Home Theater Projector Comparison Report - Best in Class Awards for 2011
08/19/2011 -Art Feierman
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1080p Home Theater Projectors Our Award Winners:
Entry Level Projectors: Under $2000 (street price)
Medium priced projectors: $2000 - $3500 (street price)
Higher End Projectors: $3500 - $10,000 (street price)
Outstanding Product of the Year
Class: Entry Level Projectors: $2000 and under, Street Price
Best in Class Award: PT-AE4000
Our first repeat of this season. The PT-AE4000 is a returning winner, as Panasonic didn't bring out a new model for 2010-2011. The $1999 MAP price of the PT-AE4000 this year, puts it at the top of the Entry Level price class, where it faced some formidable competition.
The problem is, the PT-AE4000 is anything but "entry level" when it comes to many aspects of its performance, and especially when it comes to features. I'm not sure if any other projector in this report, regardless of price, has a more varied, and powerful set of features.
Below find much of the same information as in last year's report, with a few updates relating to the competition.
The key reasons for picking up the Best In Class award:
- Best black level performance in the class
- Excellent post calibration color, with an extremely natural "film-like" look to movies
- Creative Frame Interpolation (only projector in the Entry Level class to offer it)
- Great placement flexibility
- Lens Memory "anamorphic lens emulation" ability for working with 2.35:1 Cinemascope screens
- A whole host of additional features including dynamic ones
The Panasonic PT-AE4000 projector has a very natural look to the image. This Panasonic projectors is one of the more film-like 3LCD projectors. Skin tone handling is extremely good.
The Panasonic PT-AE4000 unlike earlier versions, has achieved average brightness for good quality, not really "entry level" projectors. Panasonic closed the gap a bit in "best" mode, compared to its most direct competitor, the Epson Home Cinema 8700UB, which competes in the Mid-Price class, although the Epson still has a brighter "bright" mode.
The PT-AE4000 has one of the smoothest and best implementations of Creative Frame Interpolation (CFI) to eliminate motion blur Panasonic's first effort the PT-AE3000 was well done, and the PT-AE4000, is at least as good.
Cinemascope fans: If you want to go with a Cinemascope aspect ratio screen to eliminate letterboxing, the PT-AE4000's Lens Memory feature (improved since last year), lets you emulate having an anamorphic lens. While that's not quite the same thing as a real anamorphic lens and sled, it does a good job, and saves you about $4000 compared to the typical price of the better known lens and sled combinations (from names like Panamorph) The tradeoffs are discussed elsewhere in this report, and in much greater detail in the full PT-AE4000 review.
An impressive color management system is complemented by some excellent tools including an oscilloscope type analyzer and split screen (before/after) views of the same scene as you make changes.
Placement flexibility is about as good as it gets. A 2:1 zoom is hard to beat (only Epson does, with a 2.1:1 zoom ratio - barely any difference). Panasonic's lens shift range may well be the greatest of any projector in this report.
The Panasonic beat out these other award winners for the following reasons:
The PT-AE4000 outperforms the Epson Home Cinema 8350. Superior black levels make a real difference on dark scenes. Then the Panny has Lens Memory, power zoom and focus, and CFI, all things not found on the Epson projector.
The Mitsubishi HC3800, does have a lot more lumens, but this DLP projector lacks a dynamic iris, and is no match for the Panasonic, in terms of black level performance.
As to the $999 projectors, none of them come close in picture quality or features, although two of those are drastically brighter than the Panny. All three have slow to very slow color wheels, so the rainbow effect also may come into play with these bargain projectors.
It would have been more fun if the Panasonic was more expensive. It would face a far more challenging class of projectors.
Best in Class Award Runner-Up : Epson Home Cinema 8350
The Epson Home Cinema 8350 prices out right in the middle of the Entry Level class. As of this writing, the least expensive 1080p projector is now $799, and the most expensive in this class is $1999.
