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Mitsubishi HC1500 vs HC4900: which is better

4644 Views 42 Replies 15 Participants Last post by FenceMan, Jan 26, 2008

dolliole

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2008

I am about to purchase a FP for my movie room. It is a cave (no windows). Trying to decide between the Mitsubishi HC1500 or HC4900. Is the black level on the HC1500(DLP) better than the HC4900(LCD)? I Need some Help.

1 - 20 of 43 Posts

FenceMan

· #2 · Jan 23, 2008

HC1500 = 720p

HC4900 = 1080p

Black level or no black level I just had to make the same choice and price being an issue I decided that I was getting more bang for my buck by spending the extra $565.00 on the 4900...

clevername

· #3 · Jan 23, 2008

I had the 1000U for 7 months before getting the 4900.

I always hesitate before I post in these kinds of threads because most of the time I haven't done direct comparisons and we often don't see the differences if we don't see them side by side. This is the case with me; I can only speak on memory/perception and those can always be clouded by big purchases. As always, YMMV.

In my experience, I think the black level for the two would be comparable with the caveat that the 4900 does have a little more haze (the dreaded LCD haze) than the 1000/1500. The addition of an ND filter pushes the 4900 ahead in black levels to my eye and does a great deal to remedy the haze problem.

The 1500 will be significantly brighter, though, especially after the ND filter placement on the 4900. I have no lumens numbers to back that up, just speaking on my own perception.

MurphyAgain

· #4 · Jan 23, 2008

I better makes some popcorn this is going to be fun.

Murph

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FenceMan

· #5 · Jan 23, 2008

I have had the HD1000U for about a year, the 4900 will be here tomorrow.

I am planning on taking some comparison shots of both with and NFL game and a Blu Ray disc, is this a good idea or has it been done already? I figure I can do a "real world" comparison with both in the same location, same screen and same input devices...

gwlaw99

· #6 · Jan 23, 2008

Definitely post them as well as your thoughts. Don't forget to calibrate first or the comparison won't mean as much.

dolliole

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 23, 2008

DOES THE hc4900 HAVE THAT SAME POP THAT THE HC 1500 HAS?

avr435user

· #8 · Jan 23, 2008

I thought this thread is a joke. HC4900 is better by all means. It is more expensive too.

FenceMan

· #9 · Jan 23, 2008

2

Quote:
Originally Posted by avr435user /forum/post/12906951

I thought this thread is a joke. HC4900 is better by all means. It is more expensive too.

Yeah but can its black levels match the 4805??

Now thats a joke

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curttard

· #10 · Jan 23, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by FenceMan /forum/post/12907145

Yeah but can its black levels match the 4805??

Now thats a joke

My eyes, my photos, and the measured native contrast numbers disagree with you

FenceMan

· #11 · Jan 23, 2008

I didnt mean your results were a joke, I meant I was making a joke about the arguments in the other thread....

JOHNnDENVER

· #12 · Jan 23, 2008

Well I followed the other thread for a while and I thought is was funny anyways..

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Person99

· #13 · Jan 23, 2008

2

I can pipe in because I'm unbiased--I use a CRT PJ.

Nobody can set your priorities (what and if image quality is important to you). They sell alot of awful looking PJs to people who don't care that much about image quality, but just want a big picture.

One note: resolution is not everything. Its value is somewhat dependent upon viewing angle. On/off CR generally influence the "winner" of shootouts more than resolution.

But some things to consider:

1) Viewing angle - can you sit as close as you want to 720p DLP and not see pixels?

2) Do you see RBE?

3) Does the "pop" and colors of DLP look better to you?

4) Does an LCD look OK to you?

5) Does panel misalignment, dust blobs, etc worry you?

Personally, I've yet to see a 1080p LCD that looks even near the quality of a top quality 720p single chipper (think Marantz) from 1.7x viewing distance on a 16:9 screen--but I've not seen all of the latest "second generation" 1080p LCDs. When I saw the Epson Home Cinema 1080, I thought, "how are they going to sell this awful looking thing?!?!?" YMMV.

