Optoma HD146X High Performance Projector for Movies & Gaming | Bright 3600 Lumens | DLP Single Chip Design | Enhanced Gaming Mode 16ms Response Time

I purchased this hesitantly after some research on it made me believe it was worth a shot given the low price. For reference, I have a 15’x15’ media room with no windows, a 110” white screen with a ceiling mount, a 7.1 surround system through a sony receiver; DirecTV and Apple TV connected. I don’t use this for gaming, don’t use 3D. I replaced a 7yr old EPSON 5030ub I bought for around $2400 in 2013, which was acting up in operations and had developed other visual problems. The repairs plus a soon to be needed $300 EPSON bulb were going to cost more than buying this Optoma so I decided to give it a try given its price, reviews, and free returns. Opening the box it looked quite a bit cheaper than my Epson, with a fairly dinky remote and no real instructions to speak of. Using the same universal mount I put it up, powered on and went to work. It was fairly easy to flip the image and get into focus, and had some controls to get the tilt correct. Immediately I was struck with the brightness, which was better than what I had with the Epson. The picture was comparable and I frankly couldn’t tell the difference right out of the box. After a week of watching various soccer matches, movies, and shows all of the viewers agreed it was just as good if not better than the Epson. There are a couple of deficiencies that I notice I doubt the rest of the family did, and frankly we don’t care. When it is just on a black screen, I can notice an ever so slight red tint to the black screen. Additionally if I shift my eyes rapidly I can see the ‘rainbow effect’ I’ve red about with DLP projectors such as this. But not noticeable for any of us watching regularly. I don’t believe this one has quite as depth of color as the Epson, and no doubt if I was to spend about 4x as much on a 3LCD Epson 4K projector the picture would likely be much better. However, for under $600 I believe this is a solid choice and am completely satisfied with the overall product. No-frills, but bright, with a sharp 1080p picture, quiet and easy operation, this one does the job just fine.

So all in all it is an amazing picture. The added 3D functionality is a nice touch. For the price point this would have 5 stars except for 3 flaws. The first flaw isn’t a big one, but it is annoying: the internal speaker is SUPER quiet. Don’t expect to use it and have it be okay. It’s not loud enough to watch anything. The second flaw is a bit of a bigger issue: it is definitely not a short throw projector. At 15 ft, it falls short of filling a 120” screen with 4:3 ratio. (My indoor auto screen is 4:3). Don’t get me wrong, I’m rearranging my garage to get the extra foot I’m gonna need, but it’s a pain. The biggest sin of them all, however, is the third flaw: this unit is designed to be a ceiling mounted projector so it doesn’t project straight out but rather at and upward (or downward depending on the orientation) so if you plan to use a portable stand like I do, expect to have to put some considerable tilt on your projector. Also a minor gripe I can’t hold against them is that it comes with only one HDMI port. It’s clearly advertised in the specs here so at least they aren’t trying to hide this info. I missed that point so I only gave me to blame. It is, by far, the best picture of any projector I’ve ever owned, though.

Ive had the 243x model now for almost 2 months and have used it nearly every day. Most of the time not even turning on my 4k tv just for the size factor. 100 in screen, with enough brightness to even have a light on in the background without it making the image unwatchable. Although, for best picture quality, all lights should be off. The biggest issues I have with the unit are no native Bluetooth capabilities, at least not without hooking up a laptop or some other device that you can connect to first. This isnt probably an issue for most people, but I live in an apartment style home and usually need to wear headphones for anything I really want to turn up. The second issue I have is with the built in speaker controls. The speaker is plenty loud, but has a huge adjustment gap between 0-1 on the volume control. 0 is obviously no volume at all, but 1 is louder than 50% on my samsung tv. Without a stand alone sound source to eliminate the need of the built in speaker, there is no low volume option. Even 1 is usually too loud for me to watch action movies in an apartment setting, so I find myself just hooking up a laptop and connecting Bluetooth headphones, whereas I almost never needed to do this with my tv. I guess thats just the trade off for the larger picture. On a plus note, the throw is fantastic compared to my last model. Around 11 feet away and only about 6 inches hanging from the ceiling is enough to produce a 100 in screen hanging 14 inches from the ceiling on the other side of the room. Picture quality is pretty good. You can notice a quality loss if your used to a 4k tv, but the size increase to cost factor ratio make this issue pretty small. Especially since its still only 1080p. I would also put the adjustments quality level into this category as well. They do provide a fair amount of adjustment range as far as keystone, picture size, focus, and image shift before you start to loose too much image quality in the corners. But plan ahead when mounting as best as possible, as there isnt too much room for error. I recommend not permanently mounting your screen until the projector is bolted down. Or placing the projector on top of a tall ladder to get it as close as possible before drilling your mount holes. I dont give this unit a 5 star rating as I do have a few issues with it, but overall this a very good projector for the money. I expect Ill probably upgrade to a 4k unit for my next projector, but Im not convinced Ill stay with Optoma unless I know the audio issues are no longer present.

