Mitsubishi HC3800 DLP Home Theater Projector - Product Review

At a suggested price of $1,499, the Mitsubishi HC3800 DLP Projector is a great value. With its native 1920x1080 (1080p) native pixel resolution and 1,300 lumen output capability, the projected image is detailed and bright, with good color saturation and contrast. On the other hand, I did detect some rainbow effect and some fan noise. However, taking all into consideration, the Mitsubishi HC3800 offers great performance and is easy to set up in most situations.

For an additional look and perspective on the Mitsubishi HC3800, also check out my Photo Gallery, and a sampling of Video Performance Tests.

Setting up and using the Mitsubishi HC3800 was fairly easy for this review. The input connections are clearly labeled and spaced out, and the on-unit control buttons and remote control easy to use. The HC3800 turns on quickly and also has fast cool down turn-off time.

The HC3800 offers several types of connections (HDMI, Component, S-Video, Composite, and VGA), but there is only one of each type, including only one HDMI input. Also, there is no dedicated DVI-HDCP input.

The HC3800 does not offer power zoom/focus controls, but its lens mounted manual controls are straightforward. Also, there is no Lens Shift function, which can make physical projector-to-screen placement more difficult in some cases, especially with ceiling mounting, but I did not have a problem placing the projector on a table-cart, sliding to the best horizontal position in relation to the screen, and then using the front-mounted adjustable feet to get the right height angle to the screen.

With 1,300 maximum lumens output capability, the Mitsubishi HC3800 projects a bright image, with very good color accuracy, detail, and contrast for high-def sources that is suitable for small, medium, and large size rooms in most homes.

Color consistency and contrast was very good throughout, which was evident on Blu-ray clips from The Dark Knight, Star Trek (2009), Terminator Salvation, Transporter 3, and Up as well as upscaled DVD clips from Moulin Rouge, The Cave, Outlander, and Kill Bill Vol1/2. Black levels were very good for a projector in this price class.

The HC3800 also did a very good job of upscaling lower resolution 480i DVD material to 1080p as measured by the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD, as well as passing direct 1080p Blu-ray resolution, including accurate reproduction of 1080p/24 signals.

One included feature that provides great flexibility is AV Memory. This allows the a user to create up to three customized image quality settings (color, contrast, brightness, etc...) for each input source. This is great for compensating for variations in image quality from different sources and program material.

The included wireless remote has a good layout and well-spaced buttons, and is also backlit, which makes it easier to use in the dark. Also, the onscreen menu system, although very detailed, was easy to navigate. In addition, the user manual is very well laid out, with easy-to-understand explanations and good illustrations.

Although there are some features lacking that would make installation and setup a little easier in more complex installations, the HC3800 has the features that deliver performance that counts. The HC3800 is definitely a welcome entry into the budget-priced video projector market and a great example the continuing trend of making video projection more affordable for the average consumer.

For additional perspective and closer look at the features and connections of the Mitsubishi HC3800, check out my Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.