ii Docking Multimedia Music Projector BLACK

The OptiMax-ii OPT2-001 LED Projector, while a discontinued device, is one of many small, inexpensive video projectors recently appearing on the market.And all of them, unnervingly, use words as sparingly as possible when describing the technical features of their video projectors, claiming performances that are clearly beyond the capabilities of their devices.Measuring 194mm wide x 150mm deep x 70mm tall, the first thing that I noticed about this video projector is that it is a good 50% heavier than most of its competitors, weighing in at 1.7 pounds (771 grams). The reason for this is that it is full of high quality glass optics: Two condenser lenses provide an even backlight for the internal imaging LCD, plus a quality multi-element color-corrected focusing lens.But this is the second portable LCD (the other was a MR-16 Halogen/LCD) type of video projector, that I have tested and taken apart, to find that the native resolution of the internal imaging LCD is only about 188 pixels wide x 240 pixels tall. In this day and age there is simply no excuse for producing and marketing even a childrens' toy video projector with less than VGA (640 pixels × 480 pixels) resolution. But, oddly, throwing the projected image slightly out of focus, so that the obviously coarse pixels projected on the screen disappear, seems to sharpen the over-all projected image. Go figure.The manufacturer's 2-page spec sheet for this device can be downloaded by doing a "geniesysoptimaxii-en.pdf" google search. But many of their specs do not agree with my bench test of the device.But here are some of the specs, for this model, that I have so far verified: - 32.5mm wide x 24.5mm tall (= 40.7mm diagonal) internal imaging LCD is 188 pixels wide x 240 pixels tall (remember that each red, blue, and green element is only a subpixel). - The projector is powered by a 120VAC/1.2Amp-to-12VDC/5Amp power supply. The power supply draws 120VAC 1 Watt when the projector is turned off, and 120VAC 22 Watts (= 0.19 Amps) when the projector is turned on, so the power supply, while overkill, is quite efficient. - The 12VDC power jack on the projector is a standard configuration: Negative ground, to receive 5.5mm O.D., 2.5mm I.D. plug. (Radio Shack size "N") - The high quality, color-corrected multi-element glass lens has a focal length of 70.5mm and a fixed aperture of f2.2, when focused at infinity. - The internal 1.5-inch diameter cooling fan is whisper quiet. - The internal LED lamp is a Osram Ostar 20 watt 6-chip LED emitter, 5600k version (neutral white), mounted on 20mm star PCB heatsink. The OptiMax-ii runs somewhere between 15 to 17.5 watts through the LED, for longevity, as well as a smaller heatsink. - The projector has two internal stereo speakers, 2 watts 4-ohms each: "RSR" Real Sound Reproduction Super Titanium Drivers. - 4:3 native aspect ratio - Brightness (ANSI lumens): 40 ANSI lumens (on the wall, that is, versus about 600 to 700 lumens generated internally, by the 20 maximum Watt LED) - Video Compatibility: Only NTSC was tested. But PAL compatibility is also spec'd. - Throw Ratio: 2.5:1 tested (versus 1.85:1 spec'd by manufacturer) - Single AVI/Stereo input jack - Single AVI/Stereo output jack - Volume "+" and "-" buttons, plus a "Source" video mode button - Remote is designed to work only with docked iPods (see notes below)On the OptiMax-ii, the audio-video 4-pole 3.5mm plug (aka pinout) is wired, from base to tip, in the following manner: base=common ground, right audio (red), left audio (white) and tip=video (yellow).Another way of wording this:OptiMax-ii 3.5mm to 3 RCA AV Output Cable: 1st segment (tip) = Video RCA center conductor 2nd segment = White RCA center conductor 3rd segment = Red RCA center conductor 4th segment (base) = Common groundUnfortunately, there is no such thing as a "standard" audio/video cable. The industry had its chance, over 25 years ago, to adopt the Standard Camcorder Cable, and eliminate the confusion, but they, instead, did the unthinkable, and threw in proprietary configurations. If this helps, the Aiwa VCD player uses the same AV cable as the OptiMax-ii. Telefunken, in Australia, is also selling a DVB Micro Set Top Box, model TDR986, that uses the same AV cable as the