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Official Sony VPL-AW15 Projector Thread

post #1 of 1401
4/3/07 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
May as well get it started. Post all info here.

Richard
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post #2 of 1401
4/3/07 at 1:00pm
Excellent idea, thanks. Now we "just" need a moderator to have it sticky ...

As introduction I'll copy/past the article about the AW15 again:

SONY'S NEW FRONT PROJECTORS BRING MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE HOME

SAN DIEGO, March 28, 2007- Sony Electronics today unveiled two new front home theater projectors that bring the movie-going experience home at prices beginning at about $1,000.

The new BRAVIA 3LCD VPL-AW15 and VPL-AW10 projectors feature 1280 x 720 progressive resolution, which is ideal for large screen home entertainment applications like enjoying HD movies, gaming and sports.

The popularity of high-definition programming and gaming is driving the adoption of big-screen home theater applications, said Philip Abram, vice president of television marketing for Sony Electronics. Our new projector line will bring that experience home for a broader range of consumers.

Both new models feature a 165-watt Ultra High Pressure Lamp that produces 1,100 lumens for a life-like, vivid picture. Each one is equipped with a short focal-length lens with 1.6 times zoom and features low fan noise of 20dB (in low lamp mode), providing flexible installation options in many home settings.

The VPL-AW10 model features Sony's Advance Iris for contrast ratio of up to 6,000:1 when "auto" iris mode is selected. The VPL-AW15 unit features the step-up Advanced Iris 2 technology, which also works with the High Contrast Plate device producing deep, accurate blacks and a dynamic contrast ratio of up to 12,000:1 when "auto" iris mode is selected. The Advanced Iris 2 also features a variable setting allowing for user optimization.

Additionally, the VPL-AW15 model has greater installation flexibility with lens shift, which helps adjust the picture both vertically and horizontally expanding projector placement options. Key to this feature is Sony's All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) lens. The lens allows for flexible throw distances, making installation easier in less than ideal conditions like small rooms.

Users can also optimize the AW15's model's color palette with Sony's Real Color Processing function. Color hues can be adjusted to match specific tastes.

Both projectors feature a HDMI input supporting 1080/24p, which is downscaled to native 720p and displayed at a native multiple of 24 for realistic cinema style motion reproduction. Other inputs include a RS-232C connection for custom control applications and a host of others including component, composite and S-video. The VPL-AW15 projector also includes an HD15 input for analog PC.

The new VPL-AW15 and VPL-AW10 front projectors are expected to ship in June for about $1,300 and $1,000, respectively. They will be available at Sony Style stores, online at

www.sonystyle.com and at authorized dealers nationwide. So, let's go ...
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post #3 of 1401
4/3/07 at 1:27pm
Does anyone know the history of Sony launches and whether or not the MSRP is an accurate street price or if we can expect it to street for less right away? Thx!
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post #4 of 1401
4/3/07 at 2:34pm
So these are LCD projectors. How about contrast ratio with auto iris off?
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post #5 of 1401
4/4/07 at 7:46pm
Would the VPL-AW15 be considered a substantial upgrade to the HS60?
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post #6 of 1401
4/5/07 at 7:20am
Well-known german review site cine4home has a pre-production VPL-AW15 plus a DynaScreen at hand right now and they'll probably publish a preview with their impressions quite soon...
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post #7 of 1401
4/5/07 at 10:28am
I wonder what the 'High Contrast Plate' is? Perhaps something similar to Epson's C2 fine? If so, and this projector performs well it could really steal the budget market away from Panasonic and Sanyo. Interesting marketing strategy by Sony...come late to the game with a superior unit and undercut the competitions price...not their style.
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post #8 of 1401
4/5/07 at 11:09am
i wanna know if it will do vert. stretch for cih.
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post #9 of 1401
4/5/07 at 12:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty144 View Post

. Interesting marketing strategy by Sony...come late to the game with a superior unit and undercut the competitions price...not their style.

They could always have supply chain issues and high defect rates to make up for it.


But this model does sound pretty interesting.
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post #10 of 1401
4/5/07 at 2:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty144 View Post

I wonder what the 'High Contrast Plate' is? Perhaps something similar to Epson's C2 fine? If so, and this projector performs well it could really steal the budget market away from Panasonic and Sanyo. Interesting marketing strategy by Sony...come late to the game with a superior unit and undercut the competitions price...not their style.

I guess the "High Contrast Plate" is the same as in the HS60, i.e. it's most likely the same LCD panel or a slightly improved upgrade.

Regarding the marketing strategy:
Well, maybe they are not "late" but very early ... usually, Panasonic is the first one around September to ship the new model which is an important advantage. Maybe Sony wanted to be the very first one this year with a good quality low-cost model, so everything that follows is "nothing special" any more for the rest of the year ... and everybody just talks about the AW15.
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post #11 of 1401
4/5/07 at 2:55pm
For that kind of money, I highly suspect that there will NOT be a new panel but hope there will be.
HS60 is a great PJ and add to that the brighter bulb and more refined iris as well s better processing to accept 24FPS you're set.
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post #12 of 1401
4/5/07 at 3:50pm
I was looking into a 1080P projector, but this sounds like an excellent value. plus I am sure you would be able to get a discount on it. I am looking foward to seeing the AW15 in action.

mike
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post #13 of 1401
4/5/07 at 6:37pm
It is a bummer when I read about good quality LCD machines coming out cause I have seen SDE on every lcd save for the Panny smoothscreen models. Tried the HS60 and really liked it but the sde was a killer. Here's to hoping the AW15 is an improvement.

