Sanyo's first 1080p resolution home theater projector, the PLV-Z2000, is a gauntlet thrown down in the projector industry. It appears that the folks at Sanyo sat down and said, "Let's build a projector that gives home theater enthusiasts everything they could possibly want-1080p resolution, great contrast, a smooth filmlike picture, virtually silent fan noise, and no pixelation or screendoor effects. Let's include a long 2.0x zoom lens and 3 full picture heights of lens shift so they can install it wherever they want. Let's put it in a white case so it will blend in with a white ceiling, and let's not make it too deep, so they can put it on a rear shelf. After we've done all that, let's price it lower than any other 1080p projector on the market, and include a three year warranty. And for extra measure, let's offer them an additional $300 rebate right on initial release (rebate scheduled to terminate January 31, 2008). [NOTE: Sanyo is extending the initial $300 rebate and adding an addition $300 rebate for a total of $600. This program is scheduled to end March 31, 2008. Until then the net price of the Z2000 after rebate is $1,895. EP 01/25/08]

With the Z2000, Sanyo's proposition is clear: 1080p projectors are too expensive, and there is no need to pay the high prices. Excellent 1080p performance can be delivered for under $1900. This is a dramatic competitive move indeed. It will surely undermine the viability of the industry's 1080p price structure, to the consternation of competitors and dealers alike. But for the consumer it's great news....welcome to high performance 1080p at prices you've never seen before.

ANSI lumens: 1200

Contrast (full on/off): 15,000:1

Light Engine: 1920x1080, native 16:9, three-panel inorganic LCD with 165W UHP lamp.

Video Compatibility: 1080p/60/50/24, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p, 480i. NTSC/PAL/SECAM.

Connection Panel: Two HDMI 1.3 ports, one 15-pin VGA, two 3-RCA component input, one s-video, one composite, one 9-pin DSub serial port.

Lens and Throw Distance: 2.0x manual zoom/focus lens with vertical and horizontal lens shift. Throws a 100" diagonal 16:9 image from 10 to 20 feet.

Lamp Life: Unspecified

Replacement lamp price: $380 retail. Street price closer to $320.

Warranty: Three years.

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