OptiMax-ii.For optimum results, the OptiMax-ii was tested on a pure white beaded glass projection screen and found to provide excellent brightness, in a completely pitch-dark room (and not just a darkened room), with an optimum image of 38 inches wide x 28.2 inches tall (= 47.3 inches diagonal). I feel that beaded glass projection screens are mandatory for any and all video projectors, in that such a screen will double the brightness of the projected image. And to use a lesser projection screen, or a wall, is just false economy. I specified the 38x28.2 image as "optimum" because it is the maximum size that will produce a brilliant image, on a beaded-glass projection screen, in a completely pitch-dark room. Projecting a larger image will only produce a darker, weaker image. And to go down to a smaller projected image, one might as well use a thin, bright, and portable 12VDC LCD video monitor, instead.The OptiMax-ii OPT2-001 LED Projector has a fixed keystone correction: Video projector is always positioned horizontal and level to the bottom part of the projected image, so keystone correction is not needed in most cases... very functional and convenient!The internal 17.5 watt LED lamp easily provides the equivalent of a 75 watt quartz halogen lamp, with far less power, and no projected heat to damage the internal imaging LCD. This makes the device completely portable, requiring only a small, portable 12 volt battery pack.I've done a 24-hour burn-in of the device and the internal 17.5 Watt LED lamp performed just fine, so the heatsink and cooling fan seem adequate.The sharpness in the corners of the projected image falls off, very slightly, but the brightness of the image is even and consistent over the entire screen, due to the excellent condenser lenses. So the focus lens, while it seems to be a flat-field lens, is still wide-open at f2.2, and quite adequate for the job.The roughness of the 188 pixels wide x 240 pixels tall internal LCD is easily overlooked, when the excellent color fidelity and sharpness of the multi-element glass lens comes into play. Sure, it'll never function well as a computer monitor at a business presentation, and will fail to provide the required resolution for computer action games, but the endless possibilities for projecting movies and action videos with this lean-and-mean device are still there, just the same.I will soon fashion a camera tripod mount on this projector to make it even more functional, as well as a 12 Volt battery pack (10 rechargeable 5Amp-Hour Ni-MH C-size).Quite eager to tear one of these new breed of portable projectors apart, I purchased my OptiMax-ii at a local flea market for $ 18.00, after being advised that it was a defective-return item. At home, the video projector worked, via the "AV/IN" jack, but not the sound. In fact, the stereo speakers sounded with static until I opened up the device and unplugged both internal speakers.Although my OptiMax-ii was defective-return item: The internal stereo speakers didn't work, I feel compelled to point this defect out, as it seems to not be an uncommon issue with this device on ebay, as well as several other OptiMax-ii projectors the flea market vendor was selling.I tried out the docking mode with a iPod nano 3rd Gen 8GB, and its native 320x240 resolution works great on the OptiMax-ii. Just be sure to toggle the "TV Out" setting, in the iPod nano 3rd Gen, to "On" to give the OptiMax-ii full control. The OptiMax-ii remote is an essential companion with the iPod, taking control of videos with ease. But I'll be sure to permanently tether the remote to the OptiMax-ii, along with a velcro-strip dock, since many a fine electronic device has been rendered useless by losing the remote. Since this particular OptiMax-ii was a defective-return item, the iPod nano was unable to send sound to the internal OptiMax-ii stereo speakers, yet worked quite well, via the "AV/OUT" jack, to a portable external sound system, which is generally the preferred sound mode for a video projector anyway.Note:I completely disassembled the OptiMax-ii and uploaded a number of informative photos of the inner workings of the device, but you'll have to search around the web page to find them, as they no longer seem to be posted at the top-left of the page.