It may have taken longer than it should have, but DLP projector makers are finally introducing HD Ready models at prices that compete with their LCD counterparts. 

The Acer loses out aesthetically. It's not full-on ugly, but it's certainly... eccentric. For starters, it's unusually large for a budget projector, with a dark plasticky finish exaggerating its chunkiness. It also looks like someone's decided at the last minute to randomly liven things up by sticking glossy black panels on each side and a bizarre curved metallic plate on the fascia next to the lens.

Connections and features

Connectivity is excellent. There are not one but two digital options (one HDMI, one DVI), plus dedicated D-Sub PC and component inputs, S- and composite video inputs, a USB port, and even a VGA output.

Click to enlarge

At the heart of the PH730's optical engine resides a 1280 x 768 native resolution DLP chipset with a 16:10 aspect ratio, rather than the true 16:9 1280 x 720 resolution silicon we're used to seeing on home cinema projectors. But this may not necessarily be the disadvantage it first appears, since the chip is actually a slightly newer Texas Instruments variant and so, argues TI, its mirrors and processing respond slightly faster.

Acer would doubtless argue, too, that the 16:10 ratio makes the PH730 more of a multimedia all-rounder than rival 16:9 machines, since the video outputs of many home entertainment PCs have a 1280 x 768 (i.e. widescreen XGA) display mode. Of course, whether any of this amounts to anything more than marketing spin remains to be seen...

Much to our surprise, it transpires the PH730 can handle 1080p inputs. The projector's manual suggests its processing capabilities top out at 1080i, but it certainly displayed a 1080p feed from our resident Marantz DVD player.

Other key specs of the projector find a maximum claimed contrast ratio of 2,500:1 (the rival Optoma claims 5000:1), and a claimed brightness of 1200 ANSI Lumens.

The projector also runs impressively quietly (measured at just 26dBA), and can deliver 36-300in images from throw distances of 1.5m to 10m.

Setting up this Acer is easy. The lens is a short-throw affair that's easily zoomed and focussed via a simple wheel adjustment around the lens, and there's both horizontal and vertical keystone adjustment.

It should be noted that the level of zoom available is limited, meaning you really should check your room's throw distance/ image size

Click to enlarge

requirements before parting with any cash.

Onscreen menus comprise house are a variety of presets for different sources (including a ‘Theatre' mode); white segment adjustment; digamma setting adjustment; and separate adjustments for the red, green and blue image components.

Performance

Settli ng down to watch the PH730 immediately causes a problem or two, as the projector struggled to synchronise with our HDMI/DVI sources (including a Marantz DVD player). In fact, we had to switch the boxes into standby and back on again before the projector would detect them.

It also turns out that the DVI jack will only accept the RGB colour space. Still, none of this makes for great hardship – and the PH730 is hardly alone in having the odd digital input detection issue.

As for the projector's picture, it is very pleasing, betraying few if any signs of its budget construction. The picture is exceptionally bright. Even many mid-range DLP projectors fail to illuminate your screen quite so aggressively as this budget Acer. A consequence of this is that you can watch brighter footage in high ambient light – something that can be said of hardly any affordable DLP rivals.

Also unexpected is how crisp the PH730 looks with high-definition material. In terms of pixel detailing, clarity and image texture, showings of HD football are comparable with good projectors costing considerably more. The motion of the ball actually looked cleaner than we've seen on some costlier PJs, possibly bearing out at least some of the faster response claims made for the 16:10 DLP chipset.

More good news comes from the PH730's colour response, as ultra-vivid saturations join forces with reassuringly natural tones, while the image is reasonably free of most types of noise.

This all adds up to an enjoyable HD performance. Standard-definition digital TV looks perfectly acceptable too. Inevitably, though, Acer's PH730 isn't the total package. Its most noteworthy weakness is the lack of black level compared to some DLP rivals. There's enough greyscale subtlety to leave dark scenes with a good sense of depth, but there is also definite evidence of the grey mist effect.

Furthermore, we found ourselves distracted more often than we'd like by DLP's characteristic rainbow effect, and camera pans looked a touch more juddery than they might, especially with NTSC sources.

Conclusion

There's no doubt that this Acer is a competent HD Ready budget DLP projector. It's not the best in class from a home theatre perspective, but if you are looking for a projector as happy with PC sources as it is with AV, then it has a lot to offer.

______________________________________________

Acer PH730 ¦ $2129 ¦¦ www.acer.com.au
For: Brightness and clarity of HD pictures; quiet running
Lows: Black level is limited; limited zoom range
Conclusion: Competent performer for the price.