Optoma RD50 DLP

[HEEL4EVR]

Does anyone have any info/reviews of the Optoma RD50 DLP, and how it may compare to the Samsung HLN507W DLP? It seems like Samsung may have the best DLP product available at this time...but I would like to see what other options are on the market....

[boogiemanp]

Panasonic and Gateway make a DLP also. I'd like to see what people thought about these also and how they compare.

[dalkonshield]

here's a cut n paste of the rd50 specs from costco.com:

Limited Online Offer:

Valid for orders placed August 11, 2004
through September 30, 2004.

Online price $2499.99
*Less coupon -$100.00
YOUR COST $2399.99

* The $100.00 manufacturer's coupon will automatically be deducted at checkout.** No coupon number is needed.

With breakthrough DLP™ technology, Optoma TVs deliver unparalleled clarity, contrast and color. Image quality is further enhanced with pure digital signal processing from source to screen, 720 progressive scan resolution and native 16:9 widescreen format which eliminates image distortion.

* 50" diagonal wide-screen
* Resolution: 1280 x 720
* Aspect ratio: 16:9
* Brightness: 450 cd/m²
* Contrast ratio: 1500:1
* Non-reflective, fine-grade, 0.15 mm screen-pitch display
* HD-2 Digital Light Processing (DLP) by Texas Instruments
* DVI (Digital Video Interface) connector
* Precision Pixel Matching technology for 1:1 scan conversion
* DVDO 504 Progressive Processing for artifact-free scaling
* 3D Digital Comb Filter
* Nine display formats for resizing and display
* Two Tuner PIP and POP
* Multiple connectors: DVI, BNC RGB, composite, S-Video, RF, VGA, YPbPr
* MTS Stereo/SAP
* Two 15-watt speakers
* Long lasting lamp life: 8000 hrs
* Dimensions:
46" W x 35.5" H x 14.8" D
* Weight: 90 lbs.

[stress_guy]

I've had the Gateway DLP since January and love it. No problems so far; however, Gateway closed all their stores and only do online sales now - I don't think they sell the DLP anymore :nono2: . Not sure what will happen when I need a new bulb. :confused:

[dalkonshield]

Their online store currently has the bulbs in stock.

[handymannw]

SED International offers the RD50 @ $2100. DELIVERED.
Does anyone have experience with SED?
The RD50 is now superseded by the RD50H with the HDTV compliant chip for copy protection that is coming in 2006.
Does anyone have experience with HD compliant chip for copy protection?
Bob Larson
Redmond WA

[Maxpower]

Do you have a costco near by? it`s $1999.00, the bulb is on the high side at $299.00.No DVI with copy protection, so wont work with newer upscaling dvd players through dvi, will work with bravo 2,zenith 318,etc.

[handymannw]

I passed the RD50. I found out that RD50H has the HDCP chip and it will cost about $2,600 +shipping.
Now I am getting the TOSHIBA 44NHM84 with DLP & HDCP for less than $2,000 from VIDEO ONLY.
Optoma marketing seems to be too enigmatic for my tastes.
It has some good reviews but who buys it?

[JoeNewbie]

How is that Toshiba 44NHM84 working out? I've seen it locally at Electronics Express for ~$2100. I was told it's actually built by LG.

[handymannw]

How is that Toshiba 44NHM84 working out? I've seen it locally at Electronics Express for ~$2100. I was told it's actually built by LG.
The Toshiba 44NHM84 is an OK machine. The single remote, while big, does it all.
It is presently hooked up to JVC DVD and also JVC (super VHS) VCR. I have yet to connect with my laptop.
I haven't connected the 3-wire component video cable to the DVD but rather am connected to S-video at the left side and the VCR is connected to the single S-video rear connection. This weekend I will make the 3-wire component video cable hookup when I get back home.
We haven't yet upgraded COMCAST cable to HDTV here in Redmond WA.
:wave:

[KSJJ]

I had the same question - will let you know when I find out. By the way, when was the Samsung HLN507W released?Does anyone have any info/reviews of the Optoma RD50 DLP, and how it may compare to the Samsung HLN507W DLP? It seems like Samsung may have the best DLP product available at this time...but I would like to see what other options are on the market....

[jeffisajedi]

In October I purchased the Optoma RD50 from Costco.com for $1999 + ship/tax and received it a few weeks later.

I have a Motorola HD Cable box hooked up via Component and set to 720p. The HD channels look absolutely stunning. The picture is very bright, even in the family room with the sunshine coming in.

The DVI input (non-HDCP fyi) is currently being used by my htpc (geforce4200ti) for SageTV, DVD, Websurfing, and Gaming (Just tried HL2 on it !!!!).

My Sony receiver has two component video inputs and one output. I am using the Progressive Scan DVD player with the other component input.

SDTV signals are obviously not as good, but are certainly watchable.

Overall, I am very impressed with this set so far. My only issues are a lack of documentation and instructions that came with it, and not a whole lot of information online about how to tweak and properly setup the computer to output to this tv.

I hear there might be an HDCP fix for my specific TV, which is not really an issue right now for me, but when HD-DVD's become more prevelant, and if my cable company forces HDCP Compliancy for DVI out in the future, I may be wanting to switch.

Since there is only one DVI port, and I haven't seen an inexpensive multi-dvi input-output box, I will be content with what I have right now.

If someone has additional detailed Optoma information, please post!

[rlb187]

I hear there might be an HDCP fix for my specific TV, which is not really an issue right now for me, but when HD-DVD's become more prevelant, and if my cable company forces HDCP Compliancy for DVI out in the future, I may be wanting to switch.

Any idea how Optoma might add HDCP to the RD50 DVI-D input? Would this be something that the user can install themself? Free upgrade?

[jeffisajedi]

Ok...here's the scoop - I think...

Optoma RD50's manufactured after April 04 should be HDCP compliant. This means that even though Costco.com etc, were selling "RD50's, they may have had the RD50h's HDCP compatibility built in.

Mine was February, 04... :mecry:

So, I emailed Optoma about the "upgrade" - which they said could easily be done onsite for about $400. Apparently, there are a couple of boards that go along with the DVI-D port which have to be replaced to come up to speed as they say.

Fortunately, I bought from Costco - and I'm not sure how "satisfied" I am with buying something that is not future proof!

We'll see. It's not an issue for me right now in my current configuration.

Jeff

[arejohn59]

Costco has the RCA HD50LPW42 for $1999 this week. I have the rd50 and am considering changing to the RCA. Any problmes with yours or anything else you are not satisfied with.

[jeffisajedi]

Interesting... This RCA has a few really nice features! Firewire inputs, Built-in ATSC Tuner, Digital Coax/Optical out, Universal remote, and HDCP compatibility.

The question is - are these features enough to make me pack up my optoma, which I am delighted with and take it back to costco to make a switch???

:headscrat

[rlb187]

Ok...here's the scoop - I think...

Optoma RD50's manufactured after April 04 should be HDCP compliant. This means that even though Costco.com etc, were selling "RD50's, they may have had the RD50h's HDCP compatibility built in.

Mine was February, 04... :mecry:

So, I emailed Optoma about the "upgrade" - which they said could easily be done onsite for about $400. Apparently, there are a couple of boards that go along with the DVI-D port which have to be replaced to come up to speed as they say.

Fortunately, I bought from Costco - and I'm not sure how "satisfied" I am with buying something that is not future proof!

We'll see. It's not an issue for me right now in my current configuration.

Jeff

Interesting... This RCA has a few really nice features! Firewire inputs, Built-in ATSC Tuner, Digital Coax/Optical out, Universal remote, and HDCP compatibility.

The question is - are these features enough to make me pack up my optoma, which I am delighted with and take it back to costco to make a switch???

:headscrat

In mid-December, I purchased my Optoma RD50 at Costco. The manufactured date is March 04, so I am in the same non-HDCP boat. The Optoma HDTV that I purchased was a display model (only a few weeks on display) so I got it for a reduced price of $1,500. The picture quality and price were certainly the driving factors in my purchase of the RD50. Picture quality on SD is great and look forward to getting a HD source in the future.

Before I purchased the Optoma, I was considering the RCA because of all the nice connectivity options and a more powerful audio system. At the time, there were no RCA HDTVs in our area to see. After the holidays, Costco had both the 50" and 61" RCA DLP HDTVs on display. To me, the picture quality of the 50" RCA did not look anywhere as nice as the picture on the Optoma. I thought the 61" RCA looked better than the 50" RCA. Suspect that Costco does not do very much, if anything, to optimize picture quality on their display units, so it is hard to make any definitive judgment on picture quality. From what few reviews that I could fine on the Optoma RD50, it did get high marks for picture quality.

Another factor that discouraged be from considering RCA was the $650 cost of the lamp, although the $349 for Optoma’s lamp is still pretty steep. I’m hoping (more like wishful thinking) that the lamp cost will drop significantly before I actually need one.

I believe that Costco has a very liberal return policy, but not sure of the exact terms. The only reservation I have with my Optoma RD50 purchase is this HDCP thing. Like you, it’s not an issue right now, but it might be a problem in the future. When I looked at the RD50 specifications relative to the DVI-D connector it said “DVI connector ensures connectivity with future digital devices.”, which gave me the warm and fuzzes. After my purchase, I read articles and message boards concerning HDCP and my “warm and fuzzes” began to evaporate.

I wonder if Optoma would reconsider their $400 upgrade price if they knew that it would result in a return, especially given that they mentioned that their DVI-D “ensures connectivity with future digital devices“ in their own specifications? :headscrat