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Sony VPL-PX11 Projector Review

Model: Sony VPL PX11
Review Date: 06-12-2003
By: Kevin Olsen

Highlights: Portable Projector weighs just 11.7 lbs, outputs 2000 ANIS lumens, and projects images as small as 40 inches and large as 300 inches (viewable area measured diagonally), Two RGB Inputs, Monitor Output, S-Video & Video Inputs, RS-232C Serial Control, Up to 15 degrees digital keystone, USB & Mouse Control, 4X Digital Zoom, Freeze Frame, Optional FASTFIX™ Lens Attachments and Easy Change Lens Adapters.

Chassis Color: Off White
Resolution: 1024 x 768 XGA Resolution
Projection System: Three 0.9" TFT LCD panels. (786,432 pixels in each panel)
Lens: 1.3x manual zoom lens.
Lamp Life: 1500 - 2000hrs typical replaced with 200W UHP Lamp. (LMP-P202)
Model Inception Date: Entered U.S. Market June 2002
Warranty: 2 Years Limited Parts and Labor

INTRODUCTION

This is a great multimedia projector for home theater or business use. It supports the various NTSC and PAL / Secam video standards for use overseas. It comes with mounting holes, and internal software provides for adaptation to ceiling, floor, and rear screen installations. New optional converter lenses are available which can easily be attached to the standard lens, enabling the projector to be customized to any application environment. These optional lens adaptors allow the throw distance of the projector to be changed to accommodate situations where shorter or longer throw distances are required. In addition projector has an outstanding, easy to use and colorful menu system without the need for the remote.

The VPL-PX11 has an extremely quiet fan, outputting just 34dB. The quiet fan will ensure that whether it is placed on a meeting room table or mounted from a conference room ceiling it will allow participants to engage in normal voice level conversations. As with any projector, you need to minimize any internal heat buildup. The cooling fan exhausts the air forward away from the audience. The air filter prevents dust and dirt from getting into the internal components and needs to be cleaned every 300 hours. I was surprised to find an extra filter in the packaging for this purpose. It looked as though you could exchange it, rinse out the old one, let it dry and use it again in the future. If used in a meeting room environment with the intention to move the unit from room to room, a sturdy, recessed, handle can be accessed to make the job easier.


sony projector

The OSD (On-Screen Display) for projector control is available in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese and Chinese. The VPL-PX11 accepts a wide variety of input signals, including composite video, S video and RGB, as well as computer signals up to SXGA. And with presets for 37 different signals, images can be reproduced in the most suitable signal mode in an instant. Keystone distortion of up to ±15 degrees can be digitally corrected from the On-Screen Display or the supplied remote control unit. Images can be projected with the correct geometry even where installation space is limited.

The panel in the rear allows for the following connections:

Home Theater Use - 95

Using this projector for movie watching produced excellent skin tones and vibrant colors. The LCD light engine consists of three 0.9-inch panels with a total of 2,359,296 pixels and a 200 W UHP lamp behind them, the VPL-PX11 offers outstanding light output of 2000 ANSI lumens with true XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. High-quality, high-contrast images can be projected even in high ambient light conditions. No adjustment was needed out of the box to have the colors were you want them. You will not need to worry about fan noise during your theater experience because of the lack of it (34 db) as mentioned before. Black levels, gray scaling, contrast, and brightness are all exceptional. Because of the high pixel density screening effects as seen in lower cost models was not evident very much if at all. Excellent zoom range at 10' to 12' feet from the screen makes adjusting to your screen size very simple. You are also able to connect a digital camera and play a continuous slide show of pictures. This projector allows you to connect a multitude of video components in various configurations.

For example:

Computer Presentation Use - 92
Connect a PC with VGA, SVGA XGA or SXGA video. With APA (Auto Pixel Alignment), single-button "press and play" operation correctly sizes and adjusts the display for optimum picture performance. The VPL-PX11 is compact and is easy to carry with a retractable carrying handle. The projector can be carried around from room to room; bringing brilliant images anywhere it is used.

