Optoma Spans Home Theater Spectrum

Optoma’s got home theater covered, from entry-level front projection to what is arguably the best widescreen image at CES.

 

The Milpitas, CA-company has introduced its $1000 DV-11 MovieTime projector. Featuring a built-in DVD player, the compact little projector boasts some impressive specifications, including Texas Instruments’ DarkChip2 DLP technology, 1300 ANSI Lumens light output, 2500:1 contrast ratio, and the ability to create images from 36-inch diagonally to 335 inches. The DV-11 also has a pair of inboard 5-watt speakers for impromptu movie viewing.

At the other end of the scale, Optoma is demonstrating its monster BigVizio. At 120-inch diagonally, the BigVizio is a real crowd pleaser, keeping the aisles clogged here at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

 

The true showstopper, however, is Optoma’s state-of-the-art HD81 DLP projector with new BX-AL133 anamorphic lens. An aspect ratio detector automatically selects 16:9 or 2.35:1 images and sends a 12V trigger signal to a “sled� device that moves the lens into or out of position as needed. On a 170-inch -diagonal screen, Optoma is running a Blu-ray clip of an elaborate scene from Phantom of the Opera, with stunning motion, gorgeous colors, and wonderful shadow detail. It’s the best thing we’ve seen at this show—so compelling, in fact, that Video Editor Scott Wilkinson agreed we could stay in Optoma’s theater and watch it all day. That’s quite a compliment given the level of competition for our attention here in Las Vegas. The HD81/BX-AL133 combo will retail for approximately $10,000, according to announcements made here.

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