Laser for all Sony SXRD projectors

Since 2017 and the release of the VW260ES which had helped to democratize Sony’s SXRD technology, the Japanese manufacturer’s entry-level projectors had not really evolved. The Sony VPL-VW270ES in 2018 and VW290ES in 2020 still used a high-pressure lamp as a light source and an imposing chassis. It will have been necessary to wait until 2022 for Sony to truly renew its range of video projectors with significant changes to the key, since the new models inherit a new, more compact chassis and abandon the lamps for the laser, brighter, more economical and more enduring. . In addition to the instantaneous ignition authorized by the laser, the latter also ensures a lifespan of the order of 20,000 hours, that is to say much more than the 3000 and 6000 hours of a UHP lamp.

The 0.73-inch SRXD chip of previous models, displaying a 4K cinema definition of 4096 x 2160 pixels, is replaced by a new, slightly smaller 0.61-inch SXRD chip which is satisfied with a native definition. Ultra HD of 3840 x 2160 pixels to match current Ultra HD content. This new chip is covered with a layer of reflective silicone allowing better management of the light and offering it increased resistance, in particular to absorb the strong luminosity of the laser. Sony ensures that the contrast is further improved, which will have to be verified during the tests. Remember, however, that the native contrast measured on SXRD projectors is three to four times higher than that of Ultra HD projectors using a DLP chip. The Sony VW290ES, for example, displays a contrast of 2820:1 against only 700 to 800:1 for the Optoma UHD35 and BenQ W2700 equipped with a 0.47″ DLP chip.

Sony’s new projectors use the Sony X1 Ultimate video processor from Bravia televisions in a version optimized for video projectors. This processor is 2.8 times more powerful than the X1 used on previous models and allows high-performance image processing on several levels: noise reduction and scaling from an object database , but also sharpness compensation in the corners of the image (Digital Focus Optimizer). The light emitted by the laser being fixed, the HDR rendering also benefits from the power of the processor to express itself correctly: the brighter image areas display an enhanced brightness and conversely, the dark areas see their brightness reduced by software way. The objective is to get as close as possible to the HDR reference luminance curve for rendering close to the director’s vision, which is quite complicated on a video projector.

Sony VPL-XW5000ES: the new entry-level SXRD Ultra HD benchmark

While the Sony VPL-XW5000ES — sold for around €6,000 — can be considered the replacement for the VW290ES in this price range, it is closer to the Sony VPL-VW790ES — sold for nearly €9,000 — in terms of features. Indeed, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES uses a laser light source delivering 2000 lumens as well as a 54 mm diameter aspherical lens with 10 elements (one in resin and nine in glass) for a throw ratio of 1:1.38 at 1:2.21. This model loses the VW290ES lens shift and motorized zoom. The lens shift remains possible vertically on ±71% and horizontally on ±25%, just like the 1.6x zoom, but you have to use the wheels placed on the chassis.

The new Sony XW5000ES chassis is 30% smaller than the VW790ES while being 35% lighter. The XW5000ES thus measures 47.2 cm deep, 46 cm wide and 20 cm high for a mass of 13 kg and a volume of 36 liters, compared to the 51 liters and 20 kg of the VW760ES.

At the connector level, there is a 12 V switch to control motorized screens for example, a connector for an external infrared receiver, a USB port, an RS-232 port and an Ethernet port for integration into home automation systems, as well as two HDMI 2.0b ports. Sony does not include the functionalities of HDMI 2.1 such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) or eARC, even if the interest of the latter is very limited with a video projector since the audio system is directly connected to the source. The absence of the ALLM is more problematic, because it allows automatic switching to game mode. Sony also announces a display delay of only 13 ms in 1080p 120 Hz and 21 ms in 4K 60 Hz, values reduced which result in an almost non-existent lag between the action on the controller and its repercussion on the screen. The lack of VRR is more problematic, but no projector supports variable refresh rate. This technology present on the latest generation consoles and PCs makes it possible to adjust the refresh rate to the number of images sent by the console in order to avoid image tearing and jerks.

The Sony VPL-XW5000ES retails for around €6,000 with a standard warranty of three years or 7,000 hours of operation (6.5 hours/day for three years).

Sony VPL-XW7000ES: Improved optics and increased brightness to 3200 lumens

The Sony VPL-XW7000ES uses the same chip as the 5000ES model, but has better optics and a brighter laser that can reach 3200 lumens. The XW7000ES uses 70mm ACF (Advanced Crisp Focus) aspherical optics made up of 13 elements (one resin and twelve glass) including four extra-low dispersion glasses. This larger optic with an increased number of elements produces a wider noble zone, which allows to enlarge the range of use of the lens shift and the zoom. The lens shift is thus possible on ±85% vertically and on ±36% horizontally while the zoom increases to 2.1x. Another major difference compared to the XW5000ES, the lens shift and the zoom are motorized and can be managed directly from the remote control.

The new Sony XW7000ES chassis is 20% smaller than the VW790ES while being 30% lighter. The XW7000ES thus measures 51.7 cm deep, 46 cm wide and 21 cm high, for a mass of 14 kg and a volume of 42 l compared to the 51 l and 20 kg of the VW760ES.

The Sony XW7000ES uses the connectors of the XW5000ES and adds a connector for the synchronization system with the 3D RF glasses, which therefore means that this model is also compatible with 3D content. It also skips HDMI 2.1.

Also backed by a three-year or 7,000-hour warranty, the Sony VPL-XW7000ES retails for around €15,000.