Sony Bravia Projector 8: two-minute evaluation
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the most recent addition to the corporate’s lineup of native 4K projectors, all of which use the Z-Phosphor laser mild supply. This new beamer, together with the flagship Bravia Projector 9 (VPL-XW8100ES), provides a number of key options that convey the model’s higher-end fashions in keeping with their chief rivals among the many best 4K projectors, the JVC DLA-NZ800 and JVC DLA-NZ900.
Brightness for the Sony Projector 8 has been elevated to 2,700 lumens and each fashions now use Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor. One of many key advantages is real dynamic tone mapping for a superior HDR expertise.
The Projector 8 and 9 retain the identical chassis and Superior Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens, motorised lens controls and lens recollections because the earlier technology, however in contrast to the JVC projectors, they don’t assist HDR10+ excessive dynamic vary or 3D.
The Projector 8’s design is similar as earlier generations, however the compact chassis stays well-built. The menu system is simple to navigate, set up is versatile, and the backlit distant management makes this beamer a pleasure to function. The connectivity has been upgraded and now contains two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which suggests the Projector 8 accepts indicators with increased body charges as much as 4K 120p – nice information for next-generation console and high-end PC rig avid gamers.
The inclusion of 4K 120p isn’t the one excellent news for avid gamers, with the Projector 8 supporting ALLM. Because of this, it mechanically goes into the sport mode when a console is detected, and the enter lag is an extremely low 10ms. All of this lastly makes this beamer the best companion to the model’s personal PlayStation 5 recreation console, in addition to different consoles and PC gaming rigs.
It’s not excellent after all. There’s no HDR10+ or 3D assist, the color gamut may go wider, the black ranges dig a bit deeper, and shadows retain extra element, however total this high-end beamer delivers the large display screen items. In reality, its clean movement, superior processing, quick responses, and improved HDR are positive to please even essentially the most demanding cinephile or aggressive gamer.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: worth and launch date
- First obtainable: October 2024
- Value: £15,999 / $15,999 / round AU$21,170
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the brand new mid-range mannequin within the model’s line-up of residence cinema projectors and is out there now in a selection of matte black or white finishes. The Projector 8 presently retails for £15,999 within the UK or $15,999 within the US.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: Specs
|
Display sizes supported: |
As much as 150 inches |
|
Brightness (specified): |
2,700 lumens |
|
HDR assist: |
HDR10, HLG |
|
Optical know-how: |
Z-Phosphor laser, SXRD |
|
Sensible TV: |
NA |
|
Connections: |
2 x HDMI 2.1 , 2x USB-A (powered), IR, RS-232C, Ethernet |
|
Dimensions (W x H x D): |
460 x 210 x 517mm (18.1 x 8.2 x 20.3 inches |
|
Weight: |
14kg/30.8 kilos |
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: design
- Superior Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens
- Motorised lens controls and recollections
- Backlit distant management
The Sony Projector 8 seems an identical to the model’s earlier generations, with the identical angled design and centrally-mounted lens. There are air consumption grilles on the entrance, exhaust vents on the rear, and a few fundamental controls on the left-hand aspect as you face the lens.
The Projector 8 measures 460 x 210 x 517mm (WxHxD), and weighs in at 14kg. Sony provides a selection of matte black or matte white, and you can too select between a stand or ceiling mount. The construct high quality is sweet, though it feels much less substantial when in comparison with the JVC NZ800.
The Projector 8 makes use of the Superior Crisp-Focus (ACF) 70mm lens launched on earlier fashions, which is designed to resolve extra element. The lens controls are additionally motorised, making setup simpler, and there are lens recollections to create totally different facet ratios when you use a 2.35:1 display screen.
The connections are all positioned in a recess alongside the underside left-hand aspect as you face the projector. Right here you’ll discover two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is a welcome addition, together with an Ethernet port and RS-232C connector, a 12V set off, an IR enter jack, and a USB port for energy.
The offered distant is similar massive and backlit zapper included with earlier generations of Sony beamers. The buttons are laid out sensibly, it’s snug to carry and use with one hand, and contains all of the controls you’ll have to arrange and function the Projector 8.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: options
- Z-Phosphor laser mild supply
- Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping
- Assist for 4K 120Hz excessive body price
The Sony Projector 8 makes use of the model’s present 0.61-inch SXRD chip to ship native 4K (3840 x 2160) pictures. The projector has a refresh price of 120Hz, and due to the addition of the 2 HDMI 2.1 inputs it may now assist increased body charges as much as 4K 120p.
