Sony VW60 and VW200

Sony today bolstered its Bravia SXRD front projectors with two high-end models. The VW200 is the first SXRD projector (and potentially the first of any projector) to include LCD panels capable of 120 frames per second, generating artifact-free movement similar to the most recent direct-view LCD sets. It also adds HDMI 1.3 with deep color to play Blu-Ray or HD DVD movies that support the wider color range, and a rare Xenon lamp with a more accurate color temperature. The VW200 further adds an Ethernet jack to let users remotely control the projector over the Internet.

It and its 60 FPS counterpart, the VW60, each use a new advanced iris and panels that produces a contrast ratio as high as 35,000:1 -- twice as much as before, the company says. Their processing can further adapt automatically to 24 FPS frame rates from certain movies and optionally fit anamorphic, 2.35:1 lenses to display movies at their native aspect ratios and double noise reduction that dramatically cuts down on unintentional grain effects.

The VW60 is planned to lead the releases and will ship in September for $5,000. The top-end VW200 should ship a month later and will command a premium for dedicated home enthusiasts at $15,000.

By Electronista Staff