Optoma DV11 480p Home Theater Projector with Built-In Slot Load DVD Player
By: Optoma Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 13
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 On: 2008-05-19
The built in DVD player and speakers are great and very practical. The product functionalities are very good too, which makes this unit overall very good. The problems are:
1) The resolution could be a little better. This 800x600 doesnt match my needs anymore.
2) It doesnt come with a VGA cable. Shame on you, Optoma!
3) Optoma tech support does not answer my e-mails. Shame on you, Optoma!
4) The zoom function is almost useless. So you need to move the unit back and forward to adjust the image size. The zoom function is used to minimal adjustments only.
5) The DVD player is not region free.
On: 2008-05-11
The projector has very good picture quality. It doesnt seam to have digital video input but I have used it both through the analog VGA and the DVD and the picture quality is very good.
The DVD player seams to be deprived from some functionality (i.e. cannot fast forward or rewind, it only jumps between chapters) but of course this could be me not being able to figure out the buttons :)
 On: 2008-04-20
This product brought a lot of joy to our family. Other then the screen door effect (the native 480 resolution results in little dots that can be seen if viewed from a short distance, about 11 feet or less) it is a fun toy, until the DVD player broke.
I purchased this unit for $500 at Circuit City and received a free screen. However, it broke after about 13 months, just outside the warranty period. The DVD would not longer read.
When you send it in for repair, they ask for $130 up front (non-refundable) and a wopping $45 return shipping fee. We are not shipping an elephant here, and when it was returned, they used DHL with no special foam packing. Shipping cost them about $9.00 and I guess there is a $36 handling fee.
The estimated repair bill to replace the DVD motor was $650, more then the price of a brand new unit! This would be like purchasing a new car for $30,000, driving it for a few years, the tranny going out and paying $40,000 to have it replaced.
So I am $130 lighter in the wallet for this great piece of information. My advice would be to purchase a projector with a separate DVD player. That way, if the player goes out, you do not have to replace the whole thing.
 On: 2008-02-11
This has turned out to be our best family purchase in 2007. At first, I was wary of spending this much money for something that wed only use periodically. In fact, we have used this more than I thought we would.
The quick set-up card put us in business right away. It couldnt be simpler: you put in the DVD and fiddle with the feet until you get the picture at the right angle. We bought a portable screen and have had "movie night" in the back yard several times now. The kids love it. We dont have external speakers to hook up but we can hear the movie with the units built-in speakers.
After it got too cold for movie night, we started having movie night inside. We just set up the screen in the family room. We have even projected movies onto the ceiling in the family room! We had to break out the owners manual, but there is a control to help align the image. This keystone control takes care of the trapezoid effect and squares up the image.
After several months, we decided to try to hook up our TV to the projector, so that we could watch the Super Bowl on the big screen. It was very easy (again, on the quick set-up card) to hook up the video feed. The cord that comes with the unit is a little too short for our purposes, so we bought a 12 foot cord at the local electronic store (only $17).
My only complaint is that if you forget to get the DVD out after you turn if off, there is no manual eject. You have to power it back up. No big deal, really. If you are looking for a great projector that is very easy to use, this is it.
 On: 2008-01-14
I bought this digital projector for our local nature club - based on the reviews and the product literature it seemed like an ideal item. We had 2 objectives for the projector - running nature DVDs before our club meetings began while people arrived and got settled, and as a digital photographic projector that could either be attached to a laptop (for PowerPoint presentations), or used with the built in DVD/CD player to show jpeg nature images by our guest speakers. The unit performed ok as a DVD movie projector.
The performance as a digital photography and laptop connected PowerPoint projector was poor in comparison to similar or cheaper projectors out on the market today. After a 1 month trial (1 monthly club meeting), we returned the Optoma DV11 and upgraded to an Epson 77C (and saved $300 Canadian). In the future when we want to show a DVD, well have a laptop there or may buy a cheap portable DVD player to hook up to the Epson.
The main problems with digital photographs were:
1) showing digital photos from a laptop (connected by the VGA cable) produced marginally acceptable results. Showing exactly the same digital files burned to a CD and inserted in the projectors built-in DVD/CD player resulted in significantly lower resolution - the image colour was not true and the image had poorer resolution which showed up as a significantly blockier image.
