Optoma H77 Review & Screenshots - Page 4

Thanks Tom for mentioning Pixelworks. I'll look into that.

In TPV review, Shane said he used Bravo D1, and later mentioned that the defects he saw were from both DVI-D and component sources.

I'm really comparing apples & oranges here. I'm sure from the pictures that the Maxx is an OEM Optoma, but since this review is on the newstand now, he must have looked at it at least 2-3 months ago. So the H77 likely has different firmware and maybe even hardware changes.

I guess what I really need is to see one for myself. I also want to hear (not hear) the fan noise improvement. Does anyone know of a dealer in the SF Bay Area that has a demo?

thanks,

paul

I'll report my impressions after seeing Tom's H77 this Sunday too.

The Optoma h76 was sold as a Maxx Products Mustang and I wouldn't doubt that the H77 is to, although the later version. Tom, is the casing on your H77 labled as Maxx projector?
Rick

I used to own the Optoma H76 and it also had the pixelworks scaler. DVI was wonderfull on that projector, but Component, even true HD via Component always seemed soft. My HPTC via DVI looked better than really good HD on the component input. I ultimately had to get rid of the Optoma due this this issue as 3 of my 4 inputs to the projector are via Component. Hopefully, Optoma fixed this issue with the H77.

Rick

Here in the UK we have another OEM of the H77. It's the Mitsubishi HC2000.
Interestingly the H77 is cheaper at RRP of £3.5k.

Jeff

I am looking forward to Craig's opinion since he has another of Tom's recommended pjs - the HT1000.

If the manufacturers had a rental programme - say $500.00/month we could simply rent the newest and greatest and when we're tired of it (say in 2 or 3 weeks) we could move on. Sure would save us some money! I had a Marantz for 24 months and it lost 5/6s of its value! I am not going there again (bitter - who me?)

Great screen shots Tom! Have you seen the extended version of Underworld yet? PQ is simply outstanding, better IMO than the original version.

Can't wait for your next pj review in about 6 to 8 months - highly entertaining Tom - thanks! (last two paragraphs added)

Cheers,

Grant

Hi Tom

I'm not around much at the moment. Glad your new PJ is all you say. Your HT100 was awesome :-)

Rob

guitarman

i have to agree it does have a nice image, and unlike most dlps it did not give me a headache in less than thirty minutes. I wonder what is different with this machine that would cause it not to make me ill.

i was amazed how good it looked with only 410 lum of output on a 144 firehawk screen.

In the future, those of you looking for films to test a projector's black level reproduction, watch for a DVD release of "Collateral". This film, most of which was shot at night using 1920x1080 24P video cameras, will put projectors through some severe tests. According to my contact in the business, there are very few large venue DLP projectors able to handle the film although all of the previews, premier, and Academy showings of "Collateral" have been or will be done digitally.

Somebody give it the ultimate test (U-571) and please tell us what you see. How much detail and color in the detail do you see in those interior scenes?

Finally! Tomorrow is the H77 ready to be tested. It's the first H77 to get to Norway and we will test it against Projection design action one mkII, Benq 8700+ and we also have on Infocus 7205 with filter (hoya, reduces the light output with 50%)and a nec ht1100. since we have tested all the other very much already, we will focus on how the H77 will perform next to the action one mkII, wich is my numero ono before the H77 enters the test room.

FWIW, I had a demo of the Mitsubishi HC2000 today (second time). I currently have a Marantz S3 and whilst I love the picture it produces the fan noise always bugs me. I must say this is not because it is loud in itself but rather due to my room means I have to have it fixed under a sloping ceiling which is then above the seating position and the slope of the ceiling amplifies and channels the noise to the listener. Hence me looking at the HC2000.

Fisrt impressions were the depth of colours and image and also the detail level. Both absolutely superb. It also is brighter than my S3 by enough to enable viewing with ambient lighting in my room (fully light controlled).

The general quality of the image is absoutely first rate via both component and DVI. Hi-Def (Bad Boys 2) looked amazing. The one area where it was let down was in shadow detail. Even using the Black Stretch option the detail resolved by the S3 is way above delivered by the HC2000.

