Press Release

September 11, 2006

SONY'S LATEST FULL HD 1080 SXRD-BASED FRONT PROJECTOR BRINGS CINEMATIC QUALITY TO HOME THEATRE EXPERIENCE

TORONTO, Ontario -- Sony of Canada Ltd., Canada's leading electronic and computer products solutions provider for consumers and business, today unveiled the VPL-VW50 front projector, based on its technology-leading Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD™) technology and offering native 1920 X 1080 maximum lines of Full High-Definition 1080 resolution for a stunning cinematic experience.

Balancing Sony's critical eye for high-quality video performance with growing consumer interest in the front projection market, the VPL-VW50 projector offers an affordable step up for consumers looking for a Full HD 1080, large-screen home theatre solution.

"Last year, Sony's VPL-VW100 revolutionized the industry by delivering HD picture quality at nearly a third the price of competing products," said Patrick Lapointe, Marketing Manager, Display Products, Audio Video/Information Technology Group, Sony of Canada Ltd. "Today, Sony does it again with a surprisingly affordable projector that provides Full 1080 HD performance under a variety of viewing conditions for enjoyment by everyone in the home."

The VPL-VW50 projectors joins Sony's two existing 1080p SXRD front projectors, the QUALIA 004R1 and the VPL-VW100, deploying three 0.61-inch SXRD chips (one each for red, green and blue colour reproduction) and delivering more than two million pixels (1920 X 1080) for a maximum HD picture.

The VPL-VW50 projector features an easy to maintain 200-watt Ultra High Pressure Lamp which produces high brightness at 900 lumens, reproducing natural and accurate colours.

Also new is the VPL-VW50 projector's 1-chip video processing engine which enables the projector to have a fully digital chassis, eliminating signal noise caused by analog to digital or digital to analog conversion.  The result is a highly detailed, smooth picture.

The VPL-VW50 projector also features dual HDMI inputs which support both 1080p 60Hz and 24p frame rates. It is optimized to avoid motion artifacts and flicker when viewing next-generation HD formats like Blu-ray disc. Other inputs include component video, RGB, S-video and composite video as well as RS-232C.

Bringing an even better picture into focus is the new All Range Crisp Focus (ARC-F) lens. The lens is optimized for the VPL-VW50 projector's Full HD 1080 SXRD panels, and consists of 16 lens elements, allowing the projector to produce a wider resolution range, resulting in a truly stunning picture.

Additionally, the VPL-VW50 projector is equipped with Advanced Iris 2, which produces accurate blacks and helps to deliver an overall contrast ratio of up to 15,000:1 when "auto" Iris mode is selected. The Advanced Iris 2 also features a variable setting allowing for user optimization. The projector also features 1.8X powered lens zoom and powered focus as well as lens shift to adjust the vertical and/or horizontal manual location of the image for flexible installation locations.
Like its predecessors, the VPL-VW50 projector's advanced cooling structure produces a low fan noise of 22dB (decibels), critical for home theatre applications.

The new VPL-VW50 front projector will be available later this month at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) $5,999.99.

About Sony of Canada Ltd.

Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of electronic and computer products for consumer, business, electronics publishing and multimedia applications on a global scale. With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,000 employees support about 78 Sony stores and a network of more than 500 authorized dealers across Canada.

For further information, please visit us at www.sony.ca, www.thesonystore.ca, www.sonybiz.ca or www.sonystyle.ca, Sony's product information and e-commerce Web site, or contact:

John B. Challinor II   APR   
General Manager, Advertising  
& Corporate Communications   
Sony of Canada Ltd.    
(416) 495-3740    
john_challinor@sony.ca   

Michelle Cowan Lefler
Counsellor
Technology Practice
Silverhammer Public Relations
(416) 324-2024
michelle_cowan_lefler@ca.cohnwolfe.com

 

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