Review: Optoma EP1960 high-definition projector

With high-definition (HD) video becoming more prevalent and widescreen content everywhere, there are plenty of reasons to want a widescreen projector both in and outside of the home theatre market.

Windows Vista is optimised for widescreen operation and wide-aspect displays are now the norm on notebook PCs. If you’re presenting from such a PC, then it’s great to have a projected image that’s the same shape as the screen you’re used to working on.

Despite its name, the EP1690 uses the 16:10 aspect ratio found in widescreen PC monitors rather than the 16:9 shape used in HDTV. The reason for this is that the standard 4:3 1,024x768 ratio fits nicely onto a 1,280x768 screen, but rather horribly onto a 1,280x720 display.

To fit a native 720p resolution in a 4:3 aspect ratio without scaling the image would require you to run at 960x720, which isn’t a resolution your PC is likely to support.

Although it’ll work quite happily in the home and is HD-ready, the EP1690 is a thoroughly business-oriented projector. The first giveaway is the large IR remote controller with a built-in laser pointer and PC mouse control.

It also has a higher brightness output that a typical home cinema product. Although it uses the same Texas Instruments Darkchip 2 DLP chip found in many consumer products it incorporates a four-segment colour wheel containing a large white segment - this boosts light output at the expense of some colour fidelity.

With a maximum light output of 2,500 lumens, the EP1690 is more suitable for well-lit environments such as boardrooms. While it’s quite capable of displaying high-definition video, the image quality of such material is noticeably inferior to Optoma’s home cinema projectors due to the relative lack of colour saturation and contras t. Home cinema projectors, however, require much darker environments due to their reduced brightness.

The on-screen menu system is well laid out and easy to use, offering fine control over all aspects of image production. They include the ability to tweak the colours individually as well as select preset modes for different uses such as presentations and watching video.

Each of the four corners of the projector has a height adjustment, with quick drop-down feet at the front and screw-type adjustments at the back for fine tuning. Digital vertical keystone adjustment is also available.

Both HDMI and Component video inputs are noticeable by their absence, although you can get around these limitations with the use of adapters, and the DVI-D port is HDCP-compliant, ensuring compatibility with upcoming commercial HD formats.

You also get VGA and audio pass-through connectors along with dual, switchable VGA inputs, which are more suited to business applications. A shoulder bag is included in the package, along with a selection of adapters and cables.

The Optoma EP1690 serves its purpose in bringing quality widescreen projections to the boardroom, but those after a home cinema projector will want to opt for a more consumer-oriented model.

Also consider:
Infocus IN76
A distinctive-looking DLP projector for home theatre environments

Benq MP770
A compact and powerful projector with plenty of contrast and good colour reproduction

Sharp XV-Z3000
Project high-definition video from a variety of sources with this stylish DLP model

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