Projectors: Reviews

Updated March 2012

Is a big-screen TV not big enough? Then you might be a candidate for a home-entertainment projector. Prices are down but quality is up, and pictures more than 100 inches are often a snap. ConsumerSearch looks at the choices and uses reviews from experts and owners to find the top performers, as well as projectors that deliver great pictures and even better value. Editors also cover the pros and cons of projectors, so you can be sure that one is really right for you.

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Budget home-entertainment projector

Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD

*Est. $700 Compare Prices

Videophiles might not like the 720p Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD very much. But families who want the ability to enjoy a big, bright image without the bother of a light-tight dedicated viewing room are likely to love it. For… expandthose with an Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the MG-850HD is an especially compelling choice, as it includes an integrated dock that makes playing back movies or TV shows stored on your iDevice a breeze. Though the MG-850HD projector is too bright to be comfortable in a dark home theater room, it's got plenty of light to be perfectly at home in a moderately lighted living room or family room. The built-in 10-watt-per-channel stereo audio system can't take the place of a dedicated home theater sound system, but it does a credible job in its own right. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ProjectorCentral.com: The Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD earns a Highly Rated award here, with value and features leading the list of pluses.

ProjectorReviews.com: This comprehensive review finds some downsides to the Epson Megaplex MG-850HD, but those are more than offset by its upsides -- at least for its intended audience.

PCMag.com: The Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD earns Editors' Choice honors at PCMag.com.

Wired: Wired likes the Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD well enough to give it a rating of 8 , or Excellent, with room to kvetch.

The New York Times: David Pogue says he is impressed with the Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD. He calls it a "pleasure," and adds that it is "portable, versatile and simple to use." He does add, however, that like all projectors there are some downsides, such as the challenge of finding the right space in which to use it.

About.com: This balanced review is thorough, though less detailed than some others.

Amazon.com: Amazon.com has less than a dozen user reviews for the Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD. However, every one gives the home entertainment projector a 4 or 5 star rating.

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Buy from Amazon for $699.99
TigerDirect- .com for $692.99	Crutchfield for $799.99	Epson for $699.00

Budget 1080p projector

Optoma HD20

*Est. $1,000 Compare Prices

While more expensive projectors are better performers, the Optoma HD20 is the top choice in its price class. Blacks aren't the deepest you'll find but are deep enough to please all but the pickiest of viewers. Picture… expandquality is excellent overall, providing great colors even without a calibration. Brightness is high, which means the HD20 is a good choice for use in a family room or living room. On the downside, the HD20 is a DLP projector, which could spell trouble for those few people who can see the rainbow effect. No lens shift and a short zoom range can make for a tricky installation in some rooms. A feature meant to deepen blacks is more of a distraction than a help, reviews say. Reviewers agree, however, that the value is undeniable for those who want a true big-screen experience at home. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ProjectorReviews.com: Although Art Feierman's report on the Optoma HD20 can be a little rambling, the depth and detail provided are unsurpassed.

ProjectorCentral.com: Though not as detailed or as long as the report at ProjectorReviews.com, this review does a great job of getting to the heart of the matter regarding the Optoma HD20.

PCMag.com: M. David Stone calls the Optoma HD20 a "game changer" for delivering a high-quality image at a previously unheard of price.

TrustedReviews.com: The essentially identical British edition of the Optoma HD20 is tested here.

Audioholics.com: Tom Andry says he is amazed by the value of the Optoma HD20.

Amazon.com: In more than 180 reviews, the Optoma HD20 appears to be enjoying a solid track record with owners.

NewEgg.com: More than 50 reviewers at this technology-oriented retailer site give the Optoma HD20 an overall rating of 4 out of 5 "eggs." Of the six owners who give it fewer than 4 eggs, one complains that the lamp warranty should be longer given the bulb's 4,000-hour rating.