I bought the HD143X based on all the positive feedback from its predecessor, the HD142X. From everything I could tell the HD143X was better and simply an upgraded version of the HD142X. I have an Epson projector as well, which I use outdoors and in an office environment. It was about $550 and its my only frame of reference. That said, it was designed more for presentations than movies/tv, so I decided to look into other options more suitable for that type of viewing. I have the HD143X ceiling mounted, coupled with a Silver Ticket Productions 110 white non acoustic screen, and also coupled with an Onkyo receiver and 5.1 Energy Take Classic Speakers. One thing I will point out is your indoor projector setup is only as good as your weakest link, so plan on a good screen and good sound otherwise youre probably not going to be happy. Planning to use the projectors internal speaker or projecting onto a makeshift screen is like driving a Ferrari on a dirt road...you have all that horsepower and refinement but you just wont be able to put it to good use. Overall Im happy with the HD143X, but it does have its flaws. Good: - It projects a very clear image. Its not as clear as my 59 1080p TV, but I didnt want to spring for a 4K projector just yet. Im more finnicky than most but not a complete videophile, so if Im happy with it Id guess that covers about 90% of people out there who would agree. The other 10% wont be happy with anything other than a 4K setup. - The noise from the fan is manageable. - Sitting beneath the projector the heat it puts out is not noticeable. - The brightness is adequate with all the lights on. Bad - There is a light outline around the entire outer edge, a few inches wide depending on the projection size. This is taken care of by my fixed screen, which absorbs it and makes it not noticeable so for me this is NOT an issue. However, if youre NOT going to use a fixed screen to absorb light around the edges consider this a DEALBREAKER. Trust me you will be very annoyed by this, and its apparently something thats innate to the DLP chip they chose. From a little research this appears to be a difference between the HD142X, which is just coming to light now and likely the reason for the lower rating youre seeing on the HD143X. - There are 3 legs on the projector, two are adjustable and one is just part of the plastic...its fixed. Dont ask me why this is the case, but if you wanted to simply rest this on a table that makes it pretty annoying. - The projector feels a bit cheap overall compared to my Epson projector. The Epson just seems to have a lot more ease of adjustability (screen display, zoom, right-left image movement/adjustment options, and the legs). For my uses, Im always using the Epson on a table and its always set up then taken down. My Optoma is fixed mounted to the ceiling. Considering that, they both serve their purpose and the Optoma is fine because I set it up once and that was it. However, if you are NOT planning to mount the Optoma I feel like youre going to be annoyed trying to get the picture how you want it compared to other projectors out there that have more adjustability. If youre going to mount it like I did, then its not an issue. Overall Im satisfied with the Optoma so far. This is highly contingent on the rest of my setup, so be sure to figure out how youre going to set up yours before buying. If youre looking at non-fixed screen or set up then take down scenarios, I would consider other options. If youre going to use a fixed screen with a black edge and mount it, then the Optoma should satisfy you.

