Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary-2 Posted on September 1, 2009 By Art Feierman 1. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Overview2. VPL-HW15 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 Special Features - Sony VPL-HW15 Gamma Modes - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) - Individual SXRD panel adjustment3. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW15 Control Panel4. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-2 - Input/Output - VPL-HW15 Menus5. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW15 Remote Control - Sony VPL HW15 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality - VPL-HW15 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Flesh Tones - VPL-HW15 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-28. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-39. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-410. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-5 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-612. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-713. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-814. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-915. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-1016. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-11 - VPL-HW15 - Overall Color & Picture Quality17. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-12 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports18. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW15 Brightness - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)19. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Sharpness20. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-3 - Sony VPL-HW15: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise21. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW15 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Sony VPL-HW15 Basic Settings - RGB Settings22. Sony VPL-HW15 – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Sony VPL-HW15 – Competitors - VPL-HW15 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. BenQ W5000 - VPL-HW15 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300024. Sony VPL-HW15 – Warranty25. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - The Bottom Line26. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Typical Capabilities All considered, the VPL-HW15 is a formidable projector, well priced. It should have good appeal with many enthusiasts, typically those more “purist” oriented, who will appreciate the color accuracy and skin tone handling. Over three generations – from the VPL-VW40, to the VPL-HW10, and now the VPL-HW15, the newest is firmly planted in the mid-price range, while older models were priced well above the best selling mid-priced projectors. That’s another very good thing! The Bottom Line: A very worthy projector. Solid in all areas, impressive black levels, but skin tone handling and overall color are the real strength that makes the Sony VPL-HW15 deserve our Hot Product award. The lowering of the price point simply makes the HW15 even more deserving. The only real question is – what does the new competition look like. Unlike past years, when the Sony review units were very late getting out there, and Sony projectors were typically about the last new ones reviewed, this time Sony got their act together and provided review projectors roughly in line with the HW15’s release. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical CapabilitiesSony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros Very good “Out of the Box” picture quality Extremely good color accuracy post calibration in “best” mode Very good black level performance for the price, one of the best mid-priced projectors in this regard, but not the best. Overall, an excellent, well balanced picture! Film-like Good shadow detail One of the better dynamic irises, in terms of not being intrusive Two HDMI 1.3 inputs, full support for 24 fps, Deep Color, CEC etc. Very good menus Really nice remote Nice styling and look to the projector Projector lamp can be changed without unmounting the projector On the quiet side of average audible noise – should be no problem Good, just above average brightness in best mode An very good value proposition (worth the bucks!) at least so far Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Cons One of the least bright projectors in “brightest mode” limiting it for those who want to watch content like sports with more than the minimum ambient light present While it’s sharpness is average, it could be sharper (especially for digital content like HDTV sports) Relatively short throw zoom lens, may prevent a significant number of potential owners from rear shelf mounting While black levels really are very good, it is likely that several new direct competitors will be even better Dynamic iris is slow and action can be visible No support for an anamorphic lens Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Typical Capabilities About average brightness in “best” mode Audible noise (fan noise) Lamp life (unknown, but assumed to be average) Sharpness of the image, overall Shadow detail performance 1. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Overview2. VPL-HW15 Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 Special Features - Sony VPL-HW15 Gamma Modes - Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) - Individual SXRD panel adjustment3. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW15 Control Panel4. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-2 - Input/Output - VPL-HW15 Menus5. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW15 Remote Control - Sony VPL HW15 Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality - VPL-HW15 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - Flesh Tones - VPL-HW15 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-28. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-39. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-410. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-5 - Shadow Detail Performance11. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-612. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-713. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-814. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-915. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-1016. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-11 - VPL-HW15 - Overall Color & Picture Quality17. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Image Quality-12 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports18. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW15 Brightness - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Effect of zoom on lumen output (Dynamic mode): - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration)19. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Sharpness20. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Performance-3 - Sony VPL-HW15: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise21. Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW15 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Sony VPL-HW15 Basic Settings - RGB Settings22. Sony VPL-HW15 – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector Screen Recommendations23. Sony VPL-HW15 – Competitors - VPL-HW15 vs. Epson Home Cinema 6500UB - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z3000 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. BenQ W5000 - VPL-HW15 vs. Sony VPL-HW15 - Sony VPL-HW15 vs. Panasonic PT-AE300024. Sony VPL-HW15 – Warranty25. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector - The Bottom Line26. Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary-2 - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW15 Projector: Typical Capabilities Sony VPL-HW15 – Review Summary LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==