Customer Reviews

Sony VPLHW15 Home Theater SXRD Projector (Black)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had a projection setup for several years now, and this is my 4th projector. So while I'm not a real video expert, I've gotten enough experience to have a pretty good take - and this Sony VPL-HW15 is a pretty sweet unit. I've long been a fan of LCOS technology (SXRD as Sony calls it), but until very recently it was out of my budget range. Past projectors have been DLP models, starting with a couple of NEC business presentation units (rainbow city!) and then an Optoma HD80, one of first affordable 1080p models. The HD80 ran into problems recently so I decided to upgrade. This time, I was actually able to compare units using the 3 major projection technologies in my home: LCD, DLP, and LCOS. The LCD unit was an Epson Home Cinema 8100 - not in the same price range, so not a fair comparison, and it did not fare well. The Benq W6000 was a much better unit overall, and very bright, but that brightness and a slower color wheel led to seeing a lot more color fringing, or rainbows, which I seem to be fairly sensitive to. So I tried the Sony, and found a winner. It just has what I find a very "relaxing" picture - it may not be the absolute best at any one thing but it's very close on everything, and just a very pleasing image to watch. Color out of the box is very good. Black levels may be a tiny bit off the best in class, but not far. It's bright enough on my 100" screen in Dynamic mode that sports are easily watchable with light in the room. One feature I really appreciate is the pixel alignment utility that allows the red & green panels to be converged in 1/10 pixel steps. Coming from a single chip DLP model that had no convergence problems by its nature, that is something I really like. The only minor weakness that I find (aside from lacking some features I don't need like anamorphic lens support, or motorized lens), is that it's just a hair less sharp looking than a single chip DLP model, but that also gives it a nice smooth, less "digital" look that some find preferable anyway. The build quality and aesthetics are pretty nice, too. The lens seems to be very good quality.

Strengths: VERY good color, very good blacks, enough brightness, good lens, pixel convergence feature, lens shift, quiet, nice build quality and design
Weaknesses: Not as feature packed as some like the Panasonic AE4000, a little higher cost, not quite as sharp as a single chip DLP

Wow. We bought a 104" screnn, and I had tried to get the Viewsonic 1080, but they have been discontinued, so I went with the next best- Sony. I am new as this is my first projector, but wow. Easy install from the ceiling. Instructions give you the proper location according to size of screen and distance from screen. Good instruction on menu controls. Not much adjusting on my part, and WOW- picture quality is extreemly good in my case. Enclosed room in basement with no windows. Only bad on my part- walls are white- the light off this thing makes the 24'x27' room light up. Going to have to darken it up. Projector keeps hours used so you know how much life is left on lamp. Extreemly happy with this projector!

Installed projector in early Oct09 and was amazed with the quality of the picture. This is my 3rd Sony (1st was hs51 and then hs60). They were impressive in their day and wowed my friends with the size and quality of the images. Anyone watching the image this projector produces will have to be impressed. On close-ups you will see nose-hairs and all. Wonderfull for sports with the bright uniforms and color contrasts. We watch music videos occasionly and with my Onkyo sr806 pumping music to some serious (Thiels) speakers (5 plus a subwoofer) and the volume turned up the effect is like you are right there!! We are very, very happy with our projector!!

I've bought Sony VPL-HW15 recently, and wow !
This is my fourth projection since 1996, so I have a lot of experience in projections. My first one was also a Sony ( 480 x 320 pixels ) back in 1996 and had a standard halogen lamp of 50W... The second was an Epson, the third was an Hitachi, but none of them were HD. I've made a search for the last 6 months for the best product to buy with a reasonable money. Sony VPL-HW15 was perhaps the only choice with all the features and the price. If you're planning to buy a new projection, don't be fooled by an HD Ready, the technology goes faster than predicted.
Sony VPL-HW15 for me is equivalent with a USD 20.000,00 very big screen TV with a sixth of its price.
The new technology Sony developed has two major goodies. A perfect contrast ratio ( blacks are black, not grey ). The noise ( what noise ? ) is not heard even you're just near the projection and you cannot even hear if it is working or not.
The colors are perfect & natural, 1000 Lumen is quite a good level combined by the contrast ratio and you can watch it in a medium darkened room.
My only doubt is the Sony Service & after sales management which is very well known all over the world that it has a bad reputation :( But don't worry too much, 'cause if you're not too unlucky, nothing happens to Sony products for a reasonable time if you don't break them down.

I just received it today ( I currently have 2 other projectors, and this is replacing my Sanyo Z3 which is quite nice). The picture, brightness, contrast, and colors look amazing. I mean really, they are movie theater quality. I'm projecting movies onto a wall with no screen, and its still incredibly beautiful to watch.

The only thing I was surprised about was the size and weight of the projector. This thing is like 2ft by 1ft and is kinda heavy. Even with that, I'm in love with it so far. Totally happy with my purchase.


Mind officially blown ! Will post a follow up over time

After much research I picked this one and it is a great product.

When projecting HD it produces a crisp picture that is 16 feet (diagonal). Standard TV is fine, as it is the definition we are used to, but HD is just outstanding. I have noticed I only watch standard TV when after reviewing all my alternatives in HD channels.

I am very happy with this product.

The picture projected by the Sony VPLHW15 is awesome. I cannot think of any negatives about this projector with a couple of minor exceptions - the hook-ups are located on the side rather than the back of the projector, and the remote and the projector itself are quite large. However, that's not enough to give it less than 5 stars since the quality of the picture is the most important criteria for buying a projector. The picture is like sitting in a public movie theater. The quality cannot be exceeded even if one pays thousands of dollars more.