Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-2 Posted on June 18, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review2. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Overview3. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 3 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 4. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-2 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights5. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 - Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 Physical Appearance - XV-Z15000 Projector - Control Panel6. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-3 - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Special Features - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 7. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Inputs and Outputs - Sharp XV-Z15000 Menus8. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 4 - XV-Z15000 Lens Shift - XV-Z15000 Anamorphic Lens9. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Image Quality - XV-Z15000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Flesh Tones10. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - XV-Z15000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 312. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance13. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 514. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 615. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - XV-Z15000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality16. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 8 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Brightness18. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Sharpness - Sharp XV-Z15000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Temperature - Sharp XV-Z15000 Basic Settings20. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 2 mode - RGB Settings21. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Projector Screens - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Competitors23. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Warranty24. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - The Bottom Line25. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros26. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Cons - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Specifications The Sharp XV-Z15000 has a dynamic iris to achieve its best black levels. While the iris’ action is more noticeable than some of the very fast irises, it does perform rather smoothly. You will be able to spot the iris operating on some transitions between scenes, and even within scenes when there are quick brightness changes. That said, I found that it wasn’t likely to be annoying, unlike a couple other dynamic iris projectors in the same price range. This Sharp projector is designed for ceiling mounting (or placement on a table top). There is no way to place it on a rear shelf, due to lack of lens shift, and a relatively short throw zoom lens, with very little (1.15:1) manual zoom lens. With a placement range of 10.4 to 12 feet for a 100″ diagonal screen, it is likely to be mounted just in front of your seating. All considered, the XV-Z15000 is the kind of projector that once properly installed, will be thoroughly enjoyed by its owner. Just keep in mind that if you are a highly critical enthusiast, or even more demanding – a purist, this projector probably isn’t your cup of tea. By the same token, I’d have to say it’s an excellent starter 1080p projector. I believe many that buy it as their first projector, will really love it, probably get hooked, and be in the market for a more expensive/better projector down the road. In other words, its picture quality is more than good enough to hook people, and make them want to raise their standards. Not because it is weak, but because after watching the XV-Z15000, and enjoying it, the question becomes something like: Wow, this is great – I wonder how much better the viewing experience will be if I upgrade in a couple of years to a much better home theater projector. XV-Z15000 Projector HighlightsClick to enlarge. SO close Overall a very well balanced home theater projector Good color out of the box, very good after calibration – this projector has that classic DLP “look and feel” to its image that DLP fans swear by Full color management system though color temp controls are more limited than most other projectors Brightness in “best” mode, a little below average – 355 lumens Brightness average in “brightest” mode, a bit over 1000 lumens Extremely good black level performance! Comparable to the better ultra-high contrast 3LCD projectors! Very limited placement flexibility Not too much lens offset – a good thing! Unlike many DLP models, this one mounts only slightly above the top of the screen surface. Many other DLP’s need to mount higher still, and won’t work in rooms with lower ceilings or with average ceiling height and larger screens Dynamic iris is slow (so detectable) but smooth – one of the better “slow” dynamic irises Very good in terms of minimizing the rainbow effect for those sensitive to it, with 5x, 6 color – color wheel Remote control – no backlight – that’s strike 1 and strike 2… small, cramped. It’s not the first time a really nice projector has a relatively poor remote, but that’s no excuse. Range, however, is good. Good price/performance, but definitely not as good as some others Click Image to Enlarge 1. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review2. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Overview3. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 3 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 4. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-2 - XV-Z15000 Projector Highlights5. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 - Physical Tour - Sharp XV-Z15000 Physical Appearance - XV-Z15000 Projector - Control Panel6. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review-3 - Specs for Sharp XV-Z15000 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Special Features - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Wheel 7. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Inputs and Outputs - Sharp XV-Z15000 Menus8. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour 4 - XV-Z15000 Lens Shift - XV-Z15000 Anamorphic Lens9. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Image Quality - XV-Z15000 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - Flesh Tones10. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 2 - XV-Z15000 Black Levels & Shadow Detail11. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 312. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 4 - Shadow Detail Performance13. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 514. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 615. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 7 - XV-Z15000 - Overall Color & Picture Quality16. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Image Quality 8 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports17. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Brightness18. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector – Performance 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Sharpness - Sharp XV-Z15000: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise19. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sharp XV-Z15000 Color Temperature - Sharp XV-Z15000 Basic Settings20. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Calibration and Settings 3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Post Calibration Grayscale: Movie 2 mode - RGB Settings21. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Projector Screens - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Screen Recommendations22. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Competitors23. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Warranty24. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector - The Bottom Line25. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-2 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Pros26. Sharp XV-Z15000 – Review Summary-3 - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Cons - Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector: Typical Capabilities27. Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Specifications Sharp XV-Z15000 Projector Review 3 Sharp XV-Z15000 – Physical Tour