Not to pass myself off as expert as many of you like "The Sultan of Cheap" BUT I've looked at a lot of well set up projectors and IMO there just ain't no substitute for bright and colorful as in the Sanyo LCDs. PARTICULARLY if you are like the gentleman who started this thread who has ambient light issues (like I do).
Robert, black level and contrast is simply not an issue if you combine the Sanyo 18/21 with a Grayhawk. Is it 2500 lumens? Probably not, but then neither are these dimmo 800 lumen DLPs up to their rating.
Here's the acid test which the new Yamaha DPX1 flunked with flying colors, rainbow not included. MI2, the ending scenes on the island. The Yammie was way, way too dark. The Sanyo looks just like it did in the local big screen cinema. At the 2 x screen width seating distance, screen door simply isn't an issue. And this is without a Panny.
You recall all those greyish foggy battle scenes in the beginning of Gladiator? This projector delivers them complete with contrast and black level better than the movie theater. And, because of the brightness, they have a bunch of depth.
At the risk of finally attracting major flames, I'll say it again. The price DLP pay to achieve marginally better black and contrast level is that they are too damn dark. Every darn one of them. Period. Overall, the viewing experience suffers.
Hopefully, this will all be fixed with the next generation of DLP that have advanced color wheels, mirrors that rotate more (12 degrees vs. the current 9), hence allowing brighter output, and better electronics. Until then, when it comes to reproducing that cinema experience in less than ideal ambient light conditions, you just can't beat these Sanyo LCDs. Even with their sucky internal electronics that require you to add a box from hell like the Quadscan.
Dan
