Optoma HD91 Projector - Hardware Tour 1

Posted on June 11, 2014 by

OPTOMA HD91 PROJECTOR - HARDWARE TOUR PAGE 1: Overview, Input and Connectors panel, Control Panel

Optoma HD91 Hardware Tour

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This is going to be a relatively short hardware tour.

The Optoma HD91 is a very attractive black finished projector. Its lines are nice, the projector is completely uncluttered, and it’s not overly large. It is deeper than wide, but a bit taller than most, From a practical standpoint it’s a touch smaller than most of the competition such as the Epsons and Panasonics and more so compared to Sony and JVCs. There’s no control panel, rather just a Power button and source button on the projector.

Let’s start in the front. Dead center is the manual 1.9:1 zoom lens. Both focus and zoom are accomplished by rotating the lens and the zoom ring that’s part of it.

You will find two dials for the lens shift. The horizontal lens shift lever is on the bottom, really, below the lens on the left, and the vertical is on the bottom to the right of the lens (when you are facing the projector). Just outside each of those dials are the adjustable front feet which are screw thread adjustable. (Two more adjustable feet can be found on the bottom, towards the rear) If you are facing the front of the projector on your left side would be the intake vents and on the right side the exhaust venting. Inputs and other connectors are in the back.

The HD91 has its IR sensor on the top of the projector rather than the more common "one in front, one in the rear" configuration.

Optoma HD91 Input Panel

On the back, far left are a pair of HDMI 1.4a inputs. 1.4a supports Blu-ray 3D as well as the other 3D formats. Next over is an HD15 connector for the VGA input (that’s the usual analog computer input). Move over to the center and there are three (R,G,B) RCA jacks for component video input, and a yellow one for composite video.

A USB-B port comes next and below it are a pair of 12 volt triggers for controlling motorized screens or other devices (such as an anamorphic lens sled). Move up and to the right is an RS232 serial port for command and control, and below it a 3D sync port for the included small 3D emitter. Finally on the right is a 5 volt output, using a USB connector. No, it’s not a USB port but a convenient source of power for whatever local accessory that might need it. I do like that is has it. For example, if you were mounting an old iPad nearby for your home automation, the 5 volt port should handle powering it.

What else might be able to use a 5 volt output? Perhaps a wireless HDMI transmitter, or an outboard image processor. I can't think of any off the top of my head that rely on 5 volt, but you never know.

Optoma is serving up a pretty complete set of inputs for a projector in this class. Having a 3^rd HDMI input would be a nice thing, but I include a statement like that in almost all home theater projector reviews. Very, very few offer more than two HDMI inputs. Bottom line - two HDMI, two 12 volt triggers, and a 5 volt power output. plus the usual. Pretty impressive!

Click Image to Enlarge

Power and Source Controls

Since you just finished looking at the back if you just peak around the corner near the top and just barely visible are two buttons designed to blend in.

This is all that exists in terms of a control panel for the HD91.

The first one (closer to the back, is power, and just forward is a source select, with in indicator light in between.

There are no navigation controls on the HD91 hardware, no access to menus, etc. In other words, do not lose that remote control, unless of course you've tied the HD91 projector into a larger room or home control system. Without the remote, or room control, there's no way to change color modes, adjust features like Brightness, or Dynamic Black, etc.

The power switch has it’s own indicator light on it, which you can just make out in the image. With the projector powered up, the indicator is blue, as shown here. It's Red when the projector is off, and blinks during power up.