Projectors

There are two types of projectors, LCD and DLP. Some quality differences not reflected in the tables below: LCD color reproduction is generally a little better but may degrade after thousands of hours; LCD pixel boundaries are generally visible from farther away than DLP pixel boundaries; some people notice a DLP rainbow effect when their eyes move, although faster color wheels reduce this effect.

1024x768 DLP projectors under 10 pounds, 2004.04.17

$1395 Optoma EzPro 735 (shipped 2002.01): 3.0 pounds. 147 in^3: 2.4 x 6.9 x 8.9. 500:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity. 35dB, 180W, lamp 130W, 2000 hours. 1100 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1448 (and free lamp in 2004.04) BenQ PB6200 (shipped 2004.01): 5.6 pounds. 270 in^3: 3.2 x 10.2 x 8.3. 2000:1 contrast. 3x wheel. 85% uniformity. 34dB, 285W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 1700 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input. ProjectorCentral says: ``best with component progressive scan DVD input''; 725 lumens ``when set for best video performance.''

$1521 NEC LT170 (shipped 2003.10): 3.9 pounds. 188 in^3: 3.4 x 4.9 x 11.3. 1000:1 contrast; PC Magazine says 360:1. 2x wheel. PC Magazine says 60% uniformity. 38dB, 196W, lamp 145W, 1500 hours. 1500 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1649 HP VP6120 (shipped 2003.06): 6.7 pounds. 4.5 x 12.0 x 9.5. 2000:1 contrast, 2x wheel. 35dB, 330W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 2000 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog input.

$1672 BenQ PB7200 (shipped 2003.07): 5.6 pounds. 271 in^3: 3.2 x 10.2 x 8.3. 2000:1 contrast; ProjectorExpert says 405:1. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity; ProjectorExpert says 69%. 34dB, 360W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 2200 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1740 InFocus LP120 (shipped 2003.07): 2.0 pounds. 76 in^3: 2.1 x 9.8 x 3.7. 2000:1 contrast; ProjectorExpert says 316:1. ?? wheel. ProjectorExpert says 67% uniformity. 37dB, 150W, lamp 120W, 2000 hours. 1000 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1743 ViewSonic PJ250 (shipped 2003.03): 2.2 pounds. 128 in^3: 2.1 x 8.8 x 6.9. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 39dB (loud and intrusive, one reviewer says), 150W, lamp 120W, 2000 hours. 1000 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1762 BenQ PB2220 (shipped 2003.07): 3.8 pounds. 120 in^3: 2.0 x 8.7 x 6.9. 2000:1 contrast. 3x wheel. 85% uniformity. 34dB, 198W, lamp 150W, 2000 hours. 1700 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1762 InFocus LP70 (shipped 2002.09): 2.4 pounds. 123 in^3: 2.6 x 7.8 x 6.1. 800:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity. 32dB, 155W, lamp 120W, 3000 hours. 1100 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1775 HP XB31 (shipped 2002.04): 3.5 pounds. 173 in^3: 2.7 x 8.9 x 7.2. 1800:1 contrast; CNET says 425:1. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity; but CNET says 62%. 35dB, but CNET says 39dB; 220W, lamp 150W, ?? hours. 1200 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1775 Optoma EzPro 737 (shipped 2002.10): 3.5 pounds; but ProjectorCentral says 3.98 pounds. 121 in^3: 2.0 x 6.8 x 8.9. 1800:1 contrast; CNET says 457:1. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity; but ProjectorCentral says 60%, and CNET says 59%. 32dB, but CNET says 38dB; 180W, lamp 150W, 2000 hours. 1500 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1790 Optoma EzPro 755 (shipped 2001.12): 6.4 pounds. 3.3 x 10.9 x 8.9. 600:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 90% uniformity. 32dB, 320W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 2000 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1795 NEC LT10 (shipped 2004.01): 2.1 pounds. 100 in^3: 2.2 x 7.8 x 5.8. 2000:1 contrast. 2x wheel. 34dB, 190W, lamp 120W, 2000 hours. 1100 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog input.

