Optoma HD25 and HD25-LV Projectors Review
Optoma HD25 and HD25-LV Projectors
Summary
- Product Name: HD25 and HD25-LV Projectors
- Manufacturer: Optoma
- Review Date: July 25, 2013 07:40
- MSRP: $950 (HD25), $1300 (HD25-LV)
- First Impression: Pretty Cool
HD25
- Display Technology: Single 0.65ʺ DC3 DMD DLP Technology by Texas Instruments
- Native Resolution: HD 1920 x 1080
- Maximum Resolution: WUXGA 1920 x 1200
- Brightness: 2000 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1 (full on/full off)
- Displayable Colors: 1.07 Billion
- Lamp Life and Type: 6000/5000/3500 Hours (ECO+/ECO/normal)
- Projection Method: Front, rear, ceiling mount, table top
- Keystone Correction: ±20° Vertical
- Uniformity: >80%
- Offset: 116%
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Native, 4:3 compatible
- Throw Ratio: 1.5–1.8 (distance/width)
- Projection Distance: 3.9ʹ–32.8ʹ (1.5–10 m)
- Image Size (Diagonal): 37.6ʺ–301.1ʺ (0.7–7.62 m)
- Projection Lens: F=2.55–2.86, f=22.37–26.73 mm, 1.2x manual zoom and focus
- Zoom: 1.0 ~ 2.0
- Audio: 10-Watt stereo speaker system
- Noise Level: 26dB
- Remote Control: Backlit IR remote control
- Operating Temperature: 41–113°F (5–45°C), 85% max humidity
- Power Supply: AC Input 100–240V, 50–60Hz, auto-switching
- Power Consumption: Max 339W (Normal), Min 241W (Eco+), <0.5W (standby-ECO)
- Computer Compatibility: WUXGA, UXGA, SXGA+, WXGA+, WXGA, SXGA, XGA, SVGA, VGA resized, VESA, PC and Macintosh compatible
- Video Input Compatibility: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, SDTV (480i), EDTV (480p), HDTV (720p, 1080i/p)
- 3D Compatibility: Supports all HDMI 1.4a mandatory 3D format, side-by-side format and top and bottom format. 3D glasses are needed and sold separately.
- Vertical Scan Rate: 24–85Hz, 120Hz
- Horizontal Scan Rate: 15.375–91.146KHz
- User Controls: Complete on-screen menu, adjustments in 28 languages
- I/O Connectors: Two HDMI v1.4a, two VGA-in, VGA-out, 3D VESA Port, composite video, two audio-in, audio-out, RS-232C, USB-B
- Loop Through: Monitor: D-Sub 15 pin VGA output (functional in both normal and standby modes)
- Audio: VAO audio out, HDMI VAO audio out supported (VAO in normal mode, fixed in Standby)
- Security: Kensington lock, security bar and keypad lock
- Weight: 6.4 lb (3.1 kg)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 12.7ʺ x 3.8ʺ x 9.2ʺ
- Warranty: 1-Year Limited Parts and Labor, 90-Days on Lamp
- What's in the Box: AC power cord, remote control, batteries for remote, lens cap, multilingual CD-ROM user’s manual, quick start card, and warranty card
- Optional Accessories: HDMI cable, ceiling mount, component to VGA cable, composite video cable, RS-232 cable, Optoma screen, RF 3D glasses, RF 3D emitter, DLP Link 3D glasses
HD25-LV
- Display Technology: Single 0.65ʺ DC3 DMD DLP Technology by Texas Instruments
- Native Resolution: HD 1920 x 1080
- Maximum Resolution: WUXGA 1920 x 1200
- Brightness: 3200 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 20,000:1 (full on/full off)
- Displayable Colors: 1.07 Billion
- Lamp Life and Type: 6000/3500 Hours (ECO/normal) 240W Philips
- Projection Method: Front, rear, ceiling mount, table top
- Keystone Correction: ±20° Vertical
- Uniformity: >80%
- Offset: 116%
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Native, 4:3 compatible
- Throw Ratio: 1.5–1.8 (distance/width)
- Projection Distance: 3.9ʹ–32.8ʹ (1.5–10 m)
- Image Size (Diagonal): 37.6ʺ–301.1ʺ (0.7–7.62 m)
- Projection Lens: F=2.55–2.86, f=22.37–26.73 mm, 1.2x manual zoom and focus
- Zoom: 1.0 ~ 2.0
- Audio: 16-Watt stereo speaker system
- Noise Level: 26dB
- Remote Control: Backlit IR remote control
- Operating Temperature: 41–113°F (5–45°C), 85% max humidity
- Power Supply: AC Input 100–240V, 50–60Hz, auto-switching
- Power Consumption: Max 339W (Normal), Min 241W (Eco+), <0.5W (standby-ECO)
- Computer Compatibility: WUXGA, UXGA, SXGA+, WXGA+, WXGA, SXGA, XGA, SVGA, VGA resized, VESA, PC and Macintosh compatible
- Video Input Compatibility: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, SDTV (480i), EDTV (480p), HDTV (720p, 1080i/p)
- 3D Compatibility: Supports all HDMI 1.4a mandatory 3D format, side-by-side format and top and bottom format. 3D glasses are needed and sold separately.
