New Sony VPL-HW30ES 3D Home Cinema Projector
June 21st, 2011 Art FeiermanWow! This is cool. The announcement of the VPL-HW30ES first appeared almost a week ago, over in Europe. I heard about it at the end of Infocomm. Sorry it’s taken me so long to write about the HW30ES, or HW30, whichever it ends up being called. The first announcement only mentioned the EU and Japan. TWICE magazine posted information about the VPL-HW30 projector, with a price for the US market.
I mentioned it, so let’s get that out of the way. It was reported that the VPL-HW30 will sell for $3699.
The price point should shake up the young field of 3D ready home cinema projectors.
The Sony VPL-HW30ES projector is claiming 1300 lumens – the same as the three more expensive JVC 3D ready projectors, but the one JVC we received for review was very disappointing in terms of brightness. We would expect this Sony HW30ES to do a lot better.
Contrast (using a dynamic iris) is 70,000:1.
The HW30ES handles up to 240hz, a definite plus not found on many lower cost 3D projectors. Sony’s new active shutter glasses (apparently not included), are $129. The real news is the weight, which is an exceptionally light 59 grams – just over 2 ounces.
Apparently, the emitter for the 3D glasses is optional at $79.95 and outboard. A small savings for those not into 3D, or at least not yet. Still an emitter and four to six pair of glasses, will be a nice little additional dent into your credit card.
I can’t wait to lay my hands on this Sony projector. I’ve got the content all ready and waiting. Come on, Sony! -art
June 22nd, 2011 at 12:18 pm
It’s incredible to see new projectors coming out, this early.
Also to see 3D getting much cheaper.
Cannot wait to see you review them.
June 25th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Yep, Matthieu it was a terrible fall for new home projectors. A few interesting ones this summer, plus the Panny, etc. 2nd half of 2011 should be a good one for a change.
July 25th, 2011 at 3:44 am
When is your 2011 Best Projector review going to be up? Will it include 3D projectors as well?
July 27th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Greetings Nishanth,
Let me start by saying this, it won’t be like previous years. This was too screwy a year for new projectors, mostly updates and re-treads, with little more than firmware improvements. In fact a good deal of the action is in 3D.
So, for the report, which I’m cobbling together (I’ve just started organizing it), one thing that’s different will be 3D.
I’ve decided to deal with the 1080p ultra high contrast projectors that are claiming 2D and 3D, as a Class. (It will encompass the Sony, JVC, Sharp, and Mitsubishi projectors that I’ve reviewed. Thus I expect a 2D/3D award, plus there to be the usual $3500-$10,000 range, 2D.
Looks like a one page (mine can be long, you know) summary of the 2D/3D class, comparing all of them. -art