The video projector has long been used as a presentation tool in business and commercial entertainment, as well as in some very high-end home theater systems. However, video projectors are becoming more available and affordable for the average consumer. For a sampling of LCD-based video projectors, check out some of my current suggestions. For more video projector sugggestions, also check my current list of DLP Video Projectors.
1. Panasonic PT-AE3000U LCD Video Projector
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The top home theater projector in Panasonic's current line is the PT-AE3000U. On the design front, the PT-AE3000U is plain, but functional, appearance, highlighted by its convenient center mounted lens. On the inside, this projector features a 3-Chip LCD panel, (1920x1080), 1080p native pixel resolution, 1,600 lumens output, and a stated contrast ratio of 60,000:1. Also, if you need a lot of inputs, the PT-AE3000U has 3 HDMI and two sets of component video connections. In addition, "smooth screen" technology eliminates the LCD "screen door" effect. To make setup easier, the PT-AE3000U also includes a split-screen "before and after" display, as well as a built-in waveform monitor. The Panasonic PT-AE3000U is definitely worth consideration.
2. Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080UB 3LCD 1080p Home Theater Projector
Photo (c) 2008 - Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
At an MSRP of $2,999, the Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 1080UB 3LCD projector is an upgrade of its popular Home Cinema 1080. The main improvements are the addition of a second HDMI input and, more importantly, higher lumens output and better black level performance, which improves contrast and color saturation. With its native 1080p resolution and acceptable light output, the video quality is excellent. Flesh tones, overall color saturation, and contrast levels provide a very natural looking image, with none of the usual LCD artifacts, such as the screen door effect. For more details on the 1080UB check out my Short and Full Reviews, and also my Photo Closeup Profile.
3. Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 1080p LCD Video Projector
Photo (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
At an MSRP of $4,995.00, the Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 1080p LCD Video Projector bucks the trend towards sub-$3,000 1080p video projectors, but is worth the extra cash. Its 3LCD chips, native 1080p resolution, and acceptable light output provide excellent image quality, providing a very natural looking image, with none of the usual LCD artifacts, such as the screen door effect. Also, the Pro8100 comes equipped with two HDMI ver 1.3a inputs, and provides video upscaling for standard DVDs via its built-in Silicon Optix Reon-VX HQV video processor. However, the Precision Pro8100 could use a higher lumens output and easier onscreen menu navigation. For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and Supplementary Photo Gallery.
4. DreamVision Dream'E 1080p LCOS Video Projector
Photo (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
At an MSRP of $5,300.00, the DreamVision Dream'E 1080p LCOS Video Projector bucks the trend towards sub-$3,000 1080p video projectors, but is worth the extra cash. Its 3 LCOS chips, native 1080p resolution, and acceptable light output provide excellent image quality, providing a very natural looking image, with no screen door effects or other unwanted artifacts. Also, the Dream'E comes equipped with two HDMI ver 1.3a inputs, and provides video upscaling for standard DVDs via its built-in Silicon Optix Reon-VX HQV video processor. For more details, check out both my Short and Full Reviews, as well as my Supplementary Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results.
5. Panasonic PT-AE2000U LCD Projector
A top home theater projector in Panasonic's current line is the PT-AE2000. On the design front, the PT-AE2000 is plain, but functional, appearance, highlighted by its convenient center mounted lens. On the inside, this projector features a 3-Chip LCD panel, (1920x1080), 1080p native pixel resolution, 1,500 lumens output, and a stated contrast ratio of 16,000:1. In addition, "smooth screen" technology eliminates the LCD "screen door" effect. To make setup easier, the AE2000 also includes a split-screen "before and after" display, as well as a built-in waveform monitor. If you want excellent performance and extensive setup control options, check out the Panasonic PT-AE2000.6. Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 3LCD Video Projector
Video projectors have certainly come along way in a few short years, and the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 is an excellent example. This projector was the first to bring 1080p native resolution below the $3,000 price point. However, in addition to its breakthrough price, the Cinema 1080 really delivers. Featuring 3-Chip LCD technology (3LCD), this projector delivers excellent, accurate, color. This projectcor also has a contrast ratio of 12,000:1 and a light output of 1200 lumens. In addition, the Cinema 1080 has all the inputs you need, including HDMI, Component, and VGA, and can accept just about any input signal, including NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and HD resolutions up to 1080p. Definitely check out the Epson Home Cinema 1080.7. Sony VPL-VW60 1080p SXRD Video Projector
While most video projectors use either DLP or LCD technology, other technologies are also in use. One example is Sony's VPL-VW60 video projector that employs a variant of LCD, known as SXRD. The VPL-VW60 offers a stunning image at full 1080p (1920x1080) native pixel resolution via 3 SXRD Chips, 200 Watt Lamp, and maximum contrast ratio of 35,000:1. The VW-60 can also accept both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 input sources and features 2 HDMI inputs. Another convenience is complete power focus, zoom, and lens shift control via the remote. The image looks great, and the projector is extremely quiet. This is one impressive unit worth checking out, however, for best results, professional setup is recommended.8. Panasonic PT-AX200U 3LCD 720p Home Theater Projector
At an MSRP of $1,999, the Panasonic PT-AX200U 3LCD projector is an upgrade of its popular PT-AX100U, which I reviewed previously. Two improvements include better detail performance with dark scenes and better motion response for video game play. With its native 720p resolution and high 2,000 lumen light output, the video quality is excellent. Flesh tones, overall color saturation, and contrast levels provide a very natural looking image, with none of the usual LCD artifacts, such as the screen door effect. For more details on the Panasonic PT-AX200U, check out my Review and Photo Closeup Profile.9. Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 700 3LCD Video Projector
Photo (c) Robert Silva - Licensed to About.com
At an MSRP of $799, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 700 3LCD Video Projector is a very good value. With a compact design, this projector can be placed just about anywhere. The native 1280x800 native pixel resolution and impressive 2,000 lumen output capability, combined with a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, provide very good image quality from high definition sources. The Epson Home Cinema 700 also has a very quick turn-on and shut off time. For more details, check out my review. To find out if the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 700 is right for you, check out my Short and Full Reviews, as well as a Photo Gallery and results from a series of Video Performance Tests.
10. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector
Sporting a three-chip LCD design, the PLV-Z2000 has a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), which enables it to display high definition material with accurate detail and in 16x9 format. In addition, the Z2000 delivers 1,200 lumens with a contrast ratio of 15,000:1. The PLV-Z2000 also has two sets of HD-Component video inputs, as well as an HDMI input. Two other conveniences are a flexible lens shift system that makes positioning the projector properly with the screen easier, and a very quiet fan doesn't distract from your viewing enjoyment. The PLV-Z2000 can also project a large 100-inch image with as little as a 10 foot distance from the screen. If you are looking for an affordable and flexible video projector, check out the PLV-Z2000.11. Sony Bravia VPL-AW10 LCD Projector
Are you looking for an inexpensive video projector that has decent performance and is backed up by familiar brand name? If so, then check out the Sony Bravia VPL-AW10. This projector features a 3-Chip LCD panel, 1280x720 (720p) native pixel resolution, 1,100 Lumens, and a stated 6,000:1 aspect ratio. The VPL-AW10 also has all the inputs you need, including HDMI. This projector is also easy to setup and use, which lens shift and an Auto Iris function that assists in optimizing picture quality. This projector is also compatible with both NTSC and PAL signal sources. With a listed price of $999, the Sony VPL-AW10 is very affordable for a projector in this performance class.