Which is best projector? Mitsubishi HC7000 or Panasonic PTAE4000

[Xanderzdad]

Title says it all. My lovely Benq 7700 needs a new lamp and I thought I would trade up. Any advice or other ideas around £2000 would be welcome please. Thanks

 

[Frank Harvey]

Wow! A real projector question! Quite rare for these forums.....

The PTAE4000 is a great projector for the money, and has some useful features which will suit some people, and is a better projector at the £2k mark than you could pick up for £5k a few years ago. But, the HC7000 is a superior projector. I've mentioned before that the HC7000 has a more three dimensional picture (depth, whatever you want to call it) compared to many of it's equivalently priced competition (and some more expensive ones), produces a sharper picture, runs quieter, and is a better built projector. It also looks a little cleaner too, with slightly less noise, which helps produce a more convincing picture.

It's worthwhile having a peek at both of them if you can to see what you think.

 

[Xanderzdad]

Hi David (nearly called you Frank!!)

Thanks for the reply. I am so torn at the options as I will have change to compare any of them as I am down in Devon and the choice is VERY limited face to face. To complicate it further I MAY be able to pick up the JVC HD350 for £2000 (but somebody has reserved it so I have to wait until Tuesday to find out).

Do you think I will see a massive improvement compared to my Benq 7700 or the Sanyo PLV-Z700? I view at about 5m from screen and the image is about 100" diagonal.

 

[Frank Harvey]

When I mentioned the three dimensional aspect of the projectors, we tried the HC7000 against the JVC HD750. The new JVC's have improved this, but the 750 and 350 lacked in this area. I personally would go for the HC7000 (well, I did

) if it was between the HC7000 and HD350. The main area where the JVC is better is the black level - not a great lot in it, but the JVC did fair better here. But for me, a slightly better black level (which is damn good on the Mitsu anyway) can't make up for the difference I witnessed between them.

 

[Xanderzdad]

Hi David

Thanks for the advice. I have gone for the Mitsubishi - it should arrive Monday. They even offered me 10% discount and a trade-in on my old projector. I dealt with a really helpful and knowledgeable owner of a real shop in Edinburgh (who I was speaking to before I asked your advice - loyalty counts for something in my book!).

Thanks again.

 

[Frank Harvey]

No problem - I'm sure you'll be extremely happy with it