Picking up where the SRX-R220 left off, Sony's new SRX-T110 / SRX-T105 4k x 2k projectors are likely headed right to a museum, cinema (lucky!), or "digital planetarium" near you. Each SXRD device touts a staggering 4,096 x 2,160 native resolution and contrast ratios of 2,500:1. Separately, the T110 comes in much brighter than the T105, offering 11,000 lumens over the latter's 5,500. Those of you hoping to sneak one of these into your home cinema without placing too heavy a burden on the plastic Centurion will probably be disappointed; the T110 will ring up at ¥12.7 million ($120,460), while the T105 demands ¥8.3 million ($78,725). Both should arrive in Japan this November.

[Via Impress]

While we were just able to take a look at Sony's BRAVIA VPL-VW70 SXRD at CEDIA, it appears that the company is showing Europe a little love with the awfully similar VPL-VW80. The Full HD beamer includes High Frame Rate SXRD panels, a 100Hz Motionflow Dark Frame Insertion system, the BRAVIA ENGINE 2 processing tech and a 2.5-millisecond response time. You'll also find a 60,000:1 contrast ratio, Advanced Iris 2, electronic panel alignment, two HDMI connectors and a 1.6x motorized zoom lens. Unfortunately, there's no mention of a price and / or release date, but we'll go way out on a limb here and suggest you start saving up immediately.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Sony's 400-disc BD Mega Changer was just a small part of what it had going on at CEDIA, and we couldn't pass up the chance to photograph its two newest SXRD BRAVIA beamers. The VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10 projectors didn't look all that different than previous units in the family, with smooth lines, a rather large body and all of the ports conveniently tucked on one side. At $8,000 and $3,500 (respectively), they ain't cheap, but even those tags are minuscule compared to similar units just a few years back. Have a closer look in the gallery here at Engadget HD.

We already knew that Sony's VPL-HW10 was well on its way to retail shelves, but now you can mark it down -- it, along with the VPL-VW70, are officially official here in Denver. This 1080p SXRD two-fer offers up 24p True Cinema technology and the BRAVIA Engine video signal processing engine. As for the VPL-VW70, it checks in with a 60,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and 800 ANSI lumens; the VPL-HW10 offers up half the contrast ratio and 1,000 ANSI lumens for use in brighter areas. Full specifications are just after the cut, but if you're anxious for pricing: the VW70 will hit this November for a staggering $8,000, while the HW10 can be had later this month for around $3,500.

Sony's family of projectors just grew by one, with the 1080p VPL-HW10 combining triple-panel SXRD technology, the new BRAVIA Engine 2 eight step image processing, 1000 ANSI lumens, 30,000:1 contrast ratio and x.v.Color support. Dual HDMI inputs, HDMI-CEC control tech, 24p True Cinema, Real Color Processing and quiet 22dB operation ensure a top of the line home theater experience -- for something (no MSRP or shipping details here) less than the reigning king of the hill VPL-VW200 and another as-yet-unrevealed higher-end model. So Sony, guess we'll be seeing you at CEDIA next week?

[Via Akihabara News]

Among the outpouring of new projectors at CES comes a stately one from LG. The AF115 SXRD projector offers up a native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, DSP HQV Realta, 1,300 ANSI lumens, a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, twin HDMI 1.3 connectors, ISF calibration and ultra-quiet operation. Unfortunately, that's all the details we've received, but prospective buyers should take note of this thing's girth before choosing to wait diligently for information on a price / release date.

[Via AboutProjectors]

That's right, babies. We've seen Sony play this hand in other parts of our great big world, and now the S-gang is bringing this sweet bacon on home... er, to the States. According to a promotion we've caught wind of, if you get yourself approved for the Sony Visa, then promptly purchase a Sony HDTV at the Sony Rewards store (out of a pool of models from the BRAVIA and SXRD lines), the good folks at Sony will throw a free PlayStation 3 your way. Of course, there's a few hoops you have to jump through, the deal ends on December 31st, and obviously you'll need a half-decent credit score, but if the suits approve your transaction, this is a pretty solid deal. Hit the read link for all the info -- just make sure you read the fine print.

[Thanks, Stephen]

Feeling a bit bummed that Santa didn't deliver that swank new front projector you'd been asking pleading for? Trust us, it's for the best. Apparently, Sony is looking to release its VPL-VW40 to the masses at the end of January, and judging by the specs, it looks an awful lot like the discontinued VPL-VW50 -- save for the price. The BRAVIA SXRD PJ sports a 1080p native resolution, 15,000:1 contrast ratio, a 12-bit Panel Drive Full Digital Chassis and an ARC-F lens. Additionally, you'll find a couple of HDMI ports, VGA, RS-232 and composite / S-Video / component jacks. Granted, there's no little birdie giving us the inside scoop, but we'd bet that Sony gives this thing its fair share of floor space at CES -- particularly the oh-so-tempting $2,999.99 price tag.