I bought this knowing it is only a native 1080p projector and does not support 4K. It does, but it downgrades it. 4K projectors are still very expensive and not a whole lot of content yet so didnt pull the plug. Most of the reviews on picture quality, features etc. are accurate so i am not going into it. I own a 1080p 46 inch 3d Samsung TV from 2010 that I am using for comparison. So with that in background I am sharing my practical experience to help you decide if you should purchase this or any other HD projector: 1. First this is not a short throw projector. Those are still $1k+ at the time of the review but this does add a disadvantage. Meaning projector has to be 6-7 feet minimum, aka you need a free basement or a really large room that is not frequently used. For this to work, you either have to mount it under ceiling...but again will run into problems running power and HDMI cables. Or on a coffee or side table (my setup) but then you have HDMI and Power cables running along the floor to a power outlet on the wall / receiver. In most homes you have to live it it and can partially cover it up using area rugs. 2. The built in speakers are no fun, so have to connect to a surround sound system. HDMI cable issue as mentioned in #1. you could buy all wireless surround sound speakers and keep the receiver below the projector but you will still have power cable issue....unless you live in a modern home that has power outlets on the floor near by. I have one, but that is still too far away. Wall power point is closer. 3. You need a screen. The size and height of room limits the screen size. I could fit a 100inch screen but it takes up a full wall (I live in east coast city with small rooms, but I do have 10 foot ceiling). Projecting on wall may work if you have a full bare wall (no switches, hvac controllers etc. and willing to paint it white. There is some color correction available if your wall is colored but it will definitely change the picture color. 4. I may be happy with the resolution it because I am still using a 10 year old TV as reference, but it was top of the line (3k+ when it first arrived.) Those with UHD or 4K TVs...your mileage may vary as you have got used to seeing more details and a sharper image. When things are blown up, you tend to notice more defects. 5. If you dont have projector and screen fixed securely to wall you almost always have to re-focus and adjust screen (to correct keystone) every day. Again you get better and faster at it but still is a chore. Even slight movement of screen or projector throws off the focus. Now the positives...these mitigate some of the practical issues mentioned above: 1. This thing is small and very light. you can unplug everything and put it away in 15 seconds. The cables you roll back to wall and/or receiver and you have the room back to normal. 2. If you buy a collapsible screen (even if it is manual) with stand. you can roll it down in 30 seconds. But you cant put away...it is too long, but at least it is along a wall at the bottom. Installing everything back takes a few minutes, you get better and faster with practice. One word of Caution though: Once you get used to seeing movies on the 100+ inch screen it is tough to go back to a 46 inch screen no matter how good it is. So think twice before you leap!

This projector is the latest upgrade to my home theater. The picture is razor sharp if you are streaming 4k or at least 1080p. the color is really good. Its fairly quiet. We watch movie while sitting about 6ft below it. The fan cuts on and off for cooling. It is not distracting like my previous projector (Wimus brand. Not bad but loud and picture not near as good). The HD146X takes about 15 to 20 seconds to warm up when first turned on. No problem there. Im very happy with the performance. I have it paired with a Klipsch 7.2 surround sound system. Movies with this combo are amazing. I also play COD (xbox) on this projector. All I can say is WHOA!! fast response. Excellent refresh rate. Love it. There are a couple of things that I wish were better but were not deal breakers for me. 1) the projector has to be mounted to align with the center of the screen. In my case I had a ceiling fan there but ended up replacing the low hanging fan with a flush mounted base fan that positioned the fan closer to ceiling. After mounting the projector with an extension arm to lower it, I was able to put the projector in the center of the room. 2) This issue was a bigger problem than the centering. The mount. Apparently a typical universal mount doesnt work with this projector. Optoma has a proprietary mount that must be ordered from them specifically for this line of projector. I was infuriated by this. I already had a mount from my previous projector. I didnt need a new one. I had to take the mount I had down to my shop to grind, cut and drill for my universal mount to work. Most people wont have the resources for this. I barely did. It was way more work than I should have to do. The Optoma mounts are expensive and take forever to get. Consider these things before you buy. If you have a drill and the correct size mount screws, you can make a universal mount work. Im very particular so I didnt like having a home machined mount. Bottom line. Great projector, terrible mount configuration.

