Optoma HD806 1080p DLP Video Projector

With 2,000 lumens output, the HD806 projects a bright image. Contrast, black level, and color consistency, although not the best I have seen, were still very good, and would certainly be acceptable for most viewers. If you have a large room, the HD806 can still project a bright image at a long distance, even with minor ambient light present.

Deinterlacing and Upscaling of Standard Definition Material

In a further evaluation, with regards to its scaling capabilities, tests were conducted using Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD. In order to conduct an accurate projector upscaling test, I set the Oppo DV-983H DVD player to 480i output and using the standard RCA composite video connector between the players and the projector. By doing this, all of the upscaling was done by the projector.

The test results showed that the HD806 did a good job with both deinterlacing and scaling.

Jaggie elimination and video noise reduction were very good, as was moire pattern elimination. This projector also did an excellent job with the 3:2 Pulldown film cadence and rendering video titles over film elements. Where the HD806 did show some weakness was in some of the more obscure film cadence tests. Check out a closer look at some of the test results.

What the above technical explanations of the test results mean is that the Optoma HD-806's built-in video processors and scaler can deliver a very good image on the screen, in real world conditions, with both standard definition material.

The Optoma HD806 does a very good job with video processing tasks, such as 480i to 480p conversion and 1080p video upscaling, but in additional tests, the HD806 needs some improvement in frame cadence detection and processing.

Performance With Blu-Ray

With regards to Blu-ray Disc true 1080i and 1080p source material, the ability to accept input resolutions up to 1080p (including 1080p/24), and reproduce high-definition resolutions accurately, is a plus for the Optoma HD806.

With regards to Blu-ray Disc true 1080i and 1080p source material, the Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian, The Dark Knight, and Transporter 3 showed excellent facial detail and color, as did the films Across the Universe and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Also, the saturated colors and image depth on animated films such as Bolt and Wall'E were faithfully projected.

If you have a Blu-ray Disc player, the Optoma HD806 is a good match.

For additional video upscaling test results with other video projectors, check out the Vivitek D326WX(DLP), the Dreamvision Dream'E (LCOS),and the Epson Home Cinema 700 (3LCD).

What I Liked

1. Very good image quality. Accepts input resolutions up to 1080p - also accepts 1080p/24. The Optoma HD806 also accepts both PAL and NTSC frame rate input signals. The scaling and processing of all input resolutions either up or down to 1080p is good.

2. High lumen output produces bright images for large rooms and screen sizes. The Optoma HD806 illustrates the increased trend towards the need for affordable video projectors to provide adequate light output for use in an average living or family room where some ambient light may be present.

3. Features both HDMI and DVI inputs. The 2 HDMI ver 1.3 inputs accepts both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24. The inscrease in HDMI-enabled source components dictates the need for more than one HDMI input. The DVI-I input can also double as a either a VGA input or SCART input an adapter connector/cable.

4. Fast cool down and shut-off time. The start-up time is about 30 seconds and the cool down time is about a minute. Video projectors, generally, have improved in this area.

5. Easy to Use Remote Control. I like the fact that when any button is pushed on the remote, the backlight function is activated. This is very practical in a dark room.

What I Didn't Like

1. No Motorized Zoom or Focus Function - must be done manually at lens.

2. Fan noise is noticable. The fan noise isn't excessive, but can be distracting if you are sitting close to the projector or suing the projector in a small room.

3. Expels a lot of heat through side vent. If you sit within a few feet of the projector, you will notice the warmth, and may catch a warm breeze from the fan expelling heat from the side vent.

4. DLP Rainbow effect sometimes noticable. The rainbow effect is the main weakness of single chip DLP video projectors generally, and although the effect is not excessive on the HD806, it is still there.

5. No carrying case or storage bag included. Although this projector is designed with the stay-at-home user in mind, it is light enough to take to other venues. Having an included case would be a nice addition.

Final Take

Setting up and using the HD806 was fairly easy. The input connections are clearly labeled and spaced out, and the on-unit control buttons and remote control are easy to use. However, the HD806 does not offer power zoom or focus controls.

With 2,000 maximum lumens output capability, the Optoma HD806 projects a bright image suitable for small, medium, and large size rooms in most homes.

Although the HD806 is not in the same price class as high end video projectors, it none-the-less is a very good performer. I found the color quality and contrast levels were very good. In addition, the built-in 1080p scaling of the HD806 did a very good job of upscaling lower resolution 480i DVD material, as well as passing direct 1080p Blu-ray and HD-DVD resolutions, including 1080p/24 signals.

Another observation was that the traditional DLP Rainbow Effect was not as noticable as I have experienced with other single-chip DLP projectors.

The HD806 is definitely a welcome entry into the midrange video projector market and is illustrative of the trend towards making high quality video projection more affordable for the consumer.

I give the Optoma HD806 DLP Video Projector a solid 4 out of 5 Stars.

For a closer look at the features, connections, and performance of HD806, check out my Optoma HD806 Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.