Just got the Sony VPL-HW15!

[Jim L]

I know almost nothing about projectors except that you have to replace the bulbs.

I was planning on getting a Panasonic AE4000U after reading all the reviews and seeing GeologyNut's theater pics. (they are very nice btw).

But I changed my mind at the last minute and I got the Bravia HW15 due to a couple of factors:

• My previous experience with a Sony SXRD RPTV
• My in-store demo of the JVC DLAHD350 model a few weeks ago
• Advice of a co-worker who said he'd get an LCOS projector after owning an LCD PJ

[My budget is very tight and I don't have the funds to do some of the awesome setups that others in this site have posted. I really admire them and have learned a lot from all of you, but this is what I can do for now.]

I have to say that i gravitated towards an LCOS projector because to me it looks more "CRT-like" hence more film-like and that's what I like.

I don't even have my screen hooked up yet, but I can say it is an awesome experience to see the picture this big. I've already bought a 106" pull-down screen (Graywolf 2 by optoma) and on 16x9 material it's big enough, but for 2.35:1 material I'd like it a little bigger. BTW, I'm just projecting it on my empty wall (medium gray paint) and I've used my tape measure to set it at the size of my screen and then expanded it out all the way. I must say, I like a bigger picture, but it doesn't look as bright. (I put the lamp setting on LOW too). My room is not light-controlled so I immediately want to get some blackout shades for the windows.

Most watching is done at night, but in the summer that can be a problem with sunset at 9:00. (I like to start the movie by 8:00)

I will post some pics in the Community section later, but you can get an idea by looking at my current pics. The screen will hang down in front of my plasma. My friend Jason (who did all my other installs) will do the projector, screen, and wiring installs too.

Thanks for any tips, comments, etc.

Please see my new HT Gallery folder

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Jim L

I know almost nothing about projectors except that you have to replace the bulbs.

I was planning on getting a Panasonic AE4000U after reading all the reviews and seeing GeologyNut's theater pics. (they are very nice btw).

But I changed my mind at the last minute and I got the Bravia HW15 due to a couple of factors:

• My previous experience with a Sony SXRD RPTV
• My in-store demo of the JVC DLAHD350 model a few weeks ago
• Advice of a co-worker who said he'd get an LCOS projector after owning an LCD PJ

[My budget is very tight and I don't have the funds to do some of the awesome setups that others in this site have posted. I really admire them and have learned a lot from all of you, but this is what I can do for now.]

I have to say that i gravitated towards an LCOS projector because to me it looks more "CRT-like" hence more film-like and that's what I like.

I don't even have my screen hooked up yet, but I can say it is an awesome experience to see the picture this big. I've already bought a 106" pull-down screen (Graywolf 2 by optoma) and on 16x9 material it's big enough, but for 2.35:1 material I'd like it a little bigger. BTW, I'm just projecting it on my empty wall (medium gray paint) and I've used my tape measure to set it at the size of my screen and then expanded it out all the way. I must say, I like a bigger picture, but it doesn't look as bright. (I put the lamp setting on LOW too). My room is not light-controlled so I immediately want to get some blackout shades for the windows.

Most watching is done at night, but in the summer that can be a problem with sunset at 9:00. (I like to start the movie by 8:00)

I will post some pics in the Community section later, but you can get an idea by looking at my current pics. The screen will hang down in front of my plasma. My friend Jason (who did all my other installs) will do the projector, screen, and wiring installs too.

Thanks for any tips, comments, etc.

I have heard great things about the VPL-HW15. Although its basically an updated HW10, it has been considered Sony's best non CRT projector released (Exceptions are the HW200, HW70, and HW85 but they are much more expensive). The LCoS projectors are considered more reliable than LCD projectors (No dust blobs of LCD or rainbow effects with single chip DLPs). I would say you could buy some black curtains to block out light from out side. For the winter, I insulated the room I am using with a curtain (Actually I used a blanket, but an example), I covered the door to keep heat inside, while keeping the room pitch dark even at the daytime. You buy a hangar that not only blocks light, but also the sides, which is the issue with ambient light. For screens, A high gain screen such as your Graywolf is actually more ideal for ambient light situations (I read it has a 1.8 gain, which means what you project will be 1.8 times brighter than it actually is), so if you take dark home theater viewing seriously, I would recommend a screen gain of around .8 to 1.3 gain, and since you have a "high contrast" projector, I recommend using a white screen with a gain of 1.0 for the ideal D6500 standard for a 6500K color temperature. Grey screens are designed to deal with the limitations of contrast with low contrast LCD and DLP projectors. Your projector does look great even with the Graywolf, but you will get an even better picture with a lower gain screen, which in many cases may cost you more than the Graywolf. The VPL HW15 is not designed for constant image height (2.35:1) screens, but what you can do is use the zoom lens to adjust the screen to fit the 2.35:1 image (It does have enough zoom to achieve it with that method), or if you are interested in an anamorphic lens, you can buy an external processor or blu ray player (such as the BDP-83) and activate the V-stretch mode for cinemascope movies, other forum members explain the details of how it works. Hope this helps.

[bhampton]

Congrats on the pj.

I've got a similar Sony pj the VW60.

Before that I had CRT projectors for years.

Anyways,... Good Luck,

=Brian

[BarkingGhost]

How did you go about the purchase? Seller, price, etc.?

[Jim L]

Thanks for the comments and tips trogdor. Very helpful info.

I'm feeling more confident about my purchase every day. I know that the screen can be greatly improved upon. It will do for now while I learn more about my projector.

I have a chance to view many different types of material in my blu-Ray collection and I can say that I'm very impressed with this beast. Given that I'm only watching it on a blank wall right now, I am very happy with it's blacks and color accuracy. My main display up to now is a Panny plasma TH58-PZ500U that is ISF calibrated. Besides the display itself beating out the plasma, I'm noticing some other improvements in the picture that must come from the Bravia image processing.

