Optima’s HD72 (Optoma HD72 actually) could be thought of as a middle-of-the-road or value-for-money model in Optoma’s 720p high definition (HD) home theater projector range. The HD72’s Texas Instruments DLP technology is in the form of a 0.62 inch DarkChip 2 which brings with it Brilliant Color technology for impressive onscreen colors. The combination of Brilliant Color, a high contrast ratio (3500:1 to 5000:1 with AI) and 1300 lumens brightness is designed to produce images with rich colors and deep blacks.

Optoma HD72 for Business and Pleasure – A Tax Deduction?

Optoma class the HD72 as a home theater projector but, its fairly unique 16:10 aspect ratio gives a 1280×768 resolution as opposed to the common 1280×720 pixels. This gives the business application flexibility of being able to project XGA (1024 x 768) with the projectors native resolution -which will naturally produce a clearer image than one which has been scaled. Being over 7lb the HD72 doesn’t really fit in the portable category but, close enough to be acceptable to many. Its rated noise level of 27dB is a bonus which presenters competing with noisy projectors would appreciate. The 1300 lumens brightness may give some problems with brighter ambient light environments where a large projected image is required. Whether the HD72 rates as a business tax deduction with home entertainment benefits will depend on the individual’s requirements.

Texas Instruments Brilliant Color

Texas Instrument’s Brilliant Color is a brightness improvement and color gamut range enhancement technology. Brightness improvement is achieved by more efficient utilization of the projection lamps light output. Color gamut range improvement is achieved by processing up to six color channels (compared to usual three – red, green and blue) allowing for multi-primary color systems by adding colors such as yellow, cyan and magenta. The result is a wider range of reproducible colors closer to that the human eye can perceive incorporating vivid colors such as yellow and cyan commonly seen in nature.

Another benefit of Brilliant Color technology is more accurate rendering calculations from the use of floating point arithmetic. According to Texas Instruments, this results in less noise and more accurate colors at the display with over 200 trillion color shades being possible.

Optoma have provided an option to set the level of Brilliant Color application for individual taste.

Having a single DLP chip projection engine there is a possibility of rainbow effects however, the chances are smaller than with most DLP projectors as the projector has a 7 segment color wheel.

Contrast Ratio Boost with Image AI

Optoma’s AI technology increases the contrast ratio by varying the lamp output in response to the level of video source luminance. Lamp power is boosted for bright scenes (outside in bright sunshine) and reduced for dark scenes (indoors). The technology produces the same effect as other projector manufacturers dynamic iris technology which works by blocking light.

Video Processing

Conversion of all incoming video signals to the native resolution of a particular display requires the incorporation of a video-processing chip. A secondary but, equally important, task of the video processor is the enhancement of images to remove any artifacts which may have come from resolution conversion or video transmission. As a consequence of its vital role, the video processing chip can have a dramatic effect on picture quality. It is even more important with larger displays as they will naturally magnify and image defects which may be present in lower resolution video sources. The Optoma HD72 has Faroudja image processing technology with a 10bit processing rate. Faroudja, a subsidiary of Genesis Microchip Inc, developed its DCDi technology to produce a superior image quality. More detail on Faroudja capabilities can be found in our review of the BenQ W10000 DLP projector.

Projector Setup

The Optoma HD72 has a 1.2:1 manual zoom lens which will provide some setup flexibility. For squaring the image there is horizontal and vertical keystone correction (no lens shift). However for a permanent installation it would be best to position the projector to avoid digital keystone correction as it can introduce undesirable artifacts into the projected image. Ceiling mounting is probably the best option for permanent mounting while there is a threaded bush for connecting a tripod which would make shifting height and location for a temporary setup that much easier.

The backlit remote control will be appreciated in the low ambient light environment of a home theater.

The Optoma HD72 comes with a 2 years limited parts and labor warranty on the projector and 90 days on the lamp.

Other Home Theater Projectors to Consider

Optoma offer the lower specification HD70 which has a native 720p (1280×720) resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Brightness 1000 ANSI lumens and contrast are also down slightly from the HD72. If cost is an issue and business use is not required it would be worth considering.

Those considering this home theater could have a look at the Panasonic PT-AX100U which has 2000 ANSI lumens of brightness combined with a contrast ratio of 6000:1 and a more powerful video processor.

Another DLP projector is the BenQ PE7700 which has BrilliantColor technology, a high brightness of 3200 ANSI lumens and a long lamp life of up to 4000 hours.

Resources

Projection Screen Selection

8 Tips to Extend Projector Lamp Life

Replacement Projector Lamps and Bulbs

User Reviews and Price Comparisons

Optoma HD72 720p DLP Home Theater Projector

Lamp Module HD72

Projector-Gear Projector Ceiling Mount fits OPTOMA HD72 Projectors

HD72 DLP 1300 LUMENS WXGA 7 LBS

Optoma HD72 DLP Home Theater Projector HD72

Optoma Home Theater HD72 Digital Projector

Optoma HD72 0.65″ DarkChip2 DLP Technology Home Theater Projector

Optoma HD72 HD DLP Home Theater Projector Specification

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