The VPLVW40 BRAVIA home cinema projector uses Sony’s BRAVIA Engine & trade full digital video processor for crisp and clear images. A digital contrast enhancer circuit improves contrast by enhancing all areas from dark to bright in parallel with texture control providing a three dimensional picture. Details in dark areas of the picture are there, just like they are supposed to be. Sony’s Advanced Iris function uses algorithms designed to analyze the histogram of each picture along with nonlinear amplification to dynamically adjust the iris for its optimum opening. The result is a stunningly high contrast ratio of up to 15,000:1. A Sony-designed fan efficiently removes heat at a barely noticeable noise spec of 22dB. Advanced Sony technologies ensure a clean picture, while the ultra quiet fan means noise won’t distract you from the beautiful projections. A specially designed crisp focus lens was developed to take full advantage of the full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution that the SXRD panel device offers. SXRD is a display technology developed by the legendary television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a high definition image at its full 1080-line resolution. It is a 1920 x 1080p panel characterized by several key benefits, including full HD resolution, smooth film-like image with minimal screen door effects, high response times (2.5ms rise and fall), high contrast ratios, and accurate color rendition. PC video input, remote network connections (RS-232C), 12V trigger input Acceptable signals – 480/60i, 480/60p, 575/50i, 575/50p, 720/50p, 720/60p, 1080/50i, 1080/50p, 1080/60i, and 1080/60p Ultra high-pressure lamp (200W) for natural color 900 lumens brightness 3DY comb filter DRC palette presets (mode 1, mode 2) Color system – Auto, NTSC, PAL, and SECAM Wide mode – Wide zoom/normal/full/zoom Dimensions – Width 15.55 x Height 6.83 x Depth 18.56 Weight – 24.25 pounds

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars I’m in Heaven
I just hooked up my Sony vpl-vw40 projector and I’m very happy with it. I must admit that I have little experience and don’t have an extensive comparison backround, but it is more that I had hoped for. Nice blacks, vibrant colors. Also a very simple remote with intuitive functions. I just had over 20 people over- we watched “Night at the Museum” on Blue ray with a superb full 1080 res and then “Crouching Tiger” on traditional DVD. Upscaling to 1080p was great. Not quite as good as the BlueRay but pretty dang good for making up info. Everyone was amazed at the clarity. I hooked it to a Denon AVR-2308CI Home theater A/V Receiver and Fluance(tm) 5 Speaker SXHTB+ Surround Sound Home Theater System SX-HTB+. The speakers just boggle me. So much for so little. Anyways- there’s not any reviews I can see so far on this new projector, so hopefully this will be of use.

Jim

5 Stars VPL-VW40
Only one word…..AMAZING…..The picture quality, the blacks, the contrast….all excelent. Thanks to Sony for make another great product.

5 Stars 1080p front projection finally at an affordable price
I picked up the Sony VPL-VW40 to replace an aging 720p VPL-HS51 that has worked pretty well for over 3 years. One warranty repair was needed on the HS51 for a problem with the blue filter about a year and a half in, and it’s now out of warranty and was also about due for another lamp replacement so it seemed like a good time to upgrade.

I was a little worried that the VW40 might not be bright enough since it reportedly has a little lower maximum light output than the Epson 1080UB (which I also looked at), but I shouldn’t have been worried since I only project an about 85″ image (small room). To me the VW40 actually looks slightly brighter than the HS51 if anything. The big difference, though, is in resolution and black level. The image is much sharper and more detailed, especially with a 1080p source. I think it even looks somewhat better on upconverted content. It’s also quieter and I can’t even hear the fan noise unless I listen carefully for it. One thing I struggled with a bit is the sheer size and weight of the VW40. It’s a significant increase in both size and weight from the HS51 and I had to modify my home built ceiling mount to ensure it could handle it. It’s over 24lbs while the HS51 was less than 13lbs.

My reasons for choosing this model over the 1080UB include a couple of main factors. First, I’ve become accustomed to Sony projectors and I liked the similar features/connections/menus/etc. Secondly, the Sony is an SXRD (LCOS) projector vs the 3-LCD Epson. It has a sealed light path, so the need for a frequently replaced fine particle air filter is largely eliminated as is the danger of getting “dust blobs” in the picture. I’ve also heard some reports of convergence problems on the Epson. Otherwise, the performance of the projectors is very similar, with the Epson having a slight edge in maximum light output as well as black level, however both are so much better than the previous generation that the difference between them seems minor.

So far I’m very pleased with the projector’s performance, however, since it only comes with a 1-year warranty and my HS51 needed a warranty repair after more than 1 year I went ahead and got the extended warranty on this one, and would probably recommend that others do the same. As such you may want to factor that in to the total cost when comparing this unit with other models that may come with longer standard warranties (I believe the Epson has 2 years). I think you can even add the warranty to a refurbished unit if you want to make up for some of the extra cost, and Sony sometimes has an extra 10% off coupon for refurbished products.

