The Official Optoma HD71 Thread

[Deathwish238]

Optoma HD71 - Press Release Info
720p Resolution
2400 Lumens
4000:1 Contrast Ratio w/ ImageAI
HDMI 1.3, DVI, Component, Composite, S-Video, VGA
2 Watt Speaker
Street Price of $1299
Available January 2008

[jay²]

wow 2400 lumens!! thats a light canon! Should I start the official HD65 thread?

[Troy LaMont]

Hmm,

I wonder which DLP chip it'll have? DC2 or DC3...prolly DC2. It would be a huge success if it had DC3.

Troy

[SPACEMAKER]

What is the general reliability of Optoma products?

[Steve Dodds]

Moderate reliability.

[Deathwish238]

Originally Posted by Troy LaMont

Hmm,

I wonder which DLP chip it'll have? DC2 or DC3...prolly DC2. It would be a huge success if it had DC3.

Troy

I don't see it having a DC3. That'ld be amazing, but more of a dream

[guitarman]

It's HD2+ on a new platform and it's using the color wheel technology of the HD65 with the brilliant color 2. I'm going to get one in a couple of weeks. Hope it doesn't melt my screen. The HD65 absolutely tested out at spec with 1600lumens. It's not the bulb it's the color wheel and BC2 that does it.

[admiralpumpkin]

I'm going to echo jay²'s comment. Light cannon!
Is there anything close to this bright in this price range?

[Deathwish238]

Perhaps the Panasonic AX200U?

[philttz]

updated info on the optoma website
http://www.optomausa.com/product_det...product_id=351

In the user manual there is a rough guide for offset and distance, looks like
it has half the offset of the HD70, which is great news!

[d james]

boy this thing sounds great, I really want to get another pj for my 135 screen so its has a brighter image than the HD70 I use now. I wanted to wait for a cheap 1080p projector, but I suspect doubling the lumens will be more impressive than adding 1080? Are there any other 720p projectors with this many lumens? Any of you guys know if the bulb will be priced similar to the HD70's.

[r-wikoff]

Happy New Year,

I just received an HD71. It is a very attractive projector. I can watch a movie in my family room, that is 20'x20' and has two walls of windows, in the daytime. The quality does suffer because of the light but it is watchable.

The HD71, like the HD65, has the super-wide feature. When I select the feature I don't see any change. The bars are still present on top and bottom. The users manual doesn't provide anything except a definition. Is there a trick to this feature?

Thanks

[sota2000]

Has anyone hooked up their PS3 or 360?


How is the performance?

Thanks in advance.

[rrhomes]

So a 144inch screen it would become like a 1100 lumens pj at 92inch as far as black level.. I have a huge wall in the front room of my days place that has a huge white wall. He's 88yrs old and still has 27inch crt, on Saturday and Sundays the sports being watched on this would probably turn my dad in to a sports addict which he already is. It's cheap and workable for me him and something he could just sit back and enjoy for once, but I also want good black levels for that WOW Punch of DLP.

[reconlabtech]

Only one year warranty according to the Optoma website. Looking forward to hearing and seeing more about this model.

[philttz]

Costco just starting selling these in Canada, called the HD710.
they have a $300 off coupon coming soon
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....=1&topnav=&s=1

Comes with screen and hdmi cable, not a bad deal considering best buy is still selling the old hd70 for more (before rebate) than the new one

[d james]

Originally Posted by r-wikoff

Happy New Year,

I just received an HD71. It is a very attractive projector. I can watch a movie in my family room, that is 20'x20' and has two walls of windows, in the daytime. The quality does suffer because of the light but it is watchable.

The HD71, like the HD65, has the super-wide feature. When I select the feature I don't see any change. The bars are still present on top and bottom. The users manual doesn't provide anything except a definition. Is there a trick to this feature?

Thanks

Is this your first PJ? Do you have it set at full 2400 lumens, just wondering how bright that thing is with the windows, do you have shades over them? So what is that super-wide feature supposed to do?

[r-wikoff]

This is my first home theater pj. I have used panasonic and sanyo business pjs. My sanyo is 4000 lumens and 500:1 contrast and the HD71 is very close to as bright. I have used the HD71 at econo and full.

I have windows on the north side of my room, a 7' slider and two 2'x6' side windows and these have no coverings but don't receive direct sunlight. On the south side I have a 5'x6' window that has a bambo shade that lets in some light.

I have figured out the superwide feature. It cannot be used with auto AI. There are 4 resolution settings native, 16:9, 4:3 and LBX. To use superwide it has to be set to native (which automaticly adjusts to the signal). An attempt is made to fill the screen but doesn't always seem to do a good job. There are so many different formats of movies, I never realized. I prefer to leave the superwide off and manually make any adjustments. The remote has all the settings for easy changes.

