Optoma HD81 1080p DLP High Definition Home Theater Projector

by Optoma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 5 inches ; 10 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 27 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000J1DLW4
• Item model number: HD81
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,594 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

The Optoma HD81 combines the finest 1080p DLP® home theater projector with a studio-quality imaging processor. Featuring Texas Instruments' DarkChip3¿ technology, the HD81 offers a superb projection solution. The HD81's two-piece design delivers remarkable, personalized adjustment setting to achieve deeper blacks, higher precision and brilliant high-contrast images.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great when it works!, February 11, 2008

By 

Ken Gruenemeier - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Optoma HD81 1080p DLP High Definition Home Theater Projector (Electronics)

I bought this projector and scaler back in March 2007. I had it just over 3 months when it developed a problem. It was coming up with a lamp error although it was still putting out light. Even though Optoma originally told me that it was a lamp problem, it was not. I had to send it in to Malpitas, CA to have it fixed. I had to pay for shipping (because it was days older than it's poor 3 month full warranty) and insurance. I received it back and it worked but had a "fuzzy" inside now that created an abberation when projected. Through many air blowings I finally dislodged the "fuzzy".

The picture quality is amazing and the scaler does a great job. The 2 separate components work well and minimize wires and cords. I am very happy with this product when it works.

Although the projector had just been fixed in July 2007 and it is now February 2008 (as of this writing) I am having another problem. I have had a few that I have been able to remedy on my own. The picture sometimes will go black after changing a video source and I must re- punch the video source to get it back. However, the projector now turns on with everything working well. I see the Optoma logo then get the "processing" message and even see my DishNet main screen. Then the screen goes blank and the projector get a blinking red flashing error message which means a lamp failure. It can't be a lamp failure when it gets a picture, can it? It came up as a lamp failure in July when the problem happenned before and it wasn't a lamp problem then either.

What is going on? Does Optoma only give a 3 month full warranty on this because it knows it is an inferior product in terms of reliability?

I would hesitate to purchase this product. Maybe this is unfair, but I've had a Toshiba TV for 20 years without ANY incident and a Panasonic plasma for 3 years without incident. But this projector has already had 2 major incidents within a year. Yikes!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good 1080p projector, March 31, 2008

By 

Trap Shooter "Bullseye" (Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Optoma HD81 1080p DLP High Definition Home Theater Projector (Electronics)

The image from this HD81 projector from a 1080p source is stunning and with so much details. The 720p/1080i images are likewise very detailed and incredible. The connectivity is just so flexible and convenient due to the outboard scaler unit. Speaking of scaler, it's a like a high end scaler capable of de-interlacing 480i materials flawlessly. Even my old laserdisc is looking good with this projector.

There's some noise from the fan but it is not enough to be distracting.

The only problem I had was after about 200 hours, I started to see two white pixels on my screen. Later I found out that this is the dreaded stuck pixel but known as a stuck mirror for DLP units. Fortunately, my unit is still on warranty and I just sent mine for repair to Optoma after obtaining an RMA.

I would have given this product a five star if only there was no issue with the stuck dlp mirrors.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Reliable, August 7, 2009

By 

Zachary Brooks (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Optoma HD81 1080p DLP High Definition Home Theater Projector (Electronics)

I purchased this unit in August of 2007. It produces an outstanding picture when it works, but has been returned to CA for repair twice - both times resulting in multiple weeks without the unit.

The unit overheats in the cabinet we had built for it (we have had extra fans installed, special air conditioning and still can't close the front of the cabinet) and shuts down.

Twice we have had major failures - where the unit will come on briefly, then shut down with error codes that can't be fixed by the end user. Twice we have had to send the unit back to CA and both times the process to get Optoma to accept the unit was time consuming and arduous. The first time they even "rejected" the return - sending it back to us un-opened and un-repaired because they said it was not an authorized repair - even though the RMA (their number for authorized returns) was printed in huge block letters on the outside of the box.

I am going to have to go to the expense of replacing this unit with a more reliable projector.