Moe
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post #14 of 1401
4/5/07 at 7:11pm
The difference in SDE between DLP and LCD is not day and night. In fact some DLP's are worse than other DLP's. Now if you are comparing it to a CRT I agree. The difference can be minimized by sitting 2 to 3' away. There are other disadvantages associated with DLP that already been exhausted. Some avoid the Panny for less focus but I personaly like the smoother look if not at the price of blurring the image.
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post #15 of 1401
4/9/07 at 8:36am
hey richard how bout a sticky jeff
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post #16 of 1401
4/10/07 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
*ding*
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post #17 of 1401
4/10/07 at 12:07pm
anyone know the dimensions of this thing???
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post #18 of 1401
4/11/07 at 6:50am
Thread Starter 
I looked, nothing yet I'm waiting for pricing and specs from Sony.

Smaller than a house, bigger than a shoe box?

Richard
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post #19 of 1401
4/11/07 at 2:34pm
this looks to be pretty sweet kinda like the little bro of the pearl.
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post #20 of 1401
4/12/07 at 8:17am
Hurry with the review I need the info my wall is empty of picture over here.
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post #21 of 1401
4/16/07 at 10:38am
Any reviews yet?
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post #22 of 1401
4/17/07 at 6:41pm
Slightly more info talking about the AW15 and the Sony DynaClear screen ("watch a movie with the lights on"):
snipurl.c0m/1gyrh

I don't have 5 posts yet so if somebody could repost the full link I'd appreciate it
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post #23 of 1401
4/17/07 at 7:12pm
Link
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post #24 of 1401
4/18/07 at 9:23am
Hello together,



We have a first (p)review online on our german webpage.



Regards,
Ekkehart, www.cine4home.de
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post #25 of 1401
4/18/07 at 10:34am
Thanks for the review! So far the projector sounds quite solid, but if I'm understanding the translation properly, its main downfalls so far are SDE, weak de-interlacing, some kind of light double-outlines, and the need to use a filter to extract the maximum contrast from this PJ?
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post #26 of 1401
4/18/07 at 2:51pm
I had tried the HS51A last year and the rectangular pixels on its panels gave the picture an interlaced scanline effect, like Trinitron picture tubes give when watching them. It looks like the panels are the same for this PJ. I think it's because, I could occasionally see the gaps in between the the pixels when looking at scenes from top to bottom and vice-versa.
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post #27 of 1401
4/19/07 at 6:14am
Questions:

1. HDMI 1:1 Pixel Mapping?

2. 1080i 60hz HD-DVD/Blu ray Film Handling?
*Downscale to 540P then upscale to 720P
or
Use IVTC to 1080P 24hz then downscale to 720P with 2:3 Pulldown
or
Use IVTC to 1080P 24hz then downscale to 720P with a multiple of 24hz?

3. Absolute Black Worse/Same/Better then the Sony VPL-HS60?

4. Grayscale capabilities Worse/Same/Better then the Sony VPL-HS60?

5. 3D POP to the image Worse/Same/Better then the Sharp 12000MKII?

6. HDMI Verson? 1.2 / 1.3
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post #28 of 1401
4/19/07 at 7:09am
360 lumens at D65 isn't exactly rocking my world.
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post #29 of 1401
4/19/07 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hotdogwater2 View Post

Slightly more info talking about the AW15 and the Sony DynaClear screen ("watch a movie with the lights on"):
snipurl.c0m/1gyrh

I don't have 5 posts yet so if somebody could repost the full link I'd appreciate it

Do you know the accuracy/source of this article? I am concerned about the following quote:

"Sony says its LCD projector can produce images up to 5m (200-inches) wide without affecting image quality, and the projector only needs to be 2.3 metres away from the wall or screen to produce an image 80-inches wide."

Cine4home states that the zoom ratio is actually 1.60:1 for the new Sony. That nothing close to what the above quote implies. Of course, the above quote appears to be completely wrong because even a zoom ratio of 2.10:1 produces an image 67" wide/77" diagonal at 7.5 feet (2.3m quoted in article).
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post #30 of 1401
4/19/07 at 10:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoryW View Post

Do you know the accuracy/source of this article? I am concerned about the following quote:

"Sony says its LCD projector can produce images up to 5m (200-inches) wide without affecting image quality, and the projector only needs to be 2.3 metres away from the wall or screen to produce an image 80-inches wide."

Cine4home states that the zoom ratio is actually 1.60:1 for the new Sony. That nothing close to what the above quote implies. Of course, the above quote appears to be completely wrong because even a zoom ratio of 2.10:1 produces an image 67" wide/77" diagonal at 7.5 feet (2.3m quoted in article).

Nope, no idea about the accuracy. I just found it on google.
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