Sanyo PLC-XL50 Projector

Your conference room may be cramped, but that doesn't mean your presentations have to be tiny. Sanyo's $4999 PLC-XL50 business-class projector can display an 80-inch diagonal image at just 3 inches from a wall or screen, making it ideal for use in close quarters.

Weighing 17 pounds, the PLC-XL50 is not as portable as many of today's lightweight models, but its close-range capabilities make it handy for use in places where conventional projectors may not fit--in a lobby or hallway, for example. You can change its position from horizontal to vertical, and use it to display images on a tabletop, floor, or other flat surface.

Our demonstration unit delivered good image quality, displaying sharp text and well-saturated color graphics. For image adjustment, the projector includes a standard set of fine-tuning controls, all of which worked well. A unique Color Board mode lets you adjust the hue for better color accuracy when you're projecting an image on a nonwhite surface (such as a beige wall), while a Blackboard Mode adjusts colors for projection on a green surface.

The PLC-XL50 delivers XGA (1024 by 768) resolution and 2000 ANSI lumens of brightness, a good amount of illumination for most small to midsize rooms with low ambient light. Its short projec tion distance also allows the PLC-XL50 to work well in settings with considerable ambient light, because the projector can sit very close to the screen. This is a big plus when you use the PLC-XL50 for digital signage in places where light is needed, such as in a window display.

The PLC-XL50 includes VGA and standard video (composite, component, S-Video) inputs, but not a digital (DVI) input. It also lacks a USB slot or card reader, an omission that prevents you from using the projector for PC-less presentations. The bundled remote control provides easy access to all of the projector's essential features, but it doesn't support mouse control or have any type of pointer.

The PLC-XL50 carries a hefty price tag. But its ability to display big images in small spaces is unmatched.

--Richard Jantz