After vaguely describing its new 1080p 3LCD-based PLV-Z700 projector as "entry-level", Sanyo's finally returned with a pricetag: $1,995. While that doesn't exactly spell "cheap" to most, good luck finding another full HD projector that matches these specs with an MSRP starting south of two grand. 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,200 ANSI lumens and a variable lens designed to adjust to smaller rooms adds up to the perfect solution for those who want more pixels but less price, expect to find out more when it hits the stage at IFA 2008 in Berlin August 29, followed by store shelves worldwide in October, closing out its run with full specs after the break.

What Christie's LW600 lacks in resolution (it's only WXGA, or 1,366 x 800) it most definitely makes up in brightness. Boasting 6,000 ANSI lumens (dual lamp), 2,000:1 contrast ratio and a trio of 1.22-inch inorganic LCDs, this projector could probably produce a visible image in your average sunroom. You'll also find 10-bit image processing, DVI / BNC / composite / VGA inputs, a motorized zoom, focus and shift lens, bundled remote, RS-232c port and the ability to play nice with a dozen lenses. Regrettably, there's no mention of a price, but we have a sneaking suspicion this 60.85-pound beast won't be exceptionally cheap.

Pretty amazing what passes as a "business and education projector" these days, huh? The fairly well-spec'd WL6700U is somehow lumped into the aforementioned category, despite it packing a respectable WXGA (1,366 x 800) resolution, 5,000 ANSI lumens, 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a trio of 1.2-inch 3LCD inorganic panels. To be fair, Mitsu does concede that this beamer wouldn't be too out of place in a home theater environment, and the included DVI port, RJ-45 connector (for online management and control) and built-in motion-sensitive anti-theft alarm certainly help prove that point. Unfortunately, such a versatile PJ will likely fit better on the company card than the personal -- unless your Platinum piece isn't fazed by the $9,995 sticker, that is.

If you reckoned that Sony's VPL-EX4 and VPL-ES4 were getting a bit long in the tooth, we suppose Sony agrees. Across the way (in Asia-Pacific, to be precise), Sony has launched four new PJs on us: the VPL-EW5, VPL-EX50, VPL-EX5 and VPL-ES5. According to the company, the whole lot is aimed at boardroom masters, but these 3LCD units and their 2,500 ANSI lumens would certainly hold their own after hours. Additionally, the first three incorporate Sony's BrightEra imaging technology, and you'll find resolutions as high as WXGA (1,280 x 800) and contrast ratios up to 900:1. For more specifics on each, check out the nitty-gritty in the read link below.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Hitachi's latest projector won't impress the diehard home theater enthusiasts, but it just may do the job in the kids' room or garage. The CP-X450 3LCD PJ comes in with an XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution and features 3,500 lumens, a hybrid filter good for around 2,000 hours, built-in 7-watt speaker and a slew of security features. You'll also find a 2:3 pulldown feature, automatic vertical keystone detection and a whiteboard mode which "provides adequate clarity while limiting brightness for use with whiteboards." Furthermore, the 7.7-pound package won't strain your back too much should you need to temporarily relocate it, but regrettably, there's no word on a price or release date just yet.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Is there any part of the display market that doesn't feel the long arm of LCD technology? In the direct-view arena, CRT and plasma are both getting the squeeze, and now the front projector market is dominated by 3LCD gear. Research firm Pacific Media Associates reports that more than 75-percent of the "pro AV" projector market (schools, universities, corporations and high-end homes) went to 3LCD in 2007. Those figures are a real stick in the eye to the DLP crowd, but give 3LCD credit where it's due. Front projectors with 3LCD offer reasonable pricing, good picture quality and useful features (the linked article singles out lens shift) -- other than the bulb swaps that accompany every projector, what's not to like?

Not even a month after Christie doled out its drool-worthy HD405, the firm is adding one more member to its LX family. The "portable" LX500 reportedly weighs in at around 18 pounds and features 5,000 ANSI lumens, 8-bit video processing, an XGA resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio and DVI / 5xBNC / VGA / S-Video / composite inputs. Furthermore, the unit can be purchased sans a standard lens, enabling installers to "select the right lens for their specific installation." No word on a price at the moment, but if it's anything like the company's other offerings, we'll surmise that it'll end up being entirely too pricey for what you get.

