Sony is adding to its 4K laser projector range with the Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9. The chassis, lens and native 4K UHD SXRD panel have been inherited from the Sony VPL-XW7000, which has been replaced by these two references. A new cutting-edge video processor is making an appearance: the XR Processor for Projector. It promises better HDR management with greater gradations and contrast, more intense colors, and greater detail.
Expected to be released in November at €15,999 and €25,999, these two next-gen native 4K Sony projectors are an illustration of the manufacturer’s desire to make its mark in the world of exceptional laser projectors. We were lucky enough to be among the first to test them in France!
Packaging & accessories
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 both come with a power cable, an infrared remote control with backlit buttons and two AA batteries. The manufacturer also includes a removable cover to protect the lens.
Presentation
The announcement of the Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 is an opportunity for the Japanese manufacturer to reorganize its range of 4K UHD laser projectors. While the Sony VPL-XW5000, the most affordable model in the range, and the Sony VPL-GTZ380ES, the flagship model, remain, the Sony VPL-XW7000 is being retired in favor of the two newcomers. The latter keep the main attributes of the VPL-XW7000, such as the chassis, the motorized optical unit and the triple native 4K UHD SXRD panel.
They are, however, enriched by new video processing, provided by the XR processor that has equipped top-of-the-range Sony TVs for several years, adapted to video projection.
Sony has also taken inspiration from its new Sony 2024 TV ranges to simplify the nomenclature of its latest-generation projectors, with the common denomination Bravia, also used for Sony home theater systems (Bravia Theater).
XR processor for video projection
Sony draws on more than sixty years of experience and innovation in the TV industry to bring its projectors into a new era. After equipping its previous generation of 4K laser projectors with the Sony X1 Ultimate video processor developed initially for its Premium TVs, it is back with its latest generation of video processor: the XR.
Powered by artificial intelligence, it brings a host of new technologies to enhance the quality of the projected image. XR Dynamic Tone Mapping and XR Deep Black to enhance dynamic range and contrast, and XR Clear Image to guarantee perfect sharpness. As with Sony TVs, it also upscales standard-definition and HD images to Ultra HD 4K, minimizing video noise.
Improved Tone Mapping
During projection, XR Dynamic Tone Mapping analyzes maximum brightness frame by frame, adjusting the display in real time. This preserves as much color gradation as possible in bright scenes (highlights are not overexposed), and improves legibility and nuance in dark scenes (blacks are not underexposed). Users can even choose between three levels of HDR Tone Mapping, enabling them to adapt the image to suit the projection conditions.
In combination with XR Dynamic Tone Mapping, XR Deep Black technology fine-tunes laser power in dark scenes. The manufacturer is now able to provide greater modulation of the light intensity of the lamp, dropping it to a minimum of 30% of its maximum brightness when necessary, particularly in night scenes or semi-darkness. This results in greater black depth than with the Sony VPL-XW7000, offering more nuances and preserving color accuracy in the darker parts of the image.
Optimized depth and sharpness
Able to map the different planes of the image to optimize depth of field, the XR processor also recognizes the point of convergence of the image to improve perception. The subject filmed by the camera remains perfectly sharp and precisely reproduced, right down to the smallest detail.
As for the XR Clear Image process, it analyzes each image to identify its different objects and elements, optimizing texture and detail.
The video processing provided by the XR processor is thus able to extract and display every detail and subtlety of the projected UHD 4K HDR images, achieving an extreme degree of realism.
Realistic colors
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 and 9 cover 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut, the standard used in the cinema industry, without the use of any filters, and therefore without any loss of luminosity. They also benefit from the XR Triluminos Pro technology that has proved its worth on the manufacturer’s top-of-the-range TVs to deliver ultra-realistic colors.
The projected image therefore retains its high luminous potential and intense contrast, while offering rich, subtly nuanced hues. Even in the darkest or brightest parts of the image, these projectors deliver natural colors.
Native Ultra HD SXRD panels, high-brightness laser
The Sony Bravia projectors each feature a trio of SXRD chips in native UHD definition (3840 x 2160 pixels). Designed to withstand the intense brightness of the associated laser lamp, they are also optimized for better control. HDR content therefore benefits from excellent contrast and vivid, natural colors, whether for films and series on 4K UHD Blu-ray media or content offered by streaming services.
