Sharp XG-P560W 3-chip DLP Projector Review

Sharp XG-P560W Projector Highlights

Sharp XG-P560W 3-chip DLP Projector Overview

Designed for the large venue installations, the Sharp XG-P560W uses a dual-lamp system for maximum brightness (5200 lumen rating).  It is also offers widescreen, WXGA (1280 X 800) resolution, which matches up well with the majority of laptops out there.  Also, unlike many other DLP projectors, it uses 3-chip DLP technology to achieve accurate color and image uniformity.  Most DLP projectors use a single DLP chip with a spinning color wheel to project different colors.  While this approach keeps the cost of the projector down, it can result in a lack of color depth, as well as adding artifacts to the image.  By using three DLP chips, each projecting a primary color (red, green and blue), there is no color wheel and its associated issues.  The advantages (and disadvantages) of the 3-chip DLP approach will be discussed later in this review.

For flexibility of installation, the XG-P560W also features power zoom, focus and lens shift.  These features are very welcome and can be essential if the projector is mounted in a location that is not readily accessible.  Two component/computer inputs, as well as inputs for HDMI, DVI, video and S-video enhance the XG-P560W’s flexibility when working with multiple video sources.

Sharp provides a LAN port for wired network implementation.  The networking capabilities include the ability to allow three other computers on the network to fully control the projector, as well as allowing for monitoring the projector’s status, scheduled maintenance and problem notification (via email) remotely.

The XG-P560W comes with the standard lens, which is a 1.8-2.25 zoom lens.  There is also an XG-P560W-N model that does not come with a lens, instead giving the customer the option of choosing between seven different lenses.  These lens options will be discussed in more detail later in this review.