JVC DLA-RS1 ("D-ILA" LCOS)

JVC DLA-RS1 ("D-ILA" LCOS)Editor's Choice
Advantages:
Outstanding contrast and black level, the best in the group
Outstanding color accuracy and saturation, the best in the group
Excellent sharpness/detail with HD material (comparable to DLP competition, and just shy of the razor sharp Mitsubishi HC5000)
Very high lumen output potential, among the brightest in the group in video-optimized operation
Manual 2.0x zoom lens and 2.67 picture heights of vertical lens shift provides excellent installation flexibility
D-ILA technology delivers pixel-free image
Almost perfectly calibrated to D65 out of the box.
Good connectivity: two HDMI, one component

Issues:The most expensive of the 1080p models in this group, but with premium price comes premium performance.
No powered zoom/focus/shift like some of the competition. A non-issue unless you have a 4:3 or 2.35 screen and want to control the size of different aspect ratio materials with zoom lens adjustment.

Summary:

The JVC DLA-RS1 is the top performing 1080p projector in this group, but it is $2,000 to $3,000 more than the competition. If it is in your budget range, there is nothing better anywhere near its price range, and thus it wins an Editor's Choice Award.