Optoma H31 Home Theater 480p DLP Video Projector
By: Optoma Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 30
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 On: 2007-08-09
I have to agree with all of the positive reviews of this projector. I too researched this unit extensively online before deciding to purchase it. I am extremely pleased with this unit. Like I said in the title, I purchased this unit in January 2006, and it is still playing great. The main reason I bought this unit was to watch movies, but using it with my X-Box 360 in 720p mode it is spectacular. It may not be as crisp as a plasma or DLP TV, but on a 92 inch screen running with the bulb saver mode, I am more than impressed.
 On: 2007-07-06
I love this projector. The picture is great. Very clear and crisp.
It looks especially good in HD.
I have had it for almost 2 years now and only one problem. One day the color just went out and I was only getting black and white. The Optoma people took it back and had it fixed quickly.
For the price I would recommend it to anyone.
 On: 2007-07-05
The projector did a nice job for about 10 films. It is quiet and pleasing in every way. Problem is that it suddenly decided to shut down completely without warning after five minutes; cools and restarts, then shuts down again. I called Beach Audio, which sells it for Amazon and they referred me to Optoma Tech Service (408-383-3700). The tech said it didnt sound like a bulb problem (I guess Im thankful for that) and to send it back for service. Ive had it for three months and am about to mail it out for service. Ill let you know how things turn out. It should be under service.
On: 2007-07-05
Five Stars: I am extremely happy with the H31,which Ive had for about five months and used for several hours. The service reps promptly replaced the projector bulb,which, fortunately, malfunctioned within the 90-day replacement-guarantee period. The machine has worked beautifully since.
Also, I just bought a $45 Insignia upconverting, 1080i (not 1080p) DVD player and connected it to the H31 using the HDMI port on the DVD player and the DVi port on the projector. (You can buy a single cord with HDMI on one end and DVi on the other, or buy a HDMI cord and HDMI/DVi adaptor separately.) While not true HD, the 1080i capability of both the DVD player and the H31 made for an astounding improvement in the image quality. Instead of being just OK, the image is gorgeous and sharp, with saturated color. One other thought: I made a 6x6projection screen for just a few bucks by removing a regular opaque window shade from its roller and stapling it across a home-made frame. While a little awkward to move in from the garage, it does an excellent job.
My old review: The projector did a nice job for about 10 films. It is quiet and pleasing in every way. Problem is that it suddenly decided to shut down completely without warning after five minutes; cools and restarts, then shuts down again. I called Beach Audio, which sells it for Amazon and they referred me to Optoma Tech Service (408-383-3700). The tech said it didnt sound like a bulb problem (I guess Im thankful for that) and to send it back for service. Ive had it for three months and am about to mail it out for service. Ill let you know how things turn out. It should be under service.
 On: 2007-05-03
I will review this again later when Optoma replies to my suppor ticket, but for now, I cannot give this projector a good rating because the bulb just exploded at 300 hours. I was using this in my clean office, not a dusty room, and took good care of it. I only used it sparingly, not for more than 3 hours at a time.
As for the quality, it was not strong enough in a well-lit room. I had to turn off the lights and put a lamp on. Then it would work well for presentations and movies too. When it was completely dark, it had a nice picture for movies. But now that it exploded after only a few months of use, I am very disappointed to say the least. I just hope Optoma replaces the bulb or I am never buying their product again.
Today I spoke with Optoma, and they will not warranty the bulb past 90 days. So I just got screwed. I dont know if all manufactures have this same policy, but basically the 2 Year Warranty with Optoma is useless since the bulb is not covered. I dont know if I will buy another Optoma or not, but for now, I am not a happy customer and do not recommend this product to anyone.
On: 2007-01-27
I got this project for $650 after waiting around and searching for a good price. Let me just say I thought I was going to get a mediocre projector that I would really have to close down my room for so I could see it and was fully prepared to deal with some ugliness or rainbow effect.
It arrived and let me just say, I was shocked. Ive seen projects that cost 3 times as much not look as good. I was worried about the low lumens count, only being around 750 I believe, but I can watch anything on it with the blinds open (I have it set up in my rather large living room with kitchen / dining room attached), the lights on, nothing seems to make it look too bad. Obviously, it really shines when it is pitch black in the room. I project onto a white textured wall and still it looks amazing.
