Mitsubishi XL510U
Connecting state and local government leaders
GCN Lab review: This not a bad projector, but it is outperformed by most others in this review.
THE XL510U is a large unit, at least compared to the other projectors featured in this review.The company considers most of its 10-pound units ultraportable, so it's no surprise that this nearly 8-pound unit was submitted.It's the lightweight of their XL lineup, though the largest in this review. (Insert joke here about why Mitsubishi calls their ultraportable units the 'XL' series.) If you put size prejudice aside for the moment, you can see that girth does have some advantages.There are two VGA ports on the back of the unit, but we would have been overjoyed if one were a DVI. The size of the unit also gives it a longer focal length ' at our 10-foot test distance, it projected an image about two feet larger that the other projectors did, though we didn't try to make all tests fair and equal on that score.If you need a big image in a small space, the XL510U can be the tool for the job.It has some nice ease-of-use features too, such as an auto-position button. With one touch, the XL510U can figure out how to straighten the screen and make minor adjustments for you, which is perfect if you are in a hurry and would rather spend time on your presentation rather than setting up equipment.Its overall performance is good, with fine details and very fine images on white backgrounds.Colors are good ' but not necessarily accurate ' because the XL510U enhances colors slightly.For example, the ratio of blue to red is correct, but what ought to be RGB red (ff0000) is actually more like red2 (ee0000). It's like one of those travel brochures where the water looks fantastic but just a little too blue.Some people might like this color-enhancing feature, but you should know that it doesn't quite reflect reality.The projector has other modes that display more accurate colors, but we tested the default, and it is color- enhanced.Videos ' and especially Hollywood-type movies ' really pop in this mode.It produces perfect gray and displays good text down to an average of 8-point size.Color stepping is also accurate ' many hues can be displayed without bleeding into one another.The XL510U generates a lot of heat. Stickers warn in large letters 'Caution High Temperature,' and they're not fooling around. If you hold your hand on or near the vent too long, you will get burned, although anyone with a decent reaction time can avoid this fate.At $3,995, the price is also a little high.The XL510U is not a bad projector by any means, but it is outperformed by most others in this review and was downright trounced in terms of portability.
Mitsubishi Electronics America, (888) 307- 0349, www.mitsubishi-presentations.com
Mitsubishi Electronics America, (888) 307- 0349, www.mitsubishi-presentations.com
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