Since I started talking about relative pricing, there's one more key factor in cost, and that is cost of operation. The biggest aspect of that, of course, is the life, and price of lamps. Epson rates their lamp at 5000 hours at any power level That's one of the the longest of any projector in this report (many are 2000 hours at full power). Epson lamps are also relatively low priced, at $299. Most of the competition is $350 - $400, although sub-$200 lamps are showing up for the under $1000 projectors. The combination of the low cost lamp, and long life, actually makes the Epson one of the least expensive projectors in the class, in terms of total cost. That despite the average selling price. If you wanted to have enough lamp life to go 8000 hours, the Epson can save up to $900 in lamp costs, compared to some of competition.
Brightness: In "best" mode, the Epson is in the middle of the pack, one of those projectors with about 500 lumens, (mid-point on the zoom lens). True there are much brighter projectors in "best" mode, such as the Mitsubishi HC4000 (a DLP), but it is the brightest of the LCD projectors in the group, including the PT-AE4000, which is the most expensive projector in this class.
The Epson "really shines" when it comes to "brightest" mode lumens, with over 1300. This makes it one of the very brightest projectors under $2000, except for the low cost, even brighter home "entertainment" projectors, which can't match the Epson overall for picture quality.
It comes down to this. Although the Epson doesn't have enough lumens in its "best" mode to fill a much larger than 110" screen (standard screen surface, not high gain). For those that do want to go larger, Epson has multiple preset modes, and can still produce a good image capable of handling a larger screen. Alternately get a screen with a bit of gain. Over about 1.5, though and you can start noticing your screen's properties. LivingRoom mode won't end up as good as, say TheaterBlack 1, but it's not bad considering it's got double the lumens, and can fill a 130" screen effortlessly.
In "brightest" mode, the Epson Home Cinema 8350 is a "light cannon", it would have been no problem, a year and a half ago, in my old house on my old 128" Firehawk G3 screen, with moderate amounts of controlled ambient light. \
For both the 2010 and 2011 Superbowl parties, I "pulled down" my JVC RS20, and used Epson's - actually the 9500UB in 2010, and the 8700UB in 2011. The extra brightness, plus good picture quality in brightest mode, has always made the 8xxx Epson Home Cinema series projectors a great choice for folks needing brightness, because they want to watch a lot of sports or TV without fully darkening the room. This is one key reason the Home Cinema 8350, is a top choice for the money.
Epson's Home Cinema 8350 projector offers some of the best black level performance in the price range, but hardly the best. The best is reserved for the ultra-high contrast projectors like the PT-AE4000. That said, only a couple of projectors in this class can beat the Epson. Most of the others fall somewhere between a "little short of the Epson's black level performance" to "not even close to the Epson".
Warranty is another strength of the Home Cinema 8350 projector. Epson delivers a two year warranty, with their overnight replacement program for both years. Although one of the projectors in this class offers 3 years, (Sanyo PLV-Z700), that Sanyo lacks a replacement program, and also, of note, Sanyo does not replace DOA units, they repair them (quickly, I must note, in all fairness - normally you'll have it back in a week.) Although shorter than the Sanyo's three years, we consider the Epson warranty to be about the equal to the Sanyo due to the other trade-offs, especially, the replacement program.
Placement flexibility has always been an Epson strength. It may be the key reason many of you buy the Epson over the Mitsubishi HC4000 that tied it for this award. It's 2.1:1 zoom lens range offers the widest placement range of the field (even if only a hair better than the Sanyo PLV-Z700 or the Panasonic PT-AE4000). A lot of lens shift, along with the zoom lens range, makes it the most flexible in terms of placement, with only the Sanyo and Panasonic coming close (the Panny has a touch more lens shift, but a little less zoom range).
Of the remaining projectors in the Entry Level projector class, all the rest are DLP, and none of them has more than a 1.2:1 zoom ratio, and none have lens shift. In other words, the rest have very limited placement flexibility, and among other things, cannot be shelf mounted in the rear. The Epson is just as at home whether you ceiling mount, shelf mount, or put it on a table top. As an added bonus, with this Epson, should you ceiling mount, you can change out the lamp without unmounting the projector. That's a nice feature found in perhaps half of the home theater projectors out there.
