Projectors

Operation is slick, thanks to a friendly graphic interface and network apps to enhance usability. An integrated media player allows playback of sound and vision files from USB sticks, as well as access to networked devices.

The UHZ65UST has limited voice control for power and volume control, via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, although just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should. I preferred the Bluetooth remote control, which is uncluttered and looks like a distant cousin to that which ships with Amazon's Fire TV devices.

Display presets cover dark and daylight viewing, and are generally benign and work well, with the exception of HDR Simulation, which just looks a bit odd. When projecting HDR material, the image defaults to a locked-down HDR setting.

Powered up, brightness and colour vivacity immediately impress. While it looks its most dynamic in a darker viewing environment, the UHZ65UST proves entirely usable in rooms with moderate ambient light, thanks to a light output rated at 3,500 Lumens.

This laser engine offers a convincing enough black level, but the output remains inherently bright. This characteristic makes the UHZ65UST a great choice for media rooms and gaming dens. But there is a caveat.

One perennially challenging 4K disc is Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, with its preponderance of gloomy horror. Chapter 11 sees Ali Larter taking on a giant axe-wielding monster amid a Flashdance-style torrent from sheared shower pipes. This PJ has no problem communicating detail or dynamics – the backlit water, contrasted against a reasonable dark background, looks suitably dramatic. However, while it offers decent contrast (pleasingly, I found DLP rainbow fringing almost entirely absent), there's a limit to how much shadow detail it can resolve.

Amazing Spider-Man 2 (4K Blu-ray), Andrew Garfield's second outing as the web crawler, gives the projector more scope in terms of colour vibrancy and overall brightness, and it really gets to shine. The neon-lit showdown with Electro in Times Square looks gorgeous. Blues and golds pop, and there's convincing HDR dazzle to the action. The colour purity of the laser light (Optoma quotes 87 per cent coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum) is wonderful to behold; reassuringly strong, with deep, rich hues.

Audio performance also warrants a thumbs up. It's significantly better than any comparable ultra-short-throw projector. Heck, it's better than any projector I've heard. On the debit side, operating noise is a high 26dB. The projector expels a lot of heat, and managing this isn't particularly quiet. Still, the quality of the audio output goes a long way to compensating. The four-strong NuForce driver array delivers a convincing stereo spread, and while light on bass, the overall soundstage is crisp and detailed.

If you intend to use a Blu-ray player as a source, ensure you designate the audio output as PCM; while the PJ is Dolby Digital Plus compliant, it lacks a DTS decoder. This doesn't impact the overall performance, as the soundbar is stereo, but is worth noting.

Best Of Breed
This Optoma PJ's footprint is small, it's beautifully designed, audio is class-leading and it throws a huge, bright image up close to a wall. The in-built media player, app provision, Bluetooth audio streaming and features such as automatic dimming only add to its appeal. It can probably claim to be the best ultra-short-throw projector for home cinema and media room use available today.

HCC Verdict

Optoma UHZ65UST

Price: £3,300 
optoma.co.uk

We say: This compact Optoma is beautifully styled, and offers vibrant 4K imagery and fulsome sound. If you didn't think you could live with a projector, it may be time to think again.

Overall: 5/5

Specification

3D: Yes. DLP 3D Link (glasses optional)
4K: Yes. 3,840 x 2160 via Texas Instruments DLP device
HDR: Yes. HDR10; HLG
Connections: 3 x HDMI inputs (one side-mounted); optical digital audio output; 3.5mm audio minijack; Ethernet
Brightness (claimed): 3,500 Lumens
Contrast (claimed): 2,500,000:1
Zoom: N/A
Dimensions: 576(w) x 383(d) x 130(h)mm
Weight: 11kg

Features: Single-chip 4K DLP; 10W built-in soundbar; 20,000-hour claimed laser light source; 26dB claimed fan noise; geometric correction; auto dimming; 0.25:1 throw ratio; Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control; IFTTT smart functionality; PureMotion frame interpolation; 4K media player; Bluetooth audio streaming; Bluetooth remote control