Mitsubishi HC5500 1080p LCD Home Theater Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this projector to replace a 6 year old Sharp 720p DLP projector. The primary reasons were the price, the $[...] rebate, and the excelent video processing chip (Reon-VX). The final straw that broke the camel's back was the fact the newer Blu-ray movies output 480P through the component video output (the Sharp didn't have HDMI).
Mine is hooked up using HDMI with Blu-ray and HD DVD players, projected to a 150" gray screen.
What can I say - the picture is excellent. The Sharp was incredible, and I would never have any complaints until I see in person what the 1080p projectors can do nowadays. It was immediately obvious this Mitsubishi has a sharper, more detailed, and better contrasted image. It has a slightly higher lumens output than the Sharp, and also better contrast.
Although the Sharp came very close to an average movie theater picture quality, this projector at the very least matches, and in many cases, exceed what one can see in an average theater. No complaints about the picture, but I am not some super-nitpicky videophile like some.
This projector has an electronic zoom/focus lens, so setting it up initially can be difficult. I made the mistake of hanging it up on the ceiling before making adjustments. The default zoom/focus levels made the picture extremely blurry, so I could not read the menu at all. It was also upside down for me, making things doubly difficult. I had to use the pictures of the menu in the manual in order to navigate around. Speaking of the manual -- it could use a lot of improvement (the section about the extra filter was buried in the back instead of the front, where there should be a series of steps detailing the initial setup). I just feel if it had a manual focus option, it would've cut my setup time by 75%.
To summarize, some things I wish this projector had:
- Manual zoom/focus option
- More brightness (lumens output). I have to to set the brightness to around 75% to see something to my liking.
- More intuitive menu structure
- Have more frequently used functions be on the remote vs. buried somewhere in the menus
- Better manual
I would've given this projector 4 stars, but given the incredible value (esp. with the rebate included), I think it deserves 5 stars.
Addendum: After poking around a little bit, it turns out there is another available rebate; this other one is $[...], but with a free lamp, which is most likely worth quite a bit more than $[...]. I chose the $[...]+lamp rebate instead...

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Panasonic PT-AX200U 720p 3LCD Home Theater Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)Didn't think buying a projector would take as long as it did. I've been researching projectors off and on for the past 2 and a half years and have enjoyed the process of testing a virtually endless onslaught of manufacturers and different image quality. Finally decided on a Panasonic PT-AX200U due to a special running through HTmarket.com that had a mail in rebate for an additional 1 year warranty on the purchase of a Panasonic projector. I bought my projector for $1299 and have had about a month to play with the projector.
Initial highlights - good projector for the money if you have a good source (HD DVD/Blu Ray/upconverting DVD player). Very easy setup with image adjustments. I was up and running in 5 minutes.
Friends and family are stunned at the size of the screen images capable with this projector (I'm running a 110 inch screen). Clearly capable of more than that.
Good image for old format DVDs IF you have a DVD upconverter to 720p/1080i/1080p. I initially ran a couple of DVDs, the Incredibles, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, Blade, into through my Denon DVD 2900 (originally a $1000 DVD player) and was somewhat disappointed by the pixelation and some noticeable Screen Door Effect (SDE).
My brother came over the following weekend with his Sony Playstation 3 and we ran one of his videogames through the HDMI cable into the projector to see if we could tell a difference - whoa, noticeable difference in image detail and elimination of the pixelation and SDE.
Went out to Best Buy the following weekend to buy a cheap RCA dvd up converter for $30 and now run all my DVDs through it.
Would recommend this projector if pairing to a high gain screen - the bulb brightness, while bright for stock, definitely requires a high gain (+1.3) screen to maximize some of the darker image films (Blade/Matrix/Lord of the Rings/Aliens).


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ViewSonic PJD6531w WXGA Wide DLP Projector -120Hz/3D Ready, 3000 Lumens, 3200:1 DCR, HDMI Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first projector, so I cannot really give too technical of a review. However, here are the things I've noticed in the short time I've had it so far...
Like others have said, it's bright. I can use it in the middle of the day with blinds open and see perfectly fine. From what I understand, the image will gradually get dimmer the more hours it has, but for now it's superb.
It's very easy to use. I've never operated one before and was able to use it right out of the box. Plugged it in, connected my ps3 or laptop, and turn it on. It automatically detects everything without issue.
The image can get quite large. So far I've been using it to generate an image about 8 ft wide with a good picture. The projector is 14ft away from the wall. Definitely much larger than any LCD or Plasma!
I purchased this projector for a short term relocation. I didn't want to have to ship a TV and figured if I bought a projector I could take it home with me in a few months. It's easily portable, and this one comes with a case (unlike some others. I also looked at getting the Optoma hd66 which is in the same price range, and I don't believe it came with a case and the viewsonic had a few more features).
I haven't used 3D yet since 3D glasses are still quite expensive, but one day I hope to try it.
If the lamp lasts 4000-6000 hours, I will be perfectly satisfied. That should give me several years of usage, and at that point it'll be time to upgrade anyways (technology flies these days)! Or, I could replace the lamp, although I still haven't found any bulbs online yet. I use ECO mode as well, and the difference in ECO mode and standard is hardly noticeable. ECO mode is plenty bright enough.
UPDATE: Be sure to check the contrast settings if you don't see a proper picture. The contrast setting automatically switched to 0 for HDMI input somehow and I almost returned it thinking the jack had become defective (only saw blank screen). I'm not sure why it changed, but be sure to check if the image seems off even if you didn't change anything yourself.