If you are a black level fanatic (as many say I am), you can definitely do better, with the Panasonic, a key reason why the PT-AE4000 took top honors in this entry level class of projectors.
The Sharp XV-Z15000, a DLP projector, comes close to the Epson in terms of black level performance. Most likely the two, are more different, than better/worse, overall.
This Epson does not support an external anamorphic lens, but that is not a significant factor. If you really want to spring $3000 - $4000+ for an anamorphic lens and sled, you almost certainly would spend the many hundreds more for one of the ultra-high-contrast projectors. Panasonic's ability to "emulate" having an anamorphic lens, for no additional cost. We value that option, but then the Panasonic is half again, more expensive than Epson's Home Cinema 8350.
Average best mode brightness, bright at brightest, great placement flexibility, low cost of operation, very good picture quality with good black levels, and a great warranty. Although not the most fully feature laden projector out there (no CFI), it is rather well endowed, especially compared to most of the DLP competition.
Best in Class Award Runner-Up: Viewsonic Pro8200 Projector
The Viewsonic Pro8200 is the most recent sub-$1000 home 1080p projector to come through here. It also seems to have the best blend of features and performance of the group. The Viewsonic Pro8200 manages to produce impressive brightness - over 1400 lumens with a good looking picture, and over 1800 lumens max. It is a cross-over projector and shares some features with their biz/ed projectors. One of those is built in sound, and it's not bad for a small projector.
Of course, if you are planning to watch an action flick, it's not going to cut it, due to lack of any real bass. It does have a fairly warm (not tinny) sound. What I really like though is the provided audio output. This means you can add a nice powered subwoofer to your system to round out the sound with some low end, so that Star Wars can begin properly.
Black levels are not impressive, it's the Pro8200's weakness, but none of the sub-$1000 projectors are really better. The Pro8200 does give you more placement flexibility than the others, thanks to a 1.5:1 zoom.
Finally, if you want to compete at the entry level end, price is important, and equally so, is cost of ownership. The Viewsonic may well be the best in the whole Under $2000 Class. It offers a three year warranty, one of only two in this class. Lamp life is another cost strength, with Viewsonic claiming 4000 hours at full power, and 6000 in eco mode. This is a great family room projector. You can drop it in a theater as well, but, I figure if you are going to the trouble of having a theater, you'll want a step up projector, at least.
The Viewsonic Pro8200 just seems to combine the best elements found in most of the other sub-$1000 projectors, into one that comes out on top.
Special Interest Award: Mitsubishi HC4000
Demoted! A fine projector, but "demoted" none the less. Last year, the virtually identical HC3800 was a Best In Class Runner-Up. The HC4000 is a great low cost projector selling for around $1200. It's a single chip DLP projector with very good brightness, a sharp image, and most importantly, better black level performance than any of the lower cost projectors.
The HC4000 is essentially an HC3800 with some updated firmware, and a new number. I guess, the roughly $100 drop from the HC3800's price just wasn't enough to hang on to the Runner-Up award. In reality, the HC4000 got knocked out of the slot by the Viewsonic Pro8200 projector. While they are very different, and the HC4000 has the better blacks, the Viewsonic has the brightness, and versatility, to be a really excellent familiy room projector for less than $1000. If they HC4000 was the same price (under $1000), it would have been an interesting battle - a battle of DLP projectors; a great home entertainment projector (Viewsonic) vs. the solid, low cost home theater projector - the HC4000.
Well congratulations to Mitsubishi regardless. Hopefully this fall, at CEDIA, Mitsubishi will have something exciting and all new this year, to replace the otherwise very nice HC4000.
Class: Medium Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $2000 - $3500
Best In Class Award: Epson Home Cinema 8700UB Projector
For fun, See Art's Video Summary of this Epson Home Cinema 8700UB review
Once again, an Epson Home Cinema projector with a UB designation takes top honors in this price range. Unlike the "entry level" awards above, though, in this class we have some new winners.
