Comments on: Mitsubishi HC3800 Home Theater Projector – Update

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:52:43 +0000

Update:
Mitsubishi reps visited, took the unit down and back to Mitsubishi service where the techie updated firmware and checked operation.
The unit was returned same day and operated without fault through a couple of movies and PS3 games.
Firmware now 7.0

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:42:33 +0000

Always a tough call. Since you don’t sound biased in favor of DLP, I’d say Go Epson. In a pinch it’s LivingRoom mode, properly adjusted does a great job of the Theater Black modes won’t cut it, and is nice and bright, and it is the more versatile of the two projectors, for sure. It also has the maximum brightness of the two, if absolutely needed. The Epson is better for mixed viewing. If, however, you are pretty much movie only, then you might givce the HC3800

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:01:45 +0000

I don’t have a date, or serial number, but, to my knowledge, I believe Mits was swapping out units in dealer inventory, and that many weeks ago. So, if you haven’t bought one yet, there should be no issue, but, remember, serious home theater projector dealers online move quantity, and get fresh shipments every few weeks. It’s the oddball dealer who moves very little in projectors, who buys from distributors that is more likely to have one in stock months after everyone else has new ones.

You could give Mitsubishi a call, and if they tell you something helpful, please post it here. As they say, “Inquiring minds want to know.”

By: Aaron D.

Aaron D. — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:20:14 +0000

Hello,

I was wondering at what manufactured date is the cut off point for the “shutdown” projectors. The new batches are fixed but when did the incorporate this fix into the projectors?

Thank you

By: nadeem

nadeem — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:57:54 +0000

Art, I am taking a plunge in 1080p with budget around $1800(my first pj). Being far away from USA(in middle east), I cannot afford to buy and than return the unit(if it malfunctions). I have narrowed down my choices to epson 8100 and Mit HC3800. Placement is not really a problem but ambient light is there in my family room. Have read tons of thread on the net but could not decide. your input comes highly recommended, so what do you recommend??? I will only buy from pp or visual apex.

By: Sam Calvin

Sam Calvin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:54:58 +0000

I tried to duplicate the shutdown I had last night by doing extensive freeze-framing, frame-forward, and frame-reverse on my PS3. No shutdown. I’m beginning to think that it was coincidence that it shut down when it did last night. Since this has a 2-year warranty and I’m very happy with the picture quality, I’ll hold on to this unit unless there’s a recurrence of the problem.

By: Sam Calvin

Sam Calvin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:09:55 +0000

Art, I have discouraging news to report. My HC3800 arrived on Wednesday, has firmware 3.0, and just shut down about thirty minutes ago. The shutdown took place while I was using my PS3 to do frame forward and reverse. I’ve had no problem watching movies at 60hz or 48hz, but the unit shut down no more than two minutes after I began the frame-by-frame activity. I wonder if you would be willing to look into this matter. As things stand, I’ll probably be returning this unit within the week.

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:30:03 +0000

Hi Hari,

You won’t have to wait long. One of the dealers said they were expecting tomorrow or Monday. I’d love to say which, but, since I don’t know the story for the other dealers advertising on our site, and can’t report for them, then one of them would end up all bent out of shape. If I said – “Dealer B has them”, and it turns out Dealer C also has them, C would not be happy!

So let me leave you with this. There are no more than 4 dealers advertising the HC3800. And it’s one of them. Figure one or more of those four will have them in the next 2-4 business days. You’ll find them. -art

By: Hari

Hari — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:47:13 +0000

Art, Thanks for the info….very helpful! I was ready to ‘click’ on purchasing a HC3800 but came across your blog…Now I am thinking twice on waiting for a few more days (weeks?) to get the product….
In your previouspost you said “Which dealers get them first, I’m not sure, but figure the larger online dealers, because they move most of the tonnage.”…would you mind throwing a couple of names? would ‘Projector People’ be one of them? They have a good deal on this projector, but I don’t know if they are a heavy seller or not…

Appreciated.

By: Art Feierman

Art Feierman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:32:07 +0000

Hi Sam,

Sorry, nothing really to tell you. I can say that both the engineering sample, and the current production HC3800 that I have worked with, don’t seem to be having any problem.

I’ve run the HC3800 through my Octava 4×2 HDMI switcher, and through a 12 meter Gefen HDMI cable, with 1080 signals from DirecTV and my Sony PS3, and I haven’t experienced any issue at all, of failing to lock on, or losing the signal. The new HC3800 now has 32 hours on it, at least 24 in my main theater with the switching.

And, the rest of the hours were in my testing room (theater#2) There the only signal sent was from PS3 (blu-ray), through a 2 meter gefen cable (from PS3) to a Gefen 2×2 HDMI switcher. From there a pair of 3 meter Gefen HDMI 1.3 cables feed whatever two projectors I’m working with, in this case, one being the HC3800. BTW with that setup several projectors do struggle a bit (my JVC for one), but no problem with the HC3800.

Sorry, not much help. Digging…… -art