Optoma HD73

By Fred Jonathan

August 2007

Optoma HD73 DLP projector. $4595

I have been a keen supporter of the DLP form of projection from the inception of the format. The Optoma HD73 is a native 720p projector and is a very good example of the development of the single chip form. The HD73 is based on the Texas Instruments ‘DarkChip3’ DLP chipset and includes the latest colour processing technologies ‘BrilliantColor’ and ‘TrueVivid’ colour management. A 5x speed colour wheel (RGBGRGB)

The projected images are excellent in many respects when compared to my reference projector (Sony VPH1251 set to project 720p) that was very interesting indeed. The images were very much the same with the HD73 having a sharper image on screen, the depth of colour and contrast being quite similar to the Sony projector.

The screen size is 2600x1500mm. This quite a large screen and was filled by the Optoma HD73 without problems. This size of screen would display any shortcomings from this DLP projector.

The DMD is a 1280x768 device, with the projector having selectable screen ratio of 16x10 and 16x9. All viewing was done at the 16x9, 720p setting. The light output is 1100 ANSI at the highest level and reduces to around 600 ANSI in Cinema mode. The contrast ratio is stated as 4500:1, but in the Cinema mode 6000:1.

I carried out this review firstly with a DVD player directly feed directly into the HD73. Then I fed the DVD signal via a Lumagen scaler. The added advantage of an external scaler is the ability to output a 720p (1280x720) 60Hz image.

The DVD’s viewed during the review where Monsters Inc, Star Wars Episode 3, The Fifth Element, the Avia test disc and various demo discs. These are the standard DVD titles I use for set-ups.

The images of the THX test patterns on the head of Monsters Inc were excellent, as were the images in the movie. With The Fifth Element I got sucked into the whole movie and not experienced virtually no rainbow effects at all.

The most interesting sequence I have found for testing for rainbows is the opening battle sequence of Star Wars Episode 3. With so much fast action on screen is a good test for any DLP projector. The HD73 was the best I have seen from a DLP projector handling of this scene. Not only was the action full-on, the depth of the image was simply excellent.

The HD73 handled all of the Test Patterns from the AVIA Test DVD with hands down, very clean indeed no real or visible video artefacts.

The setting throughout the screen test for this review was in the Cinema Mode (Image AI). The contrast at 6000:1 and light output around 500 ANSI. This projector is intended for movie viewing in a darken Home Cinema setting.

At full light output setting at 1100 ANSI with the contrast ratio reducing to 4500:1 and is simply not suitable for Home Cinema use. However this level of brightness is perfect for data projection.

An interesting feature of the HD73 is the ability stretch the picture upwards in the letterbox mode allowing for an anamorphic attachment to be added. The result would that the screen image would be a 2.40:1 ratio on screen at the same height as the 1.78:1 screen.

At $4595 the HD73 is an excellent choice, if you like viewing movie in a cinema like environment.

Simply, if you find you can be transported away into a movie, then something must be doing its job well. This is what we found with the HD73, it just did that.

The performance of this projector was very pleasing indeed. An excellent projector, highly recommended.

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