Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector

I was quite unsure of this purchase as most projectors don’t deliver what you want. However, I was super surprised with this. I purchased this with the intention of also purchasing BenQ 2150st as the reviews everywhere say it is much better but it is also $950 or 1000 without the sale. I got this on sale for 768$ and said what the hell. I am a picture quality fanatic and have a QLED monitor therefore can see real difference and will base my review off that and why I decided to keep this and not purchase the BenQ.

Pros:
-Brightness: It delivers during the morning with a pretty good image (can see its off, but it is quite good you wont be disappointed)
– Picture Quality: it is quite good, although if you are a person who appreciates every little detail and is used to a OLED/QOLED screen can tell a wordly difference (however you can’t really compare this to that as you would have to spend $2000 to compare to 4k OLED)
-Features: Really well versed ( I settled on vivid, sharpness 12, contrast -2, brightness (eco most of time to save lamp time, bright when I have people over to experience the most it gives)
-Gaming: I am currently playing Monster Hunter Rise (just came out on PC) and with the game feature on, it is quite amazing. Getting to play a game like that on a 200″ screen blows your mind.
-Portability: I travel a lot and this isn’t too heavy and bulky and can be carried around (although it is also not the smallest)

Cons:
-Noise: If you have this on bright and not eco, man do the fans go off BUT if you have a speaker connected and a movie/show/game is going on you cant really hear it
-Speakers: MUST CONNECT YOUR OWN SPEAKERS, do not rely on what is in the projector what so ever
-Distance: if you don’t have at least 11ft from the wall you are thinking of then don’t purchase this and spend a little more money for BenQ 2150st short throw (it is much better color and screen and can have 100″ with 3ft)
-Heat: As expected, this thing GETS HOT, at least in the Canadian winter you don’t have to turn on the heating :’) my room IS SPICY.
-Connections: Only 1HDMI is quite sad but not the end of the world as you can just replace the wire, meaning I have to get my lazy ass off my comfy chair and do it but this what you get for $768 🙂

Other than those, this thing is quite amazing for the price. While it is not mind blowing the picture quality is really good with its bright display. While BenQ 2050 or 2150st have better color accuracy and image, is it worth the extra money? for me, no I don’t think so as it’ll still be on 1080 HD and this gives you what you want for a much better price. The only reason to go for 2150st is if you MUST have short throw distance. So stop looking at the 100 youtube review posts and just purchase this as you will be very happy watching everything at 100-300″ screen 🙂

I’ve gone through a gamut of projectors over the years starting around 2018 and have found Optoma to strike the chord of affordability and quality.

With that said, this model, the HD146x has a clear, accurate picture, definitely full high definition image.

I had been reluctant to upgrade to 1080p since my 720p Optoma had been doing me good for years. But, for a good price I got the 146x and I can definitely see an increase in clarity from 720p.

Image is bright and brilliant in moderate lighting even while the projector is set to eco mode.

There isn’t much menu settings to tinker with color profiles and such. I’m trying to dial in the contrast and brightness ratio on my set up.

One thing I do not prefer is the dynamic black setting. I think it tries to adjust for white and dark images from scene to scene. But i think its unnecessary. Brightness and contrast looks fine without that option on. When on i think it makes the projector work harder as the fan revs up when bright scenes appear. Without the option on the fan remains nearly inaudible in eco mode and dynamic black off.

This model is rather large compared to my previous 720p optoma model. The plastic housing doesn’t feel durable either. While running the projector, the plastic housing definitely becomes hot to the touch. The glossy finish on the top easily becomes scratched and smudged. All in all, I don’t see this model as practically portable.

At 11.5 feet i am able to get about an 82 inch wide image.

Overall, for the price point this is definitely a high quality product if you’re looking for a full HD projector. Image does not disappoint. Live TV, sports events, movies and video games all look great and perform and play well.

One problem I have is that I use this primarily from behind the couch, at about eye level. At this particular height (probably the least common), the image is projected too high for the space I want it in. The instructions say the project has to be fairly level when in operation (I think the allowable angle change from level is +/-15°). So basically it has to be at coffee table height or hanging from the ceiling.

Bluetooth audio capability would have been nice.

A larger range of screen sizes via the zoom function would have been helpful.

More input options would have been nice too…it only has 1 HDMI port and nothing else. There is a USB power OUT port, but not sure what I would use that for…I tried to use it with a USB-powered speaker, and a loud piercing noise was observed.

Overall, though, I love it. The screen is fairly bright even during the day. I am currently projecting on a non-prepped, light gray wall until a permanent solution is decided upon, and I am still amazed at the quality of the image. I may do nothing further as far as the ‘screen’ is concerned.

My main reason for selecting this model was its 3D capability. It’s outstanding, at least to my eyes. Again, I am projecting onto a light gray wall–I was wondering if the 3D would work at all but it does, fabulously. It has 2 3D modes (i forget what the second one is) but I use DLP Link mode and DLP Link glasses that I bought here at Amazon:

-DLP Link 3D Glasses, ELEPHAS 144Hz Rechargeable Active Shutter Eyewear for Most DLP-Link 3D Projectors- Acer, ViewSonic, BenQ Vivitek, Optoma, Panasonic, Dell, Viewsonic (4 Pack)

In case you were wondering, 3D DLP Link glasses sync with the images on the screen by a nearly invisible (to naked eyes) rapid white flash embedded in the 3D video. These should not be confused with 3D DLP glasses (similar name but without the ‘LINK’) which require an IR emitter pointed at the viewers to sync the glasses for proper 3D viewing.

I bought this based on all the marketing and reviews for this projector saying that it has very low input lag for gaming. That may be true, however there is a big caveat with this. Once I switched to the “Gaming Mode” to get that low input latency, projector removed all of my digital adjustments such as keystone and digital zoom.
This means that for me to use this projector in its full, low latency mode, I have to position it EXACTLY to the height of the screen so that there is no keystone adjustment is needed, as well as as exact distance from the screen, to not need additional digital zoom. Unfortunately both of these do not work in my small room. Projector is too close to the screen even with the lens zoom all the way in, so I have to use digital zoom to shrink the image even further to fit it on the screen that I have. Also I cannot position this projector low enough to not require a keystone adjustment. Both of these make the Game mode useless to me.

I understand that this is particular circumstances and not everyone will have these issues but it may help someone who is in similar situation to make a better decision.

Overall projector is actually pretty decent. Picture is bright and clear. Watching on a grey screen boosts the contrast and with the blinds down it is actually a very nice picture during the day.
Also I’ve been gaming on this projector and even without the gaming mode on, I honestly have no issues with whatever input lag it has in it’s normal settings, so it is still very usable for me.