Sharp debuts trio of HD-savvy mid-range projectors
updated 11:00 am EDT, Mon June 4, 2007
Sharp XR-40
Sharp on Monday backed up its XR series projectors with three new models with enhanced definition but real awareness of HD. The XR-30S, XR-30X, and XR-40X all have DVI inputs with native HDCP support that lets them display encrypted video from certain Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs as well as from some content stored on Windows Vista PCs; component input is also present for more conventional HD video while RCA and S-video handle analog sources. Each of the front projectors also has a newer image processing chip for better overall quality and a 3X color wheel for generating the DLP-based image.
Every model is designed with enough brightness and contrast to fill larger rooms, Sharp says. The XR-30S is built modestly with an 800x600 resolution, a 2,300-lumen brightness, and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio; the XR-30X steps up to a sharper 1024x768 resolution as well as a clearer 2,200 contrast ratio. The XR-40X tops the line with an extra-bright 2,600-lumen image.
Each of the three Sharp projectors is due to arrive in July, with real-world street prices set at $700 for the XR-30S, $800 for the XR-30X, and $900 for the top XR-40X.
