Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-2 Posted on October 7, 2011 By Art Feierman 1. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Overview2. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW30ES - Sony VPL-HW30ES Special Features3. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES 1.6:1 Zoom Lens - VPL-HW30ES Projector 3D Capabilities - 3D Glasses (they are optional): - VPL-HW30ES Creative Frame Interpolation - CFI - smooth motion - Sony VPL-HW30ES Pixel Adjust4. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW30ES Control Panel5. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour-2 - VPL-HW30ES Projector - Input/Output - VPL-HW30ES Menus - Sony VPL-HW30ES Remote Control6. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - Flesh Tones8. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Black Levels & Shadow Detail9. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-3 - Sony VPL-HW30 Shadow Detail Performance10. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-4 - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: VPL-HW30ES Projector - Bottom Line - Sony VPL-HW30ES - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports11. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-5 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV and Sports12. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW30ES Brightness - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 814 lumens13. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Pre-Calibration Color temp, Cinema Mode:14. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-315. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-4 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Sharpness16. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-5 - Sony VPL-HW30ES: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise17. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW30ES Color Temperature - Sony VPL-HW30ES Basic Settings18. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - VPL-HW30ES User Mode - VPL-HW30ES RGB Settings19. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Screen Recommendations20. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Warranty21. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Competitors - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Epson Pro Cinema 9700UB and Home 8700UB - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Sony VPL-VW90ES and VW95ES - VPL-HW30ES vs. Sharp XV-Z17000 - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Runco LS522. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - The Bottom Line23. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary-2 - VPL-HW30ES Color and Overall Picture Quality - The Very Bottom Line on the VPL-HW30ES projector:24. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Pros and Cons - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Typical Capabilities25. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Specifications One thing of particular note, is that the HW30ES is actually brighter in 3D than the VW90ES that we reviewed a few months ago. This relates to improvements, including new lamp dimming, which seems to make a real difference. I have yet to fully contemplate Sony’s explanation of how it works, but it is definitely brighter in 3D. The Sony projector has a nice feature set, including CFI for smoothing motion – which Sony calls MotionFlow, and a dynamic iris (named Auto Iris 3) to help it generate that ultra contrast performance that yields some impressive black levels. Whether you plan to watch 2D, or 3D, this Sony projector is geared for a home theater, rather than a family room. That said, it has lots of brightness – over 800 lumens in calibrated “best” mode, and an extra couple hundred lumens when you need a little extra for, perhaps, some HDTV content – sports, History HD, etc., with some ambient light. For those looking for more of a general purpose family room projector, the Sony will work fine, as long as you’ve got some good control of ambient light (also true of most other projectors geared for the “theater”, but some other projectors can bring a lot more brightness to the party, to allow more ambient light). The thing is, most of those, aren’t a match in terms of overall picture quality. If 3D is part of your thing, the VPL-HW30ES like every other higher quality 3D projector we’ve reviewed so far, could use some extra brightness. While this Sony is as bright, and brighter than almost all of the other 3D 1080p projectors we’ve reviewed – Optoma HD8300, JVC RS60, Mitsubishi HC9000D… note that there are some other new projectors, that will be reviewed soon, which are brighter, although some of those are geared for the family room.. One thing of particular note, is that the HW30ES is actually brighter in 3D than the VW90ES that we reviewed a few months ago. This relates to improvements, including new lamp dimming. I have yet to fully contemplate Sony’s explanation of how it works, but it is definitely brighter in 3D. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector HighlightsClick to enlarge. SO close 3D capable, includes supporting both 720p and 1080i/1080p 3D, including Blu-ray 3D and all DirecTV 3D we tested Medium large, reasonably good looking projector Large backlit remote control Very good color controls – calibrates very well Ultra high contrast projector with very good black performance 1.6:1 zoom lens, plus vertical and horizontal lens shift for flexibility Excellent warranty! Creative Frame Interpolation for smooth motion Sold through authorized local dealers Consider VPL-HW30ES as a rather excellent 2D projector with 3D abilities, relative to the $3700 price point Click Image to EnlargeSpecs for Sony VPL-HW30ESClick to enlarge. SO close MSRP: $3699. (no 3D glasses or emitter included) MSRP: $3999 (includes 3D glasses and emitter, VPL-HW30AES) Technology: 3 Panel LCoS (SXRD) Native Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080) Brightness: Manufacturer claim: 1300 lumens; Calibrated: 814 lumens, over 1100 maximum Contrast: 70,000:1 Zoom Lens ratio: 1.6:1 Manual zoom and focus Lens shift: Vertical and horizontal – manual controls Lamp life: 2000-3000 hours per Sony, no published spec Weight: 22.1lbs. (10 Kg) Warranty: 3 Year Parts and Labor (2 years. on lamp), with Express program Click Image to EnlargeSony VPL-HW30ES Special FeaturesClick to enlarge. SO close VPL-HW30ES Click Image to Enlarge 1. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Overview2. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Highlights - Specs for Sony VPL-HW30ES - Sony VPL-HW30ES Special Features3. Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES 1.6:1 Zoom Lens - VPL-HW30ES Projector 3D Capabilities - 3D Glasses (they are optional): - VPL-HW30ES Creative Frame Interpolation - CFI - smooth motion - Sony VPL-HW30ES Pixel Adjust4. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - Appearance - VPL-HW30ES Control Panel5. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour-2 - VPL-HW30ES Projector - Input/Output - VPL-HW30ES Menus - Sony VPL-HW30ES Remote Control6. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Physical Tour-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Lens Throw - Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens - Wide Screen7. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Out of the Box Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - Flesh Tones8. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Black Levels & Shadow Detail9. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-3 - Sony VPL-HW30 Shadow Detail Performance10. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-4 - Black Level and Shadow Detail Performance: VPL-HW30ES Projector - Bottom Line - Sony VPL-HW30ES - Overall Color & Picture Quality - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports11. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Image Quality-5 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Bottom Line on HDTV and Sports12. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance - Sony VPL-HW30ES Brightness - Post Calibration: User "best" mode = 814 lumens13. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Pre-Calibration Color temp, Cinema Mode:14. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-315. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-4 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Sharpness16. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Performance-5 - Sony VPL-HW30ES: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - Image Noise - Audible Noise17. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Calibration and Settings - Sony VPL-HW30ES Color Temperature - Sony VPL-HW30ES Basic Settings18. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Calibration and Settings-2 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Post Calibration Grayscale: User Mode - VPL-HW30ES User Mode - VPL-HW30ES RGB Settings19. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Projector Screens - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Screen Recommendations20. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector – Warranty21. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Competitors - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Epson Pro Cinema 9700UB and Home 8700UB - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Sony VPL-VW90ES and VW95ES - VPL-HW30ES vs. Sharp XV-Z17000 - Sony VPL-HW30ES vs. Runco LS522. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector - The Bottom Line23. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary-2 - VPL-HW30ES Color and Overall Picture Quality - The Very Bottom Line on the VPL-HW30ES projector:24. Sony VPL-HW30ES – Review Summary-3 - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Pros and Cons - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Pros - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Cons - Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector: Typical Capabilities25. Sony VPL-HW30ES Projector Specifications Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review Sony VPL-HW30ES Home Theater Projector Review-3