Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review - Image Quality-3

Posted on October 11, 2007 by Art Feierman

Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Black Levels and Shadow Detail

The Sanyo uses a dynamic irs and dynamic lamp system to improve black levels. Most LCD home theater projectors use dynamic iris or a dynamically controlled lamp, or both. This is because DLP chips do better black levels than LCD panels.

I am pleased to report that this is the best dynamic lamp/iris system Sanyo has yet produced. While I could occasionally detect their action when really looking for it, overall, it is non-intrusive, you just aren't likely to be aware of it, and that's what matters. (I probably shouldn't have said anything.) There will always be some scene change that will make these technologies detectable, but done right, it's a big plus.

When it actually comes to the black level performance overall, the Z2000 is about average. Compared, for example, to the HD8000, most of the time (depending on the scenes), the Optoma would have slightly blacker blacks. There were times where that is reversed. The point though, is these two are very close in this regard, with the slight overall advantage going to the HD8000.

Click to Enlarge.So close

On the other hand, when it comes to shadow detail, the Sanyo is downright superb. I do believe it's about the best I've seen yet, among projectors within this range of black level performance.

Click Image to Enlarge

Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Black Levels

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Overall, blacks are reasonably black, but you don't get that jet black feel, to them. On white screens around 100" inches or less diagonal, you are likely to notice the letterboxing if you have a fully darkened room.

The images above and below are from Space Cowboys. Watching the satellite sequence above was a good experience. I know other projectors can do a bit better, but it passed that threshold where it's a problem rather easily. In other words, it worked for me

Sin City is a movie that appreciates a projector with great black levels. I found, again, that the PLV-Z2000's were rather average, yet good enough to satisfy me, so it is not a real detriment.