Sony usually goes in two-year cycles with new projectors, and this was supposed to be an off year. But Sony is breaking the mold to take advantage of forthcoming HDR content on the broadcast side, introducing at CEDIA 2016 the new native 4K VPL-VW675ES ($15,000), Sony’s first projector to support Hybrid Log Gamma in preparation for future HDR broadcast content.
The projector is similar to the VW665ES, but with the higher bandwidth needed to support HDR (60P). While Sony was at it, the company went ahead and upped the contrast ratio to 350,000:1.
This is Sony’s eighth 4K projector for the home, and the company touts its undisputed leadership in the category. Sony owns the SXRD technology that packs 8 million pixels onto a tiny piece of silicon to deliver true 4K. Others are only just coming out with 4K or (historically) quasi-4K solutions, to which Sony product marketing manager Andre Floyd responds: “It’s good to see other manufacturers validating what we started 10 years ago.”
Electronic Lens Control
Despite the 4K splendor and the impressive specs of the new projector (press release below), there’s one particularly interesting feature that Sony is implementing for the first time: electronic lens control.
The feature is especially useful for installers who usually have to climb on ladders to make adjustments to a lens. With this projector, though, dealers can zoom, focus and shift the lens from the comfort of their clients’ couch.
“It’s good for set-up, but also for accommodating multiple screen sizes and different shapes,” says Floyd. “You can access settings with the press of a button.”
Since Sony has been a long-time supporter of the custom channel, the projector integrates with popular home automation systems via IP and RS-232.
As Sony spokesperson Thomas Laemmel says, “The big news is that we're showing a lot of love to the custom installer market.”
Projector Shootout at CEDIA
The demos are part of two 90-minute Sony training sessions at the show, Sony Electronics: Home Projector Solutions from Full HD to 4K HDR – See the Difference
Experience Sony’s complete home theater projector lineup and learn why Sony projectors are great solutions for your clients. From entry-level HD to state-of-the-art 4K HDR, Sony projectors offer easy installation and easy maintenance with pristine picture quality. We’ll demonstrate how each feature delivers a competitive advantage. Then, see for yourself how Sony’s latest lineup of Projectors compare against key competitors in a live shoot-out.
Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas Ballroom D
- Friday, September 16, 11:00 AM – 12:30
- Friday, September 16, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Visit Sony, booth 2710 at CEDIA 2016.
PRESS RELEASE
Sony Electronics Announces the Latest Addition to its 4K HDR Home Theater Projector Line-Up at CEDIA 2016
The VPL-VW675ES is Sony’s first projector to support Hybrid Log Gamma in preparation for future HDR broadcast content
DALLAS, September 14, 2016 (CEDIA Booth #3710) – Today, Sony Electronics is expanding its home theater line-up with the announcement of the VPL-VW675ES, a new, compact native 4K resolution Home Cinema projector supporting the latest 4K standards and compatible with HDR to get the very best out of today’s content. As demand for 4K HDR content continues to grow, the VPL- VW675ES is an ideal home cinema or living room theatre solution for movie, TV and sporting event fans who want to watch the content they love with the most spectacular image quality.
“Sony is the leader in full native 4K resolution projectors for the home theater market,” said André Floyd, Product Manager for projectors at Sony Electronics Inc. “The successor to the award-winning VPL-VW665ES introduced just last year at CEDIA, , the VPL-VW675ES demonstrates our continuing commitment to provide cutting-edge home cinema technology to our customers and the custom install channel.”
Breathtaking Picture Quality
The VPL-VW675ES will be amongst the industry’s first home cinema projectors to support Hybrid Log-Gamma (HyLG) for HDR broadcasting services and user generated content – through a firmware update to be provided soon after the new HDMI specification is standardized. Sony’s newest home projector joins the existing ES line-up with home cinema standard HDR 10 support and is compatible with streamed HDR content from Amazon, Netflix and video streaming services, as well as Ultra HD Blu-ray players. HDR offers an extremely wide range of brightness levels allowing for a tremendous increase in the volume of displayable colors to deliver images that match the director’s intentions and vision. VPL-VW675ES also includes a feature which enables customers to adjust the average screen brightness, depending on their environments or preferences, while maintaining accurate HDR reproduction.
Like Sony’s other award-winning 4K HDR home theater projectors, the VPL-VW675ES uses native 4K SXRD™ panels, with no artificial manipulation of pixels. Rich and accurate color reproduction is ensured by Sony’s proprietary TRILUMINOS™ engine design, while
Motionflow™ picture technology serves to deliver clearer, less blurry images when watching fast-paced, cinematic or sports action.
With its native 4K resolution panel, the VPL-VW675ES provides precise and clear images with improved Reality Creation function for 4K signals , and supports HDR capability both for 4K 24P and 4K 60P for fully enjoying various 4K HDR content. It delivers an impressive 1,800 lumens brightness, a dynamic contrast ratio of 350,000:1 and Sony’s unique 4K technology for further improvements on picture quality.
User Friendly
Thanks to its low fan noise, entertainment lovers can view their favorite programs undisturbed. Viewers can also expect fewer interruptions and reduced maintenance thanks to Sony’s long-lasting lamp technology, which has a higher brightness retention, requires less maintenance, and provides up to 6,000 hours of operation (in Low Mode). A built-in RF 3D transmitter makes it easy to provide further adaptability with a strong wireless signal for wider coverage and 3D synchronisation stability, while a built-in auto calibration function resets the projector colorimetry to original factory levels to ensure viewers can continue to enjoy high picture quality throughout the life of the projector. And, the VPL-VW675ES allows users to enjoy up-to-date 4K content services through the latest connectivity options using the latest HDMI standard and HDCP 2.2 on both inputs.
Installation friendly
From native 4K to full HD 3D resolution, the new Sony Home Theater projectors are packed with the latest innovative technologies to make home theater more enjoyable for end users and the projectors are friendlier to install for dealers. Professional calibration features allow operators to expertly adjust the picture to suit the viewers’ tastes. These color correction tools allow access to adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of each color and the color space for red, green, blue respectively, to their desired level. The VPL-VW675ES’s compact size powered 2.06 zoom and wide-angle lens allows for flexible and easy installation. And the front exhaust enables a wide range of installation opportunities.
Installers can also take advantage of Projector Calibration Pro software on HD through 4K Sony home theater models, allowing them to manipulate all of a projector’s features from a simple PC interface, including the sophisticated color calibration tools. Setup configurations can be saved to a file to upload to any future installations, making future calibrations that much quicker. Additional adjustments made for a particular client can be saved in a separate file that will allow the installer to easily recall their original calibrations if ever needed to tweak that client’s system in the future.
Pricing and Availability
The VPL-VW675ES home theater projector will be available in November 2016. MSRP is $14,999.99. Custom installers and other CEDIA attendees can get a first look at the CEDIA Sony Booth #3710.
