Sony VPL-VW1100ES 4K Projector - Summary Page 2

VPL-VW1100ES Features

Just a quick reminder of some of the advanced features, most of which have been previously mentioned

• Reality Creation - enhances sharpness and detail
• Motion Flow - CFI - creative frame interpolation
• Panel Alignment - digitally compensates from any panel misalignment
• HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 - supports the latest standards needed for Blu-ray HD and more
• Advanced dynamic/manual iris - can be full dynamic, or limit maximum iris opening either manually, or in conjunction with dynamic usage
• Extensive Color Space and Gamma presets
• 3D - supports all the usual 1080p 3D standards (4K 3D is unknown)
• Lens Memory - quickly toggle between 1.85:1 and 2.35:1, etc.
• Hard wired Networking
• Optional 4K media server and download service

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Sony's VPL-VW1100ES Home Theater Projector - The Bottom Line

It's expensive, at least for most of us, at $27,999, but this Sony has the best picture I've ever seen.  Oh, I've been dazzled by 1080p 3 chip DLP's which have something special going for them - that elusive DLP look and feel, but at the end of the day, this Sony with 4K content is still going to be sharper and more detailed.  Further, it should match or beat just about every 3 chip DLP in terms of black level performance, giving the Sony a significantly more alive picture on those dark scenes.  In fairness I really don't get to see some of the most expensive Runcos and SIM2 projectors which can cost three or four times this Sony.  But, if your budget is less than the amount needed to buy a house, this Sony is likely the pinnacle of today's projectors.

What's most outstanding?  True, the 4K content is beautifully sharp, but it's really Sony's ability to pair the sharpness with some of the most gorgeous, most natural, and accurate looking color possible.  Yes we calibrated the projector to get that, but, who's not going to calibrate a projector this expensive?

Got the budget?  Got a proper room for a large screen - you can go smaller, but I'd think 120 to 150 inches diagonal is where you really want to be, and you could go larger, you've got the brightness, at least for 2D.

One thing.  The VW1100ES has internal IR support for 3D IR glasses.  I'd definitely recommend going for XPANDs RF 3D emitter which plugs right into the 3D sync jack on the Sony.  $200 for the emitter and some extra for RF glasses shouldn't damage your budget.  OK, the Sony comes with 2 pair of IR glasses, donate them to someone with an older Sony projector, that hasn't switched to RF.

Killer projector!  It has no serious competition, of course at 4K.  The only other 4K projector for sale in the US at this time is Sony's VPL-VW600ES, at $14,999.  There's not much comparison between them, though.  This Sony has far superior black levels, more placement flexibility, better optics and Lens Memory, to mention the most obvious things.   At the end of the day, though, it's the picture, and while the lower cost Sony is close at most things, on dark scenes, the VW600 has the black level performance of a good $3000ish 1080p projector.

The VW1100ES, though, is about as good as those black levels get, with the exception of some 1080p JVCs.  In other words, Sony's VW1100ES offers superior performance on dark scenes, along with spectacular color, accuracy, sharpness, and along with all of that, a natural look to color in general, and most notably skin tones.  Truly it's a "what's not to like" situation.  I think perhaps, buying one of these Sony's and setting up a room to enjoy it, is what equity lines were created for.  Sweet!  Or as my 22 year old daughter and her friends might say, while bending the english language:  "This is one sick projector."

Pros

Cons