What I mean is -- things that I attributed to compression noise are now gone or are masked very well. Some discs with poor contrast or other limitations are now quite watchable.

In answer to some other questions -- I got it through Best Buy using a special coupon for $2639.

I had originally ruled out BB because they only carried 2 pjs I liked (Sony & JVC) which were both more than the Panny 4000. This discount put it within reach if what I would spend on the Panny for a higher class unit.

Another topic is light control. My viewing room has very poor light control but I see it as crucial for a pj. The beautiful images seem to quickly evaporate with the slightest intrusion of sunlight. I just invested in some new shades today.

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Jim L

Thanks for the comments and tips trogdor. Very helpful info.

I'm feeling more confident about my purchase every day. I know that the screen can be greatly improved upon. It will do for now while I learn more about my projector.

I have a chance to view many different types of material in my blu-Ray collection and I can say that I'm very impressed with this beast. Given that I'm only watching it on a blank wall right now, I am very happy with it's blacks and color accuracy. My main display up to now is a Panny plasma TH58-PZ500U that is ISF calibrated. Besides the display itself beating out the plasma, I'm noticing some other improvements in the picture that must come from the Bravia image processing.

What I mean is -- things that I attributed to compression noise are now gone or are masked very well. Some discs with poor contrast or other limitations are now quite watchable.

In answer to some other questions -- I got it through Best Buy using a special coupon for $2639.

I had originally ruled out BB because they only carried 2 pjs I liked (Sony & JVC) which were both more than the Panny 4000. This discount put it within reach if what I would spend on the Panny for a higher class unit.

Another topic is light control. My viewing room has very poor light control but I see it as crucial for a pj. The beautiful images seem to quickly evaporate with the slightest intrusion of sunlight. I just invested in some new shades today.

That is very good to hear, I hope it turns out great. That is a great price for the projector. I got mine (Infocus x10) for about $1200 and I can tell you that if I had a projector such as the Sony you have, the only thing I'll miss would be the brightness and the V-Stretch mode from my projector, but I have heard that the Sony is a major upgrade in brightness compared to previous models, and in fact comparable to my x10. Otherwise I would rather have the Sony you have thanks to it's much higher contrast and improved color accuracy from what I heard. Money is an issue to me too now .

Interesting to hear about great video processing from a sony display, Sony tends to be the lesser in terms of ideal video processing, but If it's an improvement, I'm glad to hear about it.

[Jim L]

Sorry everyone. It took me a month a half, but I wanted to wait until everything was properly installed before showing you.

I know that I don't have the ideal front PJ room (lots of light), but I also installed blackout shades that are hidden behind the valences. There is some light leakage, but I can watch something even at midday without too much problem.

Of course, most of my viewing is done at night, so light control is not a problem.

Enjoy my new pics HERE. Comments/ratings are always appreciated.

I must say, even though people don't rave much about the Sony SXRDs (or JVC), they are very, very nice.

The blacks and contrast are not the best, but are still quite excellent.

Where the SXRD really shines is in:

• Pixel structure of SXRD - VERY solid
• The color is incredibly good out of the box. Even better when calibrated.
• The fan is silent
• I've read that the optics are very nice and have less chroma aberration than that of many of the LCD PJs.
• It doesn't have any panel mis-alignment, but there is a panel alignment feature at the pixel level to perfect the convergence.
• It has a sealed light path (NO dust blobs!)
• It very much reminds me of some of the nice qualities of CRT projectors. Very film-like
• Though this is the bottom of the line in the SXRD's, this version of the BRAVIA processing fixes some issues on certain blu-rays I notice on my plasma display.

[blarneyrubble]

Very nice setup! Congrats.

[PPW350]

Nice setup, how do you think the HW15 compare to the RS10? From what I've gathered, the JVC's version of LCOS projectors are still better, but a lot more expensive.

[Suntory_Times]

Screen: Black Diamond 2, and you will be in heaven (and will be able to watch movies, tv with the light on, with no effect on the screen).

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

Screen: Black Diamond 2, and you will be in heaven (and will be able to watch movies, tv with the light on, with no effect on the screen).

I've seen the Black Diamond in action and I would not go as far as to suggest a blind buy. Ambient lighting is still going to set the minimal black level of the screen+room. And the end result with ambient lighting is going to be a far cry if you are coming from solution with CRT blacks in a light-controlled room.

And let's not forget the $2K pricing of this screen.

[Jim L]

@Suntory Times/ BarkingGhost: I agree about the Black Diamond. I tested this one very much when I was looking at projectors. It was amazing with ambient light. Unfortunately I couldn't afford it. Even a 92" was around $1500 used.

[Jim L]

Originally Posted by PPW350

Nice setup, how do you think the HW15 compare to the RS10? From what I've gathered, the JVC's version of LCOS projectors are still better, but a lot more expensive.

I only saw the JVC DLA-HD350 in person and viewed quite a bit of content on it. I did not see the RS10. From what I understand the RS10 may be a little bit of a step up. But I was very impressed with the HD350. The blacks, contrast and color were excellent and there is NO iris to deal with. Unfortunately it lists at ~$4500 a significant price tier above the Sony.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by BarkingGhost

I've seen the Black Diamond in action and I would not go as far as to suggest a blind buy. Ambient lighting is still going to set the minimal black level of the screen+room. And the end result with ambient lighting is going to be a far cry if you are coming from solution with CRT blacks in a light-controlled room.

And let's not forget the $2K pricing of this screen.

I always suggest sieng one in action, but I have yet to see a screen that competes even if you only use it in a completely light controlled room. It is expensive though, and hence I do not have one, but I hope to get one one day.