PJ-TX100 Features and Basic Setup

LCD projectors have been a favorite recommendation of mine for some time. While I love the deeper black associated with most DLP models, the lens shift functionality and lack of rainbows make LCD recommendations easy. Hitachi is not a manufacturer I have reviewed frequently on Audioholics and we'd like to remedy that in the future (after all, we want to give ALL companies' products a chance to influence our readers, not just the usual suspects). This first pass with the PJ-TX100 projector left us wondering where we've been all this time. While it didn't start out this cheap, at a $999 street price (at the time of this review) this is one projector that should be on everyone's short list.

Features and Favorites

Every model has its features that set it apart form the others. In the case of Hitachi's budget LCD home theater projector, there are a few items you will want to specifically note:

• PRICE
  This is a $999 projector, people - and it has lens shift and the ability to calibrate RGB cut and gain controls for accurate grayscale tracking. A LOT of people should be considering going HD via this unit rather than spending a lot more for a much smaller display. If you have the ability to do front projection, this model should get you into the game.
• 3:2 pull down and deinterlacing
  No, really - While many projectors boast about having progressive upconversion, the Hitachi actually pulls it off - and far better than a lot of units I've seen at this price. Jaggie reduction was above par for this level of projector as was its surprising ability to handle some unusual cadences.
• Undocumented 1080p support
  What's that? 1080p support from a projector that's around 2 years old? Yeah, we were surprised as well. While we don't recommend feeding a 720p projector 1080p - the feature is there if you need it (and it helps us as at least make note of products that can handle the highest resolution outputs of next-generation DVD formats - for those who fear 1080p will render 720p and 1080i obsolete before they can upgrade, lol.)
• Backlit remote control
  It's simple. It's basic. It's a missing feature on most projectors: the backlit remote control. Let's give Hitachi its props. They provide a backlit unit that also provides direct input selection. Now that's some useful stuff.
• Lens Shift
  The lens shift feature on the PJ-TX100 isn't the best we've seen and provides only 3/4 screen height adjustment up or down and 1/4 screen adjustment left and right, BUT for what is now priced as an entry-level projector this is better than most. In addition, a reduced lens shift range ensures better overall color accuracy in all available positions.

This is just the beginning and we'll get into more of the available features throughout the review.

Basic Setup and Installation

The Hitachi PJ-TX100 was very easy to place, assuming you can get it in the ballpark and allow the lens shift option to be utilized in a minimal fashion to line up the projector with the screen. As always, we recommend making all possible attempts at placing the unit so that the lens shift settings can be in the default position 舑 giving you the greatest brightness uniformity and the most light output. Take a look at the 16:9 throw chart below to see how this projector might function in your room:

Throw Chart for Distancing the Projector from a 16:9 Projection Screen

May not be bright enough for typical screen sizes over 130" diagonal

There is ample zoom on this unit so placement and screen size will likely not be an issue unless you attempt to exceed a 130" screen and use a low gain screen. The bottom line is that the lumen output was more than sufficient for home theater viewing. We measured 28.5 cd/m^2 on our 100" diagonal Stewart StudioTek 130 screen from just over 12 feet away. That's plenty of light output and resulted in a real-world post-calibration contrast ratio that was very impressive (more below).