First up the BenQ w9000 is one of only a few projectors that support the 1080p/24fps standards used in pro filming, editing and Blu-Ray machines. Settings in this machine have been optimized for day and night as well as a technology called Senseye which adjusts the light and dark areas of an image when needed. DLP technology in BenQ w9000 ensures a smooth picture.

The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a solid unit with tone of things happening inside the box. Epson's proprietary technology is in effect with their C2Fine 3LCD display and a signal processor that can read everything from NTSC to D4/SCART in resolutions from 480i to 1080p. This unit also has strong connectivity with seven types of IO, including RS-232 for network addressing. Zooming is manual.

Panasonic has upped the ante with the well priced PT-AE1000u. This unit has nine choices for connections, a powered zoom and focus (great for ceiling mounts) a good short throw at 40" with a 200" long throw for those big areas. The lamp cost here is listed at $400 so that should be a consideration of your purchase. The contrast and brightness are on par for this group.

Our last contender in this four-way comparison is the Mitsubishi HC5000 which is also available in a black finish. This is the highest priced unit in our review and has good reason for it. The 2-year warranty, 5000-hour lamp life and DVI computer connectivity are just the start. The build quality and internal design are the strongest here with an enclosure style that prevents dust from getting to the LCD engine as well as low-noise floor for quiet operation. Standard features are here like a screen trigger, front/rear/ceiling mounting and powered shifting lens. The video processor is not as comprehensive as some other models so overseas content which is still in its native PAL format may have resolution issues.

In reading you'll notice that the ANSI lumen light rating of these model is actually quite modest, averaging about 1100, but the contrast ratios are at least 8500:1 which means that colors are rich and not washed out. These units should almost always be placed in a window-free room for best results, and for some models professional installation is recommended.