The Optoma HD146X ($549) is Optoma's least expensive 1080p home entertainment projector. Compared with other entry-level projectors, such as the BenQ TH585 and the ViewSonic PX701HD, it lacks a few features. Most notably, it has only one HDMI port instead of two, and there's no image shift to match the picture position to the screen for easier setup. However, it has the same 3,500-ANSI-lumen brightness rating. And when all three are compared as they come out of the box, without setting adjustments, the HD146X delivers the best balance of color accuracy, contrast, black level, and three-dimensionality for video and movies. Design and Setup Unlike its head-to-head competitors from BenQ and ViewSonic, which have 1,920-by-1,200-pixel DLP chips used for 1080p resolution with room for image shift, the HD146X uses a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel DLP chip. Like them, it has a six-panel color wheel. The HD146X's wheel is red-yellow-green-cyan-white-blue (RYGCWB), with a white panel to increase brig...
The Optoma HD146X home entertainment projector delivers an impressive picture for the price by cutting corners that don't affect image quality. If you can do without multiple ports and good onboard audio, it's a bargain for watching movies as well as gaming.
Excellent color accuracy, contrast, and black level for the price; Image feels three-dimensional; High brightness designed to stand up to ambient light; Fast input lag; Full HD 3D support
Only one HDMI port; USB port is only for power out; Onboard audio is poor; Lacks image shift for setup