• $5,000
• 1920x1080 threee-chip SXRD
• Key Connections: Dual HDMI inputs, two component inputs, one RGB on 15-pin DSUB, one Ethernet

• $4,500
• 1920x1080 three-chip LCD
• Key Connections: HDMI and DVI inputs, rest TBD

I've only been living with the new Optoma HD81 DLP projector for a little over a week, but it's already becoming obvious that new 1080p projectors selling for more than the Optoma's $7,000 price are likely to have a difficult time in the market. Even the sub-$7,000 price category is destined to be a battleground. There have already been announcements from Sony (SXRD), Mitsubishi (LCD), Panasonic (LCD), Sanyo (LCD), and BenQ (DLP) of new 1080p projectors priced lower, and in some cases considerably lower, than the Optoma. We expect to see more, and perhaps a lot more, such models at the 2006 CEDIA Expo in Denver later this week. We'll be reporting on them, and other new developments, in daily reports from the show floor. Stay tuned.

• $2,999
• 1280x720 single-chip DarkChip2 DLP
• Key Connections: One HDMI input and one DVI-HDCP input, one component input