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Key features Native widescreen Side-shot mode Three different focus length lenses 1,386 x 788 resolution Brightness 1,400 ANSI Lumens Contrast ratio 1,300:1 Iris mode Lamp power/gamma level adjust Memory Stick playback 40-300in pictures Connections Component video phonos DVI HDMI input S-video input Composite video input USB jack Dimensions 369(w) x 148(h) x 345(d)mm

Sony VPL-HS20

ONYS CINEZA LCD PROJECTOR RANGE HAS LONG promised more than its ultimately delivered. At times, in fact, weve found ourselves having to question Sonys stubborn adherence to LCD technology at the expense of any exploration of DLP. But perhaps thats all going to change with the VPL-HS20. On the specs side, things kick off with a fairly impressive (by LCD standards) contrast ratio of 1,300:1; a really impressive brightness of 1400 ANSI Lumens; and a native 16:9 LCD panel resolution of 1,386 x 788 high enough to deal with pure 720p HD signals without down-scaling. Key among the HS20s massive list of features are Dynamic, Standard and Cinema projection modes. Each of these steps down the lamp brightness to (a) extend lamp life, (b) reduce fan noise and (c) improve black level response and video colour tones. The Cinema setting additionally utilises an Iris feature to optically limit the amount of light emitted through the lens, in a bid to improve contrast even more. projectors fascia of a slot for Memory Stick cards. This can be used to run slideshows of digital photos directly from your cameras storage cards. For all its features and fine-sounding specifications, though, the HS20 is a good rather than great performer. The key problem is that in order to get the best out of the HS20s contrast, you really need to murder the brightness by narrowing the iris and reducing the bulb power. In fact, you have to reduce the brightness so much to hit a favourable contrast level that, in the end, the picture really lacks punch. Even with the brightness kept to a minimum, dark Star Wars scenes such as Skywalker using the force against a floating droid dont have especially profound black levels. Dark areas look slightly greyed over and short of texture. Nearly all DLP models in this price bracket can do better.

Verdict

Sales Web www.sony.co.uk

Skin-deep

Pictures do look impressively solid, though due to the robustness of the HS20s colours. Lightsabres look positively exuberant, while the subtlety of shading adds depth that makes up for some of the contrast issues. Fleshtones arent the most natural weve seen, however, with just a faint tinge of greenness. But its perfectly easy to live with. The sharpness of images is very impressive especially considering that fine details are delivered with hardly a trace of LCDs so-called chicken wire problem. You can almost make out individual grains of sand in the shots among the dunes of Tattooine, but expanses of single colours dont look in the least as if theyre appearing from behind a mesh. The best detail levels are seen on high definition pictures, but with high definition likely to play a big part in our projecting futures, theres certainly no harm in the HS20 being especially good at showing it! The HS20 shows good signs of progression for Sonys Cineza range. And yet, for all its good points, issues with the contrast and brightness balance still dont quite make it a best buy proposition. H

Off the peg

In spite of its clear sophistication and bountiful features list, the HS20 is easy to set up and use. Handy tricks include a side-shot feature, whereby digital processing lets you get a square image even if you position the HS20 to the side of your screen; and the fact that Sony makes three different lenses for the HS20, designed to serve small, medium or large living rooms. Perhaps best of all, though, is an auto setup feature that automatically calculates the optimum focus and image size. Brainy. So carried away have we been by the HS20s specs and features that weve so far neglected to mention its looks and connections. On the looks front, its half-moon shape and cream/grey combi colour scheme is quite attractive. In terms of connections, the HS20 boasts both DVI and HDMI jacks, making it fully specced up for the digital age and Skys upcoming high-definition broadcasts. Also of interest is a set of component video inputs, plus the unusual inclusion on the

EASE OF USE LOOKS FEATURES PICTURE VALUE
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VERDICT You cant knock Sony for throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the HS20 but thats still not quite enough to make it a classic.

