Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Summary 2 – The Bottom Line, Pros and Cons Posted on July 10, 2014 By Lisa Feierman 1. Sony VPL-HW45ES Home Theater Projector Review - VPL-HW45ES Overview - VPL-HW45ES Highlights2. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Special Features - REALITY CREATION - Panel Alignment - 3D Performance - Sony VPL-HW45ES Input Lag - for Gaming3. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Special Features 2 - 3D Glasses Are Optional - About Dynamic Irises - or lack of them, and Black Levels - SONY Wireless HDMI Option - Sony Motion Enhancer - Creative Frame Interpolation4. Sony VPL-The VPL-HW45ES Projector – Hardware Features and Tour - VPL-HW45ES Projector: Overview - From the Front - Lens Controls - Sony VPL-HW45ES - Control Panel: VPL-HW45ES - Inputs and Connectors: Sony HW45ES Projector5. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Hardware Tour 2 - Sony Remote Control - Sony VPL-HW45ES Menus - Bottom Line on Hardware and Menus6. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector: Picture Quality - "Out of the Box" Picture Quality - Skin Tones - Sony VPL-HW45ES Black Level Performance - Descriptions of the Images Above7. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Picture Quality 2 - Sony VPL-HW45ES Dark Shadow Detail - Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector For HDTV And Sports - Overall Picture Quality: VPL-HW45ES - Mode Comparisons8. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Performance 1 - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness - Effect of Lens Zoom on Brightness - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness: Calibrated - Reference vs Bright Cinema - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness: Calibrated, Eco-mode9. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Performance 2 - Sharpness and Image Noise - Audible Noise10. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Calibration & Settings - Sony VLP-HW45ES Calibration Presets notes - Pre-Calibration Color Temp (D65 pre-set) over IRE Range - Sony VPL-HW45ES Pre- and Post-Calibration Settings, By Mode - Reference Mode Pre-Calibration - Bright Cinema Mode Pre-Calibration - Post-Calibration Color Temperature11. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Reference Mode Post-Calibration - Bright Cinema Mode Post-Calibration12. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector: Summary - The HW45ES Picture - and the Competition - Sony VPL-HW45ES Picture Examples - Sony HW45ES Brightness13. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Summary 2 – The Bottom Line, Pros and Cons - The Bottom Line: Sony VPL-HW45ES - Sony VPL-HW45ES Pros - Sony VPL-HW45ES Cons14. Sony VPL-HW45ES Home Theater Projector Review – Specifications SONY VPL-HW45ES PROJECTOR – SUMMARY PAGE 2, PROS AND CONS A great value for just under $2000! It matters not, which color you pick: Black or white, but the color that really counts, the excellent picture the HW45ES puts on the screen. The Bottom Line: Sony VPL-HW45ES Sony’s HW45ES is the first high quality LCoS based projector to break under the $2000 price point, unless, of course, you buy a used projector. It is an “elegant” projector, when it comes to picture, and has only a reasonable set of limitations compared to its big brother, the HW65ES. So, please give it a good home. Not too much ambient light to deal with (and of course watch movies in the dark whenever possible). If the HW45ES fits your budget perfectly, it’s going to be most difficult to beat – really only if you need a bright room projector instead. In that case, you get a far, far, less “elegant” projector, but for the same or slightly less, one that’s over twice as bright (I’m thinking the Epson HC1440. But the Epson is not a match, at all, for the HW45ES, if you have a proper room for this Sony. If, on the other hand, your budget has an extra $1000 – $2000 I do favor the HW65ES along with the Epson UB, and the “entry level” JVC, but two out of those three cost double, and while the 5040UB merely costs 50% more. There are always new competitors coming out, for example the BenQ HT6050, in the near future when available for review. BTW the lower cost BenQ HT4050 is a pretty good choice to consider if this Sony is a budget buster. This Sony VPL-HW45ES projector definitely belongs very high on most people’s short list at this price point. Some new projectors (not often) are “revolutionary.” In this case, we’re talking “evolutionary.” So, Raise your glasses in toast, because, with the HW45ES, “the Evolution is upon us!” Sony VPL-HW45ES Pros Very bright projector suitable for theater, or family room with good lighting control Excellent color accuracy, right out of the box, without adjustment Full CMS allows for full calibration Good black level performance for the price Reality Creation, plus good optics provide a very sharp seeming image Creative frame interpolation (MotionFlow) for smooth motion 3D built in, uses RF 3D glasses (not included) Bright enough for reasonably bright 3D, thanks in part to dynamic lamp feature Very good remote control, with good range, and good layout Good menu system design (although missing a number of features found on the HW65ES Physically very good looking in the dark finish (although larger than most competitors) Lots of lens shift and a manual 1.6:1 zoom lens provide a lot of placement flexibility Definitely quieter in operation than most competitors, very nice! Three year parts and labor warranty Overall an excellent value proposition Sony VPL-HW45ES Cons Lack of a dynamic iris leaves black levels short of several (mostly a good bit more expensive) projectors, that’s perhaps the biggest difference between this HW45ES and the $2000 more HW65ES No 3D glasses provided in price Could be brighter for 3D (true for all) A bit too much image noise adds hardness to skin tones on face close-ups when Reality Creation is engaged, especially if pushed above default setting No rapid replacement program under warranty Lamp life is, I believe, a bit shorter at full power than most, (but at least average in low power mode – 6000 hours) 1. Sony VPL-HW45ES Home Theater Projector Review - VPL-HW45ES Overview - VPL-HW45ES Highlights2. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Special Features - REALITY CREATION - Panel Alignment - 3D Performance - Sony VPL-HW45ES Input Lag - for Gaming3. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Special Features 2 - 3D Glasses Are Optional - About Dynamic Irises - or lack of them, and Black Levels - SONY Wireless HDMI Option - Sony Motion Enhancer - Creative Frame Interpolation4. Sony VPL-The VPL-HW45ES Projector – Hardware Features and Tour - VPL-HW45ES Projector: Overview - From the Front - Lens Controls - Sony VPL-HW45ES - Control Panel: VPL-HW45ES - Inputs and Connectors: Sony HW45ES Projector5. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Hardware Tour 2 - Sony Remote Control - Sony VPL-HW45ES Menus - Bottom Line on Hardware and Menus6. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector: Picture Quality - "Out of the Box" Picture Quality - Skin Tones - Sony VPL-HW45ES Black Level Performance - Descriptions of the Images Above7. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Picture Quality 2 - Sony VPL-HW45ES Dark Shadow Detail - Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector For HDTV And Sports - Overall Picture Quality: VPL-HW45ES - Mode Comparisons8. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Performance 1 - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness - Effect of Lens Zoom on Brightness - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness: Calibrated - Reference vs Bright Cinema - Sony VPL-HW45ES Brightness: Calibrated, Eco-mode9. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Performance 2 - Sharpness and Image Noise - Audible Noise10. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Calibration & Settings - Sony VLP-HW45ES Calibration Presets notes - Pre-Calibration Color Temp (D65 pre-set) over IRE Range - Sony VPL-HW45ES Pre- and Post-Calibration Settings, By Mode - Reference Mode Pre-Calibration - Bright Cinema Mode Pre-Calibration - Post-Calibration Color Temperature11. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Reference Mode Post-Calibration - Bright Cinema Mode Post-Calibration12. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector: Summary - The HW45ES Picture - and the Competition - Sony VPL-HW45ES Picture Examples - Sony HW45ES Brightness13. Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector Review – Summary 2 – The Bottom Line, Pros and Cons - The Bottom Line: Sony VPL-HW45ES - Sony VPL-HW45ES Pros - Sony VPL-HW45ES Cons14. Sony VPL-HW45ES Home Theater Projector Review – Specifications Sony VPL-HW45ES Projector: Summary Sony VPL-HW45ES Home Theater Projector Review – Specifications