“The Sony VPL-VW60’s features are impressive; its price is unmissable.” are words used by EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) to describe Sony’s home theater projector which has received its 2007/2008 European Video Projector award.

Sony’s VPL-VW60 is a full 1080p (1920 x 1080) HD resolution projector powered by a three SXRD panel projection engine for the three primary colors The projector has an extraordinarily high contrast ratio of up to 35.000:1 which can be manually set with the Advanced Iris 2. With a brightness of 900 ANSI lumens the projector does need a low ambient light home theater setting to operate in.

Sony have made set-up easier with a power zoom lens and motorized lens shift (Vertical: 65% up or down, Horizontal: 25% left or right). There is keystone correction as well. An illuminated remote control helps with changing settings in a darkened home theater environment. The projector is ceiling mountable with an optional PSS-H10 ceiling bracket.

To quote EISA, the Sony VPL-VW60 has a “multiplicity of interfaces – permitting connection of nearly every video source”. The projector has a wide range of connections including twin HDMI which are CEC enabled Sony’s Bravia Theatre Sync to operate your projector and entire home cinema system with the push of a single button.

Sony’s SXRD Microdisplay Technology

Sony’s SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) could be considered as an evolutionary development of LCoS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) technology. LCoS is a combination of both the reflective approach of DLP (millions of actuated micro-mirrors on a chip reflect light required for the display) and the transmissive approach of LCD (millions of liquid crystals act as valves passing through light required for the display).

Sony’s SXRD technology differs from LCoS competitors in that the liquid crystal cell gap measures less than 2um which is far thinner than conventional high temperature Poly-Silicon liquid crystal or LCOS(Liquid Crystal On Silicon) microdisplay panels. Additionally, the TN (Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal, commonly used in projection devices, is replaced by Sony’s unique “Vertically Aligned Liquid Crystal” material where liquid crystals molecules are aligned vertically to the cell substrate. This is a significant technology development overcoming a long-standing challenge improving alignment layer durability and ensuring longevity of the high resolution.

Resources

Projection Screen Selection

8 Tips to Extend Projector Lamp Life

Replacement Projector Lamps and Bulbs

User Reviews and Price Comparisons

Sony VPL-VW60 Home Cinema and Data Projector

SONY VPL VW60 Replacement Projector Lamp LMP-H200 / 994802350

Projector-Gear Projector Ceiling Mount fits SONY VPL-VW60 Projectors

Sony BRAVIA VPL-VW60 Home Cinema Projector – 1920 x 1080 WUXGA – 24.25lb

Sony VPL-VW60 High Definition 1080p Home Theater Projector Specification