AV & Presentation

Mitsubishi Expands Portable HD Projector Line

• By Denise Harrison
• 02/24/10

Mitsubishi Electronics America's Presentation Products Division has introduced two portable high-definition projectors.

The new projectors, the WD620U and the FD630U, each weigh in at 8 pounds and offer a brightness of 4,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 2,000:1, according to the company. The WD620U has wide-format WXGA 720p resolution, and the FD630U has full high definition 1080p resolution.

Both projectors use the DLP chipset with Texas Instruments' BrilliantColor technology.

Other features common to the two projectors include 10-watt speakers and audio mix capability; closed captioning decoder; a visual public addressing (PA) feature; user-friendly menus; and an all-glass lens for sharper displays. They also include a built-in RJ-45 port for remote operation and management over a LAN, WAN, or the Internet using Mitsubishi's ProjectorView Global+ technology, which allows administrators to monitor the status of multiple projectors, turn off projectors remotely, and handle other tasks across the network.

The projectors' simultaneous message display and the new visual PA feature allow an administrator to create and distribute messages remotely in real time to projectors connected to the local area network. This feature can be used to broadcast important information to multiple rooms across campus (as part of an emergency notification system, for example).

The new projectors include dual 15-pin computer inputs plus S-video and RCA video inputs. They also come with a HDMI input for digital sources, so users can switch between a computer presentation and video with the press of a button.

Mitsubishi's new HD projectors have two separate 3.5mm audio inputs, two RCA audio inputs, and a 3.5 mm variable audio output used to control volume levels. They also have a special built-in audio mixer so the projectors can simultaneously project audio from two sources, such as a DVD and a wireless microphone. With this "Audio Mix" feature, users can adjust the volume levels of each input for its built-in speaker. With the projectors in this configuration, an instructor can orally interject key points during a presentation and be heard over the video.

Other features include:

• Security features, such as password menu, display locks, and anti-theft hook design;
• RS232 connection for compatibility with third-party control devices and support for a computer loop-out for external monitor display;
• Keystone correction; and
• Instant shut-off.

Pricing is $2,495 for the WD620U and $3,995 for the FD630U.