Optoma MovieTime DV10

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While "convergence" has become a buzzword for the worlds of mobile phones and games consoles, home cinema has always preferred separate components over the integrated approach. Optoma's MovieTime DV10 projector is sure to rustle a few feathers because it's one of the first home-cinema projectors to include a DVD player in the main chassis.

While purists would rather watch their movies on a black-and-white portable TV than consider such a preposterous idea, this "home cinema in a box" solution will suit home-cinema users who travel, as they can carry a complete cinema in one bag. It will also suit people who don't have the space to set up a dedicated home-cinema room, but still like being able to pull out a projector once a week to improve their movie experience. On these terms, the MovieTime is a wholly successful experiment, and its cause is certainly helped by being an all-round high-quality product that sells for a very low price.

Design

The aliens have landed! (click here for a larger image)

Whether by choice or necessity, the DV10 is a weird-looking projector. From the top, it's "X"-like shape and rounded corners make it look distinctly UFO-like, and when the lid pops open, you half expect little aliens to jump out and invade your living room. The white plastic casing is practical and it's clearly stealing a little of Apple's style, but the disc tray on the top feels as though it could snap off at any moment.

You may have everything you need for home cinema in one box, but the DV10 is a shade too large and heavy for our liking. The included case means it isn't cumbersome to carry, but it's heavier than an average laptop. It's hardly a scientific test, but on the 20-minute walk home, we had to swap shoulders twice and we were pretty tired when we got in.

Connectivity on the rear is good for both outputs and inputs. Most projectors don't need many outputs, but thanks to the integrated DVD player, there's an output for digital and analogue audio--essential if you use home-cinema speakers. The fact that the DVD player is integrated into the main body means you probably won't need to connect other equipment very often, but the VGA, S-video and composite connection will come in handy, plus there's a component-video to VGA converter to use for a tuner set-top box or games console.

The remote control is too big, but it houses well laid-out buttons large enough that you can learn their location and use it in the dark of your home cinema. Having said that, it's a shame the buttons weren't given a lick of glow-in-the-dark paint, which is expected even on sub-S$3,000 (US$2,007.63) projectors. If you don't want to carry the remote around with you, everything you need can be found circling the DVD tray on the main unit itself.

If it's advanced connectivity you're after, be advised that there are no component-video inputs--although it's only DVD players that would use them anyway. If you're living in a super-cool networked home, you'll be able to use the RS-232 (PC serial port) input. This allows you to wire the projector into a home automation system so that you can hit Go Cinema on a keypad somewhere and everything will snap into gear. The irony is that one keypad from Crestron or AMX is likely to cost you substantially more than this projector, but it's always an option in case you win the lottery. There's also USB input on the back. It isn't covered in the instructions, but we presume it's for a service upgrade.

Features

Integrated stereo speakers on its butt. (click here for a larger image)

There are some outstanding features on Optoma's DV10. Aside from the fact that its internal DVD player is a major innovation, the projector boasts speakers that are very usable, as well as all the audio outputs you'd get on a full DVD player. Rated at 5W each, the two integral speakers are the first built-in units we've listened to that we would consider using. The only problem is that they are likely to be behind you rather than in front. Looks like you'll still need to invest in that Yamaha YSP-1 speaker system.

Ultimately, the amount of electronics housed inside the DV10 means it has to be cooled with extreme prejudice. The air vents are located on each side of the projector and the fans kick out 28dB of noise--notieceable if the movie in question doesn't star Arnold Schwarzenegger. After the demands of a 2-hour film have taken their toll, you begin to feel why--the projector does get very hot.

It may be a small point, but many home-cinema users like to have their projectors hanging from the ceiling so they're out of sight. But the DV10's design limits this functionality as it has the DVD player located on top, so it would be very difficult to load the disc with the projector hanging upside down. At this price range, most buyers will probably be quite happy to simply put it away after each use. If the DV10 ever sees a successor, perhaps a slot-loading DVD mechanism would be more suitable.

We spoke to Optoma about the connectivity between DVD player and projector, and the data is kept completely digital between the two. Because the DVD player and projector are designed to be used together, Optoma has also been able to optimize the picture much more effectively, and the resulting package is very good value for money.

Performance
For the money, the Optoma DV10 performs very well. The company's engineers have plenty of experience with the DLP chipset from cinema projectors to rear-projection TVs, and the light engine is more than up to the job of giving you a high-quality home cinema, especially if you're new to it all. Clearly, Optoma is shooting for a very specific market of budget buyers who have portability as their priority, and it's safe to assume that these people won't be investing heavily in items like projector screens. Judged on this standard, the picture quality is excellent, with a low amount of light spillage, minimal rainbow effect and a good throw ratio. If you don't think much of the integrated DVD player approach, then spend the equivalent money on a dedicated projector--but you won't see much difference.

If we were pleasantly surprised by the video quality, we were very impressed with the DV10's audio outputs. The two speakers on the rear can be used if you haven't got a decent pair of speakers lying around (if you're at your parents' house, for example). You won't get the impact of the thunderous chase sequence from our test disc Bad Boys 2, but you'll be able to enjoy intelligible dialog and sprightly musical effects. Plus, they just about manage to cover the unit's fan noise.