On TV.com: KIM KARDASHIAN is hot hot hot

Search:
Go!


advertisement

1080p projectors: From budget to billfold-busting

David Katzmaier
David Katzmaier, Senior Editor
Updated February 22, 2007
We've spent a lot of time and energy trying to convince our readers that, for most HDTV screen sizes, 1080p native resolution simply doesn't matter. When you're watching a 32-inch LCD or even a 50-inch plasma, those extra pixels just aren't that important.

The story changes when the screen sizes get huge. Front projectors can easily create pictures that measure 100 diagonal inches or more, and true home theater buffs know that sitting close to a big image, especially an ultracrisp 1080p image from a Blu-ray player, makes for an experience in immersion that blows the exit signs off the local megaplex. At those sizes and seating distances, 1080p really starts to strut its stuff.

The latest crop of high-resolution projectors spans the gamut from somewhat inexpensive to downright wasteful. The models below represent that range nicely, and it's no coincidence that we reserve our highest praise for the more expensive models. Buffs on budgets certainly have a lot of choices themselves, however, and the proliferation of 1080p projectors at every price point means more big pictures for everybody.


  remove this product remove this product remove this product remove this product remove this product remove this product
Product name Sony VPL-VW200
Sony VPL-VW200  
Sharp XV-Z20000
Sharp XV-Z20000  
BenQ W10000
BenQ W10000  
Sony VPL-VW60
Sony VPL-VW60  
Panasonic PT-AE2000U
Panasonic PT-AE2000U  
Sanyo PLV-Z2000
Sanyo PLV-Z2000  







Review date December 12, 2007   March 26, 2007   April 10, 2007   February 21, 2008   December 19, 2007   October 31, 2007  







CNET editors' rating 8.7 out of 10 8.7
Excellent
8.3 out of 10 8.3
Excellent
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
6.7 out of 10 6.7
Good







Users' rating Be one of the first to rate this product! Be one of the first to rate this product! 7.0 out of 10 7.0
Very good
9.0 out of 10 9.0
Spectacular
9.0 out of 10 9.0
Spectacular
Be one of the first to rate this product!







Buying choices
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 
Prices from online stores:
processing...

Searching for pricing data...


 







Local shopping No local stores found No local stores found No local stores found No local stores found No local stores found No local stores found







Product videos   Watch video Watch video      







Review summary Although it certainly costs more than most of the 1080p competition, the SXRD-based Sony VPL-VW200 delivers one of the best pictures of any projector we've tested. Sharp's XV-Z20000 is a top performer among 1080p projectors, and delivers a solid feature package and sleek design to boot. BenQ's W10000 delivers excellent performance for a 1080p 1-chip DLP projector, especially considering its relatively low price. While its color fidelity is not nearly as good as other late-model Sony SXRD products, the otherwise good-performing VPL-VW60 home theater projector remains a solid value. The Panasonic PT-AE2000U 1080p projector is a credible performer, especially when you consider its relatively low price. While Sanyo's PLV-Z2000 1080p projector does have some performance shortcomings, it's nonetheless a very good value.







My Products
Basic Specs
Product Description Sony VPL VW200 - SXRD projector SharpVision XV-Z20000 - DLP projector BenQ W10000 - DLP projector Sony VPL VW60 - SXRD projector Panasonic PT AE2000U - LCD projector Sanyo PLV Z2000 - LCD projector







Device Type SXRD projector - High Definition 1080p DLP projector - High Definition 1080p DLP projector - High Definition 1080p SXRD projector - High Definition 1080p LCD projector - High Definition 1080p LCD projector - High Definition 1080p







Dimensions (WxDxH) 19.5 in x 22.6 in x 6.9 in 18.7 in x 19.5 in x 7 in 19.4 in x 15.5 in x 7.7 in 18.5 in x 15.6 in x 6.9 in 18.1 in x 11.8 in x 5.1 in 15.7 in x 13.6 in x 5.7 in







Weight 44.1 lbs 20.7 lbs 20.1 lbs 24.3 lbs 15.9 lbs 16.1 lbs







Image Brightness 800 ANSI lumens 1000 ANSI lumens 1200 ANSI lumens 1000 ANSI lumens 1500 ANSI lumens 1200 ANSI lumens







Image Contrast Ratio 35000:1 12000:1 10000:1 35000:1 16000:1 15000:1







Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080







Native Aspect Ratio Widescreen Widescreen Widescreen Widescreen Widescreen Widescreen







Lamp Type Xenon gas fluorescent lamp 400 Watt SHP 220 Watt 250 Watt UHP 200 Watt UHM 165 Watt UHP 165 Watt







Video Input RGB ( PAL ) , S-Video ( PAL-M ) , Component video ( PAL-N ) , Composite video ( SECAM ) , ( PAL 60 ) , ( NTSC 3.58 ) , ( NTSC 4.43 ) RGB ( NTSC ) , S-Video ( PAL-M ) , Component video ( PAL-N ) , Composite video ( SECAM ) , ( PAL 60 ) , ( NTSC 4.43 ) RGB ( PAL ) , S-Video ( NTSC ) , Component video ( SECAM ) , Composite video RGB ( PAL ) , S-Video ( PAL-M ) , Component video ( PAL-N ) , Composite video ( SECAM ) , ( PAL 60 ) , ( NTSC 3.58 ) , ( NTSC 4.43 ) RGB ( PAL ) - HDTV , S-Video ( NTSC ) , Component video ( PAL-M ) , Composite video ( PAL-N ) , ( SECAM ) , ( PAL 60 ) , ( NTSC 4.43 ) RGB ( PAL ) , S-Video ( NTSC ) , Component video ( PAL-M ) , Composite video ( PAL-N ) , ( SECAM ) , ( NTSC 4.43 )







Digital Video Standard High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Info unavailable High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)







Digital Television Video Formats 480i , 480p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p 480i , 480p , 540p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1035i , 1080i , 1080p 480i , 480p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p 480p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p 480i , 480p , 576i , 576p , 720p , 1080i , 1080p 1080p







Video Input Device None None None None None None







Type None None Speaker(s) - Integrated None None None







Input Device Remote control Remote control Remote control Remote control Remote control Remote control







Voltage Required AC 120 V AC 120/230 V AC 120/230 V Info unavailable AC 120/230 V AC 120/230 V







Power Consumption Operational 650 Watt 310 Watt 320 Watt 300 Watt 240 Watt 252 Watt







Lens Shift Direction Info unavailable Vertical Info unavailable Vertical , Horizontal Vertical , Horizontal Vertical , Horizontal







Lamp Life Cycle Info unavailable 2000 hour(s) / 3000 hour(s) (economic mode) 2000 hour(s) / 3000 hour(s) (economic mode) Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Color Support Info unavailable Info unavailable 24-bit (16.7 million colors) Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable







Manufacturer Warranty Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 3 years warranty







Product name Sony VPL-VW200   Sharp XV-Z20000   BenQ W10000   Sony VPL-VW60   Panasonic PT-AE2000U   Sanyo PLV-Z2000  







Full specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications Full Specifications







Price range Check latest prices
$10145-15000
from 8 stores
Check latest prices
$6099-7800
from 5 stores
Check latest prices
$3595-3649
from 2 stores
Check latest prices
$3457-5000
from 10 stores
Check latest prices
$2589-3560
from 15 stores
Check latest prices
$2215-2550
from 13 stores












© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use