Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Cons Posted on October 18, 2007 By Art Feierman 1. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review - Overview - PLV-Z2000 - All considered, a most enjoyable projector to watch2. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review-2 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Basic Specs3. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour4. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - The Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Skin Tones5. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-26. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-3 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Black Levels and Shadow Detail - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Black Levels7. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-4 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Shadow Details8. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-59. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-610. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-711. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-8 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Sharpness12. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-913. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-10 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Overall Picture Quality14. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-11 - PLV-Z2000 Projector - HDTV Sources - More general photos of Sanyo's PLV-Z2000, in action15. Sharp XV-Z3000 Projector Review – General Performance - XV-Z3000 Projector Brightness16. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Menus17. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-218. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-3 - PLV-Z2000 User Memory Settings - PLV-Z2000 Projector - Remote Control - PLV-Z2000 Lens Throw and Lens Shift19. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-4 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Brightness20. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-5 - PLV-Z2000 Projector - Light Leakage - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Audible Noise Levels - PLV-Z2000 Projector Screen Recommendations21. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-6 - PLV-Z2000 Projector Measurements and Calibration - PLV-Z2000 Image Noise22. The Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Warranty23. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Competition - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Optoma HD8024. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector Summary, Pros, Cons-2 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Panasonic PT-AE1000U and PT-AE2000U - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and Epson Home Cinema 108025. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons-3 - Sanyo vs. Mitsubishi HC4900 and BenQ W9000 - More comments on the PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 projector, Pros, Cons, andTypical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Pros26. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Cons - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Summary: The Bottom Line - The Bottom Line:27. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector SpecificationsBrightness! At 363 measured lumens in best mode, 2nd lowest of all 1080p projectors measured to dateDocumentation: User Manual is only on CD (nuisance) setup guide is in book form, but lacks len shift info, making it incomplete.Brightest modes need adjustment to look better (Dynamic and Vivid)Black levels could be a bit betterMenus (not bad really, just those multiple page menus can make finding some features a pain).Could use a 3rd HDMI input (I say this of all 1080p projectors)No 12 volt screen trigger (not an issue for most, and most motorized screens can (standard or optionally) be controlled remotely with IR or RF remotes.No support for Anamorphic lens for true Cinemascope (very, very narrow appeal) Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Typical CapabilitiesBlack level performance for a low cost 1080p projectorLamp life (assumed, Sanyo does not publish lamp life specs)User manual – some good explanations of features, could be better stillSetupSanyo PLV-Z2000 Summary: The Bottom LineThere are still two more new, low cost, 1080p projectors to review in the next few weeks, the Panasonic and Epson entries. Both have predecessors, and both claim significant improvements, but we shall have to see how they compare to the Sanyo, when we get them in.The Sanyo PLV-Z2000, in my opinion, does produce the most natural looking and film-like image of any of the under $3000 1080p projectors we have reviewed to date. For movie watchers, in the lower 1080p projector price ranges, the Sanyo PLV-Z2000 is the projector to beat.Purists and people in general should fully enjoy the overall picture quality of this first generation 1080p projector from Sanyo. What is impressive, is that it looks to be better than older 1st generation models, and some of the newer ones too.And with only minor adjustments (and no technical skills required), the image quality goes from very good to excellent. In other words, for movie watching, this Sanyo PLV-Z2000 projector, is the low cost, 1080p champ.So far!At the same time, the Sanyo just isn’t that bright.Under most normal circumstances (fully darkened, or almost fully dark rooms) for movie viewing, the Sanyo projector is going to work best on screen sizes from 82″ to about 100″ and can be pushed to 110″ diagonal with the right screen and room conditions. In brightest mode, it can support that same range of screen sizes, with some ambient light, and the Dynamic mode does a good job with more than a little ambient light.If only Sanyo would have built the same projector, but around a 240 watt lamp, instead of 165K, they would have opened the PLV-Z2000 to a world of potential buyers wanting more than 110″ diagonal screens, or wanting 106″ or 110″, but with less than ideal room conditions.Sanyo could have done a bit better on black levels, but they are good, just not great.The Bottom Line:The PLV-Z2000 is really a very watchable projector. Overall it is an excellent projector choice for those wanting great looking movies, and do not need the largest sized screens. A beautiful picture combines with placement flexibiliyt that should allow the Sanyo to work easily in almost any room. Add into that a great warranty, and the fact that it is the lowest priced 1080p projector to date, and you have a winner! 1. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review - Overview - PLV-Z2000 - All considered, a most enjoyable projector to watch2. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review-2 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Highlights - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Basic Specs3. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Physical Tour4. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality - The Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Skin Tones5. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-26. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-3 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Black Levels and Shadow Detail - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Black Levels7. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-4 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Shadow Details8. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-59. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-610. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-711. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-8 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector: Sharpness12. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-913. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-10 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Overall Picture Quality14. Sanyo PLV-Z2000: 1080p Home Theater Projector Review – Image Quality-11 - PLV-Z2000 Projector - HDTV Sources - More general photos of Sanyo's PLV-Z2000, in action15. Sharp XV-Z3000 Projector Review – General Performance - XV-Z3000 Projector Brightness16. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Menus17. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-218. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-3 - PLV-Z2000 User Memory Settings - PLV-Z2000 Projector - Remote Control - PLV-Z2000 Lens Throw and Lens Shift19. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-4 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 SDE and Rainbow Effect, Pixel Visibility - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Brightness20. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-5 - PLV-Z2000 Projector - Light Leakage - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Audible Noise Levels - PLV-Z2000 Projector Screen Recommendations21. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector Review – General Performance-6 - PLV-Z2000 Projector Measurements and Calibration - PLV-Z2000 Image Noise22. The Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector Warranty23. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Competition - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Optoma HD8024. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector Summary, Pros, Cons-2 - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and the Panasonic PT-AE1000U and PT-AE2000U - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 and Epson Home Cinema 108025. Home Theater Projector Review: Sanyo PLV-Z2000 LCD Projector: Summary, Pros, Cons-3 - Sanyo vs. Mitsubishi HC4900 and BenQ W9000 - More comments on the PLV-Z2000 Home Theater Projector - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 projector, Pros, Cons, andTypical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Pros26. Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Cons - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Projector: Typical Capabilities - Sanyo PLV-Z2000 Summary: The Bottom Line - The Bottom Line:27. 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