Sony VPL-HS50, The forgotten option

• Sometimes it is worth taking a
  broader view of the options on the
  market.

• Price: €3,000

• Specialists' rating: 4

• Text: Ramon Sendra

Some of the letters that reach our editorial office contain a brief question: should I buy A or B? And we ask ourselves: is there no C, D and/or E? Most of the time there is, but without knowing exactly why, there is a certain tendency to weigh up a choice between just two options. And almost always the same ones.

Sony's VPL-HS50 is not a new product. In fact, we had our reservations about publishing this review. First, because it reached us much later than expected (according to them, "it was busy"); second, because there is already talk of the new VPL-HS60, although, according to Sony Spain itself, this HS50 still has some life left in it. So why are we publishing it? Because it is a very good product.

Take a look at the specifications and you will see that we are talking about a projector with a contrast ratio of 6,000:1. And it isn't DLP! It is a projector equipped with three high-resolution LCD panels, which brings us to the typical "A or B" dilemma I mentioned at the beginning, since this Sony is perhaps the forgotten option "C".

Can an LCD projector really reach that contrast figure? It is no easy task, and the trick lies in the dynamic iris our guest is equipped with. This "invention", already known and seen in other designs, has its advantages and drawbacks, among them getting it to work properly.

Sony achieves this with its VPL-HS50, thanks to video circuitry capable of analyzing each video frame to be projected just in time, while issuing the appropriate commands to the iris and making it invisible to our eyes. Thus, in dark scenes the whites are not as white as they should be, but the blacks border on excellence. And the same in reverse: in bright scenes the whites shine with their excellent reproduction, while the blacks, now less important, take a back seat to the former.

Its 1,280x720-pixel resolution and its HDMI input also make this Sony "HD Ready" in every sense (curiously, it came with an HDMI input before the new TVs that have just been introduced). This is accompanied by a component video input and the usual lower-quality video inputs. The absence of a SCART input is fully made up for by the digital video input mentioned. It's a different league.

For correct color reproduction, it features Real Colour Processing, whose goal, which it achieves, is a vivid and brilliant color palette. This function also allows the user to configure many picture settings, adapting like a glove to each particular situation. Put it to the test by playing any scene where human skin takes center stage. You will not be disappointed to see a very realistic skin tone. And all without losing the depth of the blacks when needed. Nor is the slight screen-door effect of its panels unpleasant, and, of course, the annoying rainbow effect is completely absent.

But it does have the odd problem. For example, in high-contrast scenes (half light, half dark) the whites lose out. If the contrast comes from a well-defined object, a small halo around it will be evident. From time to time, horizontal banding can be seen, a very common flaw in this type of projector (the one that solves it best is Panasonic's PT-AE700).

All these tests were carried out in low lamp mode, which achieves a better contrast ratio and a completely imperceptible noise level (or rather, in line with what we have seen so far in this price range). The lens throw is good, properly complemented by a 1.6x zoom, which makes optional lenses unnecessary.

Another problem is that the recommended retail price is noticeably higher than what can be found at some outlets.

You have now seen what may well be a clear "option C" to the typical dilemma posed by many in recent months (price aside). Like other projectors, the VPL-HS50 reinforces the possibilities of LCD technology, which, little by little but steadily, is reducing to anecdotes the minor problems that have always tarnished this technology's reputation.

Despite its advanced "electronic" age, the VPL-HS50 is still an appealing product for anyone who wants a true home theater picture.

Sony VPL-HS50, The forgotten option

Specifications

Panels: 3 x 0.73" p-Si TFT LCD with a native resolution of 1,280x720 pixels. Aspect ratio 16:9. Contrast ratio: 6,000:1, with Advanced Iris Control. Brightness: 1,200 ANSI lumens. Lens: 1.6x zoom. 80" diagonal at a distance of between 2.4 and 3.7 m. ARC-F lens. Connectivity: HDMI, S-Video, composite video, component video, trigger. Dimensions: 348x135x360 mm.

Weight: 5.6 kg.

Distributor: Sony España (902402102).

Price: €3,000