The scaling and processing of the HC2000 also appeared top notch with no discernible difference between it and the S3. Although if pressed I would say panning shots on the S3 are slightly smoother.

The biggest difference was fan noise. In Low mode the HC2000 is eerily quiet and even when switched to Normal it was barely discernible, and I was sitting with my head no more than 2 feet from the exhaust port (boy was it warm )

I'm now waiting for an H77 to see how it compres to both the HC2000 and S3.

PS Sorry to hijack the thread but I felt there would likely be enough people reading here to get some interset from this.

Tom,

What are you quick impressions of the 77 compared to the HT1000? I'm looking to upgrade but if it's not worth the $$ I can wait. Currently have the NEC.

Question # 2. Are you running the XP30 in interlaced or progressive mode? I have it and a Bravo D but the XP30 is in the bedroom and was wondering if I'd be better off using it in the theater. How does it compare to the Bravo? As always Tom, thanks for you input. You've steered me in a good direction in the past.

Scott

Sorry for taking so long to report - when I got home and re - installed my HT1000 on the ceiling, and finally figured out the settings to get a component picture switched thru my new Denon 3805 to work, a Peter Gabriel concert was on HDTV on INHD2 and my wife went wild watching it on the HT1000!! It looked awesome ( and made me wonder what an H77 would have looked like on my set up - uh oh, credit card time approaching? )!!

Scotty - I loved the H77!! Colors were ( believe it or not ) far richer than the HT1000. Reds rock on this Optoma! And boy is it quiet - I could never hear it at all!! In my opinion it's plenty bright for a CINEMA projector - just like the HT1000, it's meant to be watched in the dark. We increased the picture size to 104" x 58" - plenty bright enough on low power mode ( certainly plenty bright on a 92" wide 106" diagonal screen ). When the bulb ages you could kick it to high power setting if you wanted - still really quiet. I love the power zoom feature too!!

We compared the H77 and my HT1000 by running them at the same time thru a component splitter box and putting a card board box in front of one or the others lens - instant A / B picture comparison. I recommend this method - it works great!!

Hi,

I'm thinking of getting a 2.05:1 screen to be able to zoom the wide aspect movies. I'm planning on 102 to 104" wide, seating at 11-12'. When you zoomed out the projector to 104, could you see the pixels?

Thanks,

Jay

Tom:

Does the H77 offer aspect ratio control for HD signals (720P and 1080i), or does it lock into 16:9?

Thanks

Pip

" I'm thinking of getting a 2.05:1 screen to be able to zoom the wide aspect movies. I'm planning on 102 to 104" wide, seating at 11-12'. When you zoomed out the projector to 104, could you see the pixels? " -

It should be fine - I'm looking at a screen that size, and I had to get well under 10' to start seeing pixels.

Tom:

I'm looking for proper display of 1080i 4:3 and letterboxed (non-anamorphic) images. Sounds like the Optoma does it.

Thanks,
Pip

Tom

Gotta be honest. I've been averaging about 1 theater movie a week for the last three months.

SX21 is working very well on the 120" Hi Power.

If I'm honest I crave the contrast / black of my friends DLP with the detail film like appearance and color of my SX21

I guess they call that 3 chip and $30k :-)

Glad to see the H77 is good for you though.

My hobby has also switched to photography a little - kids if you know what I mean. I've been spending far too much on Canon DSLR's and very expensive
lenses :-(

Stay well
Rob

Thats funny robert, the two of us have preached sx21, panamorph, phelped for some time and now you spend two hours a week watching your projector because of your camera hobby, and i spend 2 hours a week in my theater and 10 hours a week in the gym. Part of my problem is that i am on the road so much, but even when i am home, summer is not theater time of year for me.

Finally! Tomorrow is the H77 ready to be tested. It's the first H77 to get to Norway and we will test it against Projection design action one mkII, Benq 8700+ and we also have on Infocus 7205 with filter (hoya, reduces the light output with 50%)and a nec ht1100. since we have tested all the other very much already, we will focus on how the H77 will perform next to the action one mkII, wich is my numero ono before the H77 enters the test room.

Posted by jfinneru
______________________________________________________

This will be a really worthwhile test, of currently available competitors.