InFocus X10 Home Theater Projector: Summary, Competition, Pros and Cons3

Posted on September 1, 2008 by Art Feierman

InFocus X10 vs. Panasonic PT-AE2000U

Another 3LCD projector with great placement flexibility, and great color management tools, the Panasonic is an excellent overall consumer projector. The InFocus easily bests the Panasonic PT-AE2000U, though in terms of sharpness and brightness. Certainly I give the advantage to the X10 for people watching a good mix of movies TV, HDTV, sports, while the Panasonic is probably strongest for hard core movie watchers.

InFocus X10 vs. Epson Home Cinema 1080UB

Very interesting! Those of you who are regular readers of my reviews know well, that the Epson Home Cinema 1080 UB has been my favorite under $3000 projector since it came out. So, how does it stack up?

I see the InFocus as a serious contender. Overall, if I had to live with one over the other, and if placement flexibility was not an issue, I would still go with the Epson, but I can see that many people may prefer the X10. I love the black levels of the Epson - there's no contest. The X10, though has more brightness in best mode, and isn't that far behind in brightest mode. The InFocus definitely has the sharper image, and is more film-like. The Epson though has a lot more punch, I'd say it's more fun. If it wasn't for the huge difference in black level performance, it might shake out differently, but great black levels really add something, and Epson has them. By comparison, I'd say that InFocus's top end model, the IN83, to be my pick over the Epson, but the IN83 has very good black levels, rather than the X10's mediocre ones. If you aren't a movie person, - primarily sports, HDTV, then sure, The InFocus may well, come out on top.

InFocus X10 vs. Optoma HD803

OK, here we have two projectors both similar in price, both DLP's with 1.2:1 zoom lenses, and no lens shift. The Optoma gets a slight edge in black levels thanks to a dynamic iris, but I favor the InFocus overall. The Optoma is fairly bright, and the InFocus brighter still. The InFocus I would say does better skin tones, and the Optoma image has a more dynamic look. I do give the X10 the advantage in film-like naturalness, and overall, it gets my pick.

InFocus X10 vs. BenQ W5000

Direct competitors, for sure, with similar pricing. Both DLP's with the same old 1.2:1 zoom lens, but the BenQ does have lens shift, which means it can be shelf mounted - a plus for many. The BenQ W5000 definitely wins the black level performance battle, but suffers from a bit too much image noise, which BenQ is "working on solving".

Tough call here. If BenQ ever straightens out the image noise issue, I would give it the advantage - as it stands, it's a pick and choose, the lessor of two evils (black levels vs. image noise). Both are very good choices, though. Don't let me scare you off.