The Optoma W306ST, a data projector for classrooms or conference rooms, offers an appealing mix of relatively high resolution, a short throw distance, and above-average brightness. It has solid data image quality, video quality suitable for showing shorter clips as part of a presentation, and a loud sound system.

The W306ST is a DLP-based data projector with WXGA (1,280-by-800) native resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio typical of today’s widescreen laptops. It’s bright, rated at 3,500 lumens, and as a short-throw projector it can project a large image from fairly close to the screen. This projector measures 3.9 by 11.6 by 9.6 inches and weighs a reasonably portable 5.9 pounds, although it lacks a carrying case.

The W306ST has a good selection of ports for a WXGA projector, including 2 VGA-in (which double as component video); monitor-out; serial; an RCA jack for composite video; 2 audio-in; 1 audio-out; HDMI; Ethernet; a USB type B port for remote mouse control; and a microphone jack. One port that it lacks is USB type A, for running presentations laptop-free from a USB thumb drive.

Image Quality
The projector filled our test screen from about 32 inches away with an image about 65 inches on a diagonal. The image stood up well when ambient light was introduced.

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Read Our Optoma X306ST Review

In data image testing using the DisplayMate(Opens in a new window) suite, the W306ST provided image quality suitable for typical business and classroom presentations. Overall text quality was good; it was slightly blurred in the two smallest white on black sizes, but sharp down to our smallest size in black on white. Colors were generally good, though reds were a bit dull. Yellow fringing was evident at the edges of some bright areas, and white backgrounds tended to show traces of green.

Several data images showed the rainbow effect, a common phenomenon in single-chip DLP projectors in which little red-green-blue flashes may appear, usually in bright areas against dark backgrounds. The rainbow artifacts are less of an issue in data presentations than with video, so even people sensitive to the effect are unlikely to be bothered by it.

Video and Audio
Video quality for the W306ST is okay for short clips to accompany a presentation. I observed more rainbow artifacts than is typical for a DLP projector, and the effect is likely to be distracting even to people mildly sensitive to it, such as myself. I also noticed some tinting, such as white hospital gowns appearing blue in one scene.

Audio from the projector’s 10-watt speaker was loud enough to fill a mid-sized conference room or classroom, and of reasonably good quality.

The W306ST is 3D capable, but to use that feature requires that you invest in enough active-shutter 3D glasses to outfit the number of people you expect will be watching.

The W306ST’s cousin, the Optoma X306ST, offers the same features, but at lower (XGA; 1,024 by 768) native resolution and a slightly lower (3,200-lumen) brightness. The price difference is modest, though, so the W306ST offers a bit more bang for the buck.

Like the Editors’ Chice ViewSonic PJD6683ws , a 3,000-lumen WXGA projector, the W306ST has better data image quality than video quality. Though the W306ST couldn’t match the ViewSonic’s data image quality, it is a brighter projector, and may be the right choice if you’re looking to run presentations in a mid-sized venue.

Similarly, the W306ST is brighter than the Editors’ Choice Optoma TW610ST , a 3,100-lumen short-throw DLP data projector, which showed better data image quality in our testing. Actually, the brightness difference is fairly modest; as perception of brightness is logarithmic, it takes a lot more than doubling the number of lumens for a projector to appear twice as bright. Still, the W306ST may add the extra oomph in brightness for it to be useful in a slightly larger setting than projectors in the 3,000-lumen class.