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Mitsu HC3000U - overkill for my needs?

1056 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  KeithfromCanada
Greetings,


I found one of these for $600 used that I'm contemplating buying. It has about 75% bulb life left.


My buddy has a HD1000U that I'm impressed with, and I also read good reviews about it, but it's a little too costly for my budget ($800-900 new IIRC). To my understanding this is an older model with better contrast but lower brightness which is OK 'cause I can always make the room darker. So I'm convinced the HC3000U is a good unit.


What I'm not sure of is if a 720p projector is overkill for my needs. Right now I have a Wii (480p) and DVD player (480p). I have some HD content on my HTPC but I rarely use it. No satellite or cable (HD)TV service and don't plan on getting that as I don't watch much TV. I may check out over-the-air HD though.


This begs the question, why get a 720p over a (presumably less expensive) 480p projector? Is it worth spending a few more bucks to future proof myself? Is the quality of a 720p projector like this that much better than a 480p projector, for 480p inputs?


I also want to make sure that inputting a 480p device into this 720p unit won't degrade quality. Would it, instead, be upscaled and look even better?


Thanks in advance!
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
The main advantage for you is that you will be able to have a larger screen without seeing screen door effect (tiny gridlines formed by the gap between pixels). Plus in a year when you buy that $100 blue ray player you will be glad you have 720p. My biggest problem is whether you will have a warranty at all.
Thanks for the quick reply gw.


I recall reading that a 1080p signal (i.e. bluray that you mentioned) is not supported as an input on this unit. Is that incorrect? I'd love to get a PS3 or xbox 360 (both 1080p) to use with this if possible.


About the screen door effect, is that something exhibited by 480p projectors?
The biggest benefit to viewing SD material on the 720p projector will be that the smaller screen door effect will allow you to sit closer. It's also a nice way to future proof as you pointed out. Upscaling may provide a marginal benefit, but it's not the main reason I would purchase an HD projector.


At the price you are looking at I can't see a reason not to go with this unit. I doubt you will find an SD unit that comes close to it's quality for much less. And you will thank yourself when you finally feed this thing some HD or BD content and really let it shine.

Quote:
Originally Posted by modul8r /forum/post/12837557


Thanks for the quick reply gw.


I recall reading that a 1080p signal (i.e. bluray that you mentioned) is not supported as an input on this unit. Is that incorrect? I'd love to get a PS3 or xbox 360 (both 1080p) to use with this if possible.


About the screen door effect, is that something exhibited by 480p projectors?

You can feed it 1080i or 720p. It will handle either of these fine (I'd look at both and decide which device scales better). Screen door is present on any fixed panel display, generally the bigger the pixel (lower resolution) the more noticeable gap between pixels is. This black gap forms a grid which resembles looking at the screen through a screen door.

Quote:
Originally Posted by modul8r /forum/post/12837468


Greetings,


I found one of these for $600 used that I'm contemplating buying. It has about 75% bulb life left.


My buddy has a HD1000U that I'm impressed with, and I also read good reviews about it, but it's a little too costly for my budget ($800-900 new IIRC). To my understanding this is an older model with better contrast but lower brightness which is OK 'cause I can always make the room darker. So I'm convinced the HC3000U is a good unit.


What I'm not sure of is if a 720p projector is overkill for my needs. Right now I have a Wii (480p) and DVD player (480p). I have some HD content on my HTPC but I rarely use it. No satellite or cable (HD)TV service and don't plan on getting that as I don't watch much TV. I may check out over-the-air HD though.


This begs the question, why get a 720p over a (presumably less expensive) 480p projector? Is it worth spending a few more bucks to future proof myself? Is the quality of a 720p projector like this that much better than a 480p projector, for 480p inputs?


I also want to make sure that inputting a 480p device into this 720p unit won't degrade quality. Would it, instead, be upscaled and look even better?


Thanks in advance!


I have a Mitsubishi HC3000 and I love it! Sooner or later you will try HD movies on discs and you will marvel at the quality of the images this projector can produce. It will accept 1080i input and produces 720p image with great clarity and contrast and the black level is great. I paid $1700 for my HC3000 18 months ago and for $600 this projector is a steal. In case you're wondering, a new bulb will cost approx. $290 from this vendor:

http://www.provantage.com/mitsubishi...p~7MITP056.htm

Quote:
Originally Posted by gwlaw99 /forum/post/12837521


...Plus in a year when you buy that $100 blue ray player you will be glad you have 720p.

Here's where I'm still confused: Others said it accepts 1080i at the most, but blu-ray is 1080p so how would a blu-ray player interface with this projector?

Quote:
Originally Posted by modul8r /forum/post/12837468


Greetings,


I found one of these for $600 used that I'm contemplating buying. It has about 75% bulb life left.


My buddy has a HD1000U that I'm impressed with, and I also read good reviews about it, but it's a little too costly for my budget ($800-900 new IIRC). To my understanding this is an older model with better contrast but lower brightness which is OK 'cause I can always make the room darker. So I'm convinced the HC3000U is a good unit.


What I'm not sure of is if a 720p projector is overkill for my needs. Right now I have a Wii (480p) and DVD player (480p). I have some HD content on my HTPC but I rarely use it. No satellite or cable (HD)TV service and don't plan on getting that as I don't watch much TV. I may check out over-the-air HD though.


This begs the question, why get a 720p over a (presumably less expensive) 480p projector? Is it worth spending a few more bucks to future proof myself? Is the quality of a 720p projector like this that much better than a 480p projector, for 480p inputs?


I also want to make sure that inputting a 480p device into this 720p unit won't degrade quality. Would it, instead, be upscaled and look even better?


Thanks in advance!

Let's see, you can get a good 480p projector for around $350-$450 or you could get a 720p HD projector for a few hundred more... Unless you are insanely tight for cash, there is no point whatsoever not to go with the 720p unit.


The biggest issue with the HC1000 (which you like) is the clear segment in the color-wheel and its impact on black level/contrast. The HC3000, despite being the older unit, did not have this problem. It will throw a better image.


As for the 720p vs. 480p argument -- SD material will look about the same unless you get an upconverting DVD player or HD/Blu Ray player (oh...I HIGHLY doubt you'll find a $100 Blu Ray player at this time next year...but that's another story!). You will only really see the benefit when you upgrade and get some HD content going. However, given that the price difference between the Mits and a 480p projector are minimal, why would you go ahead and "future proof" yourself?


It's a very good projector and an absolute steal at $600.
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