Optoma EP719

The competition was very strong for this roundup of sub- $1000 projectors, but the Optoma EP719 clearly outshone the rest. Alfhough not the brightest of the group, the Optoma single-handedly creates a new product category: the bargain-basement XGA projector. And as if that's not enough, the EP719 boasts the best contrast ratio we have yet seen.

The Optoma EP719 has a mild-mannered box-like shape with a silver-grey-and-black color scheme. Packed into this 4.4-pound package, are Superman-style specs that are normally found only on much more expensive projectors. This includes items such as XGA resolution, exceptionally high contrast (claimed to be 2500:1) and 2000 lumens. Indeed, this is the first XGA projector we have seen that breaks the $1,000 barrier.

Despite these impressive specs, the EP719 shows some signs of budget cuts. The control panel on the top of the projector has seven small buttons, including a surprisingly small Power button. The large remote control has a fittingly large array of buttons, but somehow manages to omit the features most important to presenters: a laser pointer and buttons for navigating a PowerPoint slide show. To get a full-featured remote, you'll have to spend an extra $119.

The cable assortment is mediocre, as Optoma includes only a short AC power cable, a VGA cable, and a composite video cable. The Velcro strap on the VGA cable makes it a little easier to stow when it's time to pack up. The rear panel has both the standard VGA-in jack plus a DVI with HDCP and VGA-out connector for use by those presenters who use a desktop.

The EP719 lived up to its specs in our lab tests. Its brightness, at 1793 lumens was the second highest in this group and just short of the advertised 2000 lumens. Where it really stood out was in its contrast ratio of 908:1, by far the best we have measured.

In Normal operation, the Optoma was very quiet, and in Low-Power mode we could hardly hear it. Individual pixels were well shaped, and the projector did a good job handling dark, mid-level, and very light grays. The only real disappointment is the EP719's focus ring, which was hard to adjust.

As the first XGA-resolution projector to carry a $999 price tag, and with relatively inexpensive lamp replacements ($299), the EP719 is a great bargain. As long as you can live with a one-year warranty, you can't go wrong with this unit.