ReviewFinder Video Projectors

Optoma HD146X

🤖 Beep-boop. I can read reviews REALLY FAST and summarize. Do you have any questions about Optoma HD146X?
Image Quality
Light
Connectivity options
Expand

16 Verified Hands-On Reviews

To combat fake reviews we only accept video reviews from verified channels. Each review must show the product and the face of the reviewer.

Expert reviews [16]

79
Total expert reviews: 16
  • with a score: 3
  • without a score: 13
Highest score by techreviewadvisor.com
88
Average score based on 16 reviews
79
Lowest score by CNET
70

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
70
Solid projector value that cuts a few corners
The Optoma HD146X is a solid projector option for its price, offering impressive picture quality and brightness. However, it does have noticeable fan noise and lacks certain features like multiple inputs and a wide zoom range.
+ pros
  • Bright: The Optoma HD146X provides a bright picture, making it suitable for use in dark rooms.
  • Inexpensive: The projector is priced at $550, offering good value for the money.
- cons
  • Fan noise is quite noticeable: The noise created by the fan can be distracting and detract from the viewing experience.
  • Only one input: The projector only has one HDMI input, limiting the number of devices that can be connected.
  • Minimal zoom range: The zoom range is narrow at 1.1, limiting flexibility in projector placement and image size.
80
A capable projector for cinephiles on a budget
The Optoma HD146X is a budget-friendly 1080p home entertainment projector that offers excellent picture quality for movies and gaming. While it lacks some features like multiple HDMI ports and image shift, it delivers the best color accuracy and contrast in its price range.
+ pros
  • The Optoma HD146X delivers the best balance of color accuracy, contrast, black level, and three-dimensionality for video and movies.
  • The projector offers a short enough lag to satisfy most gamers.
  • The image quality is excellent for the price, with no need to tweak any settings.
  • The projector has a bright enough rating to project onto a large screen in a dark room or a smaller screen in ambient light.
  • The projector has minimal rainbow artifacts, making it a good choice for those sensitive to them.
- cons
  • The projector only has one HDMI port instead of two.
  • There is no image shift feature to match the picture position to the screen for easier setup.
  • The onboard speaker delivers tinny sound at a low volume, requiring an external sound system.
  • The menu highlight on the remote control often jumps two steps in response to one button press.
  • The projector's 3D performance is typical for projectors in this price range, with some motion artifacts and limited picture modes.
Show all 16 reviews
ReviewFinder: authentic product reviews summarized by a powerful AI engine.

Expert consensus

The Optoma HD146X projector is praised for its high image quality, brightness, and versatile connectivity options, making it suitable for a range of uses such as presentations, classroom work, and home theater setups.

The Optoma HD146X projector is highly praised by experts for its high image quality, making it suitable for a range of uses such as presentations, classroom work, and home theater setups. It offers a native resolution of 1080p, providing a crisp and detailed picture similar to that of a standard HD television.

The projector also performs well in terms of light output and brightness, with a range of measurements from 1,100 lumens to 3,600 lumens, making it suitable for various environments. It has a contrast ratio of 25,000:1 and dynamic black levels of 500,000:1, enhancing black levels and providing more depth and detail in darker areas of the screen.

The HD146X also excels in color accuracy, displaying vibrant and accurate colors that match the Rec. 709 color space. In terms of connectivity options, it offers HDMI, VGA, USB, and audio ports, allowing users to connect various devices such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices.

While it does not have built-in wireless capabilities, users can use third-party wireless HDMI adapters or streaming devices for wireless streaming. Overall, the Optoma HD146X is a highly regarded projector that offers high image quality, sufficient brightness, and versatile connectivity options, making it suitable for home theater setups, gaming, presentations, and classroom work.

Image Quality

The Optoma HD146X projector offers a high-quality image with its native 1080p resolution, excellent light output, contrast ratio, and color accuracy, making it suitable for various environments and uses.

The Optoma HD146X projector offers a high-quality image with its native resolution of 1080p. Experts agree that the full HD resolution provides a crisp and detailed picture, similar to that of a standard HD television. The projector also performs well in terms of light output and brightness, with a range of measurements from 1,100 lumens to 3,600 lumens.

This makes it suitable for various environments, including well-lit rooms and dark viewing areas.

In terms of contrast ratio, the HD146X has a ratio of 25,000:1 and dynamic black levels of 500,000:1. This enhances the black levels and provides more depth and detail in darker areas of the screen. The projector also excels in color accuracy, thanks to its 6-segment color wheel. This allows for a balanced color image with greater accuracy, displaying vibrant and accurate colors that match the Rec.

709 color space.

