Sony VPL-HW15
The basics
The Sony VPL-HW15 is an SXRD home cinema projector with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080, contrast ratio of 60000:1 and 1000 lumen brightness. It features Bravia Engine 2 picture processing technology, two HDMI and one component video input, weighs 10kg and measures up at 407.4 x 179.2 x 463.9mm.
The good
Rather than standard DLP or LCD technology, the Sony VPL-HW15 creates its image using Sony’s own SXRD tech – and what a beautiful image it is. Its deep, dark black levels and blazingly bright whites combine to deliver a huge contrast range, and the stuff in between is rich with colour detail. Colour reproduction is more muted than some rivals, being warm and realistic rather than lurid and bold – you may prefer that approach, or you may not. The projector also sports effective picture processing tech to enhance detail, and its 2.5ms response time keeps motion smooth and natural.
On the usability front, the whisper-quiet fan and horizontal/vertical lens shift make for comfortable viewing and setup experiences respectively. It's also worth noting that the tiny spaces between pixels make it very hard to see the dot structure of the projected image, even when it's 100 inches across – this makes for a smooth, jaggy-free picture.
The bad
The Sony VPL-HW15 might be a technological marvel, but all that advanced gadgetry comes at a high price – a wallet-friendly projector this is not. It’d also benefit from a slightly brighter bulb to improve daytime picture performance. Other than that, it’s difficult to pick out a single subpar aspect.
The bottom line
It isn’t cheap, but the Sony VPL-HW15 is the sort of projector that’s both easy to live with and capable of transforming your home entertainment experience forever. A top performer in its class.
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