Optoma Debuts 1080p Home Theater Projector Under $1,000

Optoma's HD20 DLP projector delivers 1080p resolution, 1,700 lumens, and a 4,000:1 contrast ratio...for $999.

High-definition home theater projectors have long been in the realm of the very rich movie fan—or at least the very enthusiastic movie fan willing to sacrifice some other creature comforts (like food?) for the experience. BUt like all things high-def, prices are starting to come down and now Optoma has announced its HD20 home theater projector, offering 1080p resolution for $999.

"We’re very excited to be at the forefront of such a significant breakthrough in HD projectors," said Optoma’s director of products and marketing Jon Grodem, in a statement. "This new low price opens up a whole new audience to the high definition, large screen, home theater projection experience."

The HD20 is based on the Texas Instruments 1080p DLP chipsets, and features two HDMI inputs (along with VGA, component, and composite inputs) and runs at a native 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution, offering 1,700 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 4,000:1 contrast ratio. The lamp is rated for up to 4,000 hours in standard mode or 3,000 hours in bright mode, and the unit comes with a backlit remote control for easy management.

The HD20 is available now from many e-tail and retail outlets, and comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty.