Sanyo's 4LCD PLC-XP200L projector gets reviewed

You're probably wondering if adding in a fourth panel to an LCD projector is really worthwhile. Actually, you're probably willing to bet your bottom dollar that it's a gimmick. Sound & Vision took the time to actually critique Sanyo's latest with an open mind, and believe it or not, it found the all new QuaDrive technology to be everything it was hyped up to be. To be fair, the PLC-XP200L isn't tailored for the home theater; the lowly 1,024 x 768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio sound downright appalling. However, reviewers focused more on the actual technology / image quality given that Sanyo already has a compact, quieter, 16:9 QuaDrive beamer slated for 2009. During a demonstration, critics found the new tech to be visibly better than 3LCD rivals, with the picture appearing "dramatically more vivid." Should you rush out and buy the XP200L? Probably not. But you may just want to delay your impending PJ purchase until that HT version hits next year.

[Christopher Wetmore @ Sep 29th 2008 7:10PM]

Cool to replace the monitor

[john @ Sep 29th 2008 7:22PM]

small and manageable.

[phanbouy @ Sep 29th 2008 8:05PM]

short comment

[rcappo @ Sep 29th 2008 9:32PM]

Is the fourth panel a grayscale one? My projector would be a little better if it had a wider contrast ratio. It has a hard time making blacks really black when the other half of the screen is bright white. Although part of that is light reflecting off the walls back onto the screen and it doesn't matter what projector you have.

[requiem @ Sep 30th 2008 2:53AM]

Actually, the 4th panel adds yellow light into the green light path. This apparently increases the color gamut and brightness by 20% without affecting contrast. The reviewed didn't notice any yellow tinge either, so it sounds like it might work.

[requiem @ Sep 30th 2008 2:54AM]

*reviewer

[Jonathan Davis @ Sep 29th 2008 9:37PM]

We just took delivery on one of these.. it is truly very nice!