Hands On: Mitsubishi HC4000 DLP Projector

A few years back when 1080p projection was more of a luxury than the norm, there remained a consensus opinion that, at least on the lower end of the affordability spectrum, a quality 720p product would trump an entry-level 1080p projector’s performance.

It’s difficult to make that argument these days with rock-solid products like the HC4000 from Mitsubishi.

Setup
Installers will appreciate the HC4000’s ease of setup. The projector weighs just 7.7 pounds, so it was simple for me to maneuver, make the necessary connections and then place in the optimal location.

I connected an Integra Blu-ray player via the HDMI port and cable box through component video inputs, then plugged the projector into a Panamax BlueBolt power conditioner.

Having reviewed various similar-level 1080p projectors, I’ve grown accustomed to the manual zoom and focus process. With a lens throw ratio of 1.38-2.06 and throw distance of roughly 12 feet, I had leeway for image adjustment on my 92-inch Elite Screens ezFrame screen and 92-inch Elite Kestrel retractable 2.35:1 screen.

One knock I’ve encountered on most projectors with manual zoom/focus is that the focus wheel can be temperamental, the HC4000’s included.

Features
An RS-232 serial port and 12V trigger help make this projector installer friendly. The single HDMI input is one fewer than I’ve found on most projectors I’ve reviewed, but that’s less of an issue these days thanks to do-it-all Blu-ray player sources. I always appreciate a VGA port for computer-based viewing, and it’s here, too.

Like other “entry-level” 1080p projectors, 3D is not in the equation. However, the HC4000 is compatible with anamorphic lenses, and includes two “anamorphic modes” to facilitate CinemaScope-type viewing.

Image adjustments are abundant, and an ergonomic remote control provides single-press access to a lot: source selection, three A/V memory presets, color management, contrast, brightness, color temperature, sharpness and gamma. Drilling into the menu, installers can fine-tune the calibration, set the memory presets and more.

I found the “low” lamp mode surprisingly bright; additionally, Mitsubishi says lamp life is up to 5,000 hours in the mode and fan noise decreases from 31 to 25 dB.