The color and contrast I feel is excellent. I am using component connections at the moment and even some newer non-HD DVD's look close to HD with a few setting changes. I watched 'Over The Hedge' and you could practically count all the quills on the porcupines.

[Sam2010]

Through costco there are several Optoma Projectors that are available in a narrow price range:

HD620 or something like that .. looks like the HD65 -- I believe it is 960 C$
(this can be purchased from the store ).

The rest are all through costco.ca:
HD32 (same as HD70?)- 980 C$
HD710 (same as HD71??)- 1100 C$ including the coupon
HD7100-Darkchip3 machine ..- 1350 C$

The first through from a specification standpoint are different in the lumen output , inputs (some have HDMI, DVI or both). The weights are different .. I believe the HD7100 is 14 pounds .. The included cables are different .. I need this for home (for a movie or program) and office.

The 7100 is intriguing .. the vertical/horizontal adjustments are nice to have the contrast ratio is very good at 5000:1. No HDMI input and 1000 lumens.
The review I read on audioholics was not very favourable but that assumed it is a 5k machine ..

In the absence of information I am leaning towards the HD32 (HD70?). The HD710 with higher lumen output 2400 lumers may not be such a bad choice.
It is 150 extra (has an extra DVI output).
The HD7100 with the darkchip .80 chip and higher contrast ratio may prove the most convenient in terms of placing the projector. It doesn't have an HDMI input and is only 1000 lumens ..
Thoughts here would be great ..
Sam

[d james]

Originally Posted by Sam2010

Through costco there are several Optoma Projectors that are available in a narrow price range:

HD620 or something like that .. looks like the HD65 -- I believe it is 960 C$
(this can be purchased from the store ).

The rest are all through costco.ca:
HD32 (same as HD70?)- 980 C$
HD710 (same as HD71??)- 1100 C$ including the coupon
HD7100-Darkchip3 machine ..- 1350 C$

The first through from a specification standpoint are different in the lumen output , inputs (some have HDMI, DVI or both). The weights are different .. I believe the HD7100 is 14 pounds .. The included cables are different .. I need this for home (for a movie or program) and office.

The 7100 is intriguing .. the vertical/horizontal adjustments are nice to have the contrast ratio is very good at 5000:1. No HDMI input and 1000 lumens.
The review I read on audioholics was not very favourable but that assumed it is a 5k machine ..

In the absence of information I am leaning towards the HD32 (HD70?). The HD710 with higher lumen output 2400 lumers may not be such a bad choice.
It is 150 extra (has an extra DVI output).
The HD7100 with the darkchip .80 chip and higher contrast ratio may prove the most convenient in terms of placing the projector. It doesn't have an HDMI input and is only 1000 lumens ..
Thoughts here would be great ..
Sam

I don't think the 7100 is the same, I think its been out for some time now.

[d james]

Originally Posted by r-wikoff

This is my first home theater pj. I have used panasonic and sanyo business pjs. My sanyo is 4000 lumens and 500:1 contrast and the HD71 is very close to as bright. I have used the HD71 at econo and full.

I have windows on the north side of my room, a 7' slider and two 2'x6' side windows and these have no coverings but don't receive direct sunlight. On the south side I have a 5'x6' window that has a bambo shade that lets in some light.

I have figured out the superwide feature. It cannot be used with auto AI. There are 4 resolution settings native, 16:9, 4:3 and LBX. To use superwide it has to be set to native (which automaticly adjusts to the signal). An attempt is made to fill the screen but doesn't always seem to do a good job. There are so many different formats of movies, I never realized. I prefer to leave the superwide off and manually make any adjustments. The remote has all the settings for easy changes.

The color and contrast I feel is excellent. I am using component connections at the moment and even some newer non-HD DVD's look close to HD with a few setting changes. I watched 'Over The Hedge' and you could practically count all the quills on the porcupines.

Wow it sounds like you have lots of light coming in, and from how you describe the picture, it does a great job of fighting off all that light. I love the idea of having a pj you can use during the daytime for games and such, or even at night with a small light on. Its just not fun to always be in the dark, especially when its light outside. have you played movies with that AI much? On the HD70 I can detect the AI working by adjusting the light up and down, which can be annoying at times, especially when it doesn't seem to know which way to go and it adjusts two times in a few seconds. It'd be nice if they can make it transition better on this new HD71. Its supposed to increase the contrast ratio from 3000 to 4000.

[Sam2010]

Originally Posted by d james

I don't think the 7100 is the same, I think its been out for some time now.

Yes .. the 7100 is a darkchip3 machine .. And has all the vertical/horizontal adjustments afforded by that chip .. It is also heavier with HDMI inputs ..

Go to costco dot ca and see which ones they have .. My point is that from the HD32 to the HD710 to the HD7100 the difference in price is not that great and I can go with either one if I can understand the differences ..
Sam ..