The Sony Bravia Projector 8’s laser ensures a peak brightness measured at 2,700 ANSi lumens, while the Sony Bravia Projector 9 reaches a maximum brightness of 3,400 lumens. This is enough to project a very bright, high-contrast image onto a screen with a diagonal of 120 to 150 inches (3.05 to 3.8m), or a base of 2.66m to 3.3m, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. What’s more, as mentioned above, the intensity modulation of the laser lamp has been optimized (dimming), to guarantee better contrast and perfect blacks.
Optical unit, zoom lens shift
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 projectors feature the ACF (Advanced Crisp Focus lens) from the Sony VPL-XW7000. Designed to guarantee excellent image sharpness, it preserves the intensity of the luminous flux for optimal display of HDR images. The 70mm-diameter aspheric front lens offers a very large focus area and a single focal point. This guarantees better sharpness across the entire image surface than a spherical lens. Last but not least, several elements of this lens are treated to offer very low dispersion, to avoid any color drift.
These Sony Bravia projectors are easy to install, thanks to their motorized lens. Once in place, the image can be reduced or enlarged, shifted horizontally and vertically (lens shift) and focused (focus), remote control in hand. Five separate settings can be memorized to adapt the projection to different image formats (1.85:1, 2.35:1, Cinemascope, etc.).
Sony has also equipped these two projectors with a keystone correction function. By adjusting the four angles, the edges of the image can be straightened if necessary, offering greater installation flexibility. According to the manufacturer, this adjustment causes very little image degradation, thanks to the work of the XR processor. Ideally, however, we recommend that you avoid using it as much as possible.
HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps), 120Hz 4K gaming, low input lag
The Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 now feature two HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) inputs for gaming on video game consoles and PCs. These are compatible with 4K 60 fps and 4K 120 fps games. They also support the ALLM function and offer a low input lag in gaming mode, announced at just 12 ms in 120Hz 4K and 21 ms in 60Hz 4K.
There’s also an RJ45 connector and an RS232 port for network/home automation control (Control4, Crestron, Savant, AMX compatible) and remote maintenance (OvrC and Domotz), a trigger connector and an IR input (3.5mm mini-jack), plus a powered USB port. As 3D content is no longer supported, the 3D sync port on the XW7000 isn’t included.
As with the Sony VPL-XW7000, all the connectors are located on the right-hand side of the device, with the exception of the power socket at the rear.
Specifications
- SXRD technology (x3 0.61″ panel – RGB)
- Native 4K UHD definition: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Motorized focus, zoom and lens shift
- Laser lamp (20,000h)
- Brightness: 2,700 lm (Bravia Projector 8) / 3,400 lm (Bravia Projector 9)
- XR for Projector processor
- HDR10/HLG compatible
- XR Triluminos Pro (95% DCI-P3)
- 2 x HDMI 2.1 (120Hz 4K)
Test conditions
We tested these two projectors at the Son-Vidéo.com store in Nantes. We first paired them with a Panasonic DP-UB9000 EG1 4K UHD Blu-ray player using an Audioquest Forest 48 HDMI cable. This enabled us to play the Spears Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark test and calibration disc, and view a few UHD 4K HDR Blu-ray movies, including Top Gun: Maverick and Ford v Ferrari. We then connected them to a Sony PlayStation 5 console to assess their suitability for 120Hz 4K gaming with Gran Turismo 7. We projected onto a Lumene Capitol HD 240C projection screen, at a distance of around 3.5 meters, to obtain an image with a base of just over 2m.
Installation
Accessible directly from the remote control, the optical zoom, lens shift and focus make installation of these projectors a formality. Once the Sony Bravia has been placed on a shelf behind the audience, the image can be centered on the projection screen in a matter of moments.
Image settings
If you’re installing the Sony Bravia Projector 8 or Sony Bravia Projector 9 in a dedicated room, choose Movie 1 picture mode and leave the HDR tone mapping in mode 2. They are factory-adjusted to give you a perfectly balanced image with the majority of HDR content (1,000 nits), in cinema-style projection conditions.
Film Cinema Mode 2 and HDR Tone Mapping Mode 3 are ideal for viewing films encoded with peak brightness levels of up to 4,000 nits. The result is images with richer gradations in both highlights and lowlights.