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Buy from Amazon for Too low to display
Beach Camera.com for $849.00	BuyDig.com for $999.00	HP Direct for $999.00

Best value 1080p projector

Epson Home Cinema 8350

*Est. $1,300 Compare Prices

Critics say they love the value and performance offered by the Epson Home Cinema 8350. Though it is a little more expensive than the Optoma HD20 (*Est. $1,000), experts say that the pluses are worthwhile for those who can… expandbudget for the extra cost. Blacks still can't beat the very best, but those projectors are all more expensive. Colors are pretty good, and a bit of adjustment can get them close to perfect. Brightness is good in most modes, and a high-brightness Dynamic mode boosts things even more -- without overly hurting picture quality -- for viewing in well-lighted spaces. Large amounts of lens shift and a generous zoom make this projector easy to place in almost any room. The use of LCD technology means DLP rainbows are not a worry. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ProjectorCentral.com: The Epson Home Cinema 8350 earns an Editor's Choice award here.

ProjectorReviews.com: Site owner Art Feierman digs deep in this lengthy review of the Epson Home Cinema 8350.

Amazon.com: The Epson Home Cinema 8350 gets more than 150 reviews here.

AVSForum.com: Lots of opinions and feedback can be found in this thread, which stands at more than 6,800 posts and counting.

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Buy from Amazon for Too low to display
Crutchfield for $1,299.99	OfficeMax for $1,349.99	J&R Music and Computer World for $1,299.00

Budget 3D home theater projector

Optoma HD33

*Est. $1,500 Compare Prices

Reviewers compliment the performance and value of this true 1080p 3D-capable projector, with some saying that it would still be a worthwhile choice if it cost twice as much. That said, the Optoma HD33 is one of the least… expandexpensive 1080p 3D projectors you can buy. Picture quality when watching 2D content is excellent, though some more expensive projectors are capable of producing deeper blacks. When it comes to 3D performance, critics are more impressed. Available RF active-shutter glasses produce a more stable 3D viewing experience than standard IR ones. For those few who can see it, the rainbow effect can be an issue with this DLP projector, and at least one top reviewer withholds his full endorsement of the HD33 because of that. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ProjectorCentral.com: ProjectorCentral.com gives the Optoma HD33 its Highly Rated award, saying that its performance well exceeds its price.

ProjectorReviews.com: The Optoma HD33 earns a Hot Product award here.

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity: This enthusiast site is well regarded for its thorough reviews, though some of the esoteric details discussed might be overkill for more casual readers.

PCMag.com: M. David Stone enthuses that the Optoma HD33 produces terrific images in 2D and 3D. He stops short of giving it his full recommendation, however.

Wired: The Optoma HD33 earns an 8 rating here for value, comfortable albeit extra cost 3D glasses and excellent picture quality.

About.com: Robert Silva's review is terser than some others, but it still covers all the important bases and is backed by appropriate testing.

Amazon.com: The majority of the roughly 40 owners posting here grant the Optoma HD33 a 5-star rating.

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Buy from Amazon for Too low to display
BuyDig.com for $1,499.00	Dell SMB for $1,499.99	Projector SuperStore for $1,349.00

Best 3D home theater projector

Epson Home Cinema 5010

*Est. $2,750 Compare Prices

While it isn't without some also-excellent competitors, critics say that you can't go wrong with this Epson 3D projector. Picture quality is why. Blacks are excellent, and colors are spot on -- straight out of the box.… expandBrightness is just right for great 2D performance and for 3D performance that outdoes what you see on the screen at many movie theaters. There's nary a rainbow to be seen with this 1080p LCD projector. However, if you want to see 3D, don't forget to budget extra for the required active-shutter glasses. A related version, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5010e, adds wireless HDMI connectivity to the projector and about $250 to the price. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ProjectorReviews.com: Though the narrative can be rambling, no reviewer delves deeper into a projector's pros and cons than Art Feierman at ProjectorReviews.com.

ProjectorCentral.com: ProjectorCentral.com is a little more reserved in its praise of the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5010 -- but only a little.

DisplayCalibrationsOnline.com: This highly technical review from an ISF certified calibrator will probably be useful only to the most savvy of videophiles.

AVSForum.com: This lengthy thread at AVSForum.com covers the Epson Home Cinema 5010 and the very similar Home Cinema 6010.

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