SHARP XV-Z30000 Pro Reviews

The XV-Z30000 is a very solid DLP home theater projector. Selling upward of $3500 (best we can tell), it has some stiff competition, but it holds its own. The Z30000 isn't particularly spectacular in any one way, but the overall package has to be considered pretty good. There are some other projectors noticeably better at some things, but often weaker on others. There doesn't seem to be any major flaw. Personally this is a projector I could own, assuming it gets placed in a dedicated home theater or properly set up cave, and if I could live with smaller screens than I prefer. Still, 3D viewing notwithstanding, this projector is very comfortable on a 110" screen and could be pushed larger, without needing a really high gain screen.

Ultimately, the Sharp misses a Top Pick selection by a nose, largely because of its color issues and value. I could have easily gone either way with the call. But my video perfectionist side won out on color. On the value side, both the Sony VPL-HW30ES and the JVC DLA-X30 are available, similarly equipped, for about $1,000 less. Both offer superior color and deeper black levels, although they are arguably less achingly crisp, somewhat less bright (but bright enough), and more prone to 3D ghosting than the Sharp. You pay your money and you take your choice. But I enjoyed my time with the Sharp so much that I could easily live with it indefinitely if I had no need for more accurate color or state-of-the-art blacks. I do have these needs, but if you’re not a video perfectionist, or even if you are, you owe it to yourself to see this projector.