Comments on: Mitsubishi HC6500 Home Theater Projector – A first look!

By: Home Projector

Home Projector — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:13:53 +0000

The Mitsubishi HC6500 seems to hit the major two points that home theater enthusiasts want for a projector.

1: That it is able to produce at the 1080p level
2: High contrast ratio, for better “blacks”

The price is actually quite reasonable for what this model delivers.

By: Claus T. Wiebe

Claus T. Wiebe — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:38:31 +0000

Art, I’m speculating that the “online sales” statement was thrown in so that the HC6500 wouldn’t cut into the HC5500 sales for at least a while. At least until HC5500 inventories are reduced. Having two PJs available (within the same model year) at almost the same price point is rough without some kind of sales discrimination.

- Claus

By: Claus T. Wiebe

Claus T. Wiebe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:31:09 +0000

Addendum – The better black levels are likely due to the fact that the HC6500 is using the C2Fine panels – the HC5500 uses the D6 inorganic ones.

*************

Claus, you are correct. I expect, that if I measured ANSI contrast, there would be a substantial difference. But, since I don’t fool with contrast measurements, I go by eyeball, and it is definitely a step up.

I’ll be shooting a couple of side by sides with the Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB. I’m quite sure it still can’t match the Epson at black levels, but it passes a threshold, in my book, for “acceptable black level performance.

-art

By: Claus T. Wiebe

Claus T. Wiebe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:29:16 +0000

I just looked at the Mitsubishi website. They state (under the picture of the HC6500) that it is “not available on-line in US”. This means that the street price will be much closer to the MSRP (BB wants $3500 for it).

- Claus

******************

Well, greetings Claus,

Very interesting! I don’t recall Mitsubishi telling me that, but I will look into it. If that’s the case, it’s disappointing news. So far, the HC6500 definitely is a step up from the HC5500. I like it much better.

And, if you are correct (which is definitely possible, separate models for online and local dealers is common), that will change the dynamics, for it will mean that the HC6500 will be more money than the Panasonic PT-AE3000U, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB, etc., yet, it isn’t direct competition for those, the HC7000 is the direct competition – with 120hz/96hz frame rates, and 60,000:1+ contrast ratio, typical of those other top of the line models.

Well, the review will be published on Friday, so I’ll check and have the info on distribution, pricing, by then, and will include that in the competition and general discussion areas of the review.

So far, I much prefer it to the HC5500 and the Sanyo PLV-Z700, but if it’s going to cost people more than those top of the line 3LCD’s then the online crowd isn’t going to pay the $3000 to $3500 pricing that local dealers will no doubt want.

Thanks for the tip. -art