2) the CD player would usually (2 out of 3 times) lockup when moving to the next image. The only way to recover was to power off the projector, unplug it and wait a minute, then power it on again and eject the CD quickly. Though the manual (badly written in fractured English) indicated that large jpeg files were a problem, this problem happened consistently with small image file sizes (<1MB).
3. Overall resolution was SVGA at most (perhaps 800x600) which isnt suitable for high quality nature photography. Also, all of the preset projection settings seemed to have significant problems with wash-out in the light areas of the pictures (really noticable, and unacceptable).
Optoma technical support (in Canada) did make some attempts to work through the problems, but overall I was unsatisfied with this unit for the specific needs our nature club had.
On: 2008-01-13
I bought this digital projector for our local nature club - based on the reviews and the product literature it seemed like an ideal item. We had 2 objectives for the projector - running nature DVDs before our club meetings began while people arrived and got settled, and as a digital photographic projector that could either be attached to a laptop (for PowerPoint presentations), or used with the built in DVD/CD player to show jpeg nature images by our guest speakers. The unit performed ok as a DVD movie projector.
The performance as a digital photography and laptop connected PowerPoint projector was poor in comparison to similar or cheaper projectors out on the market today. After a 1 month trial (1 monthly club meeting), we returned the Optoma DV11 and upgraded to an Epson 77C (and saved $300 Canadian). In the future when we want to show a DVD, well have a laptop there or may buy a cheap portable DVD player to hook up to the Epson.
The main problems with digital photographs were:
1) showing digital photos from a laptop (connected by the VGA cable) produced marginally acceptable results. Showing exactly the same digital files burned to a CD and inserted in the projectors built-in DVD/CD player resulted in significantly lower resolution - the image colour was not true and the image had poorer resolution which showed up as a significantly blockier image.
2) the CD player would usually (2 out of 3 times) lockup when moving to the next image. The only way to recover was to power off the projector, unplug it and wait a minute, then power it on again and eject the CD quickly. Though the manual (badly written in fractured English) indicated that large jpeg files were a problem, this problem happened consistently with small image file sizes (<1MB).
3. Overall resolution was SVGA at most (perhaps 800x600) which isnt suitable for high quality nature photography. Also, all of the preset projection settings seemed to have significant problems with wash-out in the light areas of the pictures (really noticable, and unacceptable).
Optoma technical support (in Canada) did make some attempts to work through the problems, but overall I was unsatisfied with this unit for the specific needs our nature club had.
On: 2007-12-03
I bought the DV11 three months ago after a good deal of research on home theater systems. It exceeded even my best hopes. I unpacked it and plugged it into the wall. Then I looked agape at the 12 wide perfect image (opening sequence of Serenity) thrown on my living room wall. I confess I dragged several neighbors in my apartment building over to take a look, and they were all similarly impressed (several offered to move in).
The DV11 image is quite good, particularly considering the price point. Movie images are amazingly bright and clear even on a white wall. The unit itself it quiet, and the built-in speakers surprisingly good. I can convert either my living room or my bedroom into a small movie theater by simply unplugging the unit and moving it into the next room.
The mobility and all-in-one nature of the DV11 are attractive to anyone who may not want to hide wires or speakers or have a projector permanently installed in their living room -- renters, people in small apartments, etc. When company comes you can put it away in a box.
Overall, a great product, executed remarkably well. Highly recommended.
On: 2007-11-27
I also purchased this projector during the Black Friday sale and found it to be a great bargain at $550. However, this wasnt the model I originally intended to buy that day and, despite being greatly pleased with the value, buyers in general should keep some things in mind.
I was originally going to buy an Epson projector which are known for strong reliability and bright images. I couldnt find one at a reasonable price so I ended up with the Optoma DV11 - but only because of the price drop.
There are three major technical specs when it comes to projectors: Brightness, contrast, and resolution. The DV11 has OK brightness (about 1300 lumens) and contrast (1:2000), but its resolution is basically SVGA (480). Ive tried the projector in three completely different settings and with different DVDs and found that it does great in a dark room and performs best with already bright images. However, it does rather poorly with dark images.
