| Mitsubishi HC3000U Projector Review 
Colourful, then some..  HCC EDITORS' CHOICE
HCC - June update - 2006
HCC Editors' choice for the best value 720P DLP model. The HC3000U's image is impressive and bold the reason is Mitsubishi Digital Electronics has the first projector range with BrilliantColor™ technology developed by Mitsubishi and the DLP chip manufacturer all DLP projectors use, Texas Instruments. The HC3000U has several specification advantages (and it's made in Japan) over the latest Infocus "Big Play" IN76 yet has a RRP around $2000 less. This new technology shows what we always new DLP could do but till now never really delivered unless you paid top dollar, and that's out perform the tri-chip LCD's for colour saturation and the allusive "natural look". BrilliantColor™ for DLP technology utilizes a new color-processing algorithm and system level enhancements to enable higher picture brightness while providing truer, more vibrant colors, enabling a greater than 50% brightness increase in mid tone images, common in video and natural scenes. Through greater flexibility in color processing, the HC300U expands beyond the red, green, and blue color palette and include yellow, magenta and cyan, which allow for more realistic and lifelike color reproduction. Video processing is processed using a new DarkChip2™ plus DDP 3020 chipset processing 10 & 12 bits (Similar to Sanyo Z4) allows for 1024 gray levels whereas most of the DLP projectors display 256.
The HC 3000U uses a 6-segment color wheel with high-resolution glass optics that don't fade and allow maximum light transmission.
Verdict? 
The Mitsubishi HC300U is the best value 720P DLP Home Cinema projector around, 1024 gray scale kills most others 256, plus the colours are plasma like. The HC3000 isn't for people that want to mount it 6M away from a 100 inch screen (*which cuts the effective lumens - see below..) or in a corner, however if you can find a spot on your roof say 4M from the centre of your 100 (or so) inch screen you won't be disappointed especially if you consider the HC3000's RRP of $3499 and the savings over a similar specification Infocus model like the Big Play IN76 @ $5999 even the lesser Infocus IN74 which has half the CR and isn't true HD has the same RRP as the HC3000 so your getting HD free.. If you have a tricky mounting problem go for the Sanyo PLV-Z4 and be done with it as the Z4 has the most flexibility in this area, even more than the popular Panasonic PT-AE900. As we've pointed out the closer the better so if you can mount your projector dead centre and mid zoom there are rewards. The HC3000 is not at any disadvantage in this case and the center mounted lens design makes it easy to line up with the screen Center line, the ventilation is centrally located and heat discharge is be pushed away from viewers sitting next to or behind the HC3000U. If you're using an electric screen the HC3000 has Screen Trigger (12Volt) support. With Screen Trigger support, you will be able to control your screen by linking the HC3000U power source with your motorized screen. Talk to your electrician about this feature..
Mitsubishi HC300U Quick Specifications
Display: DDP3020 DLP(R)TrueVision™ Integrated Circuit with Dark Chip 2 featuring BrilliantColor™ Technology
Resolution: 1280 x 768 (Total 983,040 pixels), HD720p
Brightness: 1000 ANSI Lumens
Contrast Ratio: 4000-1
Inputs: RGB: Mini D-sub 15pin x 1 HDMI x 1
Video: RCA x 1, S-VIDEO x 1, RCA (Y, CB, CR) x 1
Screen Out: 12V Trigger Out; Stereo mini jack (3.5 mm) x 1
Dimensions: 12.2" x 3.9" x 9.6" inches (L x W x H) (exclude height adjuster)
Lamp: 200W (Shut Off Time 2000 Hrs) with Low Mode (160W: Shut Off Time 3000 Hrs) Warranty 90 days or 500 hours whichever is first.
Warranty: (Excludes lamp) 2 Years Parts and Labor
Accessories Included:
• Light shade cover
• Quick Start Card
• User Manual
• Safety Manual
• AC Power cable
• RGB cable
• RS-232C cable
• Remote Unit (incl. battery) |
Screen Shots: Click on images for larger versions. All are from the HC3000 using HD 720P material (Apart from the Digital Video Essentials test pattern DVD). Projector is 3.6m from 100 inch fixed Longhorn Pro Screen. Lamp mode is LOW which makes the HC3000 very quite. 
Lights in room now turned up full (below) 
Lamp mode changed to standard (or max) for the first time below.
Only when you've got a lot of light do you need to use the
HC3000's maximum output.. 
We found the colours to be as good as we've seen in
this price range with a minium of DLP rainbows too.  If you consider that you're getting top of the range performance for a lot less than you'd pay for a similar specification competitive projector like the Infocus IN76 you may agree that the Mitsubishi HC300U deserves HCC Editors' choice for the best value 720P DLP model. If you get the chance to see one in action you'll understand in an instant what a bargain you're getting. At HCC we also consider things like reliability and service, we still believe that Made in Japan is another tick. HCC EDITORS' CHOICE HCC - June update - 2006
HCC Editors' choice for the best value 720P DLP model. [See PDF for specifications 1.5MB]
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*For every meter you move a projector from the screen you loose around 20% brightness.
Brightness is the inverse of distance so double the distance and you half the brightness.
For every inch you increase the screen size you loose some brightness too, if you increase the size by 20% you decrease the brightness by the same percentage.
Increasing the distance from 4m to 6m looses 50%
Increasing the screen size from 100 to 120 inch sacrifices another 20%
This is why we recommend mounting any projector as close as possible and we've found 4m is a good starting point.. |
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Review
"If you can afford it.."
"..The HC3000 is an excellent HD video projector for anyone whose desires aren't reined in by their bank account - the lowest price we could find for this product, even after a good deal of shopping around ..was.. (Prices in US $'s) more than the best tri-LCDs currently available, or around the price of a rather good DVD player or home theater sound system . So if you can afford it, go for it. If not, look to the competition, which compares quite favorably in terms of price/performance ratio.."
" Mitsubishi HC3000 incidentally, is an excellent alternative for those of you who are sold on DLP.."
[Review link]
Australian PC World
Recommends
May 2006
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Three projectors reviewed
By Rod Easdown
May 29, 2006
- Mitsubishi HC3000 (Winner..)
- Sony VPLHS60
- Sanyo PLVZ4
Verdict
"..We'd be happy with any of these. The Sanyo has gorgeous colour balance and the Sony's flexibility and great definition are very appealing, but the Mitsubishi wins with its combination of brightness, definition and contrast, even though it requires a larger room.."
 Link to full review |
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