Hitachi CP-D10 Projector – Performance

Hitachi CP-D10 Video Performance

Most multimedia projectors feature only passable video performance and the CP-D10 is no exception.  Video processing and black levels are a far cry from what you see on even lower-priced home theater projectors, but acceptable nonetheless.

The CP-D10 does a decent job with DVD playback.  Taking a look at my old standby DVD, The Fifth Element, skin tones were decent and the picture looked reasonably sharp.  However, video enjoyment is restricted mainly by its low contrast ratio, which results in a great loss of detail in shadows.  That being said, the CP-D10’s video playback is more than adequate for its intended use in classrooms and boardrooms.

Hitachi CP-D10 Brightness

The CP-D10 is rated at 2000 lumens.  With the projector as close as it is to the screen and with the upward projection angle, measuring the output was somewhat difficult.  Just the slightest rotation of the meter toward or away from the projector changed the results drastically and pointing the meter directly at the projector resulted in abnormally high results.  Measurements were ultimately taken with the meter in a few different positions and averaging the results.  In Daytime mode (the brightest), we measured 1985 lumens, which is excellent for a projector rated at 2000 lumens.  Keep in mind that a slight rotation of the light meter toward the lens boosts the lumen output to over 2200 lumens, so the CP-D10 is putting out plenty of light.  The other modes were as follows: Normal – 1708, Cinema – 1107, Dynamic – 1540, Blackboard – 1877, Greenboard – 1492 and Whiteboard – 866.  Both Daytime and Normal provide a good color balance, with Normal being the preferred mode when the higher output of the Daytime mode is not needed.

The lumen output of the CP-D10 is more than enough to handle its intended use in classrooms and conference rooms.  However, it’s designed to provide the best picture on a screen between 60” and 100”, so you’ll want to stay inside that range as the picture starts to degrade outside of it.

Dropping the lamp into Eco mode resulted in a 22.5% drop in lumen output.  This drop is not excessive and would be usable even in a partially lit room if absolute quiet were needed.

Sharpness

Audible Noise

The Hitachi CP-D10’s noise level is typical for a projector of this type in high brightness mode (37 dB).  While that’s not particularly quiet, it’s not likely to be an issue in almost any presenting environment you’d find the CP-D10.  In low brightness mode, the noise level drops to 29dB, which is quite good.  By comparison, many home theater projectors have this level of noise in their bright modes and noise is the bane of home theater enthusiasts.  Basically, for a multimedia projector that is likely to be used in a classroom or conference room, the noise level shouldn’t be an issue.