Price Paid:  $17000.00 from Audiolab

Summary:
The Runco VX-1CX started as a brilliant DLP projector. It featured wonderful picture clarity. The only flaws were that the image quickly fades in any light and that the blacks don't match up to those produced by CRT projectors. After 6 months of use the control unit stopped communicating with the projector and it was returned to Runco for a replacement in a 3 week process. Recently the projector failed again and I'm still waiting on the second replacement before the warranty goes. Just had the new VX-1000c installed at a new location and it clearly out does the VX-1CX, I am already having some trouble with the new projector losing input and flicker to white. In the future I'll be using someone else's projectors. Normally you get what you pay for, in this case that rule doesn't apply.

Strengths:
Clear image

Weaknesses:
Completely unreliable. 1 Year Warranty on $17,000.00 investment. $7,000 more than the reliable (asuming their DLP quality matches their LCD quality) SharpVision. Picture vanishes in any light.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Elite 60" rear-projection screens Runco VX-1000c SharpVision LCD projector Sony CRT projector with 6" tubes

Price Paid:  $8500.00 from Beverly Hills

Summary:
Excellent projector. Brilliant colors, HDTV is amazing.

Strengths:
Quiet, affordable, beautiful picture.

Weaknesses:
1000 lumans is not enough. The room needs to be totally dark to enjoy, otherwise turn it off. Would be 5 stars if brighter.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Viewsonic, 3M

Price Paid:  $17000.00 from Definitive Audio

Summary:
Even after a year, I continue to be amazed at how good the picture quality is. We have a 8 foot (diagonal) 16:9 screen and the image sharpness, detail and brightness are very good. I am very happy with it.

Strengths:
Sharp & bright even at the edges. Detail reproduction is very good. Flesh tones are superb (Ah! Da babes....yummm!).

Weaknesses:
Blacks are more gray than black, a known weakness of DLP/DMD devices. Pixelation is visible when you have large light coloured areas, such as when displaying white/cream walls etc.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba 40" rear projection widescreen. Sony 36" direct view.