Product face-offs
Optoma HD720X
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| Technology | DLP | ||
| Resolution | 1280 x 720 pixels | ||
| Brightness | 1000 lumens | ||
| Contrast | 3000:1 | ||
| Lamp life | 3000 h | ||
| Sound level | 28 dB | ||
| Price of lamp | 299 € | ||
HD70 or HD720X?
With a 6 month interval between tests, it’s difficult to evaluate the HD720X compared to the HD70. My opinion is that the two projectors are very close in terms of sharpness while color rendering differs. The HD70 is less soft in terms of contrast and colors and all the resulting variations that go along with this (orange shades are reddish). The HD720X is softer and for this reason wins my preference compared to the HD70 and even the HD800X.
The rest is strictly identical, from the remote to connectivity. My recommendation is therefore the following: If you are hesitating between the two models, take the less expensive. Be careful as the HD720X should be cheaper (recommended price of 699€) but this is not automatically the case. Shortages can sometimes affect prices with some retailers.
Florent Alzieu
Test date: 2008-01-17
Test date: 2008-01-17
Launched last October, the Optoma HD720X is an HD Ready 720p Home Cinema projector only available via on-line distribution. This model is announced as a lighter version of the HD70 with the only difference being a contrast ratio that changes from 4000:1 to 3000:1.
In appearance, only the color of the body changes compared to the HD70. For connectivity, it’s strictly identical with a (mere) single digital HDMI, VGA and component YUV. The remote is also similar being simple, back lit and with sufficient shortcuts for rapid selection of the source and format. As usual with DLP projectors, there is no lens-shift and the level of zoom is weak. It allows varying the projection zone from 1.83 to 2.14m at a distance of 3 meters from the wall. One last point here was a high noise level measured at 30.5 dB in economy mode.
Entry level ergonomics. What about image quality?
To compare this projector, we had to find a fair opponent. By chance, at the time of testing we had an EMP-TWD10 from Epson (a tri-LCD). While it is more expensive, we have to mention the integrated DVD player and speakers; however, in terms of projection, they are both in the entry level for their respective technologies enabling an interesting comparison. When we see their images, it’s evident the approach of the two manufacturers is very different. Epson better masters video noise while the Optoma has the advantage of respecting a movie’s original colors (Epson’s rendering is reddish). Darker zones are very washed out for the Japanese manufacturer. Optoma also added superior sharpness although it’s far from what we find with its bigger brother, the HD800X.
Rainbow effect
As is always the case for DLP projectors, it’s important to address the subject of the rainbow effect (see the Introduction of the product survey for an explanation of this phenomenon). These effects are particularly noticeable in black and white and occasionally in color sequences. Compared to the HD800X, tested at the same time as the HD720X, the level of "rainbow effect" is clearly more significant.
In appearance, only the color of the body changes compared to the HD70. For connectivity, it’s strictly identical with a (mere) single digital HDMI, VGA and component YUV. The remote is also similar being simple, back lit and with sufficient shortcuts for rapid selection of the source and format. As usual with DLP projectors, there is no lens-shift and the level of zoom is weak. It allows varying the projection zone from 1.83 to 2.14m at a distance of 3 meters from the wall. One last point here was a high noise level measured at 30.5 dB in economy mode.
Entry level ergonomics. What about image quality?
To compare this projector, we had to find a fair opponent. By chance, at the time of testing we had an EMP-TWD10 from Epson (a tri-LCD). While it is more expensive, we have to mention the integrated DVD player and speakers; however, in terms of projection, they are both in the entry level for their respective technologies enabling an interesting comparison. When we see their images, it’s evident the approach of the two manufacturers is very different. Epson better masters video noise while the Optoma has the advantage of respecting a movie’s original colors (Epson’s rendering is reddish). Darker zones are very washed out for the Japanese manufacturer. Optoma also added superior sharpness although it’s far from what we find with its bigger brother, the HD800X.
Rainbow effect
As is always the case for DLP projectors, it’s important to address the subject of the rainbow effect (see the Introduction of the product survey for an explanation of this phenomenon). These effects are particularly noticeable in black and white and occasionally in color sequences. Compared to the HD800X, tested at the same time as the HD720X, the level of "rainbow effect" is clearly more significant.
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Compact
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Recommended price of 699 Euros
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Complete and backlit remote
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Colors are softer than those of the HD70
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Noise level: 30.5 dB
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No lens shift
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Weak zoom
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Minimal connectivity
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Rainbow effect in B&W sequences
For this price, it’s hard to resist the HD. Even if the HD720X is not free of defects (noise, rainbow effects, etc.), it’s still a great deal in the domain of home video projection.
