Optoma HD131Xe 1080p 2500 Lumen Full 3D DLP Home Theater Projector with HDMI (Black) | Best Product 2014

Optoma HD131Xe 1080p 2500 Lumen Full 3D DLP Home Theater Projector with HDMI (Black)

CUSTOMER REVIEW



Purchased this at $769. For the price I paid and the performance of this projector, I am getting more than the requisite 80% performance while having paid less than the 20% fare. But this projector is not without its faults. Thankfully, aside from a loss of brightness in 3D, a problem inherent in all of today's 3D display devices, none of these faults are related to image quality. So here they are first, the Cons..........



Cons:

1. Aside from a zoom lens, no placement flexibility. Additionally, vertical offset adds a dimension of difficulty with setup.

2. No 12 volt trigger.

3. Hourglass meter shown when streams are being switched during blu ray playback. Input identification also is shown.

4. Remote presses are unresponsive and/or IR receiver has a very narrow reception angle requiring user to be precise when using remote.

5. Light spillage from front grill. Thankfully, this does not manifest on the screen.

6. Menu screens not completely elegant in navigation setup. Some selections exist on a second page when they could have been included on a single page. This makes going back to change a setting like retreading back through a maze.

7. Only one user setting. Although, it does appear that 2D and 3D settings are stored separately.

8. Contrast boosted during 3D playback causing washed out image.

9. Lens cap not included.



Pros:

1. Awesome image processing post calibration.

A. Silky smooth. No image tearing during camera pans.

B. Very good blacks.

C. Very good shadow detail.

D. Very good colors.

E. Reduced mosquito noise effect for a DLP.

2. Should street for less than $800 soon.

3. Less than $200 bulb replacement.

4. Very organic 3D performance. No artificial pop-out book effect. Even with films transformed into 3D like Beauty and the Beast.

5. No cross-talk in 3D.

5. DLP Link and RF glasses sync at 144hz.

6. About as loud as a long exhale of breath.

7. Onboard audio is better than most LED TV's (not that any projector user will ever use this long term).

8. Comes in black!

9. Every inch of performance, operation costs, enjoyment are absolutely maxed out at this price (under $800).



There may be some projectors that are going to be a hair less in price than the HD131Xe, but other drawbacks with those projectors will put them below the HD131Xe in value. When splitting hairs with cost, a bulb replacement of under $200 should not be discounted when price is a consideration. The cost of bulb replacement of other projectors is going to run $350-$500. Some projectors may be brighter, but at the cost of being louder. And there is no projector at under $800 that can match its black level performance. The only way to gain on the performance of this projector is to pay more. And the only reason I am hesitant to give it a perfect 5-star rating has more to do with Optoma's laziness than the limitations of the actual projector. Optoma has its roots in the business class projector arena. That these business class vestiges are still around really is why this projector isn't perfect in its class. Take for instance offset. With 4 people huddled around a projector with an image being projected high up on a wall, offset proves valuable in say circa 2004. But in today's world where virtual meeting software allows everyone to view the presentation on their own private laptop screen or without even being in the same room, offset is not needed. The idea that a projector serves the dual purpose of being a business projector that can be used for entertainment doesn't exist anymore. Projectors are either Home Theater projectors or large venue projectors for business use. Optoma needs to get rid of this silly offset. They are really shutting out the basement theater room and low ceiling folks from buying their products. Give some lens offset to widen the potential market and flexibility for users. Most viewing devices today get thrown all sort of media at them: video games, blu rays, TV, sports, internet rips, etc. None of these media sources are equal. So it really is cripling to users for Optoma to have only included one single user setting. And that this is the case is an indictment towards Optoma's laziness. Optoma, realize that the landscape for business projectors has long since eroded. Projectors are no longer going to be fed just Microsoft Windows from a laptop. Using the same resources already at Optoma, programmers could very easily give users at least just one more user setting for different media types we are throwing at it. Prolonged refusal to do this is just plain laziness. In a home theater environment, where the user is attempting to duplicate the moving going experience at home, we don't need to be reminded that our efforts are artificial by having a ticking hourglass displayed with streams are being swtiched during blu ray playback. Improve those HDMI handshakes and get rid of these nag screens. These things that I mention as cons are really the polish that is needed to lift Optoma projectors from the respected and reputable, and into the reverent elite and beloved.