Home Theater Projector Review:
Mitsubishi HC6000 DLP Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons

Mitsubishi HC6000
Image Quality
General Performance
Warranty
Summary, Pros, Cons

Check out how the Mitsubishi HC6000 fared in our comparison report.

It really comes down to this. The HC6000 (link to specs) is an extremely watchable projector. I thoroughly enjoyed the roughly 20 hours of viewing, mostly hi-def DVD, but a significant amount of time spent on standard DVD and HDTV (including sports). The projector's picture quality is well balanced overall, good depth and film like characteristics. It does need some tweaking, and spending a few hundred for a professional calibrator should be a very good investment, if you want to have the HC6000 perform a cut above its "out of the box" performance.

This is a projector I really can recommend to a lot of people. It's very good in terms of placement flexibility, so it will work in most rooms. The brightness is just fine for all but the larger screens (certainly bright enough for all the most popular sizes (from 92" to 110").

I really enjoyed the HC6000's sharpness. My JVC is definitely softer, and the JVC's sharpness was a concern when I bought it, particularly since I like to sit close. I decided before I bought the JVC, that its sharpness would meet my requirements, but the HC6000 projector is sharper, and I'm a little jealous.

As to the other competition, much is changing. We'll have the Panasonic PT-AE2000U, the new Epson Home Cinema 1080 and Pro Cinema 1080, Optoma HD8000, Sanyo's PLV-Z2000 and other new 1080p projectors to be reviewed in the next two months, so only time will tell as to which ones have the advantages, in which areas.

That said, this Mitsubishi projector is, overall, the best of the 1080p LCD projectors reviewed to date, and is competitive with the DLP projectors as well.

The price is higher than a number of lower cost 1080p projectors, but the Mitsubishi definitely delivers more than entry level performance.

For about the same price, Sony's Pearl is similar in brightness, but offers a softer image. The JVC RS1, also is a bit softer, but is much brighter in best mode. Both of these LCOS projectors offer even better black levels and shadow detail than the HC6000 provides, but the Mitsubishi is still very capable in this area. The HC6000 has nothing to be ashamed about going up against the JVC RS1.

Mitsubishi HC6000 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities

Mitsubishi HC6000 Projector: Pros

• Excellent sharpness
• Quietest home theater projector we have ever seen (or heard)
• Slightly better than average brightness in "best" mode (Cinema)
• Average brightness in "brightest" mode
• After proper setup, offers balanced and extremely pleasing picture quality
• Out of the box color balance is good, better than many
• Excellent gamma controls, in part responsible for very good shadow detail
• Better than average black levels, and the best of any LCD projectors I've seen
• Most impressive black levels and shadow detail, especially for an LCD projector
• Lamp life - in low power mode - 5000 hours
• Good menu system
• Good warranty
• Very good manual, with good levels of explanation for most items
• Two digital inputs (both HDMI 1.3)
• Focus, zoom, and lens shift are all powered, and controlled by the remote
• Easy to use, full featured
• Nice styling
• Overall, very good price performance

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Mitsubishi HC6000 Projector: Cons

• Pixel visibility is classic LCD, but since it's a 1080p projector the pixel structure is so small, that you won't see it at normal seating distances
• Remote Control's backlight is dim, definitely annoying in a dark room, until you memorize the buttons
• Small "main" menu stays on screen until you close it.
• It offers very good placement flexibility, but not quite as good as other LCD 1080p models (only a 1.6:1 zoom vs 2:1 on most LCD projectors)

Mitsubishi HC6000 Projector: Typical Capabilities

• Pixel visibility (for a 3LCD projector)
• Remote control overall, including layout, and range
• Number and types of inputs
• Physical size
• Lamp life, in full power mode (2000 hours)

Mitsubishi HC6000 Summary:

The HC6000 has a lot of things going for it. It's just a very well designed projector. Although it's a bit more than several other models, I have no doubt that it's price performance proposition, is a good one. In other words, if it's bright enough, works for your room and budget, it is a very good choice, with lots of strengths but it really is an all-around well designed projector, and certainly would be a great default projector. You might find another model in its price range that will serve your needs better, but many will choose the HC6000, and be most pleased.

Mitsubishi HC6000
Image Quality
General Performance
Warranty
Summary, Pros, Cons