The Hitachi CP-TW2503 is an ultra short throw education or business projector that can be placed on a table just below the screen or whiteboard, but will normally be wall mounted (using the optional wall bracket) just above the top and only a few inches in front of the projection screen/white board/white wall. The CP-TW2503 can also mounted vertically above the back of a white table (using an optional table mount) with the image projecting downward onto the table top. This allows for creating an interactive table.
This Hitachi projector is designed for use with screen sizes from 60 to 100 inches diagonal and for the maximum 100 inch screen size the front edge of the projector needs to be approximately 16 inches from the screen (i.e., that’s why it’s called an ultra short throw projector). It projects an image that is both bright, with 2700 lumens, and sharp, with its 1280 x 800 native resolution. It is able to project an image with excellent focus over the entire image and that can be difficult to accomplish with an ultra short throw projector.
I found it a little difficult to find the MSRP of this projector, but Hitachi, responding to our inquiry, says it's $3269. However, most online dealers are showing their price at $1999 and a few may discount it for less. At a sub-$2000 street price the CP-TW2503 provides reasonable value with very good performance and a feature set that will be attractive for the education and business market.
The projector can be controlled via the provided IR remote and/or controlled and managed via a networked PC equipped with the provided software. There is also an RS-232 serial input that can be used for projector control.
In its best picture mode, the CP-TW2503 offers very good performance for projecting videos or presentations from a connected PC and also offers brighter picture modes providing reasonably good image quality, with fairly accurate colors.
The CP-TW2503 offers a variety of inputs including two HDMI inputs, two analog PC inputs, and a microphone input allowing a presenter to use the projector’s built-in speaker when making presentations. Also images and slide shows can be presented directly from a USB flash drive plugged into the projector’s USB port. The CP-TW2503 offers a comprehensive selection of picture modes including a DICOM simulation mode, for medical school training and medical imaging presentations. This mode used to provide a clearer picture of black and white X-ray images (see details in the Special Features section).
The CP-TW2503 is supplied with two interactive pens to support the projector's interactive features. Remember, if you plan to use this projector interactively, that a traditional flexible screen surface really doesn’t work. A whiteboard or a “hybrid” combination of screen and whiteboard work better. The reason, of course are the pens. They are pressure sensitive, so pressing against a traditional screen's flexible fabric surface is just going to push that surface in a little before the pen’s contacts click and over time this can damage the screen's fabric surface. In other words, you’ll end up stretching the screen surface, not a good thing.
The combination of a DICOM Simulation mode, interactive capabilities, and very good picture quality make the CP-TW2503 a great choice for medical training at the university and med center level, and at an affordable price. This projector receives Projector Reviews Special Interest Award for its capabilities in support of this use.
This projector review is included in our 2015-2016 Best Classroom Projectors Report, which is sponsored by Epson America.