[r-wikoff]

Originally Posted by d james

Wow it sounds like you have lots of light coming in, and from how you describe the picture, it does a great job of fighting off all that light. I love the idea of having a pj you can use during the daytime for games and such, or even at night with a small light on. Its just not fun to always be in the dark, especially when its light outside. have you played movies with that AI much? On the HD70 I can detect the AI working by adjusting the light up and down, which can be annoying at times, especially when it doesn't seem to know which way to go and it adjusts two times in a few seconds. It'd be nice if they can make it transition better on this new HD71. Its supposed to increase the contrast ratio from 3000 to 4000.

I watched a little with the AI and did notice it making adjustments. It seems that once initial adjustments are made it locks in but I haven't watched a full movie to see if this is true I have always turned the AI off. I will try a full movie and see what it does.

FYI my screen is a 16:9, 96" diaganol.

[strater]

Originally Posted by Sam2010

Through costco there are several Optoma Projectors that are available in a narrow price range:

HD620 or something like that .. looks like the HD65 -- I believe it is 960 C$
(this can be purchased from the store ).

The rest are all through costco.ca:
HD32 (same as HD70?)- 980 C$
HD710 (same as HD71??)- 1100 C$ including the coupon
HD7100-Darkchip3 machine ..- 1350 C$

The first through from a specification standpoint are different in the lumen output , inputs (some have HDMI, DVI or both). The weights are different .. I believe the HD7100 is 14 pounds .. The included cables are different .. I need this for home (for a movie or program) and office.

The 7100 is intriguing .. the vertical/horizontal adjustments are nice to have the contrast ratio is very good at 5000:1. No HDMI input and 1000 lumens.
The review I read on audioholics was not very favourable but that assumed it is a 5k machine ..

In the absence of information I am leaning towards the HD32 (HD70?). The HD710 with higher lumen output 2400 lumers may not be such a bad choice.
It is 150 extra (has an extra DVI output).
The HD7100 with the darkchip .80 chip and higher contrast ratio may prove the most convenient in terms of placing the projector. It doesn't have an HDMI input and is only 1000 lumens ..
Thoughts here would be great ..
Sam

You can compare the three out at a site like Projectorcentral dot com. Just remember that costco Canada has funny names for optoma projectors sometimes.

Costco -> US name
HD6800 = HD72
HD710 = HD71
HD7100 = HD7100
HD32 = HD70

Personally I think the two to pick from are the HD7100 or HD710 (Confused yet?). The HD710 is much brighter (2400 lumens) but the HD7100 is higher quality (Darkchip3).

If I were buying today I think I would go for the HD710 as the extra brightness would allow you to run this in eco-mode and it's smaller, quieter and newer technology (HDMI and not DVI). But a video purest would probably disagree.

Let us know what you choose.

[Sam2010]

I kind of agree with you. The HD7100 is a project judging by the review on the audioholics website .. not to mention the weight and price.

I would even consider the HD70 (HD32 at costco..) the difference in price when taxes and coupon are taken into account is 180 dollars. The review on audioholics is extremely favourable. I will go to costco this weekend and make sure which model they have on display ..

thanks very much for the follow-up
SAM

[Sam2010]

The model on display at Costo .. is HD640 .. looks like HD65 and the specs are the same ..

[JasG]

Originally Posted by guitarman

It's the HD70 platform HD2+ but it's using the color wheel technology of the HD65 with the brilliant color 2. I'm going to get one in a couple of weeks. Hope it doesn't melt my screen. The HD65 absolutely tested out at spec with 1600lumens. It's not the bulb it's the color wheel and BC2 that does it.

Tom,

By any chance can you offer any advice on how the lumen ouput of the HD71 at 2400 lumens might compare to my Optoma EP739 at 2500 lumens? I have no idea how Optoma rates their PJs - esp. for Data vs HT projectors. I'm contemplating a switch from 84" 4x3 to 92" 16x9 (which should be almost the same sqft).

TIA, jasg

[guitarman]

I use a 106" diagonal and measured 1600lumens with the HD65 which is spec. I'm getting a HD71 delivered day after tomorrow, expect a review up soon.

[bluegt]

I placed an order for my HD710 (a.k.a HD71) last week, I am hoping for it to arrive by Friday or early next week. I am pretty surprised that this thread is so quiet considering the HD70 was such a big hit and this one has superior tech? and is in the same line.

In any case, I am in a sense upgrading from the HD72 to the HD71, I am wondering if anyone would have an idea of what I can expect, I am thinking that the HD71 will be brighter with better colours, should I expect this or something else, sharper picture, more vibrant, better blacks? any ideas??

[guitarman]

That's because there's only one person here that owns it. Two more to come by the end of the week. First thing I'll do is get the light meter out. These bright projectors are great for Xbox 360 or PS3.