Mitsubishi HC-3000 Projector Review

Posted on July 8, 2006 by Art Feierman

Specs Preview

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Mitsubishi HC3000U Specs
Price	2995
Technology	DLP
Native Resolution	1280x720
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1000
Contrast	4,000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	1.20:1
Lens Shift	No
Lamp Life	2000, 3000 eco-mode
Weight	6.4 lbs
Warranty	2 Years

Mitsubishi HC-3000 Projector Review - Overview

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My preference is to review projectors right about the time they hit the market in the US. In the case of Mitsubishi's HC3000, though, the product has been around for more than half a year. With some manufacturers I get new products quickly, with others, I'm still building relationships and it can take what seems like forever.

Well, I have been hearing, and reading, over many months, plenty of good things about the HC3000(link to specs). Upon first powering it up, and popping in the first DVD, I was as impressed as I expected to be. The Mitsubishi HC-3000 definitely rates our Hot Product Award, primarily for producing about the best overall image I have seen yet, from a DLP home theater projector using the Darkchip2 DLP processor.

You'll learn more as you read, but let me provide a little perspective. Of the DLP projectors, I have found the Optoma HD72 to provide the best overall value in the under $2000 selling price range. Here comes the HC-3000, very similar to the HD72 in many regards, including using the same 1280x768 Darkchip2 processor. Both feature TI's Brilliant Color circuitry, and have rich dynamic colors. The Mitsubishi HC3000 costs several hundred dollars more, but it has one notable advantage, in image quality, over the Optoma. That advantage is it's black levels. While the Optoma does a very good black, the HC-3000 definitely produces darker blacks, as you will see in a number of images in the image quality section.