The 5.3-pound Mitsubishi XD205 ($1495 as of 1/11/06) is primarily designed for conference rooms and portable presentations. This DLP projector uses a four-segment color wheel and has a brightness rating of 2000 lumens. In addition to the usual computer and video connections, it supplies a pass-through connector for an external monitor--an often-desirable feature in classroom and boardroom use.

In our still-image tests at the projector's default settings, the XD205 scored near the average for text displays, with crisp and readable text rendering. But it faltered on graphics displays, which pulled down its overall performance rating. For example, the XD205 had difficulty rendering realistic skin tones and other gradients in a group photo screen, and it struggled to display graded tones in light and dark areas of the spectrum in our grayscale gradations test. The XD205 received a lower score than any other projector of the same brightness rating (2000 lumens) for its image quality in a partially lit room. In our moving-image tests, its scores were about average, earning it an overall rating of Good. The XD205's alternate picture modes (such as dynamic and theater) improved its image quality during DVD playback.

The colorful on-screen menu is well organized and easy to use, but it lacks some image-adjustment options such as individual RGB controls. The remote is easy to use, too, but it offers only a page up and page down function instead of full mouse control--and you won't be able to use that function unless you supply your own USB cable. The remote doesn't include a picture mode button or a pointer.

The XD205 comes with VGA and composite video cables, but no others. The built-in (2-watt) speaker is sufficient for occasional sound effects and low-key music, but we'd want a stronger sound system for viewing movies.

The Mitsubishi XD205 is easy to use, but its image quality failed to impress.

Richard Jantz