Sony VPL-VW40 Projector Review
For the projection lineup that Sony offers, we should look to the VPL-VW40, which by most standards is second to the premium VPL-VW200 with regards to design. While both have similar qualities we should focus our attention on the VW40, which performs very well in home theater conditions. To begin, setting up a projector should not be difficult, and the VW40 follows suit with that role. According to the reviewer, “A single Lens button on the remote calls up a grid-based test screen, with the option to mechanically adjust the image’s focus, zoom and vertical position and the levels of flexibility in the zoom (1.8x) and vertical shift departments is impressive, making the projector easily adaptable to almost any room size, really.”
This ease of use continues into the image presets, basic settings, and connectivity options, which are the following: Two HDMIs; D-SSUB (VGA) PC input, component video input, S-Video, composite video inputs and a 12V trigger jack for a motorized screen. This projector features Sony’s Advanced Iris 2 feature, which can reduce the light that comes through the lens during dark scenes to improve black levels, in this sense the VW40 can deliver an impressive contrast ratio of 15,000:1. However, with the dynamic iris system we may have reduced brightness in the image, but most work without issues. According to the reviewer, when talking about the various features of the black levels, “For the record, my own preference was for Auto Iris 1 and the lamp set to low, as I felt this delivered the best combination of black level and brightness to suit my fully blacked-out room. Within an ‘Expert Setting’ submenu, meanwhile, you will also find further black level tweaks in the shape of an option to adjust a black level boosting processor, and a Gamma adjustment.”
The reviewer started the testing with Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto, and Grand Theft Auto IV from an Xbox 360 which gave “really very impressive images indeed for its price point.” And with regard to image quality he states, “As it reproduces every leaf of a long shot of the jungle setting, every pore on the actors’ skin, and every face in the crowd at the Temple of Sacrifice.” The verdict on this projector is that for its price or around £1,622.09, it delivers quality.
[via TrustedReviews]
