My Favorite LCD Projector

Earlier in the year the Mitsubishi HC7000 was released. That projector itself was considered best for certain environments such as dedicated dark room home theatres. Now, Mitsubishi has decided to release a second projector with just as good quality to it as the HC7000.

The HC6500 is the newest projector released from Mitsubishi this end of the year.

One may wonder why do I want the HC6500 and not the HC7000? Easy: environment. Everybody has a different environment surrounding them when they watch their specific theatre choice (film, game, etc). Some people have small theatre rooms in their basements that absolutely let no light escape into the room maximizing what you are watching on the screen. Other people may have an above-ground theatre; sometimes in their living rooms, where the only light escaping may be from windows. Either way, every environment and theatre has their own distinct specifications; just like the projectors themselves. That is why it is good to always judge what you are buying by process of elimination. The HC6500 has its qualities and some of them may or may not be suitable for your home theatre.

• Extra low dispersion glass lens with 17-lens optics and 1.6x powered zoom focuses light uniformly for true colors across your entire screen
• Advanced inorganic LCD panels provide longer projector life
• Re-engineered fan is smaller, but with a larger air vent that hushes fan noise to an amazing 17 dBA noise level (low mode)
• Digital video output gives you seamless performance with the Blu-ray 24P next generation optical disk
• Two HDMI interfaces for clean, all-digital flow from source to screen
• Anamorphic lens compatibility for a true widescreen experienc

The lamp life of the HC6500 is about 2000-5000 hours depending if you have it set in Eco-mode or not. This can be regulated by the different settings with the high lumen output. The HC6500 is measured at 1200 ANSI. There are some settings that can be made to take advantage of the environment around you. High brightness can give a kind of ethereal light. The light is given off with a greenish coat but does not take away from the picture itself. Now, use this in medium, and the lumen count goes down to the low 500’s. When talking about differing environments this is where the HC6500 comes in handy. It has a 1.6:1 zoom lens that when combined with the low lamp-mode can accommodate smaller screen sizes. The picture will still be visually stimulating and vibrant. Just remember to use the telephoto lens on the end of the zoom lens.

Razor sharp picture and good shadow detail are two wonderful things about this product. Previously the HC5000 was said to have had nice, sharp picture quality when compared to the other projectors out there. The same can be said for the HC6500. The shadow detail is very good; even though it lacks the inky blacks of other projectors. Like what was said before; every environment is different. Of course fan noise once again comes into question. No one wants their theatre experience interrupted by loud air being pushed around. The HC6500 comes as close to quiet as can be. Some would even say that standing close to the projector one would not be able to tell if it was even operating. Little heat exhaust would suggest that this projector is perfect for small spaces and areas with little or no ventilation.

Every single function of the lens’ are motorized to make it a little easier on the individual. Before, manually fixing the focus on a projector would be a bother. You would have to go up to the screen and check the focus. Then you would go to the projector and change the focus. Walk back to the screen and check it once again. This would be a little easier if two or more people were present, but by yourself it can be a pain. The powered focus on the HC6500 makes it as simple as going up to the screen and pointing and clicking to the best setting. As said before the zoom lens is 1.6:1 which can display a 100” diagonal 16:9 image for 10’ to a little bit over 16’. The lens shift has about a vertical range of two and a half picture heights. The horizontal range is about five percent in either direction. This leaves open many options like rear shelf mounting or ceiling mounting (ceiling mounts may not even need a drop tube).

The HC6500 runs about in the mid 3,000 dollar range. This is not as bad compared to other projectors. All of it really depends on the style and kind of area you are trying to fit into. The sharpness and detail are crystal clear. If you have a large screen it can adjust within a light controlled room. These are all factors that have to be taken into consideration when buying a projector. The HC6500 is in restricted/limited release to retailers but can be found most likely at major stores that do specialize in such a product. The price may sound a little bit high but people forget that most restricted/limited products like LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projectors cost even more then the listed price of the HC6500. Actually the price itself is worth it. The lamp light if ever needed to be replaced would cost a nice penny but is already included. The replacement lamp light would cost you along the lines of up to almost 500 dollars. The warranty is an automatic two-year warranty. Most other competitors only offer a year-old warranty with an option to buy a two-year warranty for more money.

All said and done, Mitsubishi’s HC6500 has been compared to Panasonic’s AE3000 in many different ways. They both came out at the same time and both have similar qualities. You could argue that the AE3000 has a one-year warranty and that the HC6500 has a two-year warranty. You could argue that the HC6500 has a higher price. These are all factors that can bring a decision to make; but, it all comes down to what really accommodates you more easily and readily. Look at your theatre space. Is your air quality in your theatre space more freeing? How much light actually comes into your room? How big is your screen? How would you like to mount your projector? Find all the answers to these questions and inquiries and you can make a judgment on your own.

Mitsubishi HC6500 Product Sheet

Display
Imaging Technology	0.74 3-LCD (with Micro Lens)
Brightness/Lumens	1200 ANSI Lumens
Native Resolution	1920 x 1080
Maximum Resolution	1600 x 1200
Viewable Size	50-300 inches
Contrast Ratio	15000 : 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 (Direct command is available.)
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)	16.8" x 17.3" x 6.3"
Power Consumption	250W/2.5A
Power Requirements	AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz

Service and Support

2-Years Limited Parts and Labor Warranty, 1-Year 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, Lens Cap, Lamp replacment tray