Home Theater Projector Reviews: Mitsubishi HC1500 DLP Projector: Summary

Less than a year after the launch of the HD1000U, Mitsubishi has rolled out this slighly improved HC1500. For the most part, the HC1500 (link to specs) isn't about overall improved performance, although the significant jump in measured brightness compared to our review of the HD1000U, is signicant. Primarily, from speaking with Mitsubishi, the HC1500 was redesigned internally, to be less expensive to build, and in turn remain price competitive. Consider that the HD1000U was 50% more expensive when launched 9 months ago, than the HC1500 is now, and that's a very good thing!

Competitively, the HC1500 stacks up like this, against the other top sellers:

Priced to compete with the Optoma HD70, it has the advantage in brightness, a touch better in sharpness, similar placement flexibility, but a one year shorter warranty. Overall, we prefer the HC1500.

The Epson Home Cinema 400 is another bright projector, and LCD based. The HC1500 will have the advantage in "film-like" image quality, as the Epson, appears a little "hard". The Epson is technically about $1500 but has a large rebate that brings it down near $1000, so the Home Cinema 400 is still definitely more expensive. The Epson, though, offers a much better warranty, and the great placement flexibility that LCD projectors are known for.