Optoma HD20, 1080p for $999.

[Hdale85]

So obviously it's not going to be an amazing projector but the reviews I've read from users seem to be pretty favorable. I may just pick one of these up just to give it another year to see what the sub 2k projector arena holds then. Looks like a very decent place holder.

1700 Lumens
500:1 ANSI Contrast Ratio
4000:1 Full On/Off Contrast ratio
1920x1080 with a refresh rate between 24 and 85hz

So it does support 24p but I don't believe the internal scaler up converts 24 to something higher like 72. So if you run 24p from a Blu-ray player you may notice flickering but if you run blu-ray from an HTPC then you can output a custom resolution with 72hz or something and have a very nice image.

http://www.optomausa.com/Product_detail.asp?productsubcat=3&productcategory=Home+Theater&product_id=425&itemno=EPHD20

[George Bellefontaine]

Good price. I've just never heard much good about Optoma. But for under a grand, it's probably worth the risk. If I was going to buy, which I am not, then I would want to see it demoed.

[Hdale85]

What have you heard bad about Optoma? I've seen many happy customers and I owned one of their older projectors before and it was fantastic. Their customer service is amazing as well.

[Dean McManis]

I've heard generally good things about Optoma.
And this level of 1080p projector for a watershed, sub-$1K price is impressive. :T
If you said to someone two years ago that you would be able to buy a 1080p projector with these specs for only $1K, most people would have laughed at you. :rofl:

[George Bellefontaine]

The things I heard about Optoma were not here but at another site where many owners of a particular model cited the many problems they encountered, including poor customer service. But that's all heresay. You pays your money and you takes your chances. For under 1K it isn't that great a risk compared a unit that sells for 3 or 4K. But again I repeat that I would want to see this latest Optoma unit demoed. For that kind of money, there has to be cost cutting measures.

[Bent]

I'd try it - but the spec that sticks out to me is the light weight...
IIRC, it's just over 6 pounds... That's not a whole lot of chassis.

but then again, 400 hours for 999.00 - I say give er,

[Hdale85]

400 hours?

[George Bellefontaine]

400 hours?

I think Bent just mistakenly left off a zero

[Hdale85]

Yeah that's what I figured after I thought about it

[Bent]

And sometimes I add extra characters too, LOL.

thanks, I did mean 4000 hours.

[Hdale85]

So just found out that BenQ is also releasing the W1000 which is a full 1080p projector for 1299 MSRP. There is also a Vivitek model that is going to be 999 but it kind of looks like it's the same as the Optoma just rebadged.

http://benq.com/products/Projector/?product=1574

[George Bellefontaine]

So just found out that BenQ is also releasing the W1000 which is a full 1080p projector for 1299 MSRP. There is also a Vivitek model that is going to be 999 but it kind of looks like it's the same as the Optoma just rebadged.

Great time for anyone eager to enter the full 1080p world of front projection. The Benq sounds interesting. I love my W10000 and doubt if this cheaper model will have all the features of the W10K, but it should be a great entry model.

[Hdale85]

Yeah I don't expect any of them to really perform on par with these current leaders but they offer some great bang per buck performance. Biggest difference it seems though is really only the black level and generally that's due to the lack of an auto-iris. From the reviews I've seen they are pretty darn close in other aspects like sharpness, color, uniformity, and even ANSI contrast.

[Spanky Ham]

There is also a Vivitek model that is going to be 999 but it kind of looks like it's the same as the Optoma just rebadged.

http://benq.com/products/Projector/?product=1574

Umm, that is the other way around.

[Dean McManis]

I'm holding out for a $1K 1080p projector with an LED light source, great contrast, black levels, and 600+ ANSI lumens. :T

[Hdale85]

Umm, that is the other way around.

Not saying you're wrong but what gives you the impression that it's a Vivitek projector rebadged as an Optoma? I haven't heard of Optoma doing this before so just a bit curious.

[wettou]

I'm holding out for a $1K 1080p projector with an LED light source, great contrast, black levels, and 600+ ANSI lumens. :T

In ten years

[Burke Strickland]

In ten years

The way things are moving, it may just be ten months

[Hdale85]

Well supossedly the new w30000 is supposed to msrp at $7,000 which is less the half the price of the only other dlp led projector. I suspect this time next year we will hear about sub 4k dollar led units

[BlazeMaster]

I've owned 2 Optoma entry level projectors in the past. The first one was a 480P and now at 720P, and was very happy with both of them during my time with them. I'm using the HD70 right now and it's been a great projector. I can't see myself upgrading until there's a 1080p DLP in the sub $5k range.

[Hdale85]

I'm guessing you mean LED DLP because there are plenty of 1080p DLP's sub 5k.