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The PJD6531w is an advanced 120Hz/3D ready DLP projector which includes BrilliantColor technology to produce more vibrant colors, while the high brightness and contrast ratios make this projector shine in virtually any lighting situation. The PJD6531w delivers 3000 lumens with a 1280 x 800 WXGA native wide resolution. This projector is designed for table-top use or can be mounted on the ceiling for classrooms and meeting rooms. The top load lamp and filter-less design provides for easy maintenance and low total cost of ownership. RJ-45 connectivity enables remote network control, while the extensive input options and integrated 10W speakers provide for amazing multimedia performance and effective presentations or classroom lessons.

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Optoma GT700 3D Game Time Projector, Great for Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox Review

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(More customer reviews)First impression
With out-of-box (factory) settings and connected to my macbook via HDMI cable watching an Avatar trailer the sound of "WOW" was echoing in our room.
Previously
Earlier today, I had returned a new Optoma pico projector (PK301) to Bestbuy after days and nights of viewing in diverse lighting conditions, PK301 just didn't work well due to too weak brightness (

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The GT700 provides the ultimate widescreen experience for gamers, sports enthusiasts, and movie buffs. Designed for quick connection to computers, game consoles, blu-ray players, and television tuners, the GT700 accommodates on-the-go entertainment and can also impress as the centerpiece of your home theater. Optimized for flexibility, this GameTime projector displays a large image from a short distance, features a powerful 10-watt speaker system, and includes a custom-designed backpack for storage and easy transport. Whether your passion is sports, gaming, the internet, or movies, Optoma transforms your free time into GameTime.

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BenQ W1000 Plus DLP 1080P 7.5 Lb Home Cinema Projector (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)Benq company review (0 stars)
The "new" factory sealed W1000+ projector I received directly from Benq via a well known BBB A+ seller is likely a refurbished projector. This is very bad.
The lens on the projector was filthy and had deep scratches. The lamp was also stable which implies it was already used at least 4 hours. The seller exchanged the projector free of charge even though it was outside their 30 day return policy window.
Looking at a lens in ambient light tells you nothing about the true state of your lens. Instead, shine a flashlight straight on directly into the lens and then look at the lens from behind the flashlight. This will make visible anything on the lens surface. Don't worry about dust or cleanable muck on the lens. My second projector for which I believe to be truly new had that. Instead, look for scratches or other permanent damage.
Projector review ( 4 stars)
In spite of Benq's lack of integrity, I still recommend this projector. Just be careful about the above issue. This DLP projector does the important things right. Real contrast seems consistent with their published contrast in dynamic mode and default settings (brilliant color on). Turning brilliant color off will cut contrast in half - not good. The HD image is very sharp and color is just fine. The W1000+ has the highest lamp power efficiency and is the brightest projector among its competitors. Its brightness easily accommodates a gray screen to enhance contrast and has ample reserve light to allow for dimming over time. The competition is seriously lacking in reserve light. The Achilles heel of projectors though is you need a light controlled room to see good results.
There are only 2 power levels on this projector. Standard is about 245 watts. Eco-mode is about 220 watts. No setting (other than the standard/Eco setting) will affect power. Contrast, brightness, white peak, brilliant color, color modes (warm/norm/cool/native), or (cinema/standard/dynamic) have no effect on power.
The internal upscaler is very bad which renders all standard def inputs useless, but HD looks great. Fan noise during quiet passages is a minor issue for those of us accustom to silence. Stray light splashes below the image and above the image, but it's only a small fraction of the black level light. You might not ever notice it.
I do not see rainbows, so I can not comment as to the effectiveness of this projector's 3X color wheel.

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BenQ MX511 DLP 3D Ready Black XGA Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)I am really quite pleased with this projector. Wanted a projector to replace my very old NEC SVGA one with hdmi for xbox gaming and dvd/etc in the basement and i am now projecting about a 5ft high image on a white painted wall. Was looking extensively for months, comparing lamp life, native output, etc, etc, and waiting for something acceptable at the price point i wanted. Found this one for $449, which was well below what i expected to pay, but there is no comprimise.
DVD quality was excellent as well. I played a few games of Black Ops standing up, and found myself trying to look around corners and up over things. For the price and with 3d ability(which i cannot comment on yet), i could not be happier. Colors are really good with a # of preset and configurable settings via the small remote. Audio is obviously not going to knock your socks off, as i haven't run it through the amp yet, but it is still more than acceptable. Kicks my upstairs HD toshiba picture actually. Great deal and no real compromise for an excellent viewing experience for those not 'needing' it to be the absolute best there is out there.

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The MX511 makes the perfect projector choice for your everyday life, in the boardroom, the classroom, or a bit of evening entertainment in your own home. With an impressive brightness of 2700 ANSI lumens, a high contrast ratio of 3000:1, and XGA native resolution, the MX511 offers a full-screen, detailed presentation, regardless of the ambient light level.
Solid projection for the boardroom, the classroom, or the living room. Click here for a larger image

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