I watch tv a lot. I’m about 2 years, several pixels have going out slowly from the beginning. It’s a little annoying now when it’s really dark, so beware

Bought this projector to replace an acer brand projector with a failing fan motor. We have the projector in the family room and use it daily to watch TV programs and movies. On average it gets used about 15-20 hours a week. The projector is much quieter than any other DLP projector Ive owned over the years. In fact, even with a library level of sound, I can not hear it running at all when the projector is in eco/regular mode. When in bright mode, for 3D movies or gaming, a very modest fan can be heard but it certainly on par with any other comparable DLP projector. The thickness of the projector itself and also its depth front to back, is a bit bigger than others ive owned but only by about an inch or so. The remote is backlit when buttons are pressed which is a nice touch. The image is bright enough that I can comfortably watch tv with 4 60watt ceiling fan bulbs being on and the image isnt washed out, but of course this and any other projectors are designed to be used in low light environments, in which this projector has a superb image quality. Multiple digital adjustments of keystone, image position and digital zoom to make fine adjustments to image size and even can adjust the levelling of image if your projector mount is not level or maybe your screen masking is not perfectly straight. A two part adjusting lens lets you dial in the perfect image size for your setup too. This projector is for a throw distance of about 15ft max for a 100 screen image. My throw is about 11ft from the lens to the screen and I have it projecting an image size of 110 wide X 66 tall. I havent used the 3D capability of the projector yet but anticipate the quality to be on par but perhaps even better as there are multiple 3D settings/options for the best experience using that mode just make sure you have 3D DLP shutter lens glasses. Overall, I am very pleased with this projector and would recommend it to others eapecially if looking to have a high lumen output that is for everyday use as a primary display in the home. I did purchase the amazon offered insurance/warranty based on service level and price alone versus cost of projector and its typical lifespan.

UPDATE: October 28, 2021 16 months so far and no problems. Original Review: June, 2020 This HD146X is replacing a 5-6yr old Optoma 520 that finally had a problem and would only give a faded pink image. Liked the throw and spread of the last Optoma in our home theater and decided to go for this similarly performing latest model. I am a researcher... you know who you are of you are like me. Especially on sognifxnst purchases like this that are over $300-400 and are technical and electronic. So many choices out there today. I received this unit today n one day from Amazon. Cool! Out of the box, the immediate difference from our old Optoma 529 was brightness. Wow! Some reviews mention that this is bright enough to watch with some lights on on the room and there’s statements are 100% legitimate. Very bright and I’m very happy. Next, the throw on this unit is identical to our old 520. I installed on the same exeoli g mount and had to do NOTHING to adjust the zoom for our screen. I am projecting this on a 120” horizontal screen with a 16:9 screen format that o built myself when screens of this size were over $1,200. I built my own screen for about $180 and that was 6yrs ago. Also, it is FAR more quiet than our old Optoma 520. The fan nose bothered some buyers on the 520, but it never bothered us while watching movies. However this HD146X is VERay quiet even with the fan running. For you shoppers who also may have an Optoma projector you are looking tonrepoace, I’ve got one bit of bad news... this unit comes woth the same crust remote control, with SUPER bright backlot buttons that is way too bright. For me this is a no -issue as we control our home theater with a Logitech programmable remote. Just wanted everyone to know that the Optoma remote is functional and easy to use. However, it is lightweight plastic and the backlot buttons are crazy bright. Like you could use them to navigate your home on the dark instead of your smartphone flashlight. Out of the box I’m stoked. However, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping mine last longer than3-4months loke some other reviewers here. I definitely found the warranty registration card and immediately entry online and registered my unit just in case. This is a no frills unit that appears to have great quality video. I am a big Amazon review person and I believe in buying based on reviews so I pay it forward on stuff I buy. If there is any change, I certainly will update this review.

Good picture quality - not great. Great brightness, I can still use during the daytime. Remote works great, easy setup.