Hot on the heels of last month’s sub- $2500 projector roundup is HP’s new vp6315. The 6300 series is HP’s crossover line for home theatre and business, and this particular projector is the middle ground between the 6311 and the top of the range 6325. HP hasn’t set itself an easy goal by trying to straddle the line between home theatre and data projection, so we were keen to see where the compromises were.
 
From the outset, the bulky size and hefty 3.5kg weight is indicative of most home theatre projectors, which don’t demand the same level of portability as business projectors. While this isn’t so much of a problem for those after a stationary unit, mobile users will be better off with smaller units, sub-2kg units.
 
On the testing front, the projector also fared slightly better at home entertainment than it did at projecting text and fine detail in our data tests. Video told a different story – although slightly less vibrant than we’d have liked, it was up there with the best. For a $2000 projector, it makes a good buy for someone after budget entertainment.
 
Despite the seemingly home theatre focus, this has all the grunt of a business projector: 1600 ANSI lumens; 2000:1 contrast ratio; and a stock standard 4:3 aspect ratio at 800 x 600 native resolution. HP also provides a nominal 4000 hour lamp life, and the two-year lamp warranty is a nice touch too.
 
Overall, although it’s spec’ed out as a business projector, its home theatre capability is a neat bonus. Whether it’s good value for money depends on where you’ll be using it – at $1999 it works neatly as an entertainer, however there are cheaper and better suited units for the business user.