3. Hitachi Ultravision HDP J52, Continued

Our initial results with the test screens led us to expect very good results with video, but then the chipset that processes the video also comes into play. So we sent a video signal in 576p, 720p, and 1080i, via HDMI and YUV; fortunately, the results held up. It's true that there was a slight lack of sharpness with the default values, but a little tweaking via the menu quickly straightened that out.

Then we ran our favorite test movie scenes. I'll come right out and say it: I was impressed. Not only was the picture better than on competing models in the same price range, but it was also both smooth and sharp. The colors were saturated, the tints were natural, and tracking shots showed no jumpiness. No stairstepping effect was visible in 720p, and no sparkle in large color masses. And that was all with an installation and adjustment process that took under 15 minutes.

If you want to go out of your way to look for faults, you might be able to find competing projectors with blacks that are perceptibly denser, and even better sharpness. But that will also depend on your source, because with the right DVD player you can compensate for just about all of it.

Characteristics

Technology: 3 0.7" LCD panels, 1280x720 Video Formats: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1035i, 1080i PC Compatibility: max.1280x1024 Brightness: 1,200 ANSI lumens Contrast ratio: max. 5,000:1 Fan noise: 27 dB Lamp life: 3,000 hours Guarantee: 2 years MSRP: $2,990