While the throw ratio of the HD146X is not mentioned in the available sources, it does have a 1. 1x zoom, suggesting a variable throw ratio. Overall, the Optoma HD146X projector is praised for its high image quality, making it suitable for a range of uses such as presentations, classroom work, and home theater setups.

Show product research

Light

The Optoma HD146X projector has received positive reviews for its light performance, with a high lumens rating and adjustable lamp output, making it suitable for most viewing environments and offering a long-lasting lamp that can be easily replaced with proper maintenance.

The Optoma HD146X projector has received positive reviews from experts regarding its light performance. With a lumens rating of 3,600 lumens, it provides sufficient brightness for most screens in dark rooms, ensuring an enjoyable viewing experience without washout or the need to control light levels.

The projector uses a lamp as its light source, and the lamp output is adjusted using Dynamic Black technology to enhance contrast and improve image quality in both bright and dark scenes.

The lamp in the Optoma HD146X has an average lifespan of up to 15,000 hours, which translates to over 10 years of use if the projector is used for an average of 4 hours per day. The lamp is replaceable, allowing users to easily replace it when it reaches the end of its lifespan.

In terms of maintenance, the Optoma HD146X has relatively low maintenance requirements compared to other projectors. Regular cleaning of the projector and air vents is recommended to prevent dust buildup, which can affect the cooling system and potentially shorten the lamp life. It is also important to ensure proper ventilation and avoid frequent on/off cycles to prevent overheating and strain on the lamp.

Using the projector in Eco mode can help save energy and extend the lamp life.

Overall, the Optoma HD146X is a highly regarded projector in terms of its light performance. It provides sufficient brightness for most viewing environments and has a long-lasting lamp that can be easily replaced. With proper maintenance, users can enjoy optimal performance and prolong the life of the lamp.

Show product research

Connectivity options

The Optoma HD146X projector offers a range of input options for connecting various devices, making it suitable for a variety of use cases.

The Optoma HD146X projector offers a range of input options, including HDMI 1. 4a with MHL compatibility, a VGA port, a USB-A port for power output, and a 3. 5mm audio out port. These input options allow you to connect various devices such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices.

The projector does not have built-in wireless capabilities, but you can use third-party wireless HDMI adapters or streaming devices like a Chromecast or Roku to enable wireless streaming. Overall, the Optoma HD146X is equipped with commonly used input options for most mid-range projectors, making it suitable for a variety of use cases such as home theater setups, gaming, and presentations.

Show product research

Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all video projectors.

Rank Change Price Projector
CNET
T3
PCMag
WIRED
What Hi-Fi
Digital Trends
The Strategist
The Verge
Forbes
TechRadar
1
- Check price
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000
The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is a highly praised home theater projector that offers exceptional image quality, brightness, and connectivity options, making it a top choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers.
-
-
1
7
-
-
-
-
-
1
2
- Check price
Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma
The Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma projector offers high image quality, accurate colors, and sufficient brightness, making it a versatile option for home theater, gaming, and multimedia presentations.
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
1
-
3
- $3498
Epson Home Cinema LS11000
The Epson Home Cinema LS11000 projector is highly praised for its impressive image quality, light performance, and connectivity options, making it a top choice for home theater enthusiasts and professionals.
10
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
4
- $1899
BenQ TK860i
The BenQ TK860i projector is highly praised for its exceptional image quality, brightness, color accuracy, and flexibility in placement, making it a top choice for various use cases.
-
-
2
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
Show all rows
Best home projector for video games
10 Nov 2021 (3 years ago)
Read article
The best budget projector
24 Sep 2020 (4 years ago)
Read article

Highest recommended video projectors this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. video projectors below are at the top of our ranking this November.

Scroll to see all options. Click on the projector for more details.
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma Epson Home Cinema LS11000 BenQ TK860i
Reviews
We don't yet have enough review information for Epson Pro Cinema LS12000
Reviews
In comparison:
Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma rank #2 out of 143. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
8.1
Great
Reviews
We don't yet have enough review information for Epson Home Cinema LS11000
Reviews
We don't yet have enough review information for BenQ TK860i
Price
The Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 is a highly praised home theater projector that offers exceptional image quality, brightness, and connectivity options, making it a top choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers. The Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma projector offers high image quality, accurate colors, and sufficient brightness, making it a versatile option for home theater, gaming, and multimedia presentations. The Epson Home Cinema LS11000 projector is highly praised for its impressive image quality, light performance, and connectivity options, making it a top choice for home theater enthusiasts and professionals. The BenQ TK860i projector is highly praised for its exceptional image quality, brightness, color accuracy, and flexibility in placement, making it a top choice for various use cases.
Go to product Go to product Go to product Go to product