Sony VPL-VW100

Forget these teeny-tiny 1080p TVs. It's time for high rez on a big screen. I've been saying it since the first 1080p displays hit the market: There's no need for 1080p on a screen smaller than 65 inches. Your eye just can't resolve that kind of detail at the distance just about everyone sits from their TV. Resoundingly, no one cared. Where that level of detail is really useful is with projection. With a screen of 90 or 100 inches, you can use every bit of detail you can get. Texas Instruments was pretty candid about not needing to rush in to a 1080p front projector chip.

When our Photo Research PR-650 SpectraScan Colorimeter—the tool we use to calibrate most of the projectors we review—went into the shop for repair recently, not destined to emerge until mid January, a decision had to be made. The Sony VPL-VW100 is one of the hottest video products to hit the market this year.

While my December 2005 review of this video projector was complete in most respects, the absence of our Photo Research colorimeter (in the shop for repairs) did leave a few holes in the formal measurements. These were promised for this Part II. The delay also gave me more time with the projector. Further viewing certainly did not change my opinion of this superb product.

Yet another new projection technology has arrived