16:9 Widescreen, 1366×768…………………………………………………………

Sanyo PLV-75
The Sanyo PLV-75 is an impressive new addition to the company’s line of bright, widescreen products. With 1950 ANSI lumens in theater mode as well as powered 1.3:1 zoom and H/V lens shift, it is a versatile machine for very large scale home theater. However, the PLV-75 is suited for other functions as well. If you own a sports bar and want to upstage your competitors who have just put in a few flat panels, try the PLV-75 on an eight- or ten-foot wide screen, and give your customers this year’s football season in spectacular high definition. See review.

Sanyo PLV-WF10
For very large scale 16:9 widescreen applications requiring higher than normal light output. The image is brilliant and very high resolution, color is rich and elegant. An ideal solution for large scale multimedia entertainment rooms with ambient light. Also, when operating in low power mode it is a dynamic home theater projector for minimum 150″ diagonal screens and larger. The WF10 is the Hummer of home theater projectors–a big muscular machine with a big picture–not suitable for small rooms and small screens. Fan noise must be managed with external sound damping. Extremely low street prices relative to the MSRP. By far the lowest priced of the widescreen light cannons currently available. See review.

15:9 Widescreen, 1280×768…………………………………………………………

Optoma HD72
Despite some limitations imposed by the short zoom range and lack of lens shift, the Optoma HD72 is a reference quality projector with an aggressive street price. In terms of image quality, it is hard to beat. If it fits the geometry requirements of your viewing space, it is highly recommended. See review.

Sharp XV-Z3000
The Z3000 has a wide range of lumen outputs that make it great either for ambeint light or dark theater viewing. Home theater material looks sharp and three-dimensional, and the image has no shortage of “pop.” However, it has a small throw angle offset and no lens shift capability. So installation options are limited. Despite all this, if it fits in your theater, we highly recommend it. At $3000, it provides great performance with a variety of video and computer source signals at an agreeable price. See review.

16:9 Widescreen, 1280×720…………………………………………………………

BenQ PE8720
The PE8720 is a pleasure to watch, with stellar contrast, color, and overall image quality. While it is a bit heavy and unwieldy, it bridges the gap between low-cost 720p projectors and high-end boutique brands, and is well worth the asking price. See review.

EPSON PowerLite Cinema 550
Conservatively rated at 3000:1 contrast, the EPSON Cinema 550 is easily one of the best of the new batch of LCD projectors released this year. Capable of outputting a staggering 950 ANSI lumens, the Cinema 550 is a great choice for anyone who needs a truly multi-purpose home theater projector. And with its 1.5:1 zoom lens and extensive lens shift, the Cinema 550 is a breeze to mount. See review.

Hitachi UltraVision HDPJ52
An excellent choice for dark room home theater. With a stylish black case and excellent contrast and color performance, the HDPJ52 is best used in a room with excellent light control, as it does not have the lumen output capability of the similar Epson 550. See review.

InFocus Screenplay 7205
A powerhouse of a home theater projector featuring the HD2+ DLP chip–bright, high contrast, and superb overall image quality with both standard and high definition sources. Can be used with some ambient light in the room, especially in high lamp mode, but best used in a dark viewing area. Also marketed as the Toshiba MT800. See review.

InFocus Screenplay 7210
The first offering from InFocus featuring Texas Instruments’ new DarkChip 3. With impressively high light output and good contrast, the 7210 offers solid performance for the money despite its quirks - such as noticeable dithering in shadowed areas, and the inclusion of an M1-DA port rather than DVI or HDMI. The image it produces is well balanced and clear, and it is sure to be a solid contender. See review.

Mitsubishi HC3000
Featuring a convenient 1280×768 pixel matrix and DLP’s new BrilliantColor technology, the Mitsubishi HC3000 stands out as the first 720p DLP projector to cross the $3,000 price barrier. While it lacks lens shift and the impressive zoom range of competing LCD projectors, it produces a very good image with DLP’s trademark deep, inky black levels. And with BrilliantColor, color performance is better than one might expect from a DLP projector. See review.

Optoma HD7100
The next-generation replacement of the H79, still featuring the DarkChip3, but with improved optical performance in the lens. May represent a challenge for some installations due to short throw distance, short zoom range, and limited lens shift range. But if it fits your room, it is an outstanding projector See review.

Optoma H79
Featuring the DarkChip3, Optoma’s new H79 produces CRT-like black levels and superb shadow detail. Coupled with a impressive feature set including vertical lens shift and a whisper-quiet fan, the Optoma H79 is one of the most impressive projectors we’ve seen this year. See review.

Panasonic PT-AE900U
One of the first LCD home theater projectors to feature a 5500:1 contrast ratio, the AE900 produces a bright, three-dimensional image with excellent color. With a 2.0:1 zoom lens and both vertical and horizontal lens shift, the AE900 is not just a great value, but an extraordinarily versatile prjoector. See review.

Samsung SP-H710AE
Samsung’s newest projector for the serious videophile. With extensive lens shift, 2500:1 contrast, and high lumen output, the SP-H710AE is perfect for a rear shelf mount in a darkened viewing room.See review.

Sanyo PLV-Z4
A major upgrade from the PLV-Z3 and Sanyo’s strongest product yet in the consumer home theater market, the Z4 has image quality that challenges many single-chip DLP projectors currently on the market. The inclusion of horizontal and vertical lens shift, 2:1 zoom, and 7000:1 contrast make the Z4 is an unbeatable value at its price point. In fact, it challenges many of the more expensive projectors on the market. See review.

16:9 Widescreen, 854×480………………………………………………………….

BenQ PE5120
Very inexpensive entry level unit, easy to use, easy to set up, delivers great picture for the money. However, the 5120 has a 2x rotation speed color wheel, so those bothered by rainbow artifacts may see them on this one. Audition first before committing to buy. See review.

InFocus Screenplay 4805
A comprehensive home theater solution for the money, featuring a 4x speed color wheel. Beautiful contrast and shadow detail are key attributes of the image. Video sources are substantially enhanced with the Faroudja DCDi processing onboard. Fan noise is a bit louder than others in this group. See review.

Mitsubishi HC100U ColorView
The only model in this group with a sealed light engine and no air filter to worry about. A beautiful image in both standard and high definition. The HC100 has a 2x rotation speed color wheel. We did not see rainbow artifacts nearly to the degree that we’ve seen them on other DLP projectors with the same wheel speed. Audition it first and see for yourself. See review.

Optoma H31
The H31 is a gem. Outstanding color balance and saturation, an elegant image overall. In addition the H31 features the highly desirable 4x speed color wheel which substantially reduces the chances you’ll be bothered by color separation artifacts. Optoma got it all together with this one. See review.

4:3 Standard, 1400×1050………………………………………………………….

Canon REALiS SX60
The Canon SX60 is a great solution for large-screen 4:3 home theater. LCoS technology means that there is no color wheel to distract viewers, and pixel structure is nearly invisible. This makes for a smooth, film-like image that is particularly suited for classic 4:3 cinema. While the projector’s low contrast make it a less than perfect match for digital photography or data presentation, home theater is where this projector really shines. See review.