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 ...