Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza LCD projector review
The Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza widescreen is a very high quality WXGA LCD projector. Costing under $2500 this projector doesn't come cheap but the performance is very good especially when viewing widescreen DVD movies.
Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza widescreen LCD projector
High price, but one of the best home movie projectors around
This LCD projector really is for serious home theatre enthusiasts. With a super high native resolution of 1366 x 768 you'll get stunningly sharp movies with virtually no pixelation.
The Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza LCD projector performance at a price
As usual buying at the top of the tree results in high performance but at a price that it some ways doesn't really offer value for money. It all comes down to how much money you have to spend.
The Sony HS10 is a widescreen LCD projector with a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. It is rated at 1200 ANSI lumens with 700:1 contrast.
With such a high native resolution plus micro lens technology the screen door effect (pixelation) is basically absent. You would need very good vision indeed in order to detect the individual pixels.
LCD projectors generally suffer from a lack in brightness and contrast but Sony have done a very good job in tackling this problem in the VPL-HS10. Contrast is very good for a LCD projector and brightness is definitely acceptable. In "cinema" mode brightness is reduced and contrast increased and we found this to be a very good preset for watching movies in a darkened room. This mode also increases the bulb life from 2000 to 300 hours as well as reducing fan noise.
Color saturation and accuracy is very good and you'll find colors bright and clear without being abnormal in any way. This LCD projector is one of the best performers we've ever seen in terms of color quality.
There are a huge number of the usual input connectors plus the custom "PJ Multi Input" port that will take composite, S-video, and component signals all via a single custom 10-meter (33-ft.) "PJ Multi" cable that is supplied with the unit.
Here are the specifications:
- Projector Technology: LCD
- Brightness (in Lumens): 1200 ANSI lumens
- Contrast Ratio: 700:1
- Maximum Native Resolution: 1366 x 768 (widescreen)
- Estimated Lamp Lifespan: 2000 hours (3000 hours in cinema mode)
- Inputs:composite, DVI-D, S-Video, Component, VGA (with pass through) plus custom "PJ Multi Input"
- Replacement Bulb Cost $450
Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza projector difficult to place
If your after top of the line widescreen LCD projector performance then the Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza has got to be on your list of projectors to look at.
There is really no major faults with this projector except for an overall lack of contrast when compared to some DLP based LCD projectors.
With a street price of under $2500 you could see the Sony VPL-HS10 Cineza as a bargain when you look back to inferior LCD projectors that entered the market at $8000 18 months ago.