To start out, the Epson is the value projector - it's price is at the very low end of this price class. Yet it's performance is right up there with the most expensive projectors in this class. Not necessarily, better at everything, but certainly more bang for the buck, and comparable.
Black levels alone however, won't win a Best In Class award. This Epson gets the award despite only a modest improvement in blacks from the previous year. It's all the rest of the things the Epson does that also make it award worthy, that push the Epson to the top:
Brightness is much better than average. Actually the Home Cinema 8700UB with about 500 calibrated lumens in "best" mode is about average brightness for a "best" mode. Still, that's well below the brightest, yet a lot brighter than the dimmest. The thing is, when you need maximum lumens, then the Epson is one of the brightest projectors anywhere near its price. Only the BenQ W6000 musters up a noticeably brighter image when in "brightest" mode. (And the BenQ's color, at maximum brightness isn't as good as Epson's).
Brightness and black level performance isn't everything. Shadow detail of the Epson is only OK, it's definitely not one of the stronger performers when it comes to revealing dark shadow detail. That said, Epson more than makes up for that, with a very dynamic image with lots of "Pop and Wow" factor!
The Epson calibrates very well, and the final measurements are very good. Colors look really good, although the Epson is a touch less natural looking than some competition. As such, while it may be a favorite of many enthusiasts, it's possible that the true "purist" will look elsewhere.
Placement flexibility is about as good as it gets, with the longest range zoom lens, and lots of lens shift.
Warranty - the Epson comes with what has to be the best 2 year warranty in the business - if it fails under warranty (two years), Epson will ship out a replacement unit, next day, and pay all freight. While there are a few longer warranties only Epson's Pro series - with the same warranty but one extra year (of warranty, and replacement program), really can be considered a truly better warranty overall.
The Home Cinema 8700UB has an impressive feature set. Epson keeps the mechanics simple with manual zoom, focus and lens shift, while a number of competitors have motorized some or all of those features. Getting beyond the placement flexibility, other strengths that are reflected in our award decision process, include the low long term cost of operation the 8700UB due to a very low cost lamp ($299), and one that lasts twice as long as some competitors, and longer than any. The Epson offers about average audible noise levels. In full power it should be fine for almost everyone, but if you are sitting very close, and consider yourself particularly noise adverse, there are quieter projectors (Mitsubishi 3LCD projectors come to mind.
Key dynamic features, in addition, of course, to the dynamic iris, include CFI (creative frame interpolation) for smoothing out fast moving objects, and pans. Their CFI seems improved compared to last year's model, though still not the least noticeble, so I don't use it on movies, although folks used to modern LCDTVs with CFI on (like my daughter) hardly care. Also worthy of note, Super-Res, a dynamic sharpening tool that really does seem to give the 8700UB a feel of being a sharper projector. Just remember, dynamic features, while improving some things, often create minor artifacts in related areas, such as making faces appear a bit too contrasty. Using these dyanmic controls in moderation, however, works out very well.
In summary, the Epson Home Cinema 8700UB scores top honor in this mid-price class. Why? Great placement, excellent picture quality, with THX mode is outstanding, right out of the box. Great blacks, improved dark shadow detail - now very good, and a slight weakness in previous UBs. Brighter than average. Selling for just over $2000, the only really serious threats in this price class, are for projectors about $1000 more - including the JVC DLA-HD250 and the Sony Pro1.
Best in Class, Runner-Up Award (tie): JVC DLA-HD250
The JVC DLA-HD250 is their least expensive home theater projector, and in that regard, it breaks new ground for JVC. This projector, at $2995, is a full 1/3 less expensive than their least expensive previous model, the DLA-RS15. Note, that there are two versions, the DLA-HD250, and the DLA-HD250Pro. The difference they are sold by two different divisions, and that the Pro costs $4 more! (I guess that works out to about $1.33 per extra letter.
