Sony Electronics Launches New Native 4K Home Cinema Projectors, Featuring Advanced Processing and HDR Enhancement (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Sony Electronics Launches New Native 4K Home Cinema Projectors, Featuring Advanced Processing and HDR Enhancement
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics Inc. today announced three new native 4K (4096 x 2160) home cinema projectors with SXRD panels for the consumer and custom installation (CI) channels. The VPL-VW715ES, VPL-VW915ES and flagship VPL-GTZ380 models offer innovative processing, impressive brightness and best-in-class viewing experiences.

"Sony has led the 4K projector market for nearly a decade, and we're thrilled to announce a new range of powerhouse models for our customers and CI dealers," said Mike Fasulo, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics North America. "Offering a big screen, immersive viewing experience that delivers the creator's true intent is a core goal when developing our projectors, and these new models are no exception."
VPL-VW715ES & VPL-VW915ES Key Features
The new lamp VPL-VW715ES model and laser VPL-VW915ES model will replace the VPL-VW695ES and VPL-VW885ES respectively. The two models offer an incredibly clear HDR experience by implementing new picture processor "X1™ for projector," based on technology used for Sony's best-in-class TVs. These projectors – both offered at competitive price points – will add to Sony's range of reliable and high-quality offerings.

Dynamic HDR Enhancer: Due to the processing power of the newly installed X1™ for projector, more detailed analysis is performed and HDR enhancement power is stronger compared to previous models. The new HDR feature analyzes scene-by-scene to deliver the best contrast performance when viewing HDR content, making the bright scenes brighter and the dark scenes darker. This dynamic range of contrast and brightness is further expanded by linking the light source and iris to further calibrate lighting output.(1)
Digital Focus Optimizer: This new technology improves focus level by compensating optical degradation of the lens to offer corner-to-corner clarity.

Sony's Unique Super Resolution "Reality Creation" Technology: X1™ for projector analyzes each scene to enrich 4K content with real-world detail and texture. Even content filmed in 2K or Full HD is upscaled close to 4K. Resolution of each subject is then optimized to reproduce real-world textures.(2)
VPL-GTZ380 Key Features
Sony's flagship 4K SXRD laser projector VPL-GTZ380 offers an impressive visual experience in a home theater or living room, as well as corporate, entertainment and simulation environments. This projector delivers overwhelming image expression with its high contrast, brightness and HDR with wide color gamut in a compact body size (112 lbs.), vastly elevating customers' favorite movies, TV shows and games. The model also features "X1™ Ultimate for projector," to enable enhanced picture quality.
This groundbreaking projector incorporates a newly developed 0.74" native 4K SXRD™ panel with improved light stability and a new laser light source using a red laser diode in addition to the two different-wavelength blue laser diodes. This enables the model to achieve an impressive 10,000 lumens and a wide color gamut of 100% DCI-P3 without any loss of brightness. With low-heat and a compact chassis, this industry-leading projector offers flexible installation possibilities.
Availability
The VPL-VW715 model is available to order today in black or white at Best Buy, Amazon and other authorized dealers. For product details, please visit: VPL-VW715.
The VPL-VW915 model is available to order today in black at Best Buy, Amazon and other authorized dealers. For product details, please visit: VPL-VW915.
The VPL-GTZ380 model will be available this winter. For product details, please visit: VPL-GTZ380.

 

[DaveF]

Ok. These seem to add more pricing options to the lineup, not replacing older models. Going to need some experts and reviews to explain how these fit in with existing Sony lineup, and how price/performance is expected to compare to both Sony and competitors' products.

 

[John Dirk]

This enables the model to achieve an impressive 10,000 lumens and a wide color gamut of 100% DCI-P3 without any loss of brightness.

10,000 lumens or 10,000 nits? The latter seems more likely.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Developed by Sony or [more likely] Texas Instruments

...

10,000 lumens or 10,000 nits? The latter seems more likely.

Actually, since 1 nit = ~3.4 lumens, not likely... even though 10K lumens would be previously unheard of (and maybe unimaginable) brightness for (at least consumer level) FPs.

_Man_

 

[John Dirk]

Actually, since 1 nit = ~3.4 lumens, not likely... even though 10K lumens would be previously unheard of (and maybe unimaginable) brightness for (at least consumer level) FPs.

_Man_

You're right. Neither seems likely but this is a laser design, so maybe? I've pretty much given up on the notion of decent HDR from a projector. It can be a very expensive rabbit to chase.

 

[Sam Posten]

Going to need some experts and reviews to explain how these fit in

$30K Laser projector can't do Dolby Vision is all you need to know =p

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

You're right. Neither seems likely but this is a laser design, so maybe? I've pretty much given up on the notion of decent HDR from a projector. It can be a very expensive rabbit to chase.

Yeah... w/ this week's deal on the Epsons, I'm just going ahead w/ the 5050UB and reallocate the savings (vs a JVC NX5) elsewhere instead... and maybe revisit whatever high end offerings a few years or so from now. Maybe excellent HDR in the 100"-plus category will become more of a reality at that point (whether it's laser FP or some other tech). Meanwhile, I should probably still enjoy the upgrade of the 5050UB over my entry level, 1080p BenQ (along w/ all the other audio upgrades I'm considering)...

_Man_

 

[DaveF]

$30K Laser projector can't do Dolby Vision is all you need to know =p

I don’t know what to do with that info. I’m shopping in the $5000 range. And there are no Dolby Vision capable displays in that price class that do 120” diagonal. So, compromises...