Sