reviews

HCC Review - SANYO PLV-Z5
November 2006

SANYO PLV-Z5 Projector
HCC Editors Choice for use in a Cinema Room

First Impressions

The most natural & sharp image you'll see.

SANYO PLV-Z5

Keep me in the dark

Notice we've given our Editors' Choice for use in a Cinema Room.

This really means anywhere you can control the ambient light, our reasoning behind this is why have a projector with the darkest blacks if you can't appreciate them.

A theme we've preached for a while is "all the contrast ratio in the world means nothing if you've got light in the room".

In a well lit room the most important thing is lumens. Even thought the SANYO PLV-Z5 is rated at 1100 lumens it really has 1400 according to our tests so it's nice to see a manufacturer underestimating specifications for a change!

Put another way it's not as far behind a AX-100 as you'd think because for a projector to look twice as bright it must really be four times as bright.

Dirty Work

Thinking ahead the Z5 has an automatic lens cover to help keep dust out.

Dust is a common problem with projectors because they are like room air filters because of the amount of air that's passed through them to keep the lamp cool.

In the case that dust does get into the optics you can easily clean it via small openings underneath using the supplied air puffer. This could save a service fee.

Connections & Improvements

Same connections as the Z4 with an extra HDMI input. The contrast ratio has been bumped up to 10,000:1 and other small changes to the colour rendition and menus.

There is no need to make a big deal of the improvements because the PLV-Z4 was so highly regarded that it seemed there was not a lot of room for improvement, this is the case. Small tweaking that most wouldn't notice unless you projected a specific test pattern side-by-side.

If you own a Z4 then keep it unless you need a second HDMI port. Not that the Z5 isn't better, just can you tell?

Noise has never been a problem with the Z4, it's no louder on the Z5 you simply won't hear the projector when in use.

Bits everywhere

Unlike most others in this class the SANYO PLV-Z4 uses 12 bit image processing which can reproduce 10.7 billion colours as per the above diagram.

Full specifications here

Contrast Ratio

"Real World" contrast ratio test.

Readings are between the black and white squares.

Contrast Ratio

10,000:1 is what SANYO say..

Using our Real World contrast ratio test (above) the Z5 scored 575:1 in Pure Cinema mode.

This is a far better score than the TW700 or AX-100. See the link below if you want to go into this in more depth.

[Learn more about Real World CR]

ANSI Lumens or Brightness

1100 ANSI lumes is more than enough for a light controlled room or for people that only watch movies when it's dark. As mentioned there are 1400+ from our tests..

Image by 3-LCD

The SANYO PLV-Z5 uses the same LCD engine as all the 720P LCD models. The difference between them is the image circuitry and intended use and therefore the tuning of the projector.

The Z5 is tuned for a Cinema or Home Theatre room and it shows.

Black is Black

This is where the Z5 really shines, according to our tests the blacks are twice as black than a Panasonic AX-100 and 50% darker than a Epson TW700. This makes sense when you think about it, if you're starting with more lamp light you'll most lightly end up with more light bleeding through the blacks, the LCD engine has limits to how much light it can shut off. Try it with your Note Book PC show a black screen then turn the light off, it's not reall black is it?

[Learn more about Real World CR]

Advert..

Summary

If you have a dedicated room this is the pick of the crop.

Not because of the specifications. Not because the previous model was universally praised, not even becauseof the Z5's anti-dust features..

If you buy a genuine Australian model (not grey market auction) you'll get the best projector warranty in Australia that's 2 years + 1 if you have a problem in the first two.

Lamps have never been an issue with the PLV-Z series either that's the advantage of not running flat out.. They are so reliable that some retailers are offering an extended lamp warranty free.

Darker blacks and longer lamp life.

RRP $A3,299 Inc GST

HCC - November 06

Special thanks to AIM Digital Imaging for supplying the test unit.