Mitsubishi XD50U XGA Projector Review

October 21, 2015 · Mitsubishi

For a projector launched all the way back in 2003, the Mitsubishi XD50U did a lot of things well. Originally designed as a relatively high end home theater projector that was ultral light and portable, the XD50U came equipped with high components and it is the main reason why buyers have held on to them so long. The lightweight (just 3.4 pounds) projector delivered sharp, bright images, useful long-life from its 150-watt lamp, and it had a decent set of features. Of course, more than a decade later, the technology is certainly dated: like its lack of USB input or HDMI, boxy housing and in-efficient cooling system. [caption id="attachment_1283" align="aligncenter" width="770"]

Mitsubishi XD50U Projector[/caption] The XD50U has been out-of-production for nearly a decade, but many still use the projector as a secondary set-up. That makes sense: it’s a lightweight, useful piece of A/V hardware that delivers crisp, clear images. Plus, a used XD50U – which is a bit of a rarity to find – starts in the sub-$400 range. In other words, this is a useful projector that would certainly complement your existing hardware. Mitsubishi XD50U: Quick Specs

Lumens: 1,500 ASNI lumens
Native Resolution: XGA (1024x768)
Maximum Resolution: SXGA (1280x1024)
Contrast Ratio: 1,500:1
Connections: RGB, Stereo, S-Video and Composite RCA

Mitsubishi XD50U: Pros For a projector released in 2003, the XD50U performs well in terms of image and video production. Colors are vibrant and crisp, and the video motion is smooth. Here are some of the finer details:

Portability and Install Flexibility: For starters, the projector weighs just about 4 pounds. This was designed to be used for mobile presentations, making it an ideal business projector. Plus, the projectors dimensions are just about the size of a dictionary. Plus, it has a decent digital zoom and vertical keystone correction, making it easier to fit the image to the screen.
Superior Image Quality: The XD50U’s best quality: It produced detailed, high-quality images. It did have issues with color accuracy, with was a common complaint of early-2000s DLP-based projectors. Yet, the projector also delivered smooth moving pictures and the color temperatures were right on the mark. [caption id="attachment_1284" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Mitsubishi XD50U Projector Inputs[/caption]

Mitsubishi XD50U: Cons It’s a challenge to look at the specs of a projector that’s more than a decade old. At the time, the technology was useful and innovative. Today, though, many of the features look dated. Here are a few of the projectors shortcomings:

Weak Audio Output: The projector was equipped with just a half-watt mono-speaker that delivered weak audio. That output wouldn’t compete in a noisy environment.
Average Lamp Output: The XD50U’s 1,500-lumen output was decent, providing bright images that would ideal for rooms with even average ambient light. Yet, the projector’s output, today, would be considered below average. The lamp part number is known as VLT-XD50LP.
Limited Connections: In 2003, HMDI was still to be developed; it wasn’t sold until late 2003. USB wasn’t as ubiquitous either. Yet, even so, the XD50U features a fairly weak line of connections. One feature that was innovative at the time was its CompactFlash card reader, which today sounds a little dated.

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