H56 DLP™ Front Projector
Producing
a large high quality image is the goal of any home theater display. The
challenge is doing it on a limited budget. That's now possible with the
introduction of the new Optoma H56 DLP Home Theater projector listed at
a low price of $4995. The H56 is a compact design that takes advantage
of the latest Texas Instruments Double
Data Rate (DDR) DLP™ Technology for a bright, high contrast picture
and weighs only 6.4 pounds. Even though the unit lacks a handle for true
portability, it's easy to move around due to its light weight. The H56
has a native resolution of 1024 x 768 (XGA) and accepts a variety of different
video inputs including composite, s-video, component and DVI (analog and
digital). Full high-definition scan rates are also supported (1080i and
720p). The H56 supports both Mac and VESA
scan rates up to 1280x1024 with automatic scaling. Standard 480i video
is automatically deinterlaced with the built-in
Silicon Image SiL504 video processor. The
user-replaceable 200 Watt UHP lamp has a 2000 hour life and produces an
impressive 1000 ANSI Lumens with a 2000:1 contrast ratio.
Setup
We mounted the H56 from our ceiling, which requires the projector to be
upside down. There are four standard mounting positions supported (Front/Rear
Desktop or Front/Rear Ceiling) with the H56. Cool air is drawn from the
rear of the unit and exits the front allowing us to mount the projector
close to the back wall. In addition, video cables and the power connection
are located on the side and not on the back of the unit. The image was
projected onto our reference 100-inch Stewart FireHawk filmscreen from
a distance of about 15 feet. Image focus and zoom are fully manual and
is only required during the initial setup. There is no lens shift feature,
so the unit must be moved to the correct height to avoid using the keystone
adjustments. If mounting options are limited, keystone adjustments can
be used to correct for geometry distortions. However, we always try to
avoid this to minimize any degradation to video performance. A tethered
lens cover is included to keep dust and scratches off the optics when
not in use.
The H56 has two screen types to choose from; 4:3 or 16:9. When using the 4:3 screen mode, the user can choose from Native, 4:3 or 16:9 display modes. The 16:9 screen mode has Native, Window, 16:9 and Letterbox display modes. We ran all of our material in the 16:9 Native mode. We had several video sources connected to our H56 review unit. The DVD player used the s-video and component inputs. We also connected a high-definition JVC D-VHS VCR to the VGA input. UltraLink Platinum and Advanced Performance Series Cables were used for all s-video and component video connections. During the course of our review we also connected our Samsung SIR-T165 high-definition terrestrial receiver as well as a Focus Enhancements CS-2 scaler using the DVI input. A five meter Monster Cable M Series M500DVI DVI-D cable was used to interface to the DVI input on the H56. Before getting too far into the review, we tweaked the projector settings and calibrated the color tracking capabilities of the H56.
In
The Lab
We generated test patterns on the H56 using a Sencore VP300 Video Signal
Generator. Color readings were taken with the ColorFacts Display Calibration
System, which uses the GretagMacbeth Eye-One Spectrophotometer. Using
the H56 Cinema image mode and Color Temperature 1 setting,
we calibrated the projector with excellent results. Initially, the video
exhibited a warm look, particularly at low IRE levels, but once calibrated
the picure produced an excellent image. Both the white and black levels
were adjusted for optimal picture quality. Black levels were very good
especially when we used it with the Stewart FireHawk reference screen.
Interfaces
The interfaces on the H56 include a composite and s-video input along
with a standard 15-pin VGA and DVI connector. Component video as well
as RGB video are supported with the VGA and DVI connectors. The DVI connection
is designed to accept both analog and digital video signals. There is
also a 12 volt relay trigger for motorized screen controls. The unit has
no built-in speaker for presentation use, but this is not an issue for
those who plan to use it with a dedicated audio system. The H56 ships
with a variety of cables not normally found with most projectors we've
seen. Cables for composite, s-video and D15-to-DVI are included along
with a D15-to-RCA adapter (for YPrPb).
Remote
The backlit IR remote control has all the functions needed to operate
the projector. The Re-Sync
button automatically synchronizes the projector to the input source. Menu
selections are easy to navigate using the left, right, up, down and enter
buttons. Each of the four video inputs has a dedicated button for fast
and simple access. Brightness, Contrast, Color and Gamma buttons control
the common functions. Zoom Picture, Image Mode and Freeze buttons are
located at the bottom. The Image Mode selects from Cinema, Normal, Vivid,
and two User-defined settings for full control of the picture. Total lamp
hours including hours remaining are displayed under the System menu. We
had absolutely no problem controlling the unit even when pointing the
remote at the Stewart Filmscreen with the projector mounted above us.
A full set
of projector control buttons are also available on the top of the unit.
This is particularly useful when the projector is used in the Front Desktop
installation. Lamp and Temperature indicators are provided and give the
user status of the unit during operation.
Performance
We tried a variety
of material with the H56 including DVD and high-definition material. The
native resolution of the H56 exceeds the best DVD resolution and is actually
quite close to true high-definition. The built-in Silicon Image SIL504
deinterlacing chip is excellent and automatically works with 480i content
from the composite, s-video and component video inputs. We popped in our
Star Trek Insurrection DVD to see how well the deinterlacing worked
on very difficult material. The image processing on 480i content was some
of the best we have seen and the scaling to the native resolution of the
projector resulted in a smooth and natural looking picture. We also watched
scenes from Shakespeare in Love and the colors looked rich and
natural with just the right amount of color saturation.
We moved on to higher quality content begining with 1080i material from our high-definition JVC D-VHS VCR. The D-VHS tape of Bikini Destinations on HDNet is a fine example of very clean video with low noise. Skin tones were amazing to watch (not to mention the beautiful models) with details down to the fine hairs on the skin. The water glistening in the sun almost looked as if you were looking out of a window. We also watched the Tonight Show in high-definition with our SIR-T165 terrestrial receiver and then HBO-HD and HDNet on DirecTV. Once again the picture was truly amazing to watch. It's a completely different experience when watching content in HD. If you haven't experienced high-definition material with a high quality projector, you really are missing out on the best home theater experience. While the H56 is not a true high-definition projector by definition, the resolution is certainly impressive for falling short of the 720p resolution.
Summary
The Optoma H56 is a great performer for the money. The compact design
and excellent video processing electronics makes it a candidate for any
serious home theater installation. While falling a little short of a true
high-definition picture, you may be surprised just how detailed the picture
can be. The H56 is capable of producing 768,432 pixels (1024x768), fairly
close to the 921,600 (720p) resolution offered on many of the high-definition
DLP projectors currently on the market. The result is a picture that can
please most viewers for less than half the price of most high-definition
projectors. If you're considering using a video projector for your home
theater, we would recommend taking a serious look at the Optoma H56 given
its price, performance and features. When combined with a quality screen
like the Stewart FireHawk, the picture is worth every penny.
- Kevin
Nakano