My friend brought over the Xbox 360 and we played Gears of War for hours and it was incredible. It also has enough different inputs on the back so I can have my HDMI cable box (with a HDMI -> DVI cable), my component xbox and my composite Wii all hooked up without ever having to change out cables.
Probably the best buy Ive made in years, maybe ever. I got much more than I thought I would and have been nothing but impressed. Zero problems. One drawback, I have to wait so darn long for it to turn on, startup time is probably close to a minute.
On: 2007-01-22
I have purchased 3 of these for business conference rooms and I own one personally. For the cost, I have not found a better projector. The quality and function of this projector is something you would see on a projector 3 times the cost.
Its an 850 lumen projector, and as well as a job it does, your going to need most of the lights off near the screen to see the image well. As long as the light is dim, the image is crisp and clear. A good array of inputs on the back, menu system is easy to understand, remote lights up so its easy to see in a dark room, and comes with a nice quality carrying case in the box.
On: 2007-01-04
I am very happy with this projector,this is my 4th and the very best one.
On: 2007-01-03
This projector is awesome. Im projecting on a 72" screen and the picture is great. The size and value here beat out the big expensive televisions by a mile. Also the projector takes up almost no space mounted on my ceiling. The only drawback is daytime viewing, for which I have to draw the blinds. All in all though, this is a great product.
On: 2007-01-03
We use this projector in our basement for a large screen tv. It has great clarity and the HD channels look as good as our LCD screen. It was very reasonable cost and I would recommend a large pull down screen. This as a great buY!
On: 2006-11-13
I looked at a lot of reviews on Amazon before I chose the H31. I was looking for a quality projector that I could use in my classroom for powerpoint presentations. I found the H31 to be reasonably priced and though its lumens were lower than other projectors, I felt that the DLP would give a great picture.
Things to be aware of:
1.If youre using this for presentations rather than home theater, it requires a DVI-D cable which also requires a few adaptors for your computer. I went through several expensive cables before I found one that would actually work with my new macbook. I tried using the analog adapter that came with the projector, only to be told by customer service that it wouldnt work because the projector is *digital*. (It worked on a PC desktop, just not on my mac)
2. LUMENS COUNT! While the picture quality is great, its not nearly as bright as I had hoped it would be, even in a completely darkened room.
Overall, I think this is a great projector for the $$. I didnt have $1000 to spend on a DLP with more lumens, but Im pleased with what I have. If you have the $$, definitely invest in more lumens!
On: 2006-11-13
starts up fast, good contrast, simple menus, ez connections, runs quietly, lightweight & easy to carry to parties. no complaints.
On: 2006-11-10
The Optoma H31 is performing better than expected, over 200 hours now. I am surprised at the resolution of regular tv. High definition tv is much better than expected. Dvds are exactally where I thought they should be. I had my projector calibrated by a professional and think thats where all the sharp detail and picture comes from. The contrast is better in highter end projectors but for $500.00 you cant beat this projector. I dont think spending hundreds or thousands will bring any more smiles to your face.
On: 2006-11-07
Took the advice of various websites and purchased this projector. Its a very nice entry-level projector decent throw and brightness. With the hot deals you can get on this projector...Id definitely recommend. I always get compliments on the clarity of the screen.
On: 2006-11-04
For the money this unit rocks. I use it for movie night out in the yard on a king size sheet as a screen and me and the neighbors love it. It might not be the highest quality picture out there but I didnt buy it for that. If your looking to set up a super high quality home theatre system then you will need to spend the big bucks. If you looking to enjoy a big picture then you have to get the H31.
On: 2006-10-11
I have been using my H31 for a month and can honestly say that I am completely satisfied I use it in a room with high ambient light. Out of the box the projector was less that dazzling. Calibrating with an AVIA calibration disk and then constructing my own screen (plastic wallboard painted with Behr Silverscreen paint) gives me a projected image which is very good in high ambient light and phenomenal in a darkened room. For the price ($699-Visual Apex) this 480p unit cant be beat. Those who are unsatisfied in well lit rooms need to calibrate and consider alternate screens.