Finally, if you’re projecting in a living room, the Bright Cinema and Bright TV modes, combined with tone mapping in mode 1, are the way to go.
With films, we also recommend setting Motionflow processing to “True Cinema”. This reduces judder on moving images without generating too much smoothness, so as not to distort the original content shot at 24 fps. Note that the “Smooth High” mode proves ideal for sporting events, very effectively improving legibility during fast-moving game action.
Independently of these presets, it’s still possible to fine-tune image brightness and contrast, as well as hue, saturation and color temperature, and to intervene in the color space via the CMS. Gamma adjustment for SDR and HDR content is also possible.
Our impressions
Whether it’s with the reference video sequences from the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark test discs, or with films viewed on UHD 4K Blu-ray, the images projected by these new Sony Bravia projectors blew us away!
The Spears & Munsil Blu-ray test videos (see images above) give an immediate indication of the exceptional capabilities of the Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 for 4K HDR content.
On Ford v Ferrari (Blu-ray 4K HDR), the Sony Bravia Projector 8 does justice to the film’s photography. Colors turn out to be ideally saturated, and hue variations are just right between scenes shot during the day, in the evening and at night.
The layering of different shots during the driving scenes or in the workshops gives the images a beautiful depth that highlights the characters in the foreground.
Sharpness and image precision are exemplary, with close-ups revealing the effectiveness of the XR processor in giving body to the various materials and textures on screen.
Finally, despite being less bright than the Sony VPL-XW7000, the Sony Bravia Projector 8 seemed to us to offer colors that were both intense and more subtle, with more nuances in both highlights and lowlights.
With its light output of 3,400 lumens, the Sony Bravia Projector 9 goes even further, delivering even more dynamic images. They retain beautifully deep blacks while offering greater detail and subtlety in both highlights and lowlights.
Despite the laser’s power, blacks retain their depth thanks to effective brightness modulation, and benefit from excellent HDR Tone Mapping to reveal plenty of detail in dark scenes. The bright aerial combat training sequences are no exception. The blacks and colors of the helmets stand out against the steel blues and whites of the sky.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 vs Sony VPL-XW7000
Even though it’s less bright, the Sony Bravia Projector 8 manages to offer more nuances in the gray scale, which benefits both detail legibility and color rendering in very dark and very bright scenes. The progress made in tone mapping is clearly visible. The XR processor also improves image precision, with more detail and better depth, for greater realism.
Sony Bravia Projector 8 vs JVC DLA-NZ800BE
The two frenemies of native 4K video projection are virtually on a par when it comes to HDR, thanks to their proprietary technologies. Frame Adapt HDR Gen2 (JVC) and XR Dynamic Tone Mapping (Sony) are equally adept at revealing minute nuances in high dynamic range content. The JVC seems to offer slightly lower contrast but slightly deeper blacks, while the Sony stands out for its more chiselled image, with more perceptible detail. However, the JVC also has the advantage of handling HDR10+, and offers exclusive 8K projection thanks to e-shiftX technology.
Who are they for?
These Sony Bravia projectors are sure to win over even the most discerning moviegoers in search of an ultra-realistic cinema picture. Dynamics and nuances on HDR content, depth of blacks, intensity and color accuracy: these assets are sure to delight lovers of great images.
Conclusion
Like the Sony VPL-XW5000 and XW7000 when they came onto the market just over two years ago, the Sony Bravia Projector 8 and Sony Bravia Projector 9 mark a major evolution in the manufacturer’s catalog and establish themselves as new benchmarks in 4K video projection.
Advances in laser brightness management, combined with improved dynamic tone mapping, ensure exceptional performance with wide dynamic range HDR content. The image boasts superb contrast and gains in nuance and intensity thanks to improved management of low and high light. These are far richer and more subtle than on previous-generation models, with a dynamic range never seen before in video projection.
The work of the XR processor also delivers incredible image precision and an impressive level of detail. The richness and accuracy of colors are also impressive, with a very high level of realism on the screen.
We liked
- The well-calibrated cinema modes
- The excellent HDR content management
- The deep, nuanced blacks
- The rich, vibrant colors
- The sharpness and precision of images
- The input lag of 12 ms at 120Hz 4K
We would have liked
- Less elitist prices
- A more original design
