Posted on September 2, 2005 By Art Feierman
This is the finished review (following three earlier preliminary reviews) of theOptoma H78DC3 home theater projector (with Darkchip3 DLP processor). The Optoma H78DC3 is the first low cost (typically selling for around $4000 as of this update on 10/26/05) DLP projector to offer the new DarkChip3 DLP processor, which provides significantly improved contrast ratios and much better shadow detail. The next two lowest cost DC3 projectors are Optoma’s own H79, and InFocus’s Screenplay 7210. Both sell for $5000 plus, and command significantly higher prices from local install dealers than the limited number of online resellers that have access to those two products.
The H78DC3 claims 800 lumens, and it claims a 4000:1 contrast ratio. In the Projector Performance – Image Quality section, I have posted a number if images shot from DVD on the H78DC3 projector – after calibration was completed. However, because of all the questions I am getting about how it stacks up against the competition – both more, and less, expensive, I first shot a great many “side-by-side” images before calibrating. Out of the box the H78DC3 projector has a a slightly greenish caste, but I assumed that the calibration would fix (as it did) Those comparison shots are against the BenQ PE7700 projector and the very expensiveMarantz VP12S4 projector, and are found below the H78DC3 images shot after calibration.
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