The VPL-PX11 also adds style to any presentation, with its sleek and elegant chassis. If you do most of your presentations in offices, conference rooms and hotels you will need at least 1000-1500 lumens. If most of the time you have a projection screen than this will do fine. For those times when a projection screen is not available than a 2000 lumens projector will make due of a wall or chalkboard quite well.

The brightness of projectors is measured in units called ANSI lumens. The requirement for brightness is dependent on three factors: Throw distance, which is the distance between the projector and the display screen. The ambient light in the room, brighter rooms require a brighter projected image. Desired projected image size, the larger capacity rooms obviously require a larger image and hence a brighter projector. This projector will do the trick quite adequately. I put this on a brown colored wall with the lights on and it did a nice job. On a projection screen the Sony VPL PX11 is absolutely beautiful. Mnemonics are crisp and clear with no blur white or black. I wanted to get a remote keyboard and do my work sitting on the couch just to keep looking at it.

Screening effect was noticeable a little but in this application it does not really matter at least to me. With the zoom feature you can zoom in on any portion of the displayed image, great for highlighting charts or graphics. This is done with the supplied RM-PJM11 remote control. Items such as mouse function, digital zoom function and freeze function. The Freeze function displays a freeze-frame while preparing or switching to the next image. All this can be operated from the wireless remote control unit. Presentations assigned in the Projector Station software can be opened with a push of the function button key. The projector can be connected to the PC using a standard USB connector. This allows you to use the included remote to control slides in PowerPoint presentations and as a remote mouse. It is however infrared, which means you require the remote controller to be within line of sight of either the front or rear of the projector. I pointed the remote at the screen and was able to control it with the reflection of the screen every time.

The projector can also be controlled from the connected PC running the Sony Projector Station software. You can connect a stereo mini jack (like a headphone jack) audio cable from the PC to the projectors built-in stereo speakers. This adds some volume to your presentations but is useless in large capacity conference rooms. The VPL- PX-11 is USB-ready, and serves as a USB hub for daisy chain connection of multiple devices. With the USB connection, the projector can be controlled by a computer, using the Projector Station ™* USB application software. The software also helps with organization of presentation materials for quick access registered files can be opened in the software with the Function keys on the remote control unit. I went to the Sony service and support web site and found not only updated Projector Station software but a handy projection calculator.

* PROJECTOR STATION version 4.2 software requirements: Microsoft® Windows® 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me or Windows 2000, XP operating system.

VALUE - 86
If you can afford it the Sony VPL PX11 is the best projector in its class. This is not an excellent value for those who are looking for an average projector to just get the job done. If your are a business executive looking for a durable and at the same time impressive display presentation for that important client this is the projector for you and one of the best projectors in its price range. If it is possible to have to good of a picture for a home theater this would cover that requirement. Replacement of the lamp is a very straightforward and easy process. There is a built-in lamp timer, which tells you the total time of usage. The price of this projector keeps it out of the average living room unless you are looking at a high end home theater system.

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES
Screem Size Minimum Distance Maximum Distance
40"(1.02m) 2.3' (0.7m) 3.0'(0.9m)
50"(1.27m) 2.9'(0.9m) 3.7'(1.1m)
60"(1.52m) 3.4'(1.0m) 4.4'(1.4m)
80"(2.03m) 4.6'(1.4m) 5.9'(1.8m)
100"(2.54m) 5.7'(1.7m) 7.4'(2.3m)
120"(3.05m) 6.8'(2.1m) 8.9'(2.7m)
150"(3.81m) 8.6'(2.6m) 11.1'(3.4m)
200"(5.08m) 11.4'(3.5m) 14.8'(4.5m)

OVERALL RATING 92

Model Number Home Theater Computer Presentation Value Overall
Sony VPL PX11 95 92 86 91

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