Optoma HD65 Review & Screenshots - Page 9

Some more...

This is a good PJ. The only thing I wish is good colour out of box like the IN72 I had.

These are from HDRip files and the Cars one is from trailer. I am sure with PS3 or a HDDVD you will get much better picture.

Wow, the colors on that last one really pop! Guitarman, would you say the colors on the HD71 are just as vibrant? I'm trying to decide between these two projectors, and I'm wondering if the HD65 surpasses the HD71 in any way.

Over the weekend I noticed that the fan on mine was kicking in to a higher gear. I thought something was wrong or I had changed the bulb setting. But when I checked, everything was set properly.

With my old NEC, I used to keep the heating vent in my theater room (a small bedroom) closed. The NEC produced plenty of heat to warm the room. But when I got the new unit, it didn't seem to send out as much heat so I opened the vent. I wonder if closing the vent would make a difference...

I don't think this will be a deal breaker, but I would prefer the fan just stay at one speed. I guess that's the price of such a small projector.

Well, I did some calibration of the Projector yesterday.

I felt the projector requires it you can see the difference in the next two set of images

1. Before calibration - It is bit dark and not sure if the color is right.






2. After Calibration - Look at the shadow detail now. Look at the wooden frame to the ceiling on the left. The front right and rear right tyre. The black car at the back. All showing more details. Very nice. Colors also looking good too at least to me. Look at the road surface in the 2nd shot more detail now

I have reduced brilliant color to 2.

Some more shots I took after 1st level of calibration. Still need to work on it till I am satisfied. Next time will use the THX tool.

Anirbaba,

Are you going to post your setting numbers? I just installed a HD65 after my HD70 went bad.

Thanks in advance for the information.

I found out from the manual if you set the projector to High altitude setting that it will run the fan in High mode. Now my question is, if I dont mind alittle more sound coming from the projector. Would it be better to run it this way all the time for better cooling? Would this help with lamp life? I know the fan will automatic kick in high gear when it gets hot, I just thought the extra cooling might help alittle.

"The machine does get hotter than the other one. I haven't noticed a fan change on the 71. I could ask for a firmware to delete the HD65's fan sensing heat and kicking in. Not sure if Optoma would recommend it though. I'll see"

I just bought an HD65 yesterday. So far, I'm extremely impressed with this little machine. Astonished might be more like it! Wow! What an image!

BUT..the possible heat issue has me concerned, too. I've only watched a movie or two and the fan only kicked into high on powerdown. (The short cooldown it does before going into standby. It doesn't seem long enough to do much cooling tho, IMHO.) The machine is on a table, not ceiling mounted.

The situation kinda' makes me nervous about keeping the HD65, to tell the truth. I actually only bought it because CC had them in stock and no one local had an HD71. Now that I know I LOVE the image the machine puts out I'm wondering if maybe I should keep it a few days and see how the 'fan situation' goes. This weekend I'll have more time to watch more movies. If the fan kicks into HI often I'll probably take it back and order an HD71 instead.

Maybe someone from Optoma could reassure us owners about the situation somehow? Did they engineer much overhead into the cooling side of things or is it operating at a minimum level? How often SHOULD the fan kick into high? My gut tells me it's too much heat in too small a box, but I'm no engineer. I don't think it'd be wise to alter the heat sensing in any event.

I knew you shouldn't start a PJ right after being turned off, but didn't think you needed to wait 2 hours to turn it back on, So It's better to leave it running? or am I missing something.

I traded my HD70 for the 65. I had a hard time setting up it up due to the large offset of the lens. To me the 70 had a better picture. My D* hd10-250 looses its lock when ffw. My HDR 20 does not both through component. Like a moron I calibrated it without writing down the original settings, I couldn't find a reset, does anyone have the original settings because after calibration it looks worse. Also any settings that people are using would be much appreciated. The loosing of source is very frustrating.

I tried to register the level of detail in the dark areas, but the camera has not helped much, in any way you can understand that there are many details.