The HD250 is a truly excellent projector. It offers black levels (without dynamic iris) that overall, are superior to the Epson above. Shadow detail is very good, and more importantly, color is also very good. This HD250 lacks a color management system for tuning individual colors, so there's a limit to what a calibration can do. That said, skin tones are generally extremely good, although reds can be a touch strong - giving skin tones a slight sunburned look on occasion.
Warranty is a typical two year warranty, with no replacement program. Placement flexibility is excellent with 2:1 zoom and plenty of lens shift - and all of it motorized.
This projector could be described as a slightly detuned version of last year's RS15, or more accurately, the year older RS10, which, like the HD250 does not have creative frame interpolation for "smooth motion".
It performs almost identically as well, to the original RS1 (which I owned and loved until I bought my RS20), which cost about twice as much. Not loaded with features, but still great performance for the money.
Best in Class, Runner-Up Award (tie): Sony VPL-VWPro1 Projector
The Sony VPL-VWPro1 is Sony's lowest cost LCoS (SXRD) projector to date. Generally people just refer to it as the Sony Pro1. Like the JVC here's another projector hovering around the $3000 price point. Very good black levels, but not quite up to the Epson, and trailing the JVC, they still get the job done. While not the best in class for blacks, call the Sony Pro1 "close enough" that other things can take precedence. I like the Pro1 for several reasons. It has an impressive feature set, well beyond the JVC, including a color management system, and creative frame interpolation.
The Pro1 measured out a dazzling 763 lumens after calibrated. This is something new. Year after year I've chided Sony for offering projectors a notch less bright than the JVC's. They've been gaining though, and now, the Sony comes out slightly on top. Not in best mode, where they measured within 10 lumens calibrated, but in our adjusted brightest mode where it belts out about 15% more lumens than the JVC, almost hitting 1000 lumens with the zoom at mid-point. The highest we measured, with zoom at wide angle was 1044 lumens.
The Sony's iris can be used in dynamic mode, or you can set it manually, for those who don't care for dynamic irises but still want to be able to lower blacks (and everythiing else).
In the review I indicated that given a choice between this Sony, and the Epson 8700UB, if they were the same price, I'd probably have to go with the Sony. That there is a big price difference, however, is a key reason the Epson took the top honors. That said, this Sony performs extremely nicely, but at the top of our this price class.
Special Interest Award: BenQ W6000
Demoted this year, the returning BenQ W6000, drops from a runner-up Best in Class award, to a Special Interest award. Why? The BenQ still definitely trails the Epson in my mind, and the JVC and Sony's while more money, are more refined in picture. But, the BenQ W6000 does do an impressive job, and it is the brightest of all of those just mentioned, in brightest modes. Given, it's not the best color even compared to those other's bright modes, this projector can put up a really good looking 1000 lumens (twice the others) and far more in brightest mode, for those big screens or when you want or are stuck with a fair amount of ambient light. Anyway I slice it it's still a great DLP projector for the bucks.
The BenQ W6000 can be a killer family room projector, just oozing with lumens compared to almost all the competition, but also has everything you want for a good home theater projector - ultra high contrast black level performance, a very sharp image, and really nice color, with a rich look so typical of good DLP projectors.
The lumens and sharpness make this a great projector for sports fans, great in a family room, but it also has great blacks and calibrates for a great looking DLP style image, making it a fine choice for a dedicated theater as well.
Don't sell the W6000 short. It would be considered one of the best in class even if it wasn't as exceptionally bright as it is.
Class: Premium Priced 1080p Home Theater Projectors: $3500 - $10,000
3D is a factor in our awards, but since I did not feel any of these projectors offered enough 3D brightness to be a long term 3D solution, 3D is not critical. At this point, I would most likely say, buy the best of these purely as a 2D projector and save a couple thousand dollars for one of the next gen low cost 3D projectors coming in starting at $1500. Why not. Of course there are other solutions, such as my own. I've got two screens. One's a high gain for 3D, the other a Studiotek 130, a classic white surface.