The Projector 8 additionally makes use of a Z-Phosphor laser mild supply, with an elevated claimed brightness of two,700 lumens and a claimed lifespan of as much as 20,000 hours. That principally means you may watch a movie a day for the following ten years with out worrying in regards to the picture dimming like a lamp or bulb.
The inclusion of vast dynamic vary optics and Sony’s XR Triluminos Professional know-how guarantees deeper blacks, extra saturated colors and improved distinction ratios. Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor additionally guarantees superior picture processing and real-time optimisation of the image.
Because of the addition of the XR Processor the Projector 8 has XR Clear Picture processing for clever upscaling and noise discount, together with improved HDR because of picture cross-analysis, depth mapping and point of interest recognition. There’s additionally XR Deep Black laser dimming and XR Dynamic Tone Mapping for optimised HDR10 primarily based on evaluation of the incoming sign.
There’s Motionflow body interpolation for fast-paced sports activities motion and a low-latency mode for gaming. Along with the assist for 4K 120p excessive frame-rate gaming, the Projector 8 additionally has ALLM (auto low latency mode) that places it into recreation mode when a video games console is detected.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: image high quality
- Vivid and detailed photos
- Spectacular HDR tone mapping
- Very low enter lag for gaming
The Sony Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) delivers superior big-screen photos because of its native 4K (3840 x 2160) decision and Superior Crisp-Targeted (ACF) 70mm lens. This leads to detailed and distortion-free pictures, together with wider dynamic vary optics. All of this implies you’ll get pin-sharp decision throughout all the display screen – irrespective of how huge that display screen is.
If in case you have a extremely massive display screen, there’s no want to fret, as a result of this beamer has a Z-Phosphor laser mild supply that may attain an especially vivid 2,700 lumens. It additionally has a claimed lifespan of 20,000 hours, so that you’ll by no means have to fret about altering a lamp, plus the laser itself delivers a constant color efficiency and doesn’t dim considerably over its lengthy common lifespan.
The Reference image mode proves very correct out of the field, and the intensive calibration controls can be utilized to dial in a near-perfect image. The black ranges are not so good as the JVC NZ800, and I measured the Projector 8’s distinction ratio at 12,000:1. Sony solely quotes a dynamic distinction ratio of infinity to 1, however that is achieved by turning the laser off, which doesn’t symbolize combined content material.
The large promoting level of a Sony projector is its picture processing, and the XR Processor doesn’t disappoint. When watching a top quality 1080p supply, you’ll be rewarded with an upscaled image that makes full use of the projector’s greater than eight million pixels, producing pictures which might be expertly rendered so they seem clear, detailed and freed from undesirable artefacts or noise.
Sony’s Actuality Creation element enhancement applies sharpening to any decision, together with 4K, however is so subtle that it achieves this with out introducing distracting artefacts. Movement dealing with is class-leading, showing fluid and freed from judder or different points, even with out participating Motionflow. Though for quick sports activities the body interpolation characteristic may be helpful.
The Projector 8 helps HDR10 and HLG, however not HDR10+. The addition of dynamic tone mapping is most welcome, performing frame-by-frame evaluation of incoming HDR indicators, and adjusting the tone mapping dynamically via pixel processing and the laser energy. The outcomes are spectacular for a projector, bringing out particulars within the darkest and brightest elements of the image.
Whereas I used to be typically impressed by the image high quality, I do really feel that to get essentially the most out of this beamer it’s essential to use all of the processing. The Reference mode, which bypasses quite a lot of the processing, usually appeared flat and lifeless, however when switched to Movie 1 or Movie 2 it was a unique story. The photographs burst into life with element, depth and color that basically add to SDR and HDR.
Watching Passengers reveals an in depth native 4K picture with effectively rendered HDR and wealthy colors that retain loads of depth. The identical is true with the saturated primaries in The Biggest Showman, which the Projector 8 handles with ability. It’s solely when watching a darker movie like The Batman that the weaker blacks of the Projector 8 are laid naked, however no less than the shadows are freed from crush and the height highlights don’t undergo from lack of element or clipping.
