Panasonic PT-AE1000U (3LCD)

Panasonic PT-AE1000U (3LCD)Editor's Choice
Advantages:
Excellent sharpness/detail with HD material (among the best)
Outstanding, clear, noise free DVD and other SD sources
Pixel-free due to "Smooth Screen" technology
Powered 2x zoom provides maximum installation flexibility
Powered zoom enables 2.35 Constant Image Height image management without needing an anamorphic lens.
Good connectivity: 2 HDMI, 2 component
Very low fan noise.
Low street prices. Only the Epson Home 1080 is less expensive.
Three year warranty effective as of 4/18/07--matches the longest warranty in the group.

Issues:Brightness is a very ample 500 lumens with the zoom lens set to wide angle. However, it loses 45% of its brightness at maximum telephoto. Caution should be used in designing the layout. The AE1000 will easily illuminate a 120" screen from 12 feet, but not from 24 feet.
Black level and shadow detail are comparable to the other 1080p LCD offerings. Performance in these areas is very good by historical standards, but falls short of what is being achieved by the DLP and LCOS competition.

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Summary:Wins Editor's Choice Award due to a combination of four compelling competitive advantages: (1) low price, (2) excellent installation flexibility, (3) a sharp, competitive HD image, and (4) a uniquely outstanding, noise-free image with DVD and other SD sources that clearly beats the competition. Of these, the AE1000's performance in SD was the deciding factor for us. However, if you are primarily concerned with HD performance and don't care as much about SD, then other models in this list have as much or more to offer than this one.