[Thanks, Jordan]

It's unconfirmed at the moment, but we're hearing that Sony is planning to discontinue sales of all rear-projection HDTVs, including its 3LCD and SXRD lines, after current inventories are exhausted to focus on the hot-selling Bravia LCD line. We've been tipped on it twice today and now This Week In Consumer Electronics is reporting that a Sony spokesperson has told them that "We are moving our resources more toward LCD TV, because that's what people really want." It looks like all backorders for the KDSZ70XBR5 are being canceled, as the unit will never be manufactured, and Sony's making a "no promises" effort to fill backorders for the KDF46E3000 and KDS60A3000. The move isn't exactly unprecedented or even all that surprising -- Toshiba, Philips and Hitachi have all stopped producing rear-projection sets, but Sony's SXRDs were still extremely popular and it's strange to see them get dropped just like that. Check the full leaked email we got after the break.

Sony's been some busy busy bees in the last 24-hours -- must be the CEDIA juice in the Denver water. Official today come their 1080p/24 Bravia SXRD projector pair: the VPL-VW60 we've seen and new VPL-VW200 pictured above. The latter boasts the same specs -- 22dB, 35,000:1 dynamic contrast, 1,000 lumens -- only with a 120fps SXRD panel with three motion compensation modes and high-output Xenon lamp. Available Stateside, the VW200 hits in October for $15k while the VW60 will cost just $5,000.

September 20th: know it home cinema buffs. That's the date Sony releases their SXRD followup to the VPL-VW50 "Pearl" projector in Japan. The new Bravia VPL-VW60 projects a 1,920 x 1,080 image with a 35,000:1 contrast ratio and 1,000 lumens courtesy of its (¥42,000 / $367) 200W high pressure mercury lamp and trio of 0.61-inch SXRD chips. It's also quieter than its predecessor at 22dB while packing a pair of HDMI-CEC class HDMI jacks supporting 1080/60p, 50p, and 24p. Best of all though, Sony managed to seriously up the specs while cutting the introductory list price nearly in half to "just" ¥441,000 (about $3,858).

[Via Impress]

May 1st is the date that Sony hopes will usher in the era of digital cinemas. That's the date their CineAlta 4K digital cinema solution goes on sale in Japan. With the SRX-R220 at its core, the 5-foot / 660-pound CineAlta 4K system projects a 4,096 x 2,160 pixel image at 18,000 lumens off its 4.2kW bulb. The 300GB films are stored in an encrypted JPEG2000 format within Sony's 19-inch, LMT-100 "media block" RAID array. Sony is counting on about 1/3 of Japan's 3,000 cinemas taking on their ¥1.5 million ($12,651) per screen solution by 2010 with even higher hopes for the US market. They'll need lots of help since projection systems are just a tiny fraction of the total conversion costs required to move cinemas into the digital age.

[Via Impress]

What's this, can it be, why yes... some good news from Sony! Seems their 18,000 lumen SXRD projector is outta prototyping and going manufacture gold sometime "in early 2007." The new SRX-R220 model uses the same lens with same 4096 x 2160 resolution as Sony's existing SRX-R110 and SRX-R105 projectors but manages 18 freakin' thousand lumens off a single 4KW lamp. Look for 'em to join Sony's 24p cams and XDCAM HD optical disc system under the CineAlta branding in the new year. Oh wait, there is a bit of bad news: these are destined for your neighborhood theater, not the home. Assuming of course, that someone (film distributors, you listening?) can convince theater owners to drop the couple hundie grand required to alta-their-cinema for digital, eh?

[Via Impress]

Read -- SRX-R220
Read -- CineAlta

It's not too often we get this amped up about a projector (ok, maybe it is), but it's not too often the former Qualia 004 gets revamped and relaunched as a more consumer centric product. Granted, ¥1,365,000 and ¥735,000 (about $11,660 and $6300 US) for their new Pearl VW100 and VPL-VW50 projectors isn't exactly mass market, but you don't have to put on your Sunday best and go to one of the now-defunct Qualia boutiques to get one, either. Expect a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 1080p high def picture, 200 or 400W bulb, and some combination of HDMI, DVD, VGA, component, composite, and S-Video inputs. Click on for some more pictures of the SXRD projector of your well-heeled dreams.

[Via HD Beat and Impress]

All the cool kids have 1080p projectors for their home theater setup, but the coolest kids have 1080p SXRD projectors from Sony. At least if looks are anything to go by. Sony's new VPL-VW50 "Pearl" unit, a followup to last year's VPL-VW100 "Ruby" of equal sexiness, matches its big brother nicely in the spec arena. The projector of course has the same 1080p action, imaging courtesy of three third-generation SXRD 0.61-inch panels, and the 200-watt bulb is half the wattage of the VW100, but Sony claims the bulb manages comparable results. Sony's VW50 also keeps up with the VW100's 15,000:1 contrast ratio, has a pair of HDMI inputs and a mere 22 decibels of fan noise. All this info is courtesy of a leaked press release dated August 7, 2005, so we're hoping that "2005" is a misprint and Sony hasn't just forgotten to release this thing for a whole year. If it does prove true, the projector should be out in October, and while there's no word on price, we're hoping they manage to squeeze this one under the VW100's $12,500 pricetag. More pics after the break.

[Via HD Beat]