The Projector 8 is a good selection for avid gamers because of its vivid and detailed pictures, in addition to its peerless movement dealing with. The efficiency with SDR is great, whereas HDR gaming is phenomenal because of the laser mild supply and HDR enhancements. The general gaming expertise is clean and responsive because of a devoted recreation mode that delivers an enter lag of 18ms with 4K 60p, and simply 10ms with 4K 120p. Each these latency measurements are lightning-fast for a projector, and higher than many TVs.
- Image high quality rating: 4.5/5
Sony Bravia Projector 8 evaluation: worth
- Priced to straight compete with superior JVC NZ800
- Costly when in comparison with very related JVC NZ700
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is priced to compete straight with the JVC DLA-NZ800, which additionally prices £15,999/$15,999. Nonetheless, the NZ800 does have the sting attributable to its all-glass lens, deeper blacks, superior dynamic tone mapping, and assist for each HDR10+ and 3D.
The Projector may even face critical competitors from JVC’s DLA-NZ700, which presently retails for £9,499/$8,999. The NZ700 isn’t as vivid at 2,300 lumens, but it surely delivers higher distinction and HDR tone mapping, and it helps HDR10+. Nonetheless, the Sony nonetheless has the sting with gaming because of its decrease enter lag and assist for 4K 120p in comparison with the JVC, which is proscribed to 4K 60p.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Notes |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Options |
Lengthy-life laser mild supply, dynamic HDR tone mapping, superior body interpolation, and superior picture processing |
4/5 |
|
Design |
Compact chassis, backlit distant, glorious construct high quality, simple setup and motorised lens controls with recollections |
5/5 |
|
Image high quality |
Good out-of-the-box accuracy and super-bright photos produce gratifying HDR, though the black ranges aren’t nice |
4.5/5 |
|
Worth |
Faces stiff competitors from JVC NZ700, which has higher HDR assist and 3D, however decrease brightness |
4/5 |
Ought to I purchase the Sony Bravia Projector 8?
Purchase it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Additionally think about…
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Sony Projector 8 |
Epson QB1000 |
Epson LS1200 |
JVC DLA-NZ800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Value: |
£15,999 / $15,999 |
£4,799 / $7,999 |
£4,399 / $4,999 |
£15,999 / $15,999 |
|
Display sizes supported: |
as much as 150 inches |
50 to 300 inches |
50 to 130 inches |
30-150 inches |
|
Brightness (specified): |
2,700 lumens |
3,300 lumens |
2,700 lumens |
2,700 lumens |
|
HDR assist |
HDR10, HLG |
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
|
Optical know-how: |
Z-Phosphor laser, SXRD |
Laser 3LCD |
Laser 3LCD |
Laser D-ILA |
|
Sensible TV: |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Connections: |
2 x HDMI 2.1 , 2x USB-A (powered), IR, RS-232C, Ethernet |
2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2xUSB-A (powered), RS-232C, Ethernet |
2xHDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1 x powered USB, Ethernet, RS232-C, 12-volt set off output |
2x HDMI 2.1 |
How I examined the Sony Bravia Projector 8
- Measured with Calman calibration software program
- Evaluated utilizing SDR and HDR content material
- Reviewed in a devoted residence cinema
As with all my TV and projector evaluations I exploit a mix of subjective viewing and goal measurements in opposition to the trade requirements. For projectors, I additionally do all my testing in a devoted residence cinema with a totally blacked-out setting and high-quality display screen.
The subjective testing relies round watching quite a lot of acquainted scenes, primarily sourced from 4K and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. Any check scenes have been particularly chosen to judge a show’s black ranges, distinction efficiency, color accuracy, upscaling, picture processing, movement dealing with, and HDR tone mapping.
For the target testing, I measured the Projector 8’s brightness, greyscale and color gamut in SDR, earlier than doing the identical in HDR. I additionally evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, together with the color gamut protection for DCI-P3. To do that I used a sample generator and color meter mixed with Portrait Show’s Calman calibration software program. I measured the Projector 8’s enter lag in milliseconds utilizing a specialised Leo Bodnar tester.
First reviewed: February, 2025