Optoma HD25
Price: $1,200
Rating: 4/5
Unveiled earlier in the year, the Optoma
HD25 certainly impresses on paper. Adding to the firm’s range of DLP
projectors, the new HD25 boasts Full HD resolution, 3D, a built-in 10W speaker,
two HDMI inputs, a pair of 3D glasses and a backlit remote.
But does it deliver on performance? It
certainly does: starting off with 2D picture, the HD25 is confident and
comfortable, displaying a well-balanced picture that’s pleasant to watch.
There’s great clarity, with no noticeable noise across the screen remarkable
for a $1,200 projector.
There’s enough detail on offer to convey
different textures confidently: the dirt and grime is tangible
Easy
to use and capable of vivid, detailed pictures, the HD25 is good value
The HD25 reproduces color with an eager
touch, just short of being too enthusiastic or overblown. Delve into the
‘Image’ settings in the HD25’s menu and make sure you set the Color Temperature
to ‘Medium’ rather than ‘Warm’ – it delivers a more natural palette.
Ignore 2012’s terribly uninspiring reboot
of Total Recall remake, and focus instead on the stunning visuals: the grimy
dystopian underworld with glowing neon lights juxtaposed with the white, clean
lines of the upper-city buildings makes for a great Blu-ray test and the HD25
holds its own. There’s enough detail on offer to convey different textures
confidently; the dirt and grime is as tangible as the glass and metal. In
absolute terms it could do with a splash of subtlety to give it more depth –
the Epson digs deeper and is a more immersive viewing experience thanks to
superior detail levels.
Black levels in the Optoma aren’t as deftly
handled as by the Epson while the contrast of the grey buildings and blinking
yellow lights looks great, some darker patches can get muddled up, with edges
not being as sharply defined or detailed enough to be differentiated. In
comparison, the HD25 may not go as deep into the blacks as the BenQ, but it
does perform favorably when it comes to shadow definition. It is a subtler
performance than the W1070.
The HD25’s built-in 10W speaker’s sound
punchier than the BenQ’s too, though not as expansive as the Epson’s.
Optima
HD25: Smart, compact and well-featured, the HD25 also has keen pricing on its
side
Smooth, if not perfect
When it comes to motion, the HD25 is a
smooth experience. While not perfect, there’s nothing obvious to distract us
from enjoying the movie, whether Blu-ray, DVD or 3D. And speaking of 3D, Optoma
includes a pair of active 3D glasses and an RF emitter with Knight Rider-like
lights. Motion in 3D is still a bit shaky, with hints of judder and layering,
and it will prove wearisome to watch over a long period of time.
Setting up the HD25 is user-friendly: the
on-screen menus are logical, with plenty of scope to make finer adjustments to
the picture – the small remote with a piercing blue backlight is handy to use
in a dark room.
Optoma
includes a pair of active 3D glasses and an RF emitter with Knight Rider-like
lights
There’s plenty to love about the HD25: it’s
an easygoing and pleasant watch with plenty of features for its affordable $1,200.
Yes, it could do with a touch more insight, but it’s an enjoyable projector.
Rating: 4/5
For: Bright, clean image; good level of
detail with a vivid color balance; smooth motion
Against: Not the last word in subtlety; the
slightly hard edge to the sound can be tiring
Verdict: Eager to please and equally
pleasing to watch, the HD25 is a great budget option.
Optoma HD25 specs
·
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
·
Type: DLP
·
3D: Yes – active
·
Rated fan noise: 26dB
·
Throw ratio: 1.5-1.8
·
Max image size: 300in
·
Rated brightness: 2000 lumens
·
HMDI in: 2
·
PC in: 2
·
Audio in: 2
·
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10 x 32 x 23cm
The winner
Epson EH-TW5910 – Rating: 5/5
Standards are creeping up in the
projector market as prices slip down, but nothing fits the budget bill like the
Epson EH-TW5910
Just a handful of years ago, you’d be
hard-pressed to find a projector that performed decently for less than a couple
of thousand pounds. But that’s all changed. Our sub-$1,545 quartet all have
Full HD resolution, twin HDMI inputs, built-in speakers, decent build and – in
the case of three of them – 3D playback.
BenQ’s usually a sure bet when it comes to
budget projectors, but the W1070 faltered the most in terms of absolute picture
quality and 3D viewing – motion issues in particular were the poorest on show.
In comparison, the Optoma HD25 had plenty
to flaunt, with subtler detail in black levels, and a gentler, more comfortable
viewing experience. We preferred the Optoma over the BenQ because of its
smoother motion, and 3D that was easy on the eyes.
The surprise of the lot was the InFocus
IN3118HD, touted as a business projector but delivering home cinema standard
picture performance. We’d be hard-pressed to choose between the InFocus and
Optoma, as both offer fuss-free and enjoyable picture quality that’s just nice
to watch. In the end, we didn’t have to: both achieved four stars and we’d
recommend either heartily.
The
winner is Epson EH-TW5910
But there was only one winner, and a clear
one: the Epson impressed us straight away with its quality build and finish.
And when it came to playing high-def. films, its picture quality blew the
competition away. There’s a great sense of depth to its pictures helped by
layers of subtlety, and it’s also the most watchable. If you’re looking to set
up a dedicated cinema theatre on a budget, this is the one we’d encourage you
to take home – it’s simply brilliant.
