It is every cine enthusiast’s dream to own a projector. After all who wouldn’t want to enjoy their favourite movie played out life-size on their living room walls. But these beasts were always so ridiculously priced that for average joes like Yantrick it was only a wishful thinking to actually purchase one.
But now with renowned projector manufacturer Optoma introducing a range of HD projectors at affordable prices, Yantrick’s dream of enjoying a cinematic experience at home seems much more achievable.
Optoma’s HD131XE is one of the least expensive full HD home entertainment projectors available in the market today. But its low price doesn’t mean Optoma has sacrificed on the quality.
Available in sleek black or white finish, the HD131XE sports a fairly stylish design, and weighing in at just 6.4 pounds and with dimensions of 12.7 x 9.2 x 3.8 inches (LxBxH), it is highly portable, perfect for those always on the move. Connection options at the rear of the HD131XE are aplenty, with 2 HDMI inputs especially handy, and the physical controls sit atop the HD131XE. You also have the option of operating it via a remote control. Once connected and powered on, the on-screen menus are simple and navigation around the menus, and calibration of the projector shouldn’t pose a problem.
Once you plug in your HDMI cable, and start projecting your high-definition content, that is when the magic begins. Projecting at full HD resolutions (1080p), the HD131Xe is what your HD movies and games were made for, especially when you consider the 300 inches (maximum) size images that the HD131Xe is capable of displaying. The HD131Xe’s Digital Light Processing (DLP) with BrilliantColor technology, 2500 lumens brightness, 1.07 billion colours, and an impressive 18000:1 contrast ratio, all contribute to a vivid, clear, crisp and all-round brilliant viewing experience.
The HD131Xe is also 3D compatible. It was tempting to call in sick, stay at home and watch all the 3D blockbusters that I had missed out on.
With a decent lamp-life of 3500 hours (6000 hours in Eco-mode) the HD131Xe will let you enjoy viewing sports, movies and games on a massive screen, and that too at the highest resolutions for years to come.
Yantrick’s Verdict: Retailing for approx. Rs 75,000 Optoma’s HD131Xe projectors is one of the more affordable full-HD projectors available in the market. With the added bonus of 3D compatibility, it serves as an ideal home theatre system centre piece for tech-heads on a budget.