On: 2006-10-09
I did a lot of research before buying a projector and DVD player for our basement theater. I have run 16mm and 8mm films for 30 years and was leary of video projection. I finally decided on the H31 because most of what we watch are old 3:4 black and white movies on DVD. I dont like TV and have no interest in watching HD programming. I did purchase the upscaling Oppo 971 DVD player to get the film-like look.
The projector was a huge disappointment when I first got it. I bought a Gray Wolf II screen to go with it, and I discovered that I could not put the projector on a table or in my projection booth (about 4.5 feet off the ground. If I did the image was projected on the ceiling. When they talk about a 35-degree lens offset, that means a huge amount of upshifting of the image. We put the projector on the floor and still had to point it at the floor for it to fill the screen, which hangs down from a 7 foot ceiling.
I bought a ceiling mount from eBay and it is a piece of garbage. It will not hold the adjustment, although it is made of aircraft grade aluminum. Dont fall for that garbage. Its a lightweight, overpriced mount and it doesnt work. It cost $20 to ship it and cost him $4.30 to actually ship. Take my advice, bit the bullet and buy the Optoma mount.
After fussing around and drilling about 10 sets of holes in our ceiling, we finally got the projector in a spot that doesnt produce huge amounts of keystoning that cant be fixed. This projector has very limited zoom and lens shift controls, so measure carefully because you will not have much in way of flexibility. The image is still a little cockeyed on the screen, and it bugs me, but no one else seems to notice.
They are blown away by the image quality. This projector requires absolute darkness and no more than a 92-inch diagonal screen. Turn on the lights and its really bad. Use a larger screen, and it gets bad. Also, you should have a ceiling at least 9 feet tall to use a mount. WE are really hurting for ceiling space in my installation; I had planned to put it in my projection booth, but that just doesnt work with this huge lens offset. What were these people thinking when making the offset so large?
For the money, this does give a very good image. It works well in our small venue. Its not the projector to buy if you want the lights on, if you want a huge image or if you have a ceilng where you cant drill a ton of holes trying to find the best location that doesnt produce a cockeyed image with a lot of keystoning (keystoning controls only do so much and it seems to cut off a portion of the image when using them). The lens shift feature on the projector is worthless (cuts off portion of the image.
It runs hot but isnt noisy. Focusing seems sloppy and the zoom is pretty lame. But again, its only $600. I figure well use it for a couple of years and toss it when the bulb burns out. By then, the HD projectors will be $500.
 On: 2006-10-08
This is a entry level projector, not suitable for prime time cinema experience. I bought it at VisualApex but did not like the picture quality. Picture with HDMI looks better but it is not very good with component video input. We are not very satisfied with this product but could not return it due to 20% restocking fee on VisualApex.
I would not recommand it if you are looking for superior picture quality
and willing to spend some more money and to have better picture. This may be OK if you dont want to chip in more bucks. Picture is only ED quality with component or S-Video in. Need to have HDMI input to enable HD quality picture. It may not be good option if you are not planning to upgrade to HDMI DVD player.
On: 2006-10-04
The projector gives a very sharp and bright image, just use a clean, flat, white wall as your screen and turn off the lights, youll be amazed how your living room turns to a movie theather!
On: 2006-09-21
While you can read all about how great this projector displays ( bast display / $ value ), I am writing this for a whole other reason.
After 2 weeks of viewing I dropped this projector and then it started to generate lot of fan noise. I noticed a small piece of cabonet broken and ripped out and it was clear to me that H31 cant be saved under the warranty.
Nervertheless, I opened an RMA and shipped it to Optoma spending 20 bucks and using the same package J & R had it packed. Once Optoma received the package they reported broken color wheel and asked if I wanted to fix the cabinet ( $ 200 parts and labor ). I responded with a NO for cabinet. As broken color wheel was covered in warranty Optoma replaced the wheel and shipped me back over DHL. In less than 7 days I have my H31 back working just fine and the total cost to me was $ 20 ( USPS shipping ). I am really amazed at Optoma and this incident gives me a strong reason to consider Optoma when I buy my next projector.
On: 2006-09-02
I bought this projector so I can use it with my laptop on the road to make presentations.
It took about two minutes to get it running. I used the S-Video cable to plug it in my PC because my laptop is recent and has this output but they also provide the more generic RS-232 cable with the projector to work also with older computers.