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gwlaw99

· #14 · Jan 23, 2008

"When I saw the Epson Home Cinema 1080, I thought, "how are they going to sell this awful looking thing?!?!?"

By updating it with the 1080UB which has much better black levels.

FenceMan

· #15 · Jan 23, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Person99 /forum/post/12907613

I can pipe in because I'm unbiased--I use a CRT PJ.

Nobody can set your priorities (what and if image quality is important to you). They sell alot of awful looking PJs to people who don't care that much about image quality, but just want a big picture.

One note: resolution is not everything. Its value is somewhat dependent upon viewing angle. On/off CR generally influence the "winner" of shootouts more than resolution.

But some things to consider:

1) Viewing angle - can you sit as close as you want to 720p DLP and not see pixels?

2) Do you see RBE?

3) Does the "pop" and colors of DLP look better to you?

4) Does an LCD look OK to you?

5) Does panel misalignment, dust blobs, etc worry you?

Personally, I've yet to see a 1080p LCD that looks even near the quality of a top quality 720p single chipper (think Marantz) from 1.7x viewing distance on a 16:9 screen--but I've not seen all of the latest "second generation" 1080p LCDs. When I saw the Epson Home Cinema 1080, I thought, "how are they going to sell this awful looking thing?!?!?" YMMV.

Realize we are talking about comparing a 1080p LCD with a 720p DLP with a $565.00 price difference.

Majister

· #16 · Jan 23, 2008

I have not seen the HC1500, but I am extremely happy with my 4900. Sure the black levels could be better, but then again I have a picture that looks positively stunning with an HD DVD player.....my word it's gorgeous...the 4900 has it in the bag on many levels....but people keep harping about black levels.

I will say this....black level issues are easier to see on 2.35 material because you have the black bars top and bottom. however, I find that when you have bright next to dark the percieved black level excedes the projector specs. I don't know if you understand what I mean but surely someone here get's it. The HC4900 is gorgeous.....I saw a Black pearl the other day....it's certainly not perfect, so it's not one of those "your projectors blacks are grey and mine are black" kinds of things......they all produce gray....so with that said.....there are bigger problems in this world without having to worry about black level. Trust me....black level is one component of pic quality, but many other aspects of PQ such as poor colors, soft picture, sde will have far more impact on PQ...again...imho.

Go to the movie theatre and check out the "grey" level they produce there.....it will make you feel really good about your projector.

Hope this helps......

BTW if you ever feel bothered for one minute about black level on your HC4900....realize that your viewing experience is being impacted far more by the percieved sharpness and massive size of your screen......trust me....it will make all your other problems go away....

feel free to dissagree with my oc

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Heyitsme22

· #17 · Jan 24, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Majister /forum/post/12910613

BTW if you ever feel bothered for one minute about black level on your HC4900....realize that your viewing experience is being impacted far more by the percieved sharpness and massive size of your screen......trust me....it will make all your other problems go away....

feel free to dissagree with my oc

except the dust blob issues, that is what is holding me back

Uther

· #18 · Jan 24, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Person99 /forum/post/12907613

3) Does the "pop" and colors of DLP look better to you?

This is one area in which I have to disagree. I know many talk about the color of DLP, but having both a 1 year old top-end 61" DLP Samsung RPTV and a 4 year old Z2 LCD, I still say the colors on the projector are richer and more natural thanks to the three chip design that has always been used by LCD. With LCD you are getting a constant blending of RBG to produce each color rather than relying on persistence of vision and a spinning wheel. That said, I am quite pleased with my DLP, but I have to give the nod for color accuracy to LCD.

FenceMan

· #19 · Jan 24, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heyitsme22 /forum/post/12911694

except the dust blob issues, that is what is holding me back

I think I will take my chances with dust blobs in exchange for getting rid of my mind numbing color wheel noise.

Yes I know all DLP's do not have color wheel problems, just as all LCD's will not have dust blob problems....

Tim Glover

· #20 · Jan 24, 2008

cuttard: never met a 4805 reference he didn't like.

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