Optoma HD82

The basics

The Optoma HD82 is a full-HD DLP projector that throws out sharp 1080p images at a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a contrast ratio of 20,000:1 and an ANSI contrast of 680:1, a brightness of 1,300 lumens and a 22dB noise output. It has two HDMI inputs, DVI-D, and a VGA input. It measures 490x372x194mm and weighs 8.5kg.

The good

No messing around here: this is one of the best projectors around. The images that the Optoma HD82 throws out are so sharp you could almost cut your eyes on them. That whopping contrast ratio also ensures that blacks are as black as a dark hole and whites as bright as a nuclear explosion. Optoma's PureMotion engine means that it's great for action scenes too, inserting extra frames to ensure smooth viewing. Very clever. It's a breeze to set up too. Just connect your Blu-ray player up to one of the HDMI inputs and away you go. Simples. Massive 302 images on your wall, no problemo.

The bad

At 8.4kg the Optoma HD82 is a beast of machine, so hanging it from the ceiling is about as practical as a chocolate radiator cover. Also, Optoma reckons you get 3,000 hours from the lamp. When that goes you'll have to fork out a whopping £309! And while we're on price, the HD82 costs over two grand!

The bottom line

The closest you'll come to turning your lounge into a cinema. All you have to do now is trample some popcorn into the floor and you're there.