$1799 Optoma EzPro 725 (suspiciously similar to the LT10!): 2.1 pounds. 100 in^3: 5.8 x 7.8 x 2.2. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 90% uniformity. 34dB, 190W, lamp 120W, 2000 hours. 1100 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1826 BenQ PB7220: 5.6 pounds. 3.2 x 10.2 x 8.3. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 85% uniformity. 34dB, 360W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 2500 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1849 InFocus LP70+ (shipped 2004.04): 2.4 pounds. 119 in^3: 2.5 x 7.8 x 6.1. 1100:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 32dB, 120?W, lamp 120W, 3000 hours. 1400 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1884 BenQ PB8220: 6.9 pounds. 3.7 x 12.1 x 9.5. 2000:1 contrast, ?? wheel. 85% uniformity. 34dB, 330W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 2200 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$1999 Mitsubishi XD50U Mini-Mits (shipped 2003.06): 3.4 pounds; GCN says 3.82. 141 in^3: 2.0 x 7.5 x 9.4. 1500:1 contrast; CNET says 353:1. 2x wheel. CNET says 86% uniformity. 38.9dB, CNET says; 200W, lamp 150W, ?? hours. 1500 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2075 Philips bCool XG1, LC5341 (shipped 2003.08): 3.5 pounds. 201 in^3: 2.8 x 9.3 x 7.7. 2000:1 contrast; ProjectorExpert says 596:1. ProjectorExpert says text doesn't look sharp and crisp. 2x wheel. 33dB, 220W, lamp 180W, 2000 hours. 1700 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2138 NEC LT240K: 6.5 pounds. 4.7 x 10.2 x 11.8. 2000:1 contrast. 2x wheel. 32dB, 280W, lamp 220W, 2000 hours. 2000 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$2244 NEC LT260K: 6.5 pounds. 4.7 x 10.2 x 11.8. 1600:1 contrast, 2x wheel. 32dB, 280W, lamp 220W, 2000 hours. 2400 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$2340 HP MP3130 (shipped 2003.10): 3.8 pounds. 204 in^3: 2.9 x 7.8 x 9.0. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 37dB, 220W, lamp 180W, 2000 hours. 1800 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2381 Mitsubishi XD300U: 6.6 pounds. 3.8 x 11.8 x 9.6. 2000:1 contrast. 2x wheel. 95% uniformity. 30dB, 280W, lamp 210W, 4000 hours. 2100 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$2399 Mitsubishi XD70U: 4.4 pounds. 2.8 x 8.5 x 10.4. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. ??dB, 280W, 200W lamp, 3000 hours. 2000 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$2430 Optoma EzPro 757 (shipped 2003.04): 6.6 pounds. 3.3 x 10.9 x 8.9. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 90% uniformity. 32dB, 350W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 2300 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2629 NEC HT1000: 7.1 pounds. 4.7 x 10.2 x 12.6. 3000:1 contrast. 4x wheel. 32dB, 290W, lamp 220W, 1500 hours. 1000 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2677 Mitsubishi XD350U: 6.6 pounds. 3.8 x 11.8 x 9.6. 2000:1 contrast. 2x wheel. 37dB, 270W, lamp 250W, 1500 hours. 2500 lumens. 3-year warranty. Analog input.

$3999 Optoma H56A: 6.4 pounds. 3.3 x 10.9 x 8.9. 2000:1 contrast. ?? wheel. 90% uniformity. 32dB, 250?W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$4200 (with anamorphic lens) NEC HT1100: 7.1 pounds. 4.7 x 10.2 x 12.6. 3500:1 contrast. 5x wheel. 32dB, 290W, lamp 220W, 2000 hours. 1100 lumens. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

1024x768 LCD projectors under 10 pounds, 2004.04.17

$1000 Sanyo PLC-XW20AR: 1100 lumens, 300:1 contrast, ??dB, 250W, lamp 132W, ?? hours. 3.0 x 10.1 x 9.1, 6.2 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1213 NEC VT560: 1300 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 37dB, 260W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 3.5 x 12.2 x 9.1, 6.6 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1255 ViewSonic PJ550: 1200 lumens, 300:1 contrast, 39dB, 210W, lamp 150W, 2000 hours. 3.3 x 11.3 x 8.3, 5.3 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1379 Epson PowerLite 73c: 1500 lumens, 500:1 contrast, 36dB, 240W, lamp 165W, 1500 hours. 3.8 x 9.5 x 12.4, 6.4 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1412 Panasonic PT-LC76U: 1600 lumens, 300:1 contrast, 33dB, 220W, lamp 160W, 2000 hours. 2.8 x 11.7 x 8.2, 4.8 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1426 ViewSonic PJ551: 1500 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 42dB, 210W, lamp 150W, 2000 hours. 3.3 x 11.4 x 8.3, 5.4 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1437 InFocus LP250: 1300 lumens, 400:1 contrast, ??dB, 199W, lamp 150W, 2000 hours. 3.7 x 10.0 x 12.0, 5.8 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1552 Sony VPL-EX1: 1500 lumens, ?? contrast, 43dB, 240W, lamp 165W, 2000 hours. 2.6 x 11.3 x 9.0, 5.9 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1560 Mitsubishi XL4U ColorView: 1500 lumens, 450:1 contrast, ??dB, 230W, lamp 180W, 2000 hours. 2.7 x 10.8 x 10.2, 5.9 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1578 InFocus LP540: 1700 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 34dB, 260W, lamp 170W, 2000 hours. 4.1 x 11.6 x 10.3, 7.5 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1660 NEC VT660K: 2000 lumens, ?? contrast, 37dB, 270W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 3.5 x 12.2 x 9.7, 6.6 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1692 ViewSonic PJ650: 2000 lumens, 350:1 contrast, 39dB, 240W, lamp 150W, ?? hours. 2.8 x 10.6 x 8.3, 6.0 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1718 Epson PowerLite 74c: 2000 lumens, 500:1 contrast, ??dB, 280W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 3.8 x 12.4 x 9.5, 6.4 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1745 Panasonic PT-LC80U: 2000 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 33dB, 220W, lamp 160W, 2000 hours. 2.6 x 11.7 x 8.2, 4.9 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1836 Mitsubishi XL8U ColorView: 2000 lumens, 350:1 contrast, ??dB, 230W, lamp 180W, 2500 hours. 2.7 x 10.8 x 10.2, 5.9 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1871 Philips bSure XG2: 1700 lumens, 300:1 contrast, 29dB, 210W, lamp 150W, 3000 hours. 4.3 x 9.3 x 13.2, 8.1 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$1900 Sanyo PLC-XU36: 2000 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 36dB, 260W, lamp 180W, ?? hours. 3.5 x 13.1 x 10.0, 9.5 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1900 Sanyo PLC-XU50: 2000 lumens, 400:1 contrast, ??dB, 270W, lamp 200W, ?? hours. 2.8 x 11.7 x 8.6, 6.2 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$1924 Sony VPL-CX6: 2000 lumens, ?? contrast, 38dB, 240W, lamp 165W, 2000 hours. 2.8 x 11.3 x 9.0, 5.9 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$1952 NEC VT770: 3000 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 35dB, 280W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 4.2 x 13.4 x 10.2, 7.9 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$2105 Epson PowerLite 730c: 2000 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 39dB, 225W, lamp 150W, 1500 hours. 3.1 x 10.9 x 7.5, 4.3 pounds. 2-year warranty. Analog input.

