Official Sony VPL-HW15 Thread

Originally Posted by max_g

Hi guys,

just wanted to let you know this is really one to look out for, Saw this at a special viewing last night and it looks like Sony could have really cracked it with this new Model.

The physical design is good, its not motorised but thats not an issue if its on a fixed mount or not moved much.

Image quality was fantastic, 120hz on the 3 SXRD panels showed amazing detail and very realistic motion ( as long as the motionflow wasnt cranked too much which could look too fluid for movie watching ).

Quite a bright projector so not limited to a light controlled environment, but may need a screen with limited gain, viewing environment included a stewart firehawk.

Some improvements are due on the black level when it hits production which was the only area that I felt could be improved but when calibrated against a reasonable BluRay source ( not the ps3 ) shadow detail was great, and possible improved by the new auto-iris that has manual override controls.

Will be interesting to see if the competition steps up at IFA, (dimming 255 level LED lightcannon, with DFI ----Anyone ???)

Overall this would give almost anything at the current projected £2k price (JVC,Panny,Epson) a really good run for the money and if you factor in the Bravia link, selection of inputs and a real quality feel to the whole device, I.M.O Sony are really gonna have a winner here.

Maximus

Originally Posted by rms8

They sent it to me Next Day Air (overnight) for free! Solid!

Originally Posted by arango1

RMS8,
Thanks for the picture... I have a VPL-HS60 which is very similar to your pj, I was very curious in knowing how much of an improvement this new pj is in terms of brightness, black level, color, etc...
Thanks!

Originally Posted by rms8


Yeah, when I got the -HS51, a few weeks later the -HS51A came out. Then less than a year later the HS60.

To say that it's a dramatic difference would be a severe understatement! The image really seems to jump off the screen at you. I was very pleased with my HS51, REALLY. But I knew it was getting long in the tooth and the tech for 1080 had dropped so drastically.

I've had the luxury of having a VPL-VW100 and 200 in my theater for a week or two each (i do the HT thing on the side). Each time I was very impressed with the picture these PJ provided compared to mine. I can't give a fair comparison of my new HW15 to the 100 or 200 (it was a few years ago), but just firing up the X-box (on the HW15) and seeing the main screen was a VAST improvement. I say the X-box because that main menu screen would be a constant, while a movie would be more dynamic in regards to a comparison, unless I was watching the same scene over and over again to commit it to memory.

All I can say is it throws a remarkable picture. My wife actually noticed a huge improvement, and she is not into this "hobby" at all. HDTV programming is better, movies are better. They all seem so much more vivid and have so much more depth! Having a 10' wide screen enabled me to see the pixel structure on very bright scenes with the HS51. Not anymore! (yes, I sit plenty far back - 17' for the front row alone).

If you can fit it into you buget, GET IT! Given the fact that it's actually $500 LESS than the model it replaces, it's practically a steal!

Originally Posted by arango1

Wow, thanks for the description... I am particularly interested only now in LCOS / SXRD technologies because I am very sensitive to SDE, in fact it will almost ruin a movie for me! I have a 106" Carada Brilliant White and I would love to site closer to it. I was leaning toward a JVC, but for the price, this is going to be hard to beat...

Thanks!
Vic

Originally Posted by THXessive

I just committed the ultimate sin...IMPULSE BUY!!

Just ordered an HW15 from SonyStyle with cable and taxes for $3434.
24 months no interest on my Sony Style card works out to $130 a month.

I'll post pics as soon as I can!

Originally Posted by THXessive

hey rms8

Yeah I can cancel the order within 24 hours.
I called Crutchfield.
They have it listed for $2799 and claim to have never reduced price on that.
And they only offer 6 months financing. Sony Style is offering 24 months.

If you can gimme some info, I can go to Crutchfield with a reference #

I bought mine for 2999+taxes and a 16' cable.

Basically paying 200 more than you but have 24 months to pay!

Oh well...congrats on your better deal!

(Let the screenshot wars begin!!!!)

Originally Posted by rms8


Ship To: Robert S********
*************
**********, IL 60542
***********
Email:*********
Item Description Ship Qty B/O Qty Price Amount
158VPLHW15 Sony VPL-HW15 1080p SXRD Home Theater Projector 1 0 2,499.99 2,499.99
000HOMECAT Current Home Catalog Bounceback 1 0 0.00 0.00
000PIPENV Envelope barcode Outgoing pack Outgoing packages 1 0 0.00 0.00
Sub Total: 2,499.99
Shipping: FREE
Total: 2,499.99


The back story :

I had discovered that they actually had the lowest price I could find on the VPL-HW10 and with 0% interest for 24 months, how can you go wrong? I placed that order back in June knowing it was on backorder. I assumed it would only be a few weeks, which eventually turned into a few months! It worked to my advantage though! Sony discontinued the -HW10 and replaced it with the -HW15, so Crutchfield said they would just honor the terms for the backordered -10. Can't wait! And 3 weeks ahead of schedule!

