On Wednesday I got my first look at Sharp’s XV-Z20000, a 1080p single-chip DLP front projector, albeit in a static demo. The new unit is finished in a sleek, glossy black and peaking around the back revealed two HDMI inputs in addition a DVI/HDCP input,

The Z20000 has a rated contrast of 12,000:1 and is spec’d for 1000-ANSI lumens of light output. It boasts Sharp’s latest video processing suite too. But, best of all, As is typical of Sharp’s DLP front projectors, this one comes in at far less than many competing units. The XV-Z20000 will be available next month at just $11,999. Look for a follow-up impression when I see this projector in action at Sharp’s booth.