Mitsubishi’s Diamond Series HC7000

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Written by John Flores

Wednesday, 07 July 2004 09:54

Mitsubishi HC7000 LCD Projector

The start of the “Diamond Series”, Mitsubishi’s HC7000, is the start of releases of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projectors from Mitsubishi. The HC 6500 will debut later on in the year with a limited release. This is considered the best projector from Mitsubishi to date.

Brightness:		1000 ANSI Lumens
Resolution:		1920 x 1080
Weight:		16.5 lbs.

One of the most impressive things to have happen is the way the contrast has jumped. Originally the HC5500 measured at a simple 260:1 in video optimized mode. With the all-new HC7000 that has now become a huge jump to 409:1.

A colossal move up for LCD projectors period! The auto iris system also has its own improvements fixing the image faster and more tightly. Black levels are normally best seen in light-controlled rooms like below-ground theatres or window-sealed above-ground rooms. The HC7000 has made it so that dark scenes are almost easier to watch without any interference from the projector itself. Those though with a moderate amount of ambient light in their theatre space most likely will not be able to see this improvement.

Consumer friendly is the color function as it will take little or no change to the projector to see a great picture. Even if you just want to use the HC7000 right out of the box-right away-a smooth and vibrant picture can still bring life-like, and theatre quality-looking film to anyone. One thing that has always been a consumer favorite, when it comes to electronics, is not having to change anything dramatically and make it seem like a chore. The color on this projector is definitely one of the finest qualities ever.

Extra low dispersion glass lens with 17-lens optics and 1.6x powered zoom focuses light uniformly for true colors across your entire screen
Two all-digital, Deep Color compatible HDMI interfaces
Digital video output for seamless connection to Blu-ray 24P next-generation optical disk
Smaller, re-engineered fan with a larger air vent that hushes fan noise to 17 dBA (low mode)
Anamorphic lens compatibility for a true widescreen experienc

In the brightest mode it can reach up to 670 lumens. The HC7000 has a maximum rate of 1000 ANSI lumens. This will excite those who enjoy their favorite shows and sports events that can come up on screen in HD; especially if the theatre room has some amount of light. Now with the color and contrast improved this will help when using it strictly for video. The lumen output may drop to 407; but the color and contrast still makes it a better picture.

This of course is happening while using high lamp mode. In low lamp mode the lumen output will drop to about 318. This simply put is a result of the HC7000 being made to maximize in darkly-lit rooms. Try and make your theatre space as darkly-lit as possible. Now anybody who doesn’t want to darken their theatre space, or is happy with it; the HC6500 coming out soon is perfect for that individual.

The noise factor is not really that noticeable when the HC7000 is functioning. This has been a trend (one that Mitsubishi has almost perfected) that seems to keep progressing forward. Fan noise has always been an issue and hopefully in the future there won’t even be any. That is also a benefit of the heat output: it’s pretty low. The HC7000 has a whisper quiet fan and the lamp wattage is only 160W. Normally heat exhaust gets higher when the lamp has a high wattage. That is why with the 160W lamp you can feel less heat exhaust, and the whisper quiet fan is pretty cool. As usual though you lamp life will last longer if you use your projector in Eco-mode. In normal mode you can go up to 2000 hours, but in Eco-mode you can reach up to 5000 hours.

Dual Mode Anamorphic Stretch. It sounds like a mouthful but it really is simple. Instead of having an anamorphic lens installed on a moving track this places it in front of the projector. Normally anamorphic track can cost a pretty penny so this is a nice feature. The placement flexibility also is a cool feature. Not only is there a powered zoom/focus lens; but a powered vertical and horizontal lens shift. The vertical and horizontal lens’ help make it easier for anybody to install their projector. Placement has just been made easier for everybody.

The price for the HC7000 may reach a little bit above 4000 dollars, but what can you expect from an LCD projector with this quality. It is more for the dark-room consumer out there. If you don’t want to convert to a dark-look go for the HC6500 which is made for more ambient lit rooms. A two-year warranty does come with the projector which is better than having to buy one. front view of the HC7000

When it comes down to the final straw the HC7000 is really meant for those who are so serious about home private theatre that they don’t give a care what they have to spend. They don’t care how to get it they will do what they can. This really is meant for someone who is a videophile. Someone that already has a darkened room and a pre determined mounting area. Sure there are many advantages to having this projector in your home; but if you do, make sure you can utilize it as best you can. Now the Panasonic AE3000 may be a little bit more of your style. It too is preferred for a dark room experience, and can handle little ambient light, but also has other features that would be more involved. The HC7000 can be used to right out of the box. That is a great advantage. The AE3000 can as well but has other feature like split screen functions and lens memory that can always calibrate your settings.

The best thing to do is go to your local LCD projector expert and describe the setting you have and let them guide you. For all you know the HC7000 might be perfect for you.

Product Data Sheet

HC 7000 Projector Specifications

Display
Imaging Technology	0.74 3-LCD (with Micro Lens)
Brightness/Lumens	1000 ANSI Lumens
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080
Maximum Resolution	1600 x 1200
Viewable Size	50-300 inches
Contrast Ratio	72000 : 1 (on/off)
Color Wheel	N/A

Lens
Lens Throw Ratio	1.4 - 2.26
Zoom & Focus Adjustment	Powered Focus & Zoom

Compatibility
PC, MAC Compatibility	Yes

Operation
Scanning Frequency	[H] 15 - 100 kHz, [V] 50 - 120 Hz, [Dot clock] max. 162 Mhz

Interface
NTSC, PAL, SECAM	NTSC / NTSC 4.43 / PAL (including PAL-M, N) / SECAM / PAL-60, Component Video; 480i/p(525i/p), 576i/p(625i/p), 720p(750p 50/60Hz), 1080i(1125i 50/60Hz), 1080p(1125p 24/50/60Hz) SCART (RGB + 1V sync)
Computer/Video Input Support	PC: Mini D-Sub 15pin x 1, PC Audio: N/A, Video: HDMI(Ver 1.3) x 2, RCA x 1, S-VIDEO x 1, RCA (Y,PB/CB,PR/CR) x 1, Video Audio: N/A
Computer Monitor Loop-Out	No
RS-232 Communication Support	RS-232C: D-Sub 9pin x 1
Audio Speaker	N/A
Audio Out
USB Mouse Support	N/A

Lamp
Estimated Lamp Life Rating	5000 hours (low mode)
Usage Replacement Lamp	Replacement Lamp Bulb (VLT-HC7000LP)

Physical
Weight	16.5 lbs.
Dimensions (W x H x D)	16.9" x 6.4" x 17.3"
Power Consumption	250W/2.5A
Power Requirements	AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz

Service and Support

2-Years Limited Parts and Labor Warranty, 1-Yr or 500-Hours lamp warranty (whichever comes first)

Included Accessories

AC Power cable, RGB cable, RS-232C cable, Remote Unit (incl. battery), User Manual, User Manual CD, Safety Manual, Lamp Replacment tray

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Mike Brown said:

	I find the ease of use while operating the Mitsubishi’s Diamond Series HC7000 LCD projector to be the number one reason I purchased it! From the moment I took the LCD projector out of the box I was amazed with the easy set up and well defined instructions. Do you think it is easy to use or a bit challenging from the start?
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