Review: Sony VLP AW15 projector with high power screen

[plissken99]

Those of you who read the "Moving..." thread in Test and off topic know that I intended to buy the superb JVC RS1 projector from the money I got from the selling of my house. Well we got screwed over pretty good and got a fraction of what we should have. And since the old Barco 808 and screen were included with the house, a temporary solution had to be found. After a lot of hasty research on the internet via public library, I decided either the Mitsubishi HC5000 1080p projector for $2799(a knotch below the JVC, but respectable), or a cheaper solution the $1080 720p Sony projector. In the interest of saving faster for the RS1, I opted for the Sony(plus the change will be more dramatic when I finally get the RS1). Luckily the local Best Buy had one, AND they price matched from an online store from $1299 to $1079! So here is a report of my experience thus far.

I was amazed to see that DVD on this projector was as sharp as HD on the Barco! Our stuff was being moved by movers, but I took Lord of the Rings ROTK EE with us to listen to the commentaries on the 10 hour drive. So it was the first thing I tried on the Sony, and I could not believe it wasn't high def. Recently I watched the entire trilogy on the CRT, and remember cringing through even ROTK since that was after HD-DVD and Blu Ray debuted. I almost want to watch them again it looks so amazing, but I'll wait for the HD releases . I now feel much better about living with the Star Wars DVDs till the HD versions come out in 2012 though.

First off, I can honestly say, this projector presents a better image than my Barco CRT ever did! The only advantage CRT has anymore is black level, and by that I mean, when the screen goes black, there is ZERO light on the screen. However, with the added brightness and clarity of digital projectors, more detail can be seen in dark scenes anyway.

When I first got the Sony set up, the screendoor was appaling, it was a noted issue with this projector. Projector Central mentioned this was the most perfectly aligned panel they've ever seen in a 720p device, meaning it's very sharp. The drawback is enhanced screendoor. Using a pair of binoculars, I carefully defocused it, now the screendoor is just barely visible from the seating position(only certain parts of movie frames can I see it), and we still get a razor sharp image. Making the screendoor dissapear completley resulted in far too soft an image. I felt bad about defocusing, but I read that the smoothscreen technology that the much more expensive 720p Pannys do is the exact same thing. The result is a very smooth natural image, and yes, much sharper than CRT.

Color is just awesome, I barely had to correct it with Video Essensials. They don't pop like they did with the JVC, but they are still ahead of the CRT. There's really no complaint here, for a $1080 projector, the color is outstanding.

As for the black level, well there's no way around it. Though the Sony has a 12000:1 CR rating, thats using an iris(the JVC is 15000:1 no iris), you have grey instead of black. Funny enough, on scenes where more than %50 of the image is bright with dark areas, the dark areas appear totally black, as good as CRT(it's all perception). However, on scenes where the image is mostly dark, with a few bright spots or low level shadow detail, the blacks are grey. These are the most painful to watch as a CRT veteran.

When I first got it, I was paniced, as we were projecting on a white wall, in a totally white room, even white carpet, it wreaked! The black level improved once I got black material on the walls to help the perceived contrast, and started playing with the settings. Thanks to a tip from a very helpful AVS user I adjusted the iris settings in the service menu, dark scenes have more depth.

The projector has a few settings to help dial in a better black level. One is called "enhanced black level", nearly useless as it doesn't really help the overall black level, and in fact masks shadow detail. I do like it for standard def satalite broadcasts however, as the contrast is usually blown out on them(Daily Show), this feature gives a more deep satisfying image. Funny enough, I like the brightest gamma setting, as the brighter bright spots appear, the darker dark places appear. I have the lamp set on low, as it's plenty bright, and I'd rather the lamp last longer.

Also yesterday, I finally got my 147in High Power screen, and I all I can say is PRAISE BE TO THE GOD HIGH POWER! With a 2.8 gain, it reflects the light from the projector nearly 3x. The result is indeed a giant plasma screen, and even at 147 inches far brighter, and more dynamic than CRT could ever hope to be(CRT and HP being incompatable), colors are so smooth and fluid, there's just no going back after having high power. I was worried it would hurt the black level, as it reflects all light, including the grey, but as it increases the brightness everywhere, perceputally it's the same.

Overall I'm satisfied living with this projector for a few months until I can afford the RS1. I'm enjoying a better image than ever, and it is a relief to be rid of the massive 3 eyed beast(it was acting funny toward the end, I was waiting for it to die any day). BTW, I can't recommend this projector enough as an entry level device!

[Iguana Man]

First off, I can honestly say, this projector presents a better image than my Barco CRT ever did! The only advantage CRT has anymore is black level, and by that I mean, when the screen goes black, there is ZERO light on the screen. However, with the added brightness and clarity of digital projectors, more detail can be seen in dark scenes anyway.

That sums up exactly what my friend said when switching to a Sanyo Z2 from a CRT PJ.

Great review Pliss' and congrats on being tied over with the Sony (VPL by the way)!

[Derb]

Congrats.

Doesn't sound too bad for an entry level projector.

[plissken99]

It really is impressive for entry level, if digitals looked like this at this price ratio back in 02 when I bought the CRT, I would have gone digital in a heartbeat. High power is something to behold, it always amazes me. The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad are so bright they almost hurt my eyes, and thats with the lamp set to low!