If you’re in the market for a low-cost, but still quality HD, LCD projector, these two projectors should make the short list. The really short list. Like, 2 of the 3 or 4 projectors on your short list. These are very good projectors, so they get a lot of attention. Recently Projector Central reviewed them both, and also ran a separate commentary on them. HDTVexpert also chimed in on the Sanyo, and thought very highly of it.

Both these projectors are 3LCD 1280 x 720 affairs with dynamic iris, lens shift, and zoom.

The PT-AE900U has a contrast ratio of 5500:1, and includes an HDMI input. It also has a 2.0x manual zoom lens. It also has the much-vaunted “Smooth Screen” technology to reduce the screen-door effect common to LCD projectors, and it works quite well. At a street price of $2300, this is a great projector.

The PLV-Z4 also has a 2.0x zoom lens and HDMI input, and a street price of about $2200. It has a better great contrast ratio of 7000:1, though maybe the black levels aren’t as good.

Projector Central’s commentary about the two projectors is great, mentioning how the war between these two has also forced DLP projectors and also lower cost LCD ones to lower their prices. The commentary compares the two projectors, giving the highs and lows of each with respect to one another. For example, everyone loves the Panasonic’s Smooth Screen technology. But the Sanyo doesn’t have it. But at a viewing distance of 1.5x the screen width, you don’t notice the pixel structure anyway, and that’s good to know.

Anyway, these are good projectors, check out the material.

Projector Central - Panasonic PT-AE900U
Projector Central - Sanyo PLV-Z4
Projector Central - Panasonic PT-AE900U vs. Sanyo PLV-Z4
HDTVexpert - Sanyo PLV-Z4