Difference between HP 771 and HP 773 inks?

[jeffsmith99]

I am not buying that the HP771 and HP773 inks are the same. Otherwise, why would HP create a new part number, and list both on every product data sheet? Sadly, they all have the same description. There is one note as you can see here:

Note #16: "Only in selected US channels"

 

The User Guide for my DesignJet Z6610 (purchased March 2019) lists only the HP 773A but when I asked my supplier to quote ink for me, he quoted the HP 771A.  This does not make sense to me.

[skuks · Accepted solution]

found this

https://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/c04500505

explains a lot...

[jeffsmith99]

Skuks, you are right, that article does explain a lot. Thank you for sharing it. But it does not answer my question.

According to the article:

Prior to October 2013, HP made the following cartridges

HP 771 HP 773 HP 761 and HP 763

After October 2013, HP modified the ink for those cartridges without bothering to change the part numbers. Now we have twice as many cartridges to choose from:

HP 771 HP 773 HP 761 HP 763 (Pre-October 2013)

HP 771 HP 773 HP 761 HP 763 (Post-October 2013)

Fortunately, my newer HP DesignJet Z6610 should work with either the old ones or the new ones.

BUT the article does not explain the difference between HP771 and HP773. When I go to buy ink from various suppliers and type in my model number, some offer the HP771, others offer the HP773, and I found one supplier that comes right out and states that "they are the same" (without giving their source for that comment.)

Jeff

[skuks]

Sorry for short answer (and not answering your question), but I found article may be exactly to the point 🙂

And just to be sure I checked our suppier - with no concrete answer - there is Light cyan in 771 series but not in 773...

https://www.fennemania.com/difference-between-hp-771-and-hp-773-inks/

[jeffsmith99]

Basically the second article asks my exact question. I was all excited, thinking they were going to have an answer. But the answer they offer is this:

"The only differences between the two ink series other than HP771 uses light cyan and HP773 uses cyan.  you can use the Light cyan from the HP771 for the Cyan of the HP773, there is no difference."

First off, there is obviously a difference between Cyan and Light Cyan. Even the color shown on the packaging in their images shows those colors as different on. Maybe the colors of the actual ink are the same and just the packaging is wrong. BUT if I ignore that fact, I still do not know which cartridges to order for my machine. Should I order HP771 or HP773?

If "there is no difference" then WHY did HP make 2 different part numbers?

Jeff

[skuks]

If I was you -order older used inks (like 771). The new ink cartridges are containing different ink (different chemicals, like recycled paper), may be not exactly compatible with your printheads...just a bit different, but just to make make you change PH's, and new problems...

[jeffsmith99]

Skuks and community

I contacted HP DesignJet Support, and they said they get calls on this topic all the time. Seems like HP could improve their documentation to prevent customers like me from making those calls.

Basically, they confirmed what Skuks was telling me in the previous posts. They said that the HP773 is a new formulation that was designed for products like my DesignJet Z6610. The new formulation provides more vivid colors than the older HP771 part number. Some older machines can't use the new HP773 and some newer machines are recommended to use the HP773, if possible. I guess I will ask my supplier to quote me on the HP773 and see if there is a price difference.

Thanks!

Jeff

[skuks]

Thank you Jeff.

I'm glad I helped. 

Best of luck 🙂