For example, the middle of the day football shots in "Invincible" looked superb, but the dark images of "Battle Star Galactica" were rather poor. The blacks and greys were muddled and you could see pixels in many shots. "The West Wing," which is slightly brighter, had some of these problems as well but at a much lower level. On the opposite side, "The Incredibles" looked, well, incredible. Thats to be expected, however, since just about any current projector should be able to handle animation.
Theres also the issue of DLP (like the Optoma) versus LCD (like the Epson) technology which I didnt concern myself with at the time of purchase. If you think this is important (and there are differences) research the terms and see what experts have to say about whats best for what.
Despite these criticisms, the DV11 has some major selling points. The contrast on this model is higher than all the introductory Epson models which hover in the 1:400 to 1:500 range. Those are really bad numbers on the Epson side. However, those projectors have brightness levels in the 2000 lumens range which means you wont need as much darkness while playing games or movies. And as for resolution, all the projectors in the below $600 range are at SVGA.
The big selling point with the DV11 is the built in DVD player and adequate speakers. I didnt think this was a necessity until I used the projector in three locations over two days. Having an all-in-one is extremely important if you plan on using the projector in more than place.
As of this writing the DV11 is going for about $800 on most sites. Thats just too high in my opinion. If youre going to spend that kind of money then you might as well throw in a few more hundred and get a projector with more brightness and XGA resolution. This is especially true if you dont need a built in DVD player and plan on just using the projector in one location. But at under $600, this projector is steal by 2007 standards. Im definitely pleased with the purchase. Just do your research and know what you need and want before buying.
On: 2007-11-26
Its worth having for the $550 tag with a free 72" projector screen, I bought during the Thanksgiving sale. I also threw in a 7.1 Onkyo Home Theater which I also bought during the thanksgiving for $400, and the result is unmatchable.
The sound, the picture, it feels like never getting out of the basement.
Do buy it if you get it for the same price I paid or even less.
On: 2007-11-26
I also purchased this projector during the Black Friday sale and found it to be a great bargain at $550. However, this wasnt the model I originally intended to buy that day and, despite being greatly pleased with the value, buyers in general should keep some things in mind.
I was originally going to buy an Epson projector which are known for strong reliability and bright images. I couldnt find one at a reasonable price so I ended up with the Optoma DV11 - but only because of the price drop.
There are three major technical specs when it comes to projectors: Brightness, contrast, and resolution. The DV11 has OK brightness (about 1300 lumens) and contrast (1:2000), but its resolution is basically SVGA (480). Ive tried the projector in three completely different settings and with different DVDs and found that it does great in a dark room and performs best with already bright images. However, it does rather poorly with dark images.
For example, the middle of the day football shots in "Invincible" looked superb, but the dark images of "Battle Star Galactica" were rather poor. The blacks and greys were muddled and you could see pixels in many shots. "The West Wing," which is slightly brighter, had some of these problems as well but at a much lower level. On the opposite side, "The Incredibles" looked, well, incredible. Thats to be expected, however, since just about any current projector should be able to handle animation.
Theres also the issue of DLP (like the Optoma) versus LCD (like the Epson) technology which I didnt concern myself with at the time of purchase. If you think this is important (and there are differences) research the terms and see what experts have to say about whats best for what.
Despite these criticisms, the DV11 has some major selling points. The contrast on this model is higher than all the introductory Epson models which hover in the 1:400 to 1:500 range. Those are really bad numbers on the Epson side. However, those projectors have brightness levels in the 2000 lumens range which means you wont need as much darkness while playing games or movies. And as for resolution, all the projectors in the below $600 range are at SVGA.
The big selling point with the DV11 is the built in DVD player and adequate speakers. I didnt think this was a necessity until I used the projector in three locations over two days. Having an all-in-one is extremely important if you plan on using the projector in more than place.
As of this writing the DV11 is going for about $800 on most sites. Thats just too high in my opinion. If youre going to spend that kind of money then you might as well throw in a few more hundred and get a projector with more brightness and XGA resolution. This is especially true if you dont need a built in DVD player and plan on just using the projector in one location. But at under $600, this projector is steal by 2007 standards. Im definitely pleased with the purchase. Just do your research and know what you need and want before buying.
