Entry level on a High Definition high!

The review below was on the Z700 the Z800 is basically the same projector with a slightly different coloured case so we agree:

"if it aint broke, don't fix it!"

• Full HD LCD panel (1920 x 1080 pixel)
• High brightness 1200 ANSI Lumens
• Built in variable iris with maximum contrast of 10000:1
• Ultra Quiet: 21dBA operating noise at Eco mode
• Vertical and Horizontal lens shift function and 2x wide angle zoom lens for highest flexibility
• 2 x HDMI, 2 x Component, 1 x Data inputs
• Automatic shutter protects the lens from dust
• 3 Year Warranty

TECHNICAL DETAILS PLV-Z800
Category Home Cinema
Panel 3 x 0.74” TFT p-Si (16:9)
Lamp 165 W
Brightness ANSI lumens 1200
Lamp Service Life 3000h (Eco Mode), 2000h (Normal Mode)
Fan Noise 21dBA
Standard Lens F=2.0 - 3.0 / f=22.3 - 45.3mm
Throw Distance Ratio 1.36 - 2.76:1
Throw Distance 1.2m – 18.4m
Contrast Ratio 10,000:1
Resolution in pixels 1920 x 1080
Image size min–max (diagonal) 40” - 300”
Uniformity 85%
Bandwidth/Frequency 100MHz, Horizontal 15-80kHz, Vertical 50Hz-100Hz
Colour Systems PAL / NTSC / SECAM / NTSC4.43 / PAL-M / PAL-N
Connections Input 1: HDMI
Input 2: HDMI
Input 3: 3 x RCA (Y-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
Input 4: 3 x RCA (Y-Pb/Cb-Pr/Cr)
Input 5: Dsub-15
Input 6: RCA (composite)
Input 7: S-Video
Control: Mini DIN 8 pin
Keystone Correction No
Lens-Shift Manual
Vertical -100%~+100%
Horizontal -50%~ +50%
HDTV Signals 1080p, 1080i/50, 1080i/60,1035i,720p
Computer Compatibility UXGA / WXGA / SXGA+ / SXGA / XGA / SVGA / VGA / MAC
Zoom/Focus 2 x / Manual Focusing
Power Consumption/Voltage 182 w (Eco Mode), 236 w (Normal Mode), 0.6 w (Standby Mode)
Warranty 3 Year
Dimensions (W x H x D) 400 x 154 x 346mm
Weight 7.5Kg
Standard Accessories Remote Control, Power Cable, Owners Manual (CD ROM)
Optional Accessories Scart-VGA cable (POA-CA-SCART)

More review data:

◆ Short Throw & Wide-Range Zoom Lens
The 2x Short Throw & Wide-Range Zoom Lens is capable of
throwing a 100” diagonal image from a distance of 9.8’ (3.0
m) to 20.0’ (6.1 m).

◆ Lens Shift
The Lens Shift function provides a greater installation
flexibility. You can use the projector at desired places
without images being distorted.

◆ Color Management
The Color management function allows you to adjust the
details of picture colors to suit your preference and viewing
environments.

◆ Auto Iris
The integration of the lamp aperture enhances the contrast
and depth of the projected image.

◆ Compatibility
The projector accepts signals from multiple sources:
computers, analog TV systems (PAL, SECAM, NTSC,
NTSC4.43, PAL-M, and PAL-N), component video, S-video,
RGB scart, and HDMI.

◆ Simple Computer System Setting
The Multi-scan system of the projector conforms to almost
all computer output signals quickly.

◆ 16 : 9 Wide Screen
The wide LCD panels with 1920 x 1080 resolution (16:9
aspect ratio) can project the image from component video
signals such as DVD players and HDTV devices in full
screen.

◆ Interlace-Progressive Conversion
High-quality picture technology is available that converts
an interlaced signal into a progressively-scanned one.

Back to the old review, as soon as we get our hands on a Z800 we'll review it here but compare the specifications and you'll see it's 99.999% the same.

Sanyo PLV Z700 1080P entry level home cinema projector

Sanyo's entry level 1080P projector the Z700 is similar to the Epson EMP-TW1000 with a price point aimed squarely at the entry level market.

Entry level is what a few years ago would have been considered high end! Now the difference between entry level and high end is often academic depending on the quality of the source program and the ambient light in the room.

It's the law of diminishing returns, you pay 50% more for just a few percent real improvement generally in the blacks which unless you're in a totally dark room you may not notice.

Skipped a Z?

How bright is bright enough?

As you can see from the image below 1200 ANSI lumens is too much for a dark room so you'll be using a lower lamp mode (which saves the lamp) in this case. Having said that I can't see any difference between 1600 and 1200 lumens. So if your room is that bright that you think you need an extra 400 or so lumens thing again you'd really need about 3 or 4 thousand to see a big difference in which case you should not be looking at cinema projectors.

Actual Z700 image..

You can't project black so if the screen is lit by the room that's the lowest black level you can measure.

People hardly ever seem to consider reflected light. Look at the ceiling and furniture, unless they are black this lowers the maximum contrast ratio you can view.

You'll use the lowest lamp mode possible.

Contrast Ratio (CR)

Don't panic about 50,000-70,000:1 or more it's just creative marketing.

They should call it "Con Ratio" the higher the more "con" you get :)

Many great projectors are closer to movie film CR. The eye can't see such high numbers in a movie in any case. I suppose we dwell on CR because we don't want you to think that 80,000:1 is eight times better than 10,000:1 that's what they expect you to think but it's very misleading.

CR has been going up and up while lumens & pixel count have not moved anywhere near as much in percentage terms so it's natural to think super high CR is a must have.

We note press releases seem to change the CR on some projectors depending on who wrote them, often manufacturers don't seem to know what the real figures are.

The native and ANSI CR of 1080P LCD projectors is in the range of 4,000:1 to 8000:1* the other zeros are added by using goodies like a dynamic iris and testing in a mode you'd never use for cinema. *If you know differently please drop us a line with the proof and we'll update if necessary. We note some " "experts" don't know the difference between Native and ANSI CR.

A very few manufacturers are more forthright with specifications like:

Contrast Ratio/ 8,000 :1 (Max) (ANSI Contrast 518:1) this is not the Sanyo just an example of the difference between real and Mickey Mouse CR.

OK you can see we hate them quoting full on/off CR.

Manufacturers measure CR in modes (Dynamic etc.) you just can't use for cinema in a dark room.

This gives an unrealistic high number.

If we used this test projectors would be a lot closer in
their (everyone, not just Sanyo) contrast ratio results..

Contrast Ratio should be measured with Black & White
projecting at the same time and averaged over the
whole screen as per ANSI CR test. Full on/off is when
you project just white then just black, a much easier test.
This is NOT native contrast ratio.

How much is enough

Offering enough contrast ratio and full 1080P HD at an affordable price point is sure to create a lot of interest in this projector.

Did you know Cinema (film) is only 1,000:1 CR?

Have a good look at a dark scene next time you go to the movies, not black at all. You will have a better show at home.

Actual Z700..

The Z700's variable iris can adjust light levels every 1/60th of a second giving more vivid scenes and better contrast.

Lumens &. Contrast Ratio

With the Z700 there is a nice balance in a bright room it works fairly well in Creative Cinema mode, I turn off the iris. In a dark room you don't want high light output as it will kill your eyes. Brightness is the perception you get from the measured lumens. Sanyo offer a real world specification projector that's affordable. The PLV Z700 is bright enough for some light in the room and dark enough to appreciate a Star Wars movie night with the lights off.

If you do intend to watch your projector with ANY light in the room there is no need to chase contrast ratio full stop. I like some (say 10-20 Watts) light in the room it's much easier on the eyes.

Super quiet fan produces only 19dB noise which means you can have the projector close by without any problems. You still get the Dust Door which is a great idea, the door closes when projector is off, dust be gone! Keeping dust out may save you a service.

A 1200 lumen projector generates a tremendous amount of heat and
requires a high quality fan to ensure proper operation. At this level of
brightness, the fan is ‘on’ most of the time and the noise can be extremely
loud and disruptive, especially in smaller home theaters where the
projector and the audience are in the same vicinity.

To promote greater enjoyment of the film and to reduce noise levels
during quiet passages of a film, the PLV-Z700 is equipped with the
industry’s quietest fan, a large aperture, low noise Sirocco cooling fan
that never rises above 19dB in the economy mode.

Actual Z700 image..

As you can see from the above actual image (section) the Sanyo Z700's colours jump off the screen in Brilliant Cinema mode.

If you were considering a PLV-Z3000 but could not justify the extra cost for the up market specifications, the Z700 is a real bargain. It's not that easy to tell them apart in all but the darkest of rooms viewing the very darkest scenes or unless you had them side by side.

Organic vs. Inorganic panels

The Sanyo PLV Z 700 used Organic LCD panels. Projectors have been using Organic panels for many years often with much higher lamp power. Using this projector as intended the Panels should last for the life of the projector
(Note you get a 3 year warranty, including the lamp!).

It's also noteworthy that some of the very latest display technologies are based on Organic substrates and materials.

Z700-Z3000-TW2000-TW3000?
Just watching TV with a tad light in the room you'd never
bet on which projector you're watching.

Street Price around $3K.

Conclusion

The Sanyo PLV-Z700 is a true HD projector that's a lot better than needed for "entry level". Sanyo back it up with a 3 year warranty that includes the lamp.

It's hard to find a bad word about the Sanyo Z1 to Z5 models many Z1's are still going strong today. You won't find people on forums complaining about the quality or service offered by Sanyo.

Sanyo have vast experience in LCD projectors from the worlds smallest to the worlds brightest, the Z700 is a showcase of their experience in projectors at a bargain price.

Almost impossible to beat for the money if you consider the massive warranty.

Sanyo PLV Z700 - Editors' Choice* - May 2010

* Entry level 1080P HD projectors. *May 2010 Update.

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Sanyo PLV - Z 3000 1080P HD Projector review

Sanyo PLV Z-3000 - Editors' Choice* - May 2010

* High end 1080P projectors *May 2010 Update.

Go to the "real" cinema if you want to be disappointed or get a Sanyo Z300o if you'd like to see every subtle detail.

This is not keeping up with the neighbors, it's blasting them out of the street.

The Sanyo PLV-Z3000 features ‘Dynamic Predictive Frame Interpolation Technology’ that utilizes speeds of 120Hz*1 in the industry’s first*2 5:5 pull-down*3 mode for incredibly smooth video projection even for scenes with intense motion, a super high contrast ratio of 65,000:1 allowing jet-black color reproduction, and a whisper-quiet cooling fan at 19-decibels*4 permitting viewers to hear even the most quiet and sensitive scenes.

Don't worry too much about Contrast Ratio we doubt you'll have a cinema room equal to this projector because ANY light at all and it's mostly academic, what you will see regardless is the fantastic picture quality.

Jet-black color reproduction with high contrast ratio of 65,000:1

- New optical engine with additional optical compensating plate minimizes polarized light leakage, increasing contrast ratio

- Equipped with new variable iris featuring a lamp-light volume controlling mechanism that can control lens iris adjustment every 1/60th of a second

- Lens designed to permit fast acting lens adjustment, adjusting to optimal levels automatically

- Deeper, more dynamic black color reproduction is made possible with new lens

- Iris noise has been reduced for more enjoyment of silent or quiet scenes

Super-quiet, 19-decibel fan

- Large aperture, whisper-quiet yet efficient Sirocco cooling fan *4

- Fan keeps projector cool and runs quietly, at only 19-decibels*4

- Movie-watchers lose themselves in the movie with the lack of ‘real-world’ noise

Z 3000 - Achieves incredible 120Hz display speed*1;

- Industry’s first*2 5:5 pull-down mode*3

- Most recent, 120Hz super-fast Full HD panel built-in

- Increased smoothness in videos due to doubled frame rate from 60 frames/second to 120 frames/second*1 using interpolation frame generation technology from built-in super-fast image processing LSI

Watching fast moving scenes we we're most impressed by this feature, once you've seen it you'd want it on all the time.

- Reduction of afterimage effects through dynamic predictive frame interpolation technology- Accurately projects contents in originally in 24p with industry’s first*1 5:5 pull-down mode*3

PAL countries like Australia speed up the 24 fps film by 4% to obtain 25 fps, therefore we do not have telecine judder. Unless you're using NTSC programs the 5:5 pull-down mode will have no effect. -- HCC

- Compatible with various television digital broadcasting, allowing the feeling and enjoyment of the movie theater for everyday broadcast programming

Other Features - Sanyo Z3000 projector

- Cinema color filter mechanism for rich, abundant color reproduction (Video mode operation)

- 2 HDMI (ver 1.3b ( Deep Color and x.v.ColorTM Compatible) with 12 bit LCD so you can also see the result which has 1.8 x the colours of non Deep Colour compatible projectors.

Most people will never use more than 2 inputs. You'd rather have them switched via your receiver so the surround sound audio is handled at the same time..

- Industry’s most versatile*5 lens-shifting function, vertically equivalent to 3 screens, and horizontally equivalent to 2 screens, allowing more freedom in setting up the projector

- Built-in 2x zoom means that from close or far, large screen projection is possible

- Electronic sliding shutter protects lens from dust when not in use

- 7 video modes matching various genre of videos

- New 3D colour management system called TapozReal HD technology with 14-bit digital processing and Sanyo’s real-focus HD lens system. The TopazReal technology can handle changes in color phase and level and deliver roughly 216 billion different color combinations. TapozReal HD technology delivers more than 1,000 times the number of color combinations available in most other 720p projectors.

(Brilliant Cinema/Creative Cinema/Pure Cinema/Natural/Living/Dynamic/x.v.Color)

- For more experienced users, ‘3D Color Management’ and ‘Advanced Image Mode’ are available

- Automatic Dust Door closes when projector is turned off to protect from dust.

Brightness

If you're worried about 1200, 1600 ANSI lumens (The Z2000 = 1200) you'll be surprised to know there is not much difference in real life between the two.

For an image to seem twice as bright you'll need four times the power so if 1200 is not enough chances are 1600 or even 1800 won't get you across the line, you're probably looking at a data projector with say 3000 lumens. You won't be worried about contrast ratio with that much light in the room.

Claims of brightness are made using dynamic mode which you'll avoid using in all but the brightest of rooms because you loose so much detail. This means projectors work at a more similar light output than you'd imagine. Once the sun goes down or you're in a light controlled room you'd be selecting the low lamp mode, this turns down the fan (not that it was noisy) and extends the lamp life while providing more than enough brightness.

Below images are the Sanyo PLV Z3000 projected on DNP Supernova screen, as you can see providing you keep sunlight off the screen (as you would a TV) the image is fine for general viewing.

The images here don't do justice to the projector, is impossible to show you how good this projector is using only 400 pixels.

120Hz

The frame interpolation function works as advertised. It's a great feature. Scenes that were jerky before are now smooth. Interpolation is not a new idea it's been around since Adam was a boy. You have two dots some distance apart, take a mathematically educated guess on what the middle dot would look like and put it in the image.

The smart thing is moving it from say scanners to projectors.

Focus

Our production model Sanyo PLV Z3000 does not have any noticable focus drift as noted on some other Brands and one reviewers pre-production Z3000.

The Z3000 in this review has now done 138 hours (at my place) the picture below does not do it justice, however I could not notice any focus drift. I think most people who self install would have a play with the alignment of the projector after a short time, if focus drift (when new) was an issue as mentioned with some Epson models, then would be a good time to adjust it.

• Even making such a big deal of this (With the Epson HD) shows how reviewers (we're guilty too) are looking for anything at all to blow up to a story now most projectors using the same LCD engine are for the average user too almost close to call. Until you start to consider warranties etc.

It would be understandable to us if there were a "burn in" period where things like focus settle down.

Projectors get very hot, most if not all have the faint smell of burning paint for the first few hours. We wouldn't be surprised if you had to adjust the focus after say 20 hours for optimum performance on ANY projector.

This is a new red herring that may have been overstated as a problem on other brands.