I want to say that picking the winners in this class has been a real headache. I must have changed my mind 3 times. That is to say, Each of these winners is really equally worthy, they are just different enough to be best for different folks.
Best In Class Award: Mitsubishi HC9000D
It really was between the this Mitsubishi HC9000D and the Sony, for the top honor in this class. More on that later.
The HC9000D is pretty elegant. I don't care much about physical appearance, but have to admit the HC9000D looks good, with nice sculpted lines.
I'm really impressed. The HC9000D has the same LCoS panels as the Sony VPL-VW90ES, in a much less expensive package. It also measures just slightly brighter.
I was equally impressed with the black levels. No, they weren't up to the JVC DLA-RS60, which at $11,995 is twice the price of the HC9000D which has a MAP of $5995. But the HC9000D has some first class blacks performance too.
Overall, color looked good, but skin tones never were quite as good as the Sony or the JVC. Mike explains its a large color gamut. Bottom line, the individual colors themselves are a bit oversaturated. That can give perfectionists adjusting color saturation down to help. Ultimately, we're quibbling here. I thorougly enjoyed the HC9000D's picture.
And it had some special things going for it as well.
Black levels were some of the best, although the iris action is very slow in dropping down to very dark scenes. Overall, only the JVC was really better, in this regard.
Mitsubishi's implementation of CFI turns out to be one of those special things. It is so slight in low mode that I've guessed wrong a couple of times. I could actually engage it on low get a touch of motion smoothing, noticeable on some pans, and not have the movie turn into a soap opera. I don't think I've seen a better CFI. I watched more movies with it on, than on any other projector, that's for sure. The expensive Runco LS10D may be the equal, but, if your only competition for a comparable CFI is in a projector over four times the price, you are doing pretty good!
What lifted the HC9000D into the Winner's circle, over the Sony ultimately comes down to the price. At the same price, you could easily pick either one over the other, for reasons like CFI and best skin tones. But with the HC9000D intended to sell for up to $4000 less... Winner!
Best In Class Award, Runner-Up: Sony VPL-VW90ES
The Sony VPL-VW90ES, once calibrated, produces a truly excellent picture. Skin tones are excellent, and black levels are extremely good. The Sony is priced at the top of our range, and I'd say, also one of the two most flawless looking pictures overall in the $3500 to $10,000 range in this year's class.
The Sony is loaded in features, it's got full power lens controls, dynamic iris, CFI, and it offers 3D as well.
In terms of brightness, the Sony is very impressively bright in best mode, approximately 750 lumens after calibration. That's excellent and it allows this Sony to tackle some really large screens - in 2D.
The Sony, like the others, is still lacking in power, though for 3D on a typical screen. Afterall, the equivalent o fless than 25% of the light gets to your eyes. The Sony does get up to 1000 lumens at maximum, but that's still a touch thin for 3D.
The Sony VPL-VW90ES iris is smooth in dynamic mode, or it can be used manually, which is discussed in the review.
Like the Mitsubishi and the Runco LS-5, the Sony offers a great picture to view. The Sony has one other competitor, but it's more expensive, outside this class. That's the JVC RS60, which will best the Sony on blacks, and perhaps a touch on sharpness, but the Sony definitely has a lot more lumens behind it. If the Sony can use a significant boost in lumens for 3D, then the JVC needs at least a doubling.
In past years I prefered the JVC over the equivalent Sony, in part for the blacks, but in a large part for the extra lumens. Interesting that now the Sony is the brighter.
It's hard not to thoroughly enjoy watching the Sony. There really isn't anything to complain about. This projector generally seems to lack any real flaw, other than one strange anamoly, which was a bit of jumpiness when there's a horiztontal pan at one particular scene. I only saw it happen on the movie Red, but two other projectors behaved much better. Since I didn't spot it with other panning, I wrote that off as minor.