$2228 Philips bSure XG2 Brilliance: 2200 lumens, 300:1 contrast, 34dB, 255W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 4.3 x 9.3 x 13.2, 8.1 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$2230 InFocus LP640: 2200 lumens, 400:1 contrast, ??dB, 260W, lamp 170W, 2000 hours. 4.1 x 11.6 x 10.3, 7.5 pounds. 2-year warranty.

$2258 ViewSonic PJ750: 2200 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 37dB, 290W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 3.0 x 11.7 x 9.0, 7.2 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$2353 InFocus LP650: 2500 lumens, 800:1 contrast, 35dB, 350W, lamp 250W, 2000 hours. 4.3 x 13.8 x 12.8, 9.4 pounds. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2339 Panasonic PT-L735U: 2600 lumens. 300:1 contrast; ProjectorExpert says 345:1. ProjectorExpert says 69% uniformity. 30dB, 280W, lamp 200W, ?? hours. 4.5 x 9.8 x 14.2, 9.3 pounds. 3-year warranty.

$2400 Sanyo PLC-XU55: 2500 lumens, 350:1 contrast, ??dB, 270W, lamp 200W, ?? hours. 2.8 x 11.7 x 8.6, 6.2 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2532 Epson PowerLite 735c: 2000 lumens. 400:1 contrast; ProjectorExpert says 274:1. ProjectorExpert says 65% uniformity. 39dB, 225W, lamp 150W, 1500 hours. 3.1 x 10.9 x 7.5, 4.4 pounds. 2-year warranty. Analog input.

$2645 Epson PowerLite 820p: 2500 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 38dB, 280W, lamp 200W, 1500 hours. 4.5 x 10.9 x 13.8, 9.3 pounds. 2-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

$2949 Philips cClear XG1: 2600 lumens, 400:1 contrast, 33dB, 250W, lamp 200W, 2000 hours. 4.7 x 9.3 x 13.2, 9.0 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input.

Miscellaneous projectors, 2004.04.17

$1922 Panasonic PT-L500U (shipped 2004.02): LCD, 1280x720, 1300:1 contrast, 850 lumens, ??dB, 180W, lamp 130W, ?? hours. 3.3 x 11.0 x 10.6, 6.4 pounds. 1-year warranty. Analog and digital input. ProjectorCentral says: after calibration for ``optimum video performance,'' 410 lumens in high-power lamp mode, 320 lumens in low-power lamp mode.

$2000 Sanyo PLV-Z2 (shipped 2003.11): LCD, 1280x720, 1300:1 contrast, 800 lumens, 26dB, 210W, lamp 135W, ?? hours. 3.8 x 14.1 x 10.8, 9.0 pounds. 3-year warranty. Analog and digital input. Lens shift. ProjectorCentral says: after calibration for ``optimum video performance,'' 615 lumens in high-power lamp mode with maximum aperture, 315 lumens in low-power lamp mode with minimum aperture.

$2800 Sony VPL-HS20 (shipped 2003.11): LCD, 1386x788, 1300:1 contrast, 1400 lumens, 28dB, 260W, lamp 180W, 3000 hours. 5.9 x 13.6 x 14.6, 11.9 pounds. 1-year warranty. Analog and digital input.