• As a side note some sellers that normally promote Sanyo seem to be taking unfounded pot shots at the new range while promoting others Brand/models with known faults or missing the latest features like Deep Color x.v.color / HDMI 1.3. It's interesting that this is happening while there is a stock shortage. They will come around once they can get their hands on stock.

3-LCD D7 1080P LCD projectors

Are now so good there is not a lot of room to upgrade specifications before you start splitting hairs over some technicality.

It's interesting to see Sanyo looking at Pull Down and projection speed rather than just contrast ratio people can appreciate a smoother image.

This means new models are more about marketing and market segment position via price points in our opinion.

The result is good news for anyone in the market for home cinema using the 1080P format which has to be seen to be appreciated.

"..I wish I could upgrade my eyes to match the
performance of this premium projector.."

Features & points to consider

When you look at performance and value it's going to be a hard act to follow, the Sanyo PLV-Z3000 is noticeably better than any entry level 1080P LCD projector in a dark room.

The main difference you can see rather than measure is the blacks, in fact it's around three times better than the Sanyo PLV-Z700 in this area. Not that the Z700 is a toy, 3 X sounds a lot but at 1m back we're only talking a few lumens at most. We measured the lumens output at 1m back when the projectors were required to produce a black screen (no light at all). We could not measure the light on the screen (3-5m back) as the amount was so small (Around .1 lux for the Z3000 doing the math), that's why we decided on 1m where we could get a some reading.

• 65,000:1 CR sounds very impressive but the first thing WE look for is how black is a black screen? In particular the black bars you get when the image is not scaled for the screen. (i.e. 4:3 or 2.35:1 projected on 16:9 which is what most projectors use). It's Black.
• Next how does it handle the shadow details like someone wearing a black shirt with light gray suite, does it show the fine contrast details? Suffice to say the Sanyo Z3000 is awesome, you see things you've missed in the past. That's cool.
• While beauty is in the eye of the beholder we like the flat titanium style finish for a cinema as it seems to us better than a mirror finish.
• Noise? Forget it! I make more just moving on the couch. The clock ticking down the hall is starting to get on my nerves.
• At time of writing the Sanyo PLV-Z3000 seems to offer the best combination of features and LCD specifications you can get for your money if you're looking at a premium projector.
• The Z3000 120Hz frame rate makes for smooth images.
• No others offer the dust fighting features, dust is the biggest killer of projectors and indeed most electronics.
• Lens shift and zoom is the industry leader.
• Great 3 year warranty, including the lamp. (Aussie stock only)
• Unlike Single Chip DLP projectors there is no spinning colour wheel and no DLP rainbows which in our opinion makes it easier on the eyes.
• Supports next generation x.v.Color (Deep Colour) offering 1.8 x much expanded colour gamut. Some others accept the signals via HDMI 1.3 but can't display them with a 10 bit LCD.
• Made in Japan can't be a bad thing.

If you wonder why we point out the warranty you've not had to deal with angry clients wondering why the high repair cost or seen quotes like:-

"..I picked up my projector two weeks ago and it is working fine - Total repair cost: $2500 AUD.." Link
Many more if you search the web.

When you get a great projector with a 3 X 3 warranty from a manafacturer that has world first LCD points on the board like smallest, brightest LCD projectors it's no wonder we've been waiting to review the the PLV Z3000.

Conclusion

I've had a Z3000 at home and I'm currently living with the AE4000 which is also a great projector. Most people would be happy with either. I do miss the more natural image the Z3000 produced but I'm learning to adjust the AE4000 so it seems the same as my memory fades. Don't get me wrong it may just be a personal thing however one friend did complain about the Panas image when he too was a fan of the Sanyo Z3000.

Stop press I am going back to the Sanyo, the AE4000 is just not as quiet.

People that have seen either wonder how you could improve them? (I ask them "What would you change?") I wish I could upgrade my eyes to match the performance of this premium projector, I can't see all the HD projected detail from where I sit but I can see just how amazingly black the screen is, I really notice the 120Hz frame interpolation during action scenes, especially when the camera is panning.

sanyo_Z4000_review.htm

HCC © 2010