SIM2 announced late Friday that it is previewing the Grand Cinema HT5000 three-chip 1080p DLP projector, and will soon have a broad line of 1080p DLPs starting at just $10K.

The HT5000 will feature high quality optics, a 300-Watt lamp and a specified contrast ratio of 5000:1. Final pricing and availability will be announced later, but SIM2 anticipates an early 2007 release at around $50K. Additional plans are for a dual-lamp version to be introduced as well as “LINK” versions with SIM2’s outboard DigiOptic Image Processor that will cost in excess of $60K. The HT5000 is on display off-site and I plan to report further after getting a look at it.

But what’s more exciting than that to many of you is that SIM2 also plans on bringing a single-chip 1080p DLP projector into the market that will carry a retail of $10K. Plans aren’t yet finalized, but SIM2 anticipates this line being similar to its current Domino line.

SIM2 also plans to fill out its 1080p line between these price points with LINK versions of its single-chip HT3000, which retails at $15,995, and is also offering a “Scope” system for a number of its projectors in order to display widescreen films without those unsightly black bars.