[Via AboutProjectors]

3LCD manufacturers including Epson and Sony are getting behind a new metric for measuring color reproduction among projectors. Since the contrast ratio is based on just pure white and pure black, a high value does not guarantee that the colors produced by a projector are "punchy." This new "Color Brightness" value will measure a brightness value for each of red, green and blue primary colors used in 3LCD projectors. If a projector produces same brightness for red, green, blue and white, then you know it's able to produce saturated colors over the spectrum. No word on when to expect this metric to be adopted, as it still has to be submitted to the requisite standards bodies.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Originally, we heard that the PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 UB projector would be headed stateside in December, but apparently Epson (smartly) chose CES to actually launch it. Aside from the 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and 50,000:1 contrast ratio, this unit also features a 3LCD optical engine, 1,600 ANSI lumens, 12-bit video processing, a pair of HDMI 1.3 inputs, the firm's exclusive OptiCinema lens system / E-TORL lamp and a pearlescent finish nice enough to stare at. Best of all, this beast is not only available now, it's available for $2,799 after a $200 rebate. Yeah, we're diggin' the trend.

It's unconfirmed at the moment, but we're hearing that Sony is planning to discontinue sales of all rear-projection HDTVs, including its 3LCD and SXRD lines, after current inventories are exhausted to focus on the hot-selling Bravia LCD line. We've been tipped on it twice today and now This Week In Consumer Electronics is reporting that a Sony spokesperson has told them that "We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that's what people really want." It looks like all backorders for the KDSZ70XBR5 are being canceled, as the unit will never be manufactured, and Sony's making a "no promises" effort to fill backorders for the KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000. The move isn't exactly unprecedented or even all that surprising -- Toshiba, Philips and Hitachi have all stopped producing rear-projection sets, but Sony's SXRDs were still extremely popular and it's strange to see them get dropped just like that. Check the full leaked email we got after the break.

Audioholics takes an interesting look at the competition between 3LCD and 3-chip DLP. To simplify things, they focus on FP setups, which seems fair given the current marketplace's love for direct-view sets over RP setups. We'll ignore their portability argument and get to the HT-centric goodness. The real crux of their examination: why are 3-chip DLP projectors so expensive relative to their single chip brethren, and how does this position DLP against 3LCD? We're not big on conspiracy theories of 3-chip DLP being kept artificially high to bolster the sales of commercial DLP solutions, but we'd agree that 3LCD projectors are competitive in both performance and cost. Seems like an opening for a solution with three calibrated single-chip DLP projectors (each handling one color channel) homebrew solution exists; any takers?

Epson seems to think it's hit the sweet spot with its new home theater projector, the PowerLite Home Cinema 720 HD (the PowerLite 400 is pictured), and it may very well be on to something. The 3LCD projector retails for $1,300, and packs in 1,600 ANSI lumens, a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 10-bit color processing and fancy AccuCinema Color Management, and built-in lens shift. Epson doesn't mention the resolution, but we're guessing the "720" in the name means this 16:9 unit is shooting out 720p. There's a full complement of ports, including HDMI, and the lamp should last about 4,000 hours. The unit should go on sale later this month.

Sanyo's Z2000 isn't the only 1080p projector ringing up below $4k, and now Mitsubishi has revealed that its swank new PJ will be headed stateside soon. The HC6000, of course, touts a beautiful 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, a 13,000:1 contrast ratio, twin HDMI sockets, 1,000 ANSI lumens, Reon-VX's HQV video processor, 3LCD technology, and a bulb that promises up to 5,000 hours of lamp-life. Mitsu claims that interested buyers can snap one up from US retailers in October for somewhere under $4,000, and it should make itself known tomorrow on the CEDIA floor.

Hey HC6000, congratulations, Mitsubishi just birthed you a little brother. The HC4900 is meant to round-out Mitsubishi's trio of 3LCD projectors at the low-end. We're still talking 1,920 x 1,080 pixels thrown at 1,000 lumens for bright, "high contrast" images while maintaining that ultra-quiet, 19dB whisper of its bigger bro. No word on pricing or availability -- we'll try to extract that info from their IFA reps when the projector goes on display in Germany on Friday.

That boring piece of kit can be from none other than Sanyo. Too bad, 'cause this pig can hunt. The LP-Z2000 1080p projector loads what appears to be the same trio of Epson-made 0.74-inch LCDs as Mitsubishi's LVP-HC6000 which offers the same 10-bit color reproduction and hushed 19dB operational noise level. The Sanyo betters its peer however, with a reported 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 2x zoom, and blinding 1200 lumens off a 165W UHP lamp. They've even tossed in a couple of component connections on top of a pair of HDMI 1.3a terminals. All this for a tad more at ¥378,000 (about $3,255) if you're living in Japan where this baby hits on November 1st. Paper bag for that mug, extra.

[Via Impress]