Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-4 Posted on August 19, 2007 By Art Feierman 1. Mitsubishi HC4900 LCD Home Theater Projector Review - HC4900 Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC4900 LCD Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. Mitsubishi HC4900 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC4900 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour3. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Flesh Tone Handling4. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-2 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Black Levels and Shadow Detail - Shadow Detail Comparison5. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-3 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector - Overall color handling and image quality - Thumbnail Comparison6. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - HC4900 Menus7. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-2 - HC4900 User Memory Settings - HC4900 Projector - Remote Control - HC4900 Lens Throw, Lens Shift, and Sharpness8. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-3 - Mitsubishi HC4900 SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Brightness9. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-4 - HC4900 Projector - Light Leakage - Mitsubishi HC4900 Audible Noise Levels - HC4900 Projector Screen Recommendations10. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-5 - HC4900 Projector Measurements and Calibration - Default Settings - The adjustments made to accomplish that - HC4900 Image Noise 11. The Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Review – Warranty12. Home Theater Projector Reviews: Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Projector: Summary13. Mitsubishi HC4900 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Cons14. Mitsubishi HC4900 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities-2 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Typical Capabilities - Mitsubishi HC4900 Summary15. Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Specifications HC4900 Projector - Light Leakage When it comes to light leakage, the HC4900 does an excellent job, with virtually no light leakage, and what little there is, is a non-issue. The leakage comes out the lens, but is so dim, even compared to a “black” screen, that it’s not worth considering. Mitsubishi HC4900 Audible Noise LevelsThis is easy. The HC4900 ties the HC5000 as the quietest home theater projector on the market. It claims an almost silent 19 db in low power, and even in full power, at 24 db, it is quieter than virtually all other home theater projectors, even when the others are in their “quiet modes”. Outstanding! HC4900 Projector Screen RecommendationsThe HC4900, compared to the HC5000 is in the area of black levels, and corresponding shadow detail. For all but those trying to use an exceptionally large screen surface, I have to recommend HC gray projection screens, and for the first time in a while, I’ll recommend some of the screens that were designed for older projectors with so-so black levels. Even on my Firehawk, at 128″ diagonal, I find the blacks coming out a bit to bright a gray for my taste. Remember, I’m spoiled, my JVC RS1 – at about twice the price of the HC4900, does the best job on black levels of any fixed pixel (LCD, DLP, LCOS) projector I have tested. I would think Stewart’s Grayhawk would be a great matchup, and for less money, alternates would include Da-Lite’s HC Da-Mat, and Carada’s affordable HC gray surface. Carada’s is one I’ve never worked with, but from my understanding it is a dark gray, that should match very well. If you want to go larger screen sizes, the Firehawk, and Elite’s HC gray surface, would be reasonable options. I’d avoid, in general, white surfaces, unless your primary purpose is non-movie content, such as sports viewing. Mind you, the blacks, while not extremely dark, are at least comparable to most DLP projectors using the Darkchip 2, and it does a better job, than, say almost any 720p LCD projector. That said, of the LCD 1080p projectors, the HC4900’s black levels are lighter than the Panasonic PT-AE1000U, the Epson Home and Pro Cinema 1080, and, of course the Mitsubishi HC5000. 1. Mitsubishi HC4900 LCD Home Theater Projector Review - HC4900 Projector Highlights - Mitsubishi HC4900 LCD Home Theater Projector Review: Overview2. Mitsubishi HC4900 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour - Mitsubishi HC4900 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour3. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Flesh Tone Handling4. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-2 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Black Levels and Shadow Detail - Shadow Detail Comparison5. Mitsubishi HC4900, 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-3 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector - Overall color handling and image quality - Thumbnail Comparison6. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - HC4900 Menus7. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-2 - HC4900 User Memory Settings - HC4900 Projector - Remote Control - HC4900 Lens Throw, Lens Shift, and Sharpness8. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-3 - Mitsubishi HC4900 SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Brightness9. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-4 - HC4900 Projector - Light Leakage - Mitsubishi HC4900 Audible Noise Levels - HC4900 Projector Screen Recommendations10. Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-5 - HC4900 Projector Measurements and Calibration - Default Settings - The adjustments made to accomplish that - HC4900 Image Noise 11. The Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Review – Warranty12. Home Theater Projector Reviews: Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Projector: Summary13. Mitsubishi HC4900 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Pros - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Cons14. Mitsubishi HC4900 projector, Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities-2 - Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector: Typical Capabilities - Mitsubishi HC4900 Summary15. Mitsubishi HC4900 Projector Specifications Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-3 Mitsubishi HC4900 DLP Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-5