The only disapointment is that the remote control they provide has to do with the projector functions only.
I found the Hiro 2.4GHz WiFi Presenter with Laser Pointer and Mouse Function on Amazon and it looks like that will be the correct combination to use if I want to control the Powerpoint slides remotedly on the PC while chating with the audience. All in all, I am very satisfied with the projector, the price was right and the ease of use is great. I do have to wait about 1 and half minutes after I hit the power off button to let the lamp cool off before disconnecting everything but that was expected.
On: 2006-08-31
This is the one to buy if you are short on space . Make sure that you can darken the place where you would want to use this .
The best picture quality from dvd is got via hdmi cable and from PC via VGA . The factory settings worked fine for me .
Couple this with a good amplifier and speakers .. your theater is ready ...
On: 2006-08-31
We have had the little projector since Spring of 2005! This is the most awesome thing we own, next to the dvd player we use for it! We also use it to view HD programs from our Dish receiver and everything is gorgeous on it!
Pays for itself with the $$ you save waiting until a movie is on DVD and renting it instead of going to the cinema. Really you can actually watch the movie in peace, pause for what ever you need...PERFECT!
And like I said the picture is awesome!
You do need to monitor it once in a while to make sure its not getting too hot after using it like, all day. Even better with the new price cut!
On: 2006-08-30
I bought this projector as the centerpiece of the home theater that I built in the basement of my house. When the satellite installers came and we turned out the lights, their remarks ranged from a "Tell me thats not HD!" to a "Sir, I just want to shake your hand and congratulate you on having the nicest television in the state of Illinois." The key to the success with this projector is that its in a dark area. I installed some directional lighting with a dimmer to provide some light because when the overhead (omni-directional) lights were on, it did wash the image out somewhat substantially, although it was certainly still watchable. This implies to me that this may not be the perfect solution in a room that has a fair amount of ambient light, but if you can put it in a dark area, you will not be dissatisfied by this projector.
On: 2006-07-25
Buy this projector, you will not regreat.... for the price and for great image.
On: 2006-07-14
I bought this one year ago today. I use it every day and it is excellent.
I am using component cables, fiber audio cable from the DVD and 16 guage wire for the speakers for a $250 Sony audio system I bought. I put the show directly on a white/cream wall and it is great. I see no rainbow, etc. I would suggest anyone buying it to use Component Cables for video. I am color blind but with these cables I could definitely see the difference.
I hope it lasts a good long time and bulbs are available. This was an excellent buy. I have had this thing about a year now and it is still going strong. I am using an HD DVD player with a DVI cable and the results are great. You do need a dark room but it is easier and less expensive than buying an LCD TV and the screen is MUCH larger. After a year of daily use, it is still great!
On: 2006-06-14
I recently bought this product after about a month of research & Wow it really shows its worth as a true cinema projector straight out of the box.Although you may want to deactivate Keystone feature & tweak the white balance for enhanced picture quality. Do use the Component / DVI interfaces to your DVD player/ Laptop for a true 16:9 High Definition experiance. The unit is capable of displaying brilliant picture upto 16 ft across from 24-30 fts without losing the sharpness. The unit is absolutely quiet albeit emitting heat from the lamp, duly cooled by the in-built fan. The remote control is great with backlit buttons. Overall it easily surpasses both in quality & built when compared to more expensive projectors available today.
On: 2006-06-02
As Usual when I decided to by a projector for my home theatre and a bit of work, I did a lot of research (i really mean a lot) and finally got Optoma H31... Best investment ever made. This id the best projector avaliable in marke in this price range and even beats some pretty good one in higher price range too. The picture out of the box is really great, a tiny little bit on greener side for my taste, but otherwise excellent. Even my wife who i havd to fight with to get a projector was very impressed with the picture quality. Since it has a DVI input I bought a Toshiba DVD player with HDMI output and the picture really rocketed off then on, some of the dvds looked much better on DVI than on component connection. I must have watched over 80 movies since i got the projector in Dec 2005. Each and every movie was a great experience. Not to mention the superball in HDTV was awsome, mind blowing, blew all my friend off even before the game started. The Projector also comes with a carrying case making it easy and safe to carry along, also in the box are a couple of adaptors and cables which are ver usefull. The remote has a nice touch of glow when any key is pressed and slowly fading off. The keys on remote are pretty good to control the projector. So far I have not noticed any fan noise or light leakage to be distracted. There are enough inputs on the projector to plug in all type of cables. I even watch pictures & movies recorded on my canon sd500 digital camera which are great too.