Overall

WHAT PROJECTOR

0504wv16 Sony Cineza VPL-HS20

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16:9 LCD projector 3 x WXGA panels 1.3x zoom HDMI/DVI input Memory Stick slot 1,300:1 contrast ratio

Sony Cineza VPL-HS20

FEATURES LCD projector; 3 x TFT-LCD WXGA panels; 1,092,268 pixels each panel; brightness n/a; contrast ratio 1,300:1 max; lens 1.3x zoom range; power zoom, power focus, vertical & horizontal (Side Shot) keystone adjust; Cinema Black feature adjusts lamp brightness and iris aperture to optimise black levels and contrast; compatibility 480i/p, 575i/p, 720p, 1080i; Memory Stick slot for JPEG (still) and MPEG1 (movie) content with sound; options include an air filter (one supplied), ceiling mount kit, IFU-HS1interface unit which allows a DVD, VCR, audio amplifier, TV etc to be connected and switched, short and long focus conversion lenses, ceiling mounting kit; Image Director software is downloadable from the internet and helps match individual video sources for the optimum picture quality; 180W UHP lamp; dimensions: 345(w) x 369(d) x 148(h)mm; weight: 5.4kg SOCKETS Composite; S-video; component; PJ multi-input (component, S-video, composite video) with lead included; DVI computer interface; HDMI; Memory Stick. CONTACT www.sony.co.uk

LCD projector 2,800

textures clothing for example which can induce what looks like moir as the picture content is distorted by running over the static pixel grid. Overall, this is a strong contender in what is fast becoming the middle ground. Connectivity is a major strength, especially given that HDMI is fitted as standard and the range of options accessory lenses, the IFU-HS1 interface unit plus the high brightness levels and reasonable performance in other areas ensures that this is a projector that can be made to work in almost any setting Alvin Gold
Simple, ergonomic handset
Although still an LCD projector like its stablemate, the VPL-HS3, each of the three LCD panels on the VPL-HS20 offers an all in resolution of 1,092,168 pixels. As the projector is a widescreen model, this equates to around 1,280 x 853 pixels. At this resolution, the dreaded LCD chicken wire effect is still clearly visible from close up but it ceases to be much of an issue from a normal viewing distance. This said, DLP projectors remain inherently better in this respect. But the Sony does have the advantage of a brighter screen image than DLP delivers, somewhere around the 1,200-1,400 ANSI Lumens level. Sony has done a lot to try and plug the contrast gap, which is the other acknowledged area of strength for DLP. With the VPL-HS20 it has achieved an unusually high (for LCD) figure of 1,300:1 using the optimum settings, which includes an appropriate lamp brightness level and the high contrast setting of the adjustable lens iris. Highlights of the VPL-HS20 include an encrypted HDMI Type 1 input, which can be connected to any of the newgeneration DVD players with encrypted outputs, HDMI or DVI. This allows the video content of DVDs to be processed entirely in the digital domain, resulting in a cleaner, less noisy and altogether more filmic picture. User features include the ability to play JPEGs and MPEG1 movie material from Memory Stick, for which a simple low spec utility loudspeaker is included.
The VPL-HS20 is well equipped with set-up and picture enhancement options, including vertical and horizontal keystone adjust. The options list includes an interface unit to which you can connect various peripherals a DVD player, a VCR, an amplifier and a TV, say. The projector is also a supplied with a multi cable which includes component, S-video and composite video in a convenient bundle. Lens converters are available for short and long projection distances. Surprisingly, perhaps, the cooling system is not sealed and the air filter should be replaced roughly every 1,000 hours.

WHATS GOOD PERFORMANCE

Straight from the box, the VPL-HS20s colour balance was oversaturated and there was an overall magenta cast, with excessively vivid blues and unnatural skin tones. It is possible to correct these errors quite successfully and to add some punch (using the dynamic picture setting) to an otherwise bright and clean, but rather flat-looking image. In a well-darkened room, the VPL-HS20s main limitation is a loss of contrast compared to the best projectors in its class. Overall, it more or less matches the standard of a fairly basic DLP for contrast and black levels (recognising that DLP sets the standard here), although it is undeniably impressive by LCD standards. Image processing is one of the VPL-HS20s strengths. Picture quality is razor sharp and impressively detailed. Motion artefacts are well suppressed, giving a smooth quality to fast moving scenes. The only slight caveat is with slowly moving areas of very complex

Flexible configuration; bright, high-res picture; well built; useful range of accessories available

WHATS BAD

Some artefacts due to pixel grid; moderate contrast and black levels
PICTURE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.

77777 77777

SHARP XV-Z90E Outclassed on resolution (800 x 600) but six segment colour wheel, easy to use, superb performance and sells for 400 less Reviewed: Feb 03 INFOCUS SCREENPLAY 5700 Sells for 200 more but this 1,035 x 576 pixel DLP projector gives genuinely cinematographic results and a picture you can practically walk into

OVERALL VERDICT

An impressive projector at the price; loses out only on typical LCD failings contrast and black levels
104 May 2004 s WHAT VIDEO AND WIDESCREEN TV