MITSUBISHI XL4U

The first appearance of the Mitsubishi XL4U (£1050 ex. VAT) is a positive one. Finished in pale blue, the plain box shape of the unit is attractive and understated. Measuring 274 x 69 x 259mm, the XL4U weighs just 2.7kg. Designed with portability in mind, the lens is hidden away within the casing, minimising the risk of damage when on the move.

The XL4U is based on LCD technology and is fitted with a 1500 ANSI lumens lamp. This brightness level is sufficient for most general use and can be used in an office environment without the need to exclude all light. With a contrast ratio of 450:1, we found the unit offered a satisfactory degree of contrast. The XL4U is the higher specification of the two machines in the 4U range, with the SL4U(£1000 inc. VAT) having a lower 800 x 600-pixel (SVGA)native resolution, but a slightly higher 1700ANSI lumen lamp. Connections on the side of the unit consist of a serial and two component ports for input and output, alongside a complement of composite and S-video ports.

The use of two component ports makes the XL4U ideal for those sharing a presentation or needing to send the image to a secondary source, such as a TFT panel. LCD projectors often create a great deal of noise, but we found the Mitsubishi to be more than satisfactory. Under prolonged use, it grew hot, but the large grills drew out most of the heat. Under test, the device was easy to set up and images were of a good quality. The only drawback with test images was the lack of a convincing throw-distance, which at just over 8metres is minimal for a projector of this specification. That said, for smaller meeting rooms, such a fault should not prove problematic.

The Mitsubishi XL4U is a good all-round projector. We found that its attractive look was matched by its thoughtful design, with ports and accessibility placed at the fore. Overall, a data projector that’s worth considering for either the office or meeting room.

RATING: 8

PRICE: £1050/£1253 (EX/INC. VAT)
BRIGHTNESS: 1500 ANSI LUMENS
CONTRAST: 450:1
TECHNOLOGY: 3-PANEL LCD
NATIVE RESOLUTION: 1024 X 768 PIXELS
THROW RANGE: 1.5 – 8.1M
LENS – FOCUS: MANUAL
LENS – ZOOM: MANUAL
DIMENSIONS (WXHXD): 274 X 69 X 259MM
WEIGHT: 2.7KG
CONTACT: 01707 278684 WWW.MITSUBISHI.CO.UK