Sony's previous projector — the VPL-VW50 — was hailed as a breakthrough for under-$5000 projectors. The VPL-VW60 delivers images with significantly greater picture contrast and sharpness. It also provides adjustments that make it easier to obtain optimum performance.

Reviewer Al Griffin had this to say in the January 2008 issue of Sound & Vision magazine: "Sony's new SXRD projector hits the bull's-eye on many levels. Its native contrast is a big improvement over that of last year's model; on this alone, it leaves much of the budget DLP and LCD competition in the dust."

Over 2 million pixels, 35,000:1 contrast
Each of the VPL-VW60's three ultra-high-resolution SXRD panels has 1920 x 1080 pixels. That's twice the number of pixels available from 720p projectors — more pixels reveal greater detail, depth and dimensionality. And 1080p is also a pixel-perfect match for 1080i high-definition programs, the most common HD format. (HDTV reception requires a separate HDTV tuner.) All incoming video signals are automatically "scaled" (converted) to precisely match the projector's 1080p native resolution.

Because there are three SXRD image chips — one each for red, green, and blue — colors look extraordinarily rich and solid. The Real Color Processing color management system makes it easy to fine-tune specific colors and hues without affecting skin tones. Sony's Advanced Iris system includes "Auto" modes that monitor the video signal and adjust the projector's light output on the fly, optimizing black level and contrast on a scene-by-scene basis. Maximum contrast is rated at an astonishing 35,000:1.

Flexible setup and connectivity
With its standard-throw lens, the VPL-VW60 is a smart choice for medium- and larger-sized rooms (you can place it on a table, or ceiling-mount it with an optional bracket). The projector's "lens shift" feature lets you adjust the image either horizontally or vertically, to allow for off-center projector placement. Unlike digital keystone correction, lens shift doesn't reduce image resolution.

The VPL-VW60 has every type of video input you're likely to need. The HDMI inputs accept 1080/24p video from high-definition disc players that can output that signal. When the projector senses 1080p/24 video, it changes its refresh rate to 96Hz, repeating each video frame four times. This avoids the 3-2 pulldown processing step that can introduce motion "judder".

For optimum performance, a separate projection screen is recommended.

Learn about the ins and outs of HDMI connections at the Crutchfield Learning Center.
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