Buy/More Info

Included Accessories: Remote control (RM-PJVW100), AC cord, 2 AA batteries, lens cap, CD-ROM and instruction manual.

With Sony’s VPL-VW50 SXRD 1080p Home Theater Front Projector you can transform your home into the ultimate movie theater. Bring your entertainment to life with full high-definition resolution and superior picture quality — the SXRD display technology exceeds the demands of high definition images at full 1080 line resolution. It’s packed with features like advanced iris function, 15,000:1 contrast ratio and three SXRD 1920 x 1080 panels that provide full 1080p resolution. An All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) lens, Real Color Processor (RCP) that further enhances colors and images, an ultra-quiet fan and an improved lamp life. Images in bright scenes are crisp and clear and black levels in dark scenes are deep and detailed. You’ll get full HD resolution, smooth film-like image with minimal screen door effects, high response times (2.5ms rise and fall), high contrast ratios and accurate color rendition. Bring your entertainment to life with the VPL-VW50 SXRD 1080p Home Theater Front Projector. Projection Picture Size – 40 to 300 measured diagonally Wide Mode – Full, Normal, Wide Zoom, Zoom Panel Type – 0.61 SXRD panel (2,073,600 pixels per panel) Vertical Keystone On/off lens control High altitude mode 3DY Comb Filter Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) input – 1 (side) S-Video input(s) – Y/C mini DIN 4-pin type Network connection – D-sub 9-pin (female) RJ-45 10 BASE-T/100BASE-TX RS232 Control – Remote connector (D-sub 9) PC inputs – 1 (side) – Maximum resolution – 1920 x 1080; fV – 60Hz HDMI connections – 2 (side) Digital RGB/Y/Cb(Pb)Cr(Pr) with PC timing support DVI signal settings – Auto, Computer, Video GBR Auto, NTSC, PAL, SECAM color systems support Optional Accessories – LMP-H200 Replacement Lamp, Black(PSS-610) or White(PSS-H10) Ceiling Mounts Co

Buy/More Info

Step into a dimension in projectors with ViewSonic’s FuHzion PJD6220-3D. Install the PJD6220-3D in your home theater and enjoy the immaculate, lifelike images from the revolutionary 120Hz frame rate. BrilliantColor technology produces more vibrant colors, while the high brightness and contrast ratios make this projector shine in most any setting. This projector can be mounted on the ceiling or in an entertainment cabinet. RJ-45 connectivity enables remote network control, while the extensive input options and integrated 2×5-watt speakers deliver a truly dynamic multimedia experience. This projector even features closed captioning for the hearing impaired.

Buy/More Info

The Mitsubishi HC4900 is an affordable 1080p high definition projector. This LCD projector displays images at 1000 ANSI lumens with a crisp 7500:1 contrast ratio for an extraordinary picture that’s even more affordable. It’s a home theater projector that will bring a real cinema experience to your screen.This home theater projector features a new-generation of true HD (1920X1080) resolution, C2Fine inorganic LCD panel. Inorganic LCD components extend the life of your high definition projector and produce a more robust picture with smooth transitions and fast response. Together with all-digital HDMI and DVI connections you maintain all the image quality from your best video source to the screen.This home theater projector produces clear and bright video through an optical engine with an automatic “cat’s eye” iris that sharpens the images from your high definition projector with contrast ratios as high as 7500:1. A unique Mitsubishi algorithm optimizes contrast by constantly detecting and adjusting to video color and luminance information.The HC4900 LCD projector operates at an ultra-quiet 19dBA noise level (low mode) so you can sit back and enjoy your movies, sports, and TV without any distracting fan noise. The sleek cabinet is available in black or white and features power zoom and focus, plus lens shift, and a convenient side lamp access design to provide you with flexible options for installation. It also includes a computer input port and RS-232 connection for remote projector control.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent HD 1080p Projector
By way of introduction, let me say that I am not an AV or Home Theater expert. However, I have done a lot of research in the last few weeks and finally decided on this projector. I do not regret that decision!

I originally was looking at the Mitsubishi HC1500 and Optoma HD72. Both seemed to get good reviews and the Mitsubishi was under $1,000. I went to tweeters and they only suggested a Sony projector that was almost $5,000. It was nice, but had a dedicated theater room and their lights couldn’t come up to show what it was like in normal lighting. Typically for projectors you want it as dark as possible, but I knew that it was not practical for me to have my room dark at all times. Yes, to watch a movie at night – definitely, but to watch an episode or even play an Xbox 360 game there may be others sharing the room and I can’t have them in the pitch black darkness.

I went to Best Buy and they had the Optoma HD70 on display. It looked great in the darkened room, but with the house lights on, it also looked good. It wasn’t too washed out. Of course everything will look better in the dark, but the point is it is watchable with lights on. I wanted a large screen, but I also wanted to be able to watch things with some lights on. The HC1500 had better reviews from a brightness of the screen (even in lit rooms) than that HD72, so I made up my mind to get the HC4900 after seeing the old HD70 in action.

