Optoma MovieTime DV10 DLP Projector

I will state upfront I enjoy watching movies, and Optoma's DV10
gives me the massive viewing movie experience I expect. (Other possibilities are using the DV10 for playing music CDs, connecting a computer, or heaven forbid, hooking into mindless TV broadcasts.)

I set up my DV10 at two locations - my house and my parent's. As far as portability goes, the DV10 fits nicely in a backpack (including it's sophisticated "briefcase") for the 4.3 mile bicycle trip between both locations. I have to say, this product is solid and functioning well after months of potholes, curbs, and general bike vibration. Good job Optoma!

At my house I project onto a wall of my living room; I think screens are
a bit too restricting, besides the quality on the wall is fantastic! (Wall blemishes - like nail holes - only show during particularly bright scenes, as in a wintry bright "Narnia" scene. I placed white tape over the holes and I hardly notice them. Again, just saying, a wall can work just as well as a movie screen with the DV10. Why box in your imagination?)

From the center of my living room, the DV10 can output a 7ft wide image, and can go much larger, of course, but for my enjoyment this is overwhelming! Not only do I feel immersed in the visuals of a movie, but I realize my living room has been transformed into the sand world of Arrakis in "Dune" or to a violent, roller coaster ride through a wormhole in "StarGate".

Back to reality... Over at Mom and Dad's, we use the DV10 to project onto a 9ft by 6ft sheet of photographer's professional-grade foam core. Yeah, the foam core is a bit warped, causing a minor distortion in image. I admit, I do tend to enjoy viewing a movie on my off-white living room wall.

Dad likes the sound loud, and the DV10 can crank out the volume from its integrated speakers. For the best audio performance you'd do well to sit behind the projector; sitting off to the front side, and it's a little difficult to hear what Captain Jack says to Elizabeth Swann. Yet, hey! The projector was designed for sitting at its backside where the speakers are aimed at an audience's ears.

However, I soon will be connecting a 5.1 speaker system to my DV10, thereby resolving any hearing issues regardless of position in the room. (This does pose a challenge for porting both the DV10 and a speaker system by bike, when without a bike trailer.) (Sony's HT-DDW700 5.1 speaker/receiver specs and reviews reads to be perfect for not only my wallet, but also for the sound and reliability. I'm stoked to try the optical inputs to the DV10.)

Out of the box, I was first enthralled by the "briefcase" for the DV10 - its sturdy material, embroidered lettering, pockets for power cord and remote control. Having a strong appreciation for design (and a degree in graphic design), I know I hold in my hands a quality product when a company, in this case Optoma, puts in the extra effort to design for appearance of style and ergonomics of handling.

The DV10 itself, once unzipped and revealed from its "briefcase" appears truly otherworldly, not boxy like so many other projectors. Hey! If an electronic device is going to be the center-piece of my living room, it had better be darn kewl to the sight and touch!

Okay, so this is all great, but what about viewing during daylight hours, you may ask. As an example, my mom and I watched Buffy (from a DVD set) with the DV10 in the afternoon. True, daylight, even through drawn curtains, does diminish the contrast some, but it would have been the same for watching a show on Mom and Dad's 42" LCD tv.

My one big concern with the DV10 is that it does gas-off a hot plastic-like smell when it's on. This smell is fan-directed out by the projector to one side. I use an external fan to vent the room of the scent; this works well. Some who have had their's longer than mine say this scent wears off in time.

All in all, as far as home theatres go, the DV10 must be the easiest for set up. Once the power cord is plugged in and the DV10 is powered on (taking less than a minute), I can place a DVD in the top to have sight and sound of a movie in mere moments for me to behold. My skin tingles with excitement and I feel raw power over commanding my very own movie experience.

Also kewl to note, is how the DV10 gradually ramps the sound after un-pausing a movie rather than blasting me out of my seat. Other notes, include the auto-device-detect (useful when I plugged in a VCR into the DV10 - it found the VCR connection for me! Yeah, I'm lazy); having the DVD player and speakers integrated I get full digital performance; the supplied remote control interestingly allows me to bounce a signal off the wall?

Dude! Bottom line is why limit yourself? Why limit your viewing sizes when you can have all the viewing size you want and all the connectivity options as a TeleVision-box, but contained in an elegant and exquisite projector measuring the size of a sheet of paper and as tall as a soup can.

I recommend Optoma's DV10 Movietime to any one. It's good to be my own movie house.