B4Print.com

Hi all - I have been using an HP Z3200ps Photo 44" for the past 5 years as my proofing printer. I've been really happy with the 4 color process as well as the Pantone spot colors. It's time to move on and move up and the model I'm looking at is the HP Z6 44". My salesman also wants me to look at the Canon Pro 4000S. He says the colors on the Canon are more vivid but vivid is for posters, not proofing. My gut choice is sticking with HP just because I've always been able to get good 4 color process proofs for customer approval.
Anybody have either of these or have an opinion on either?
Thanks!

From a proofing perspective, there are of course certain things to consider, such as the gamut of the inkset that an inkjet offers when paired with a particular paper. Usually the gamut of a given inkjet is larger than offset CMYK, but may or may not be able to cover specific spot colours. That being said, it usually comes down to the RIP driving the printer, as that will be colour managing and "dumbing down" the vivid colours for offset CMYK press simulation (except for spots). So the printer has to be fit for purpose and also be capable of being driven by your RIP software and inline or offline spectros etc. If you are not using a RIP and relying on the manufacturer printer driver and colour managing upstream then you have different expectations than me.