I would highly suggest this projector for any one looking below $1000 price range and also above.
On: 2006-04-15
I did a fair amount of research when I wanted to get a Video Projector for Home Theater as well as hooking up to my Macs (a Powerbook on location for presentations). Read the other reviews here on Amazon because I think by and large, I agree after testing this new unit with those who rated it highly. While the lumen spec seems low, the unit produces bright and clear images out of the box in a darkened room. If you have room darkening blinds or show at night, even on a white wall, the quality is excellent. I am using a DVD player with HDMI output to the Optima using DVI. Dont skimp, use this all digital connection if you can (and get a good cable). The quality of the two films I viewed (2001: A Space Odyssey and The Fifth Element) looked clear and clean with superb colors using the "Cinema" mode right out of the box. I do have a calibration DVD I might mess with but I have to say, I think I might just leave everything alone (if it aint broke...). Im pretty critical of color and the Optima does have lots of controls to affect tone and color but Im not sure Im going to mess around until I see a lot more output.
The unit is very light, comes with a nice carrying case. The remote is backlit which is nice. With the [...], I spent less than [...] and Im blown away at the quality of the product considering what you used to have to spend on a projector (and still can). While I still love my 56" Samsung DPL projection HDTV, the H31 looks better to me and cost a lot less money. You will not be disappointed with the quality assuming you have good viewing conditions and use DVI.
On: 2005-12-14
I was hesitant when I purchased this projector because it was listed as only having 850 lumens for viewing, but this projector has out performed any projector I have ever used for home cinema applications. When I first turned it on an incredibly bright, sharp image projected from approxiamately 18 feet away onto the opposite wall! I have used it in a variety of applications to include: satellite, DVD, and XBOX. I am tickled to death to know that I have spent at least half what my friends have spent for big screen televisions. I can also move it with without the use of a dolly and I can still project the picture over six feet tall! I have never written a review before and have been simply compelled to offer my experience because I value what others have shared in the past. In my opinion, it is well worth the price.
On: 2005-07-30
I did alot of online shopping, reviewing, studied alot of info. and I made the Correct choice. The Optoma H-31 is the projector to buy. Everything that I read online and dug out about this projector is accurate. IT SHINES excellent. DVD with componet cables off a new Panosonic ES10 is breath taking. NO screen door effect until you get close as about 4 feet. This on an Optoma Screen 92 inch diag. from a projected distance of 13 feet. Viewing distance is from about 9 feet back. Skin tones are spectacular REAL Film could not be better. I see things in old videos that I never saw before.
For example, Like test your eyes on your own stuff that you have now Tv dvd or tape.See if in the pool scene in Caddy Shack if you can see the Caddys tan lines. This projector will let you see awesome detail.The Optoma screen puts out enough light to read buy in a darkend room. The resolution is superb.
All for less than a plasma or rear projector box occupying floor space. Direct TV with S-video is excellent.
GO ahead an try it Amazon has an excellent return policy.
On: 2005-07-29
I did alot of online shopping, reviewing, studied alot of info. and I made the Correct choice. The Optoma H-31 is the projector to buy. Everything that I read online and dug out about this projector is accurate. IT SHINES excellent. DVD with componet cables off a new Panosonic ES10 is breath taking. NO screen door effect until you get close as about 4 feet. This on an Optoma Screen 92 inch diag. from a projected distance of 13 feet. Viewing distance is from about 9 feet back. Skin tones are spectacular REAL Film could not be better. I see things in old videos that I never saw before.
For example, Like test your eyes on your own stuff that you have now Tv dvd or tape.See if in the pool scene in Caddy Shack if you can see the Caddys tan lines. This projector will let you see awesome detail.The Optoma screen puts out enough light to read buy in a darkend room. The resolution is superb.
All for less than a plasma or rear projector box occupying floor space. Direct TV with S-video is excellent.
GO ahead an try it Amazon has an excellent return policy.
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