Sony VPL-VW1100ES Native 4K 3D SXRD Home Theater Projector

Ridiculously expensive! There are better, smaller, faster, and cheaper models.

I have had the VPL-VW1000ES projector for almost 2 years now, and just recently got the upgrade to the VPL-VW1100ES which required replacement of the motherboard by a Sony tech, and addition of the 4k Sony player (and an extra $2,500). I have a > 200" high gain screen. In 2d, with the contrast maxed out, the brightness and color up, and lamp on full iris, it produces a gorgeous picture. 3D however is so dim, it is un-watchable. Even with all the settings for brightness maxed out, all except the brightest of scenes are dim. Animation tends to look a little better in 3d than live action, but it is still dim.Watching native 4k from the demos included in the 4k 2TB hard drive player is an eye-popping treat. Standing a nose away from the projection on the screen, no pixilation is visible, only the contour of the screen itself can be seen. This projector up-scales 1080p blurays to 4k, and they come out beautiful. The 4k movies available through the sony player however are no better than the blu-rays, so don't waist your money paying an extra $10 to $15 for the 4k versions. We will have to wait until some movies come out in native 4k to see any real difference.

I have to disagree somewhat with the previous reviewer on two of his points but wholeheartedly agree with his review of 2D material. Although my screen is 150" compared to his 200" my screen is micro-perforated Stewart which reduces the brightness of the screen.(StudioTek 130) On 3D material in a darkened room I have great results and is a pleasure to watch. Plenty brightness in my room at night. Not for daytime viewing. If you need inexpensive 3D glasses order PS3 type but be ready for many defective ones; in fact I had to order 12 pairs to get 4 working ones. As to 4K material from the Sony 4K media streamers either FMP-X10 or FMP-X1 I definitely see an improvement over the 1080 versions. In comparison of a 70mm transfer such as Lawrence Of Arabia there is such an improvement that when I went back to the 1080P Bluray version I felt it appeared a little soft and was similar to DVD to Blu Ray comparison although not quite as apparent. If you have a direct view TV under 70" there will be less difference. I have owned many Sony projectors and prior to the VPL-VW1100ES I used the Qualia and the LG CF181D(based on Sony chips). The 1100ES was the first projector I have had that surpassed the Qualia and it did so in every important criteria. The main difference with the 1100ES over the 600ES is the quality of the 18 element ARC-F lens. It will be well worth it to purchase a used 1100ES over a new 600ES and you also get some extra brightness.

I had 20k left over in my bank account and I had a choice to save it for my kids and my bills or buy this projector. Needless to say, my kids are with baby mama and I can no longer afford my mortgage. However, the week I had this projector was the 2nd best week of my life. Losing my wife and kids was the first. I highly recommend this projector if you need a quick "clean up".

I was debating between feeding the whole country of Africa or buying this Projector, I chose the projector.

People on this site are childish at times, I imported my VPL 1100 from Japan, new only $5250.00 and worth every penny, my screen is perforated so it is transparent for sound which is behind the 125in motorized unit (low brightness) and the projectors image from BLU-RAY (both regular and 3D) is startling, blows me away every time, saw Kiss me Kate in the theater when it first came out (yes I am a 79 year old man) and this projector and its TDG PJ1 3D glasses did an outstanding job of reproducing what I saw in theater, so if you seriously want the best picture you will most likely ever see on a huge screen, don't hesitate to get one, snide remarks aside, you will most likely never see better at any price