The Sony VPL-VW90ES is a first class projector. It's very well balanced overall, and has great picture quality. Great for enthusiasts, good for purists. As for the "average consumer" with the bucks, the VW90ES should do everything they might demand.
As hinted at earlier, most likely the 90ES would have received the top award, if it wasn't so much more expensive than the Mitsubishi.
Best In Class - Runner-up: Runco LS-5
This is the surprise award of the year. The LS-5 the result of what happens to the old Planar PD8150, after, I presume, Runco engineers got their hands on the design. Planar, a relatively new company in the industry, launched their own line maybe 4 years ago, but of note, purchased Runco a couple of years ago.
We always liked the Planar PD8150, so we expected an updated version with the Runco name on it to be a very serious product. It is. Still, going into the report, and the challenges of selecting projectors in this class, this year, even I'm surprised it receives this award. Not because it doesn't deserve it, for what it is, and what it does, but mostly because it is based on a projector that's already a few years old.
That said, the LS5 is a single chip DLP projector with excellent optics it would seem, as the image is very sharp. As is typical of most DLP's you get plenty of best mode brightness - above average with about 650 lumens, but brightnest mode, is still below our 1000 lumen average, at 792 lumens. That puts it about in the middle of the pack for both specs, in this price range, with several being 20-25% brighter, and others less bright.
Black level performance is dependent on a smooth dynamic iris, which produces excellent blacks, with almost always, unnoticeable action.
Colors are everything that gave DLP projectors their rep for picture quality. They are rich, well saturated without being over the top. Dark scenes are especially stunning. Skin tones are beautiful. I'm not sure any projector I've seen this year can do better on skin tones. The projector, mostly, just isn't there. That is, like any good projector should be, it does it's job, without being noticeable. It's not overly noisy, the image processing is clean, the iris smooth.
Fire up the Runco LS-5, settle back and enjoy the movie, the sports, the American Idol, Ice-Truckers, CSI:SVU, or whatever your poison. The Runco just puts it up there for you to enjoy.
There's a trade-off, though, with local authorized dealer only projectors in that they do sell for more than the online competition. To get the Runco into the sweet spot of the premium market (under $10K), though, it isn't as feature laden as some of the competition.
Most notably the LS-5 lacks CFI - smooth motion, which I do like for sports. Still, my own older JVC RS20 lacks CFI, and I get by, just fine without the feature. It also doesn't offer 3D, even as i's competition that does have 3D, is underpowered when doing 3D.
If the dollars make sense, and you are looking for a great home theater projector, a great home theater, and are looking for a dealer to make all that happen for you, then the Runco LS-5 certainly is the type of projector (with support) to slide into your finished home theater.
Finally. Why the award? The Runco LS-5 simply didn't impress me, when I was watching it. It really wasn't until I had been watching content on it for probably 40 hours, that I realized...
...that I wasn't watching it, watching the LS-5. What finally dawned on me, is I kept forgetting I was reviewing a projector. It was just too easy to slip into, and be immersed by the movies and content I was watching, with the Runco, mostly being invisible, that is, nothing jumping out like: "noticeable iris action" "sunburned skin tones" "soft in the corners" "noisy", "yellowish caste fo skin tones in shadow", or other things that "wake me up" and remind me that I'm reviewing a projector.
And that folks is what a projector should be: Invisible. As one coming from being a a hard core audiophile, it's the same philosophy, find the system that doesn't add, subtract, change, or ... find the system that just isn't there - that doesn't "color" the results. The same is as true for video as it is for audio. This Runco goes a long way to accomplishing that and does so for not much more than half the price of the JVC RS60 (not considered in this price range). another projector that's also very good at not being there.
That concludes the awards for the $3500-$10,000 price Class
That leaves one more award, however this is an award picked most years, that spans all the projectors and related products we review.
Click for Projector Reviews'
Outstanding Product of the Year: Runco LS10D 3 Chip DLP, Home Theater Projector
Click here to read about why the Runco LS10D won our 2011 top award!
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