Edit: As of this writing the Optoma HD70, with 4000:1 contrast (twice that of the DV11, and HD XGA resolution, is going for $800 after rebate. It doesnt have a built in DVD player, but its a far superior projector. Still no regrets on buying the DV11, but if I had had $800 to spend, I would have chosen the HD70.
On: 2007-09-18
This is a terrific projector - great brightness, throw size and so simple to use. The sound is great as is, however, I am going to match it with a couple of speakers and an inexpensive 5.1 receiver for those times where some punch is needed.
On: 2007-08-22
You should also buy the KLP GMXA-2.1 multimedia speakers ($99.99) and a 12 inflatable outdoor movie screen ($179.99 from walmart). Then for under $1200, you will be watching and hearing your favorite movies in your backyard!
No doubt this thing is great. Slip in your DVD and play a 12 foot extremely clear image of your movie. Researching this and its predecessor, the DV-10, I noticed that most complained about the sound (if anything). So heres my solution: instead of an expensive receiver and sound system, buy the 3 piece KLP GMXA-2.1 speaker set designed for use with computers. We just watched Happy Feet last night by the pool. More than enough sound to keep the neighbors up. The bass was great. The image was crystal clear. Simple to hook up the speakers to the DV-11 (all necessary cords included), and the blow up screen was awesome...it is a vertical screen with inverted V tethers that need to attach to included stakes or something else. That is all youll need!
On: 2007-08-21
You should also buy the KLP GMXA-2.1 multimedia speakers ($99.99) and a 12 inflatable outdoor movie screen ($179.99 from walmart). Then for under $1200, you will be watching and hearing your favorite movies in your backyard!
No doubt this thing is great. Slip in your DVD and play a 12 foot extremely clear image of your movie. Researching this and its predecessor, the DV-10, I noticed that most complained about the sound (if anything). So heres my solution: instead of an expensive receiver and sound system, buy the 3 piece KLP GMXA-2.1 speaker set designed for use with computers. We just watched Happy Feet last night by the pool. More than enough sound to keep the neighbors up. The bass was great. The image was crystal clear. Simple to hook up the speakers to the DV-11 (all necessary cords included), and the blow up screen was awesome...it is a vertical screen with inverted V tethers that need to attach to included stakes or something else. That is all youll need!
On: 2007-07-20
This is an incredible product. I had no idea that projector technology had come so far and at such an affordable price point. I was skeptical when I ordered the product, but I pointed it at a dark brown painted wall in a dark bedroom to test it and it delivered a movie theater quality picture, crisp and huge and unbelievably bright considering the background. I cant imagine what it looks like on the proper screen. Also the speakers on the unit are good quality and more than adequate for viewing a DVD with the built-in player. Obviously, if you want a movie theater experience, hooking the product to surround sound is the way to go. And the throw is short. Youll be surprised at how large a picture you can get at a relatively close distance from the projector.
(The bad news in that Amazon shipped this item without additional packing. It arrived in the original box, inside which the projector is in its carrying case with a little Styrofoam around it. I dont know if that is what caused the damage, but there is a short between the volume controls and the DVD player. Every time I attempt to adjust the volume it shorts the DVD player and the disk restarts. This unit is going back and you might consider purchasing it from a local store if possible to avoid shipping damage and to ease returns. However, to be fair, Amazon is covering return shipping because the product is defective.)
On: 2007-07-17
We love our Optoma DV 11. It is simple to use and has a great picture. We use it outside on a 16by 9screen it makes a cool backyard theater. The speakers are more than adequate for inside but for the outside we added an 80 watt surround sound system. Why pay big money for the flat screen TVs when you can have a HUGE screen.
On: 2007-07-05
I have every toy known to man. From two wheels to whatever. Without question, this portable DVD theater is the best of all. I also purchased from skymall a inflatable big screen. Its like a portable drive in theatre once you turn on the Optoma. Portable and take it anywhere. Clarity of teh Optoma is better than any plasma or hdtv I have. It has built in speakers, dvd player, can take up to 5 different formats etc. Hook your computer up to this thing or photos, or whatever. More fun that anything I have owned. Get one - but also get the skymall inflatable screen. Comes in a small duffle, but blows up to a small drive in theathre screen. huge.
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