VPL-HW15 Projector Highlights Posted on October 21, 2013 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 Overall a very well balanced home theater projector Very good color out of the box, even better after calibration Brightness in best mode, a little above average – 538 measured lumens Brightness is definitely below average in brightest mode, when you need extra lumens for ambient light -we measured 771 lumens Improved black level performance, not the best, but comparable or slightly better than most of the similarly priced competition Zoom lens is relatively short thow, may not work shelf mounted in deep rooms, or in typical rooms with small to medium sized screens Adjustable vertical and horizontal lens shift, not as much range as some, but not bad Dynamic iris seems improved – less noticeable than older Sony Looks to have very good price/performance, but it is one of the first of the new fall 2009 projectors we’ve received Lacks support for an anamorphic lens (that is reserved for their more expensive VW projector) Specs for Sony VPL-HW15MSRP: $2999 Technology: LCoS (SXRD) Native Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080) Brightness: 1000 lumens claimed, 771 lumens highest we measured Contrast: 60,000:1 Zoom Lens ratio: 1.6:1 Lens shift: Vertical and horizontal Lamp life: Sony does not provide info, we assume 2000 hours at full power Weight: 22.1 lbs. (10 Kg) Warranty: 2 Years Parts and Labor Sony VPL-HW15 Special FeaturesSony VPL-HW15 Gamma ModesSony has upped the number of configured gamma modes, to 7, from 4. That can only be a good, if confusing thing. We didn’t take a close look at all the different gammas, sticking to about 3 for our image viewing purposes. Sony SXRD panels - (LCoS) (This paragraph taken right from the older HW10 review.) The vast majority of home theater projectors use either DLP or 3LCD technology. Sony uses Liquid Crystal on Silicon, a reflective panel, as opposed to the translucent typical LCD panels. Sony calls their LCoS implementation SXRD. In the under $10,000 price range, JVC and Sony are the primary manufacturers of LCoS home theater projectors. The advantages of LCoS, these days, are two fold: First, LCoS panels have, for all practical purposes, invisible pixel structures, way below visibility at normal seating distances with a 1080p projector. Only the 3LCD Panasonic PT-AE3000, with its addition of their SmoothScreen technology, has less visible pixels, and it comes with a price, a slightly softer image. Pixel visibility, and screen door effect are, effectively non-issues, with this Sony, thanks to the LCoS panels. The second advantage, it seems is in terms of black level performance. While some 3LCD and DLP projectors can match some of the LCoS projectors, at this point in time, the Sony but more so, the JVC LCoS projectors outperform almost most of the non LCoS competition, in black level performance Individual SXRD panel adjustmentA very nice, touch, this Sony allows individual adjustment of each panel for more precise alignment. This feature carried forward from the HW10. And, it works nicely! 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 Projector Review Sony VPL-HW15 Projector – Physical Tour