Introduction There is no doubt that HDTVs in general are getting more affordable, meaning more accessible to the masses, while performance and features are improving to a degree. Front video projectors are no exception to this trend. Enter Sanyo’s latest 1080p 3LCD front projector, the PLV-Z2000, which is a perfect example of just such a projector. The PLV-Z2000 delivers reasonably good performance for the dollar, offers generous connectivity and has a solid feature package to boot. Set-up flexibility is quite good with some features that are usually found only on much more expensive projectors. Design The look of the projector is not attractive, to say the least. You may want to take pains to camouflage it on your ceiling. It is a squarish box with a relatively small footprint, measuring nearly six inches tall by 16 inches wide and 13-and-a-half inches ...

Introduction The 1080p projection market just got a lot more interesting, thanks to the arrival of Epson’s PowerLite Home Cinema 1080. While other big-name projection companies like Sony, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic have priced their entry-level 1080p projectors between $4,500 and $6,000, Epson is making a bold statement with the Home Cinema 1080, which costs just $2,999. Inherent skeptic that I am, my first thought when I see a product priced so aggressively is, what gives? Surely some big sacrifices must take place to reach that price point. Even on paper, I could tell that the Home Cinema 1080 doesn’t skimp in the features department, but how would its image quality measure up? Set-up Over the past few years, I’ve closely followed the progression of Epson’s high-definition projector line. The first-generation PowerLite TW100, which cost $4,995 back in 2002, still serves as my primary living room display. While it renders generally clean, colorful HD and DVD images, it ...

Introduction It has been raining 1080p HDTVs in all the different display categories, and the front-projection arena has a slew of new high-resolution models at surprisingly aggressive price points for consumers to choose from. There are three display technologies dominating front projection. They are LCD, LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon), which is a derivative of LCD, and DLP (Digital Light Processing). Unlike most manufacturers, Mitsubishi is betting on two horses in this race, as they currently make and sell both LCD and DLP front projectors. Their recently introduced HC5000 is the company’s first 1080p front projector. A three-panel LCD projector, the HC5000 is Mitsubishi’s flagship model at the time of this review. There is no display technology where this vaunted high resolution can be appreciated more then with front-projection systems where we can create truly large cinematic viewing experiences in the home. Design Modest and basic are the first two words that come to mind when I contemplate ...

Introduction No sector of the home theater is hotter than HDTV and, with recent advances in video technologies, it is now possible for the mainstream consumer to buy a projector that is capable of beaming a gigantic picture onto a screen that is nearly twice the width of even the largest big screen sets. Historically, it cost tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish this feat in rooms that were dedicated for home theater use. Today, thanks to technologies like DLP, LCD and D-ILA, you can enjoy a bright, beautiful picture from a projector that weighs less than Paris Hilton’s dog and fits in a Jimmy Choo shoebox. The Sony Cineza HS-51 video projector is a three-chip LCD machine that is priced relatively affordably at $3,495.00. The HS-51 includes a number of unique features that contribute to its overall success as a terrific home theater projector. One of these features is the incredibly bright 135 ...

Introduction Years ago, as home theaters were sprouting up around in homes across the globe, options for dramatic video were few. Of course there were enormous big-screen rear-projected TVs and tube sets up to 40 inches, but anything better and larger was for the mega-rich. Nowadays, there are dozens of options for those of us without a license plate frame proclaiming, “My Other Car is a Ferrari.” Many are going towards the plasma and LCD flat screens for their size and utter coolness, yet for many who want the real theater experience, anything short of 100 inches is too small and as boring as a Kenny G concert. With projectors ranging from $1,000 to a staggering $70,000 and more, the big question is how much do you need to spend on high-quality projection to get a satisfying picture? The Panasonic PT-L500U LCD Projector is an HD-capable display and retails for $2,499, making it competitive with ...