoma HD806 – Warranty26. Optoma HD806 – Review Summary - Optoma HD806 Projector - The Bottom Line - Optoma HD806 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities27. Optoma HD806 – Review Summary-2 - Optoma HD806 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD806 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD806 Projector: Typical Capabilities28. Optoma HD8000 Projector Specifications HD806 Projector Highlights Brightest of all affordable 1080p projectors when in “best” mode Combines brightness with very good overall picture quality Sharp image Limited placement flexibility (typical of DLP projectors) Click to enlarge. SO close Compact, good looking design On the noisy side, in terms of audible fan noise 2x color wheel increases chances that some will see the rainbow effect Commercial and business, as well as home theater applications Very good price performance Click Image to EnlargeSpecs for Optoma HD806Click to enlarge. SO close MSRP: $5199, MAP (minimum advertised price): $2599, but lower prices easily found Technology: DLP Darkchip2 Native Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080) Brightness:2000 lumens Contrast: 8,000:1 Zoom Lens ratio: 1.2:1 Lens shift: None Lamp life: 3000 hours in eco-mode, 2000 hours at full power Weight: 10 lbs. (4.5 Kg) Warranty: 1 Year Parts and Labor Click Image to EnlargeSpecial FeaturesJust about every home theater projector has a special feature or two. The HD806 projector has full HDMI 1.3 support, although you will find that on most new projectors. Color Wheel and LampClick to enlarge. SO close Optoma, in order to deliver an extremely bright home theater projector, uses a six segment, 2x speed, color wheel, and a 300 watt lamp. The color wheel, and 2x speed, is the first trick in getting more lumens out. The 300 watt lamp is brighter than most DLP projectors. The vast majority of them use either a 200 watt or 250 watt lamp. The 300 watt lamp will suck more energy, so you’ll run a slightly higher energy bill than with most other projectors, but that shouldn’t be a big thing, in the grand scheme. The other Optomas, with the seven segment wheels, add a dark green segment to help produce slightly better color accuracy. The other trade off is that the 2x wheel will have more folks seeing the rainbow effect than they would with the typical 4x and 5x wheels used on most 1080p DLP projectors. Keep in mind, though, that Optoma sees this as a bright projector, great for family rooms and also commercial installations such as sports bars, or even conference rooms where a wide screen projector is needed. On content that lacks really dark scenes (such as sports), even those of us who are rainbow sensitive, don’t see them. Rainbows are most detectable on dark scenes with fast moving bright white (or near white) objects. Those bright moving objects on dark scenes are where you tend to see the rainbow flashes. I doubt anyone would ever see one on a football game. Click Image to Enlarge 1. Optoma HD806 Projector Review - Optoma HD806 Projector Overview2. Optoma HD806 Projector Review-2 - HD806 Projector Highlights - Specs for Optoma HD806 - Special Features - Color Wheel and Lamp3. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour - Optoma HD806 Physical Appearance - HD806 Projector - Control Panel - Optoma HD806 Inputs and Outputs4. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour-2 - Optoma HD806 Menus - Optoma HD806 Remote Control5. Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour-3 - HD806 Lens Throw - HD806 Lens Shift - HD806 Anamorphic Lens6. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality - HD806 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones7. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-2 - HD806 Black Levels & Shadow Detail8. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-3 - Shadow Detail Performance9. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-410. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-511. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-612. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-713. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-8 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Optoma HD806 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports14. Optoma HD806 Projector – Image Quality-915. Optoma HD806 – Performance - Optoma HD806 Brightness - Sharpness16. Optoma HD806 – Performance-217. Optoma HD806 – Performance-3 - Optoma HD806: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage18. Optoma HD806 – Performance-4 - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Optoma HD806 Projector Calibration and Settings - Optoma HD806 Color Temperature - Optoma HD806 Basic Settings - Optoma HD806 Post Calibration Grayscale20. Optoma HD806 Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - RGB Settings21. Optoma HD806 – Projector Screens - Optoma HD806 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Optoma HD8000 Projector Specifications23. Optoma HD806 – Competitors - HD806 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB - Optoma HD806 vs. Mitsubishi HC5500 - Optoma HD806 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z70024. Optoma HD806 – Competitors-2 - Optoma HD806 vs. BenQ W5000 - Optoma HD806 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6100 - HD806 vs. InFocus IN82 - Optoma HD806 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300025. Optoma HD806 – Warranty26. Optoma HD806 – Review Summary - Optoma HD806 Projector - The Bottom Line - Optoma HD806 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities27. Optoma HD806 – Review Summary-2 - Optoma HD806 Projector: Pros - Optoma HD806 Projector: Cons - Optoma HD806 Projector: Typical Capabilities28. Optoma HD8000 Projector Specifications Optoma HD806 Projector Review Optoma HD806 – Physical Tour