- Vertical Scan Rate: 24–85Hz, 120Hz
- Horizontal Scan Rate: 15.375–91.146KHz
- User Controls: Complete on-screen menu, adjustments in 28 languages
- I/O Connectors: HDMI v1.4a, two VGA-in, VGA-out, 3D VESA Port, composite video, two audio-in, audio-out, RS-232C, USB-B
- Loop Through: Monitor: D-Sub 15 pin VGA output (functional in both normal and standby modes) VAO audio out, HDMI VAO audio out supported (VAO in normal mode, fixed in Standby)
- Security: Kensington lock, security bar and keypad lock
- Weight: 6.4 lb (3.1 kg)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 12.7ʺ x 3.8ʺ x 9.2ʺ
- Warranty: 1-Year limited Parts and Labor, 90-Days on Lamp
- What's in the Box: AC power cord, remote control, batteries for remote, lens cap, multilingual CD-ROM user’s manual, quick start card, and warranty card
- Optional Accessories: HDMI cable, ceiling mount, component to VGA cable, composite video cable, RS-232 cable, Optoma screen, RF 3D glasses, RF 3D emitter, DLP Link 3D glasses
We're no strangers to Optoma projectors. Today I'm looking at the HD25 and the HD25LV-two 3D 1080p models that just came to market. We've reviewed the HD65, the HD20, the HD72...and the HD33 among others. That last model came out a couple years ago and presented a real bargain for a 3D 1080p projector. Two things have happened since then which have changed the marketplace: one, there is a lot more competition. New products from BenQ and Epson, among others, are starting to be felt in the budget-projector market. Second, the desire for 3D capabilities has gone down-following the expiration of the artificially-generated hype. Don't believe me? ESPN actually shut down its three-year-old 3D sports channel this month citing "limited consumer adoption of 3D services to the home." Good riddance. As if to prove my point, for 3D Optoma requires the use of an RF emitter and 3D glasses, two items that are conspicuously NOT included.
So where's the good news in this? Well, namely that in the pursuit of 3D Optoma had to provide brighter projectors to compensate for the use of the shutter glasses. That means brighter and more powerful projectors have finally hit economy of scale. The HD25 and HD25-LV are prime examples of that.
Optoma's new projectors have a lot of great features that make them a real bargain—like 2000 lumens of light output and dual HDMI inputs, some features you'll never use—like built-in speakers, and some features we wish it had—like vertical lens shift. The HD25-LV bumps your light output to 3200 lumens and both models offer an impressive 6000 hours of lamp life in eco mode. Installation for either is simple if you have freedom of placement. The projectors have a relatively limited throw ratio (1.5 - 1.8), so if you have a 100" screen you'll need to mount between 10 and 13 feet away in order to fill it. Noise is about average for this price point, and you're likely to hear the fan during quiet parts of a movie.
Optoma HD25 and HD25-LV
On the whole, though, the HD25 offers quite a lot for the price—which is just around $950. The brighter HD25-LV goes for around $1300. As I mentioned, you get two HDMI inputs, but you also get dual VGA/component inputs and a composite if you become desperate. The analogue inputs are odd in a budget projector, but they do extend the use of the HD25 to legacy office applications.
Optoma HD25 inputs
These are remarkably accurate projectors out of the box. Both use a single 0.65" Texas Instruments DC3 DLP chip which we've found to be an excellent platform and one that was limited to higher end projectors several years ago. Grayscale was definitely in the ballpark, and with the menu system I was able to calibrate it further, including tweaking the color gamut (You can adjust Hue, Saturation and Gain for all colors.) Speaking of the menu, I found it fairly easy to navigate using the four primary iconic sections: Image, Display, Setup and Options. I actually like the remote, which is fully backlit, uses icons on the surface of the buttons and provides direct access to all inputs.
Optoma HD25 remote control
For my viewing tests I put several movies up on this projector, including Iron Man 2, The Avengers and X-Men First Class (Are you sensing a pattern here?) Black levels were good for this price, and the grayscale was definitely well-defined and smooth. Colors also pop with this projector and images had a lot of depth. I didn't test 3D because, well, I hate active 3D (though I like 3D on the big screen, and besides-as I mentioned, Optoma didn't include any glasses).
Optoma HD25 top panel
Let me conclude this review by saying that both the HD25 and the HD25LV are excellent projectors and real bargains for what they deliver. If you can't get perfect placement in your room or can't meet the 108% offset then you may need to consider a model with vertical lens shift. For color, calibration and pure value, these projectors are an easy recommendation.
Our question for this video is this: Do you watch 3D in your home? If you do, how often? Let us know by commenting on this video in our YouTube channel YouTube.com/AudioholicsLive or by visiting our Facebook page at Facebook.com/Audioholics. You'll be glad you did.
PS. You know you want to go to TomAndry.com
Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.
Clint Deboer was terminated from Audioholics for misconduct on April 4th, 2014. He no longer represents Audioholics in any fashion.
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