So I came back to get it and low and behold I was still bothered by the fact that I was going to spend about a thousand bucks on “old” technology – 720p. I knew I didn’t have any pressing need to go with 1080p as I don’t have digital cable or satellite. Most of my things would be upscaled and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the 1080p anyway. A few Xbox 360 games support it, but not a great deal. So I was going to live with the inferior 720p display. However, I found the HC4900 – the product I’m reviewing (in a very long winded way).

This projector is awesome. After rebates and looking at the lamp life, I determined that the two projectors are close in price. The HC1500 lasts at tops 3000 hours. The HC4900 lasts at tops 5000 hours. Assuming you watch 5 hours a day – which is a lot, that is 19 months versus 32 months. That amount of display time is very liberal. I just won’t use it that much, but even with those numbers and the prices of the lamps being the same I would need to replace the HC1500 lamp a lot sooner than the HC4900 lamp. So if I factored in the cost of the lamp and projected out to a year and half down the road, the HC4900 is just a little bit more. So that little bit extra for 1080p was a no brainer for me. Your mileage may vary, but I’m very happy with the purchase I made.

The picture on this projector is great with the lights fully lit, partially lit and of course the room totally dark. I’m am very happy with the results of this projector! Some people complain about the black not being black enough versus other projectors. It is fine for my uses and I can’t tell an issue. Again, I came from SD so I’m not the most knowledgeable on this, but for my viewing pleasure this 1080p for this price cannot be beat right now. This projector is super quiet as well. I have to get very close to it to hear the fan and then I have to strain. With any audio the fan noise vanishes altogether.

I have no idea how this compares to other projectors, but compared to a flat screen TV from a price perspective this can’t be beat. Just don’t forget to calculate in cost for the ceiling mount and a screen and where you will hook up all of your AV equipment. This goes for any projector obviously, but it is good to have these things laid out ahead of time. Remember projectors do not have any audio and you will need a receiver / amplifier.

5 Stars Best viewing experience for the price?
First off, here is a little bit information about my setup.

I have this unit mounted in my living room which is about 16 feet by 12 feet in dimensions. I have it ceiling mounted approximately 14 feet from the screen I’m projecting onto. I currently run one HDMI source and two component sources to the unit; my Playstation 3 (1080p), XBOX(720p), HD Cable(720p, 1080i).

And as for the unit itself:

It outperforms my best expectations.

It is almost absolutely silent. My XBOX is louder than the projector is.

The image is 100″ diagonal, crystal clear, vibrant in color, and the blacks are black. The image is perfect, I never see a delay in the image or fault in the clarity.

What I would call it’s only fault is that it doesn’t come with keystone correction. So for a perfectly even, rectangular image you have to mount the projector completely level. This however isn’t much of a fault, any time you change the keystone it degrades the resolution (or as I understand it). However if you don’t like the fact that your image is being displayed too high or too low, the projector does have lens shift feature which allows you to move the image from the left, right, up or down. So even if you have it completely even with you ceiling you can still have an eye level image.

The universal mounting bracket I got for the unit had four handles to attach to the projector, however the HC4900 has only three screw holes for mounting brackets. It however is very stable.

The ANSI lumens is 1000, but I haven’t had a problem with too much light in the room. I can watch movies with two lamps on and not experience a problem.

All and all I’m very happy with my purchase.

4 Stars Nice Projector
I got the most awsome deal on this baby at a local retailer.

I paid only $495.00 for it. It was the display unit but had only 40 Hours on the lamp based on the internal timer.

I have a HC3000U 720p Mitsubishi DLP projector as well.

I was very pleased with my HC3000U and had no real reason to spend the extra money on a 1080p projector until I got this one for such a steal.

I truly like the motorized zoom, focus and lens shift that this unit has.

It makes for a really easy installation.

As for the picture I like the color reproduction and the sharpness.

The biggest difference that I see between the HC 4900 and the HC 3000 is that the picture from the 4900 is more vivid. I always felt that the image from the HC3000 was on the soft side.

I will say that the HC4900 does not have the same quality of black levels as did the HC3000. I would imagine that this is due to the difference in the technology being used LCD vs. DLP. I oredered the Joe Kane Digital Video Essentials Blu-Ray disc and expect to receive it this week.

I am sure that once I do a calibration of the projector it will only get better.

Just one more comment for those debating 720p vs. 1080p.

Save the money. Both projectors produce an excellent picture with no real difference seen between the two. When watching a 110″ picture from at least 8 foot away you will never see the difference in the pixel count.

Unless you walk up to the screen and see the difference in pixel density you will there ver be an appreciable differnce, and nobody sits that close to the screen anyways.

Buy/More Info