Movie: Stardust 720p




Short of Pixar at 720p



Peter

I remember the topic of bulb cool-down coming up on the Infocus threads, and if memory serves, the engineers concluded that a convective cool down is easier on the bulb than a forced fan cool down. The casing is designed to radiate the remaining heat once the unit is shut off. The fan keeps it from overheat while it's in operation. Which is one reason why there's no need to panic if your PJ looses power in the middle of operation.

GUITARMAN: I'm really interested in this little machine. I have an alcove which I'm trying to fill with the right projector. No dedicated HT room this time around, so lumens and pop are the order of the day. Question is, the noise level. I've had SP4805 and SP7210, both WAY too whiny to be mounted a couple feet directly above primary viewing spot. Is the HD65 going to be a whiny bugger placed just 3 feet above, or is it as quiet as an LCD projector? (please don't make me buy an LCD, please!!! )

I had been using a Gray Wolf screen with my HD70 and now that I have changed it out for the HD65 it seem too bright. When I adjust for low light or no light viewing I seem to loss the dark details. Do I nned to change to screen to a screen with less gain? Thanks in advance for the help.

I also want to know the difference between the HD71 and SP7210. I post a thread earlier but didn't get much of a reply.

Did you calibrated Optoma HD65?

You can reduce the Brightness in calibration.

Peter

gwlbe: "Reset" is at the bottom-left of the "Options" menu. Kinda' down there all by its lonesome. There's a "Yes" confirmation required after selecting "Reset".

Acksnay: My HD65 isn't whiney at all. Its normal low fan is a very soft sound, and even on hi fan it's not an irritating mechanical sound...just moving air. The HD65 replaced my old (but faithful) original Infocus X1, so I know the sound you're talking about.

Guitarman: Thanks! I really don't want to return the HD65. I like its small size, for one thing.

I have the graywolf II and my brightness setting is at -6, film, econo, cinema and contrast +6
the other items I have not played with yet. I project a 72 diagonal inch picture - fairly small.
Any other suggestions from anybody which settings I should pay attention to?

Ok, Tom. I'm hearing you say this isn't a subtle projector. For sure an ND2 filter would tame the beast the first couple hundred hours. So what we've got here is an animation-friendly PJ? It's still got me curious to see what it can do after being dialed in nicely.

So here's my money question: Does it hurt to watch? Neither of us is particularly rainbow-afflicted, but have you gotten that H31/SP4805 type fatigue watching the HD65?

Why 8 hours? I would think that the bulb would reach its maximum temperature long before 8 hours. Once at normal operating temperature, I don't see how the length of run time would make any difference at all. It's not as if the bulb temperature is going to keep increasing ad infinitum.


On a somewhat thread-related note, is there any difference in the long-term longevity between LCD and DLP based projectors? I am planning my first home projector setup and have been reading that some people have had LCD panel issues in their out-of-warranty projectors that has required them to purchase a new unit. Unlike some people here who change their projectors more often than I change the oil in my car, I plan to use the same setup for years to come. $200-$300 bulb replacements I can deal with. $1,000+ projector replacements I can't.


edit - I should have posted here days ago. As usual, the minute I ask a question, I find an answer myself. Although I'm not sure how much of it is propaganda as the source of the information has a definite chance for bias.

http://www.dlp.com/projectors/why.aspx

According to this site, long term testing showed that LCD projectors can experience a significant reduction in contrast ratio and decrease in image uniformity. This tends to make me favor a DLP solution rather than LCD as I am looking for long-term usage.

Have people here noticed real world results that would back up this website's claims?

The same question has been bothering me as well... as my son likes to play video games then decides to do something else just to find out in an hour later he wants to play video games again... So is the "2 hour" cool down or whatever that important that I would want to change from either leaving it on for that time or just tell him sorry you have to wait....
And the DLP vs LCD question I am also curious about as I want to upgrade to the HD65 but am also looking at the Epson 720.. so if DLP is what I want to stick with the HD65 is the one I will get..

Ron: Thanks

Cars - Pixar - 720p
76" widescreen on wall




Kung Fu Panda
Trailer - 720p
76" widescreen on wall








Peter