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Comparison Viewsonic PA503X vs Optoma DX349

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Viewsonic PA503X
Optoma DX349
Viewsonic PA503XOptoma DX349
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from $458.96 up to $499.00
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Main functionuniversaluniversal
Lamp and image
Service life5000 h
5000 h /10000 h in economy mode/
Service life (energy-saving)15000 h
Lamp power190 W195 W
Brightness3600 lm3000 lm
Dynamic contrast22 000:120 000:1
Colour rendering1 billion colours1 billion colours
Horizontal frequency15 – 102 kHz15.3 – 91.1 kHz
Frame rate23 – 120 Hz
24 – 85 Hz /120 Hz for 3D/
Projection system
TechnologyDLP
DLP /0.55” DMD/
Size0.55"
Real resolution1024x768 px
1024x768 px /XGA/
Max. video resolution1920x1080 px
Image format support4:3, 16:94:3, 16:9
Projecting
Rear projection
Throw distance, min1.19 m1.2 m
Throw distance, max13.11 m12 m
Image size30 – 300 "28 – 304.5 "
Throw ratio1.96:1 – 2.15:1
Optical zoom1.1 x1.1 x
Digital zoom2 x
Zoom and focusmanualmanual
Lens shift
Keystone correction (vert), ±40 °
Features
Features
3D support
3D support
Hardware
Number of speakers1
Sound power2 W
Video connectors
VGA /2 inputs, 1 output/
composite
VGA /1 input, 1 output/
composite
HDMI inputs1
HDMI versionv 1.4
Audio connectors
3.5 mm input (mini-Jack)
3.5 mm output (mini-Jack)
3.5 mm input (mini-Jack)
3.5 mm output (mini-Jack)
Service connectors
COM port (RS-232)
USB (slave) /mini-USB/
COM port (RS-232)
USB (slave)
General
Noise level (nominal)31 dB
29 dB /in economy mode/
Power sourcemainsmains
Power consumption260 W
225 W /187W in economy mode/
Size (HxWxD)110x294x218 mm96.5x298x230 mm
Weight2.2 kg2.17 kg
Color
Added to E-Catalogoctober 2017january 2017

Service life (energy-saving)

When working in economy mode, the brightness of the backlight is noticeably reduced, on average by 30-50%. With a decrease in brightness, heat dissipation also decreases, which saves the working life of the illuminator, thereby increasing the lamp life. Thus, the ECO mode allows you to extend the lamp life by an average of 30%. If the typical projector lamp life is 4000 hours, regular use of the ECO mode will extend the backlight life to approximately 5500 hours.

Lamp power

The power consumption of the backlight lamp installed in the projector.

Theoretically, the more powerful the lamp, the brighter it is. However, this is only true when comparing lamps of the same type (see above); and even in this case, the brightness may also depend on the nuances of the design. Therefore, when evaluating the capabilities of a lamp, it is worth focus not so much on power, but on the directly claimed brightness in lumens (see below).

But what this parameter directly affects is the total power consumption of the projector: the lamp is the most “greedy” component of the device, compared to it, the power consumption of the rest of the electronics is very small. Also note that many powerful lamps have high heat dissipation and require cooling systems, which affects the size and weight of the projector.

Brightness

The brightness of the image produced by the projector at maximum backlight brightness. Usually, the average brightness of the screen, derived from a special formula, is indicated. The higher it is, the less the image depends on ambient light: a bright projector can provide a clearly visible image even in daylight, but a dim one will require dimming. On the other hand, increasing brightness reduces contrast and accuracy of colour reproduction.

Accordingly, when choosing this parameter, you need to consider the conditions in which you plan to use the projector. So, for office or school/university use, a brightness of at least 3000 lm is desirable — this allows you to get normal visibility without obscuring the room. In turn, among the top models a very low brightness can be found, because. such projectors are usually installed in rooms specially designed for them with good darkness level. And in ultra-compact devices it is impossible to achieve high brightness for technical reasons.

Detailed recommendations on the optimal brightness for certain conditions can be found in special sources. Here we note that anyway, it is worth choosing according to this indicator with some margin. As mentioned above, as brightness increases, contrast and colour quality decrease, and you may need to use the projector at a reduced brightness to achieve the desired picture quality.

Dynamic contrast

The dynamic image contrast provided by the projector.

Dynamic contrast ratio is the ratio between the brightest white and darkest black colour that a projector can produce. Recall that the quality of colour reproduction and detailing depend on contrast, the higher this indicator, the lower the likelihood that details will be indistinguishable in bright or dark areas. However, dynamic contrast is a rather specific parameter. The fact is that when it is calculated, the brightest white at the maximum brightness settings and the darkest black at the minimum are taken into account. As a result, the figures in this column can be very impressive, but it is impossible to achieve such a contrast within one frame.

By introducing this parameter, the manufacturers went to a certain trick. However, this is not to say that dynamic contrast has nothing to do with image quality at all. Projectors can use automatic brightness control, in which the overall brightness, depending on the "picture" on the screen, can increase or decrease. This format of work is based on the fact that the human eye does not need too bright areas on a general dark background and very dark areas on a bright one, the image is normally perceived even without it. The maximum brightness difference achievable in this mode of operation is exactly what described by dynamic contrast.

Horizontal frequency

Horizontal frequency supported by the projector.

This parameter is relevant when working with analogue video signal. In such a video, the image is formed line by line: each pixel in the line is highlighted in turn, then the next line is highlighted, and so on. The horizontal frequency describes how many times per second the backlight beam runs from edge to edge of the screen. For normal playback, the projector must support the same refresh rate as the input signal was recorded. However, most models support a fairly wide range of frequencies, and there are no problems with support. Also note that if you are not a professional, then when choosing a projector, it is quite possible to focus on the frame rate (see below) — this parameter is simpler and more intuitive, and support for a certain frame rate automatically means support for the corresponding line rate.

Frame rate

Frame rate, simply put, is the frame rate supported by the projector.

For normal playback, it is highly desirable that the frame rate of the projector match the original frame rate of the video signal. However, most modern models do not support a specific frame rate, but a whole range of frequencies, and quite an extensive one at that.

Note that for viewing most video materials, the range from 24 to 60 fps is quite enough. The exception is 3D content, which may require double the frame rate, up to 120Hz (see " 3D Support " for details).

Size

The size of the panel/chip affects the depth and final quality of the image. The larger the panel/chip, the more light it is able to process, which means the picture will be clearer and more structured. The average projector has a sensor of 0.5-0.7″, advanced projectors use sensors of 1.2-1.5″ and more.

Max. video resolution

The actual maximum frame resolution that the projector is capable of processing and displaying.

Many models allow project images at a higher resolution than the actual resolution of the projector matrix (see above). For example, a 1920x1080 video can be displayed on a device with a frame size of 1024x768. However, the quality of such an image will be noticeably lower than on a projector, which initially has a resolution of 1920x1080.

The maximum resolution is closely related to both the overall picture quality and the size of the projection screen. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image details become. Of course, the screen size itself should be taken into account. The fact is that on a 40-50″ projection surface there will not be much difference between the Quad HD and 4K formats. A high-resolution picture will be able to show itself on a truly large screen.

Throw distance, min

The closest distance to the screen that the projector can be used on. Typically, this is the minimum distance at which the image from the projector remains in focus.

This parameter is especially important if the device is to be placed at a small distance from the screen (for example, in a cramped room). Some modern projectors are able to work normally at a distance of 10 – 20 cm. Also note that the throw distances are determined primarily by the lens, and if the initial range of these distances does not suit you, perhaps the situation can be solved by replacing the optics.
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