At IFA, Sony has announced two new home cinema projectors – the 4K VPL-VW500ES and a Full HD 3D home projector, the VPL-HW55ES. Both are designed to bring a big-screen cinema experience into the home.
The VPL-VW500ES home cinema projector sits alongside the VPL-VW1000ES, the world’s first native 4K home cinema projector, launched in January 2012. The new device offers DCI based 4,096 x 2,160 resolution, using native 4K SXRD panels that leverage Sony’s 4K expertise from the professional cinema market. In addition, the projector has HDMI 2.0 to accommodate 4K/60P content, which allows action to appear smoother, without the electronic enhancement of pixels. While supporting 4K native resolution, the VPL-VW500ES also features a 4K upscaler called Reality Creation. This enhances 1080p content, allowing viewers to enjoy 4K images from regular Blu-ray Discs, even in 3D. A further 4K upscaling algorithm is designed for ‘Mastered in 4K’ Blu-ray Discs from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The VPL-VW500ES has 1,700 ANSI-lumen brightness and a 200,000:1 contrast ratio, which delivers a sharper picture quality. The projector has rich colour reproduction thanks to TRILUMINOS display technology, an enhanced optical engine design and auto-calibration features. Its manual colour correction tool allows users to adjust the hue, saturation and brightness to their tastes. Motionflow picture technology also works to deliver less blurry images when watching fast-paced action.
The projector uses a 2.06 zoom powered lens with a wide shift range, which removes the requirement for additional platform extensions in ceiling mounts. A built-in RF transmitter provides further installation flexibility with a strong wireless signal for wider coverage.
The Full HD 3D VPL-HW55ES projector follows the footsteps of of Sony’s award-winning VPL-HW50ES, announced at IFA a your ago.
Enhanced light efficiency and an optimised optical block enable the VPL-HW55ES projector to reach 1,700 ANSI lumen brightness, delivering clearer images in well-lit environments. The VPL-HW55ES also has an approximately 5,000 hour lamp life due to an improved lamp cooling system.
An optical engine upgrade, contrast enhancer technology and Advanced Iris 3 technology enable a dynamic contrast ratio of more than 120,000:1. Additional features such as Sony’s Bright Cinema and Bright TV mode, with SXRD panels, enhance the 3D image even further. The projector also has Sony’s Reality Creation technology.
The VPL-HW55ES has a built-in 3D IR transmitter. It is also compatible with an external 3D RF transmitter which provides further 3D synchronisation stability and coverage.
Both projectors have wireless HDMI compatibility as optional accessories. This enables them to receive a video signal from Blu-ray players and game consoles, allowing the AV environment to remain clutter free.
Commenting on the 4K VPL-VW500ES home cinema projector and the Full HD 3D VPL-HW55ES, Tak Nakane, product manager at Sony Europe, said: “The VPL-VW500ES brings the cinema experience into the home like never before and reinforces Sony’s commitment to lead in 4K innovation from lens to living room. Innovations such as Sony’s 4K SXRD panels provide unrivalled picture quality at high resolution to make the 4K dream a more affordable reality. The addition of the VPL-HW55ES provides a premium 3D home cinema experience and expands the product range from which our customers can choose.”
Both the VPL-VW500ES and the VPL-HW55ES are available from the end of October.