Originally Posted by rms8

I posted the below in a different thread. I got my -HW15 yesterday after it was overnighted (all shipping was FUH-REEE) to me. After initial install/hookup I am blown away by the difference in image quality over my previous Sony VPL-HS51. I wasn't too surprised though.

Originally Posted by shane_2432

Hey guys,

This is my first time to the website. I'm building a house and about to buy a pj for the basement. I've never owned one, so I'm doing my research.

The HW15 is new, and has a higher resolution and next-generation iris over the VW60, yet the VW60 is $2,000 more expensive. What am I missing here? Does the VW60 excel is areas the HW15 doesn't?

Any input on this would be very helpful. Thanks!

P.S. Sony Style tech. support knows nothing about the new projector; very frustrating.

Originally Posted by loganross

I bought the HW-15 along with the Sharp XV-Z15000 and Benq W6000. I thought it was doubtful that I would keep it as I was a DLP guy. The sharp has gone back (great picture but not enough lumens in cinema mode and not enough zoom range - the combination of which meant I couldn't do 2.35:1 CIH). I still have the Benq W6000 but it is likely to go back on monday for ONE key reason - because I can hear the high pitched tone made by the iris electronics. The first Sony came with a broken lens shift, but I managed to test it by propping it up on enough boxes that it worked in its stuck lens position.

My feelings on the HW15:
The fact that a replacement HW15 came in yesterday should be an initial hint

Picture quality is great. It has many of the aspects I like about DLP: Rich dynamic picture with a lot of depth. Outstanding color and deep blacks with good shadow detail. Rarely (if ever) do I visually notice the iris working - and I never hear it! The projector itself is effectively silent.

I have watched about 20 hours of movies and tv on the HW-15 so far. This includes Dark Night, Sunshine, Corpse Bride, Ratatouille, King Kong (ABC HD), NFL Football, Dancing with the stars, etc. The best way to describe the picture is how Art of projectorreviews.com described it in comparing it to the W6000: Refined.

If I can put my feelings in perspective, I have refused to buy anything Sony for years (other than an HDcam), because I always fet there was better out there.

Originally Posted by loganross

I bought the HW-15 along with the Sharp XV-Z15000 and Benq W6000. I thought it was doubtful that I would keep it as I was a DLP guy. The sharp has gone back (great picture but not enough lumens in cinema mode and not enough zoom range - the combination of which meant I couldn't do 2.35:1 CIH). I still have the Benq W6000 but it is likely to go back on monday for ONE key reason - because I can hear the high pitched tone made by the iris electronics. The first Sony came with a broken lens shift, but I managed to test it by propping it up on enough boxes that it worked in its stuck lens position.

My feelings on the HW15:
The fact that a replacement HW15 came in yesterday should be an initial hint

Picture quality is great. It has many of the aspects I like about DLP: Rich dynamic picture with a lot of depth. Outstanding color and deep blacks with good shadow detail. Rarely (if ever) do I visually notice the iris working - and I never hear it! The projector itself is effectively silent.

I have watched about 20 hours of movies and tv on the HW-15 so far. This includes Dark Night, Sunshine, Corpse Bride, Ratatouille, King Kong (ABC HD), NFL Football, Dancing with the stars, etc. The best way to describe the picture is how Art of projectorreviews.com described it in comparing it to the W6000: Refined.

If I can put my feelings in perspective, I have refused to buy anything Sony for years (other than an HDcam), because I always fet there was better out there.

Originally Posted by Garman

I am sure I will give up some small features my VPL-VW50 has,

Originally Posted by Bytehoven

I believe the only features you're going to miss is the Image Director Software. However, I really did not miss it on the HW10. One can still achieve excellent calibration of white balance and modest improvements to color tracking. The HW15 is said to have better factory color tracking out of the box than the HW10.

For me, the only reason I would even consider something other than the HW15 is the frame interpolation of the JVC RS15.

Originally Posted by Garman

My question really is how much better is the VPL-VW85 than the HW-15, some say it wasn't at the Cedia show for a reason.