Optoma HD20 DLP Video Projector - Review

At an MSRP of $999 the Optoma HD20 DLP Projector is a great value. With its stylish design this projector is compatible with almost any decor. With its 1920x1080 (1080p) native pixel resolution and it 1,700 lumen output capability, the video quality is very good for the price. Good flesh tones and color saturation produce a natural looking image. Another bonus is that the HD20 has a very quick turn-on and cool down shut off time. I found the Optoma HD20 to be a very good performing and easy-to-use video projector. After reading this review, check out my additional Photo Gallery and Video Performance Tests.

DLP stands for Digital Light Processing.

DLP is a video projection technology, developed by Texas Instruments, that utilizes a chip, referred to as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). Every pixel on a DMD chip is a reflective mirror.

The video image is displayed on the DMD chip. The micromirrors on the chip (remember: each micromirror represents one pixel) then tilt very rapidly as the image changes.

This process produces the grayscale foundation for the image. Then, in a single chip DLP projector, such as Optoma HD20, color is added as light passes through a high-speed color wheel and is reflected off of the micromirrors on the DLP chip as they rapidly tilt towards or away from the light source. The degree of tilt of each micromirror coupled with the rapidly spinning color wheel determines the color structure of the projected image. As the amplified light bounces off the micromirrors, it is sent through the lens and can be projected on a large screen.

In more advanced, and much more expensive, DLP projection systems, such as digital projection systems that may be used in your local movie theater, use a 3-Chip design (one chip for Red, one chip for Green, and one Chip for Blue). In these systems, the spinning color wheel is not required.

Product Overview

The features of the Optoma HD20 include:

1. DLP Video Projector with 1,700 Lumens of light output and 1920x1080 (1080p) Native Pixel Resolution.

2. Image size range: 37.6 to 301.1 inches - adds flexibility for both small and large screen sizes and room environments.

3. Projection Distance: 4.92 feet to 32.8 feet.

4. Native 16x9 Screen Aspect Ratio. The HD20 can also accommodate standard 4x3 aspect ratio sources. The 16x9 aspect ratio is desirable for widescreen films and HD sources. The aspect ratio can be adjusted to 4x3 for projection of material shot in the 4x3 format.

5. 4000:1 Contrast Ratio (full on/full off).

6. Lamp: 230 Watts, 4,000 hrs/bright mode, 3,000 hrs/standard mode.

7. Six-segment 4X speed color wheel.

8. Two HDMI, and one each of the following: Component (Red, Green, Blue), and Composite Video (Yellow) inputs. Any standard video source, except RF sources, can be connected to this projector.

9. Compatible with input resolutions up to 1080p. NTSC/PAL Compatible.

10. Video Deinterlacing and upscaling to 1080p via Pixel Works PW982 video processing chip.

11. Manual Zoom and Focus controls. On-screen menu system for other functions. Wireless remote control provided.

12. Automatic video input Detection - Manual video input selection also available via remote control or buttons on projector.

13. Dimensions: 12.76” x 3.82” x 9.21” (324 x 97 x 234 mm)

14. Weight: 6.4 pounds.

15. Power Consumption: 308 watts (bright mode), 254 watts (stand mode), Less than 1 watt in standby mode.

16. Included Accessories: AC Power Cord, Remote Control, Batteries for Remote, Lens Cap, User’s Manual, Warranty Card and Quick Start Guide.

17. Optional Accessories: Ceiling Mount, Cables (HDMI, Component, VGA), Panoview Series Screen.

For more details on the features and functions of the HD20, check out my Photo Gallery

First setup a screen (size of your choosing). Then, position the unit at the optimal distance from the screen (your choosing). I chose to place the unit on a mobile table to make this easier, but the HD20 can be ceiling mounted with an accessory mount.

Starting up the projector is fairly easy. First, plug in your source (such as a DVD or Blu-ray Disc player) to the proper video input. Then, plug in the power and turn on the power using the button on the side of the projector or the remote. It takes about 30 seconds or so until you see the Optoma projected on your screen, at which time you are set to go.

At this point, you can raise or lower both the the front and rear of the projector using the adjustable feet, and you can adjust the vertical image placement using the Image Shift function via the remote control (the HD20 does not have a physical lens shift function). You can also use the Zoom control on the lens to get the image to fill the screen properly. After this, you can use the manual focus control to sharpen your image.

I found that the HD20 automatically searches for the input of the source that was active.You can also access the source manually either via the projector's onboard controls or via the remote control.

The additional home theater hardware used in this review included:

Source Components: OPPO BDP-83 and Sony BD-PS350 Blu-ray Disc players, Helios H4000 DVD Player.

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR705, Harman Kardon AVR147.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 1 (7.1 channels): 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s, Klipsch Synergy Sub10.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 2 (5.1 channels): EMP Tek E5Ci center channel speaker, four E5Bi compact bookshelf speakers for left and right main and surrounds, and an ES10i 100 watt powered subwoofer.

DVDO EDGE Video Scaler used for baseline video upscaling comparisons.

Audio/Video connections made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables. 16 Gauge Speaker Wire used.

Software Used

The software used in this review included the following titles:

Blu-ray Discs used included scenes from from the following: 300, Across The Universe, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Hairspray, Iron Man, , Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, The Box, The Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder, Transporter 3, and UP.

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Moulin Rouge, and V For Vendetta.

Proceed to Page 2: Evaluation and Final Take