
Budget 1080p projector
- Among the least expensive 1080p projectors
- High brightness
- Good color
- Lots of connections
- Blacks could be darker
- Placement in a room can be difficult
- Auto iris not the best
- Rainbow effect
The Optoma HD20 is among the least expensive 1080p projectors available, and reviews thus far say it is the most capable of a small group of similarly priced projectors, such as the Vivitek H1080FD (*Est. $1,000). Picture quality is good, with terrific colors right out of the box. Brightness is high enough that the Optoma HD20 will work in most viewing settings, including living rooms and family rooms. Black levels are good, but are bested by higher-end -- and more expensive -- projectors. Finding a good spot in your viewing room can be a challenge, however, because of the limited zoom range and lack of any lens shift adjustment. Additionally, this is a DLP projector, and those few people who can see that technology's rainbow-effect artifact will likely be happier with another choice. Best blacks and contrast levels are achieved using the projector's auto-iris feature, but reviewers say the way that works is so distracting that most recommend skipping it. If you have a bigger budget, the Epson Home Cinema 8100 (*Est. $1,600) delivers great colors, deeper blacks, and is easier to place in a room. That projector uses LCD technology, so it's a better fit for rainbow-effect sufferers.
Despite being relatively new, the Optoma HD20 has already been extensively reviewed. The best reports can be found at ProjectorCentral.com and ProjectorReviews.com, two enthusiast sites that do a great job of testing and evaluating projectors. PCMag.com and Britain's TrustedReviews.com also weigh in with competent and testing-based reports. A small handful of user reviews can be read at Amazon.com.
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Our Sources
Although Art Feierman's report on the Optoma HD20 can be a little rambling at times, the depth and detail provided are unsurpassed. Black levels produced by the HD20 are a minus, but color performance is a plus. Feierman's bottom-line assessment is that at its price, "you definitely get what you pay for with the HD20, and then some," and he gives it a Hot Product designation.
Review: Optoma HD20 Projector Reviews, Art Feierman, Aug. 2009
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. Bill Livolsi finds some shortcomings, such as less-than-perfect black levels, an automatic-iris system that's too distracting to use, and installation challenges. But those are tempered by picture quality that's solid overall and an unbeatable price for a 1080p projector.
Review: Optoma HD20 1080p DLP Home Theater Projector, Bill Livolsi, Aug. 28, 2009
M. David Stone calls the Optoma HD20 a "game changer" for delivering a high-quality image at previously unheard of price. Shortcomings in bench tests are noted, but those largely don't show up in hands-on viewing except with standard-definition (480i) signals. Rainbow effect is seen, but less often than with many other DLP projectors.
Review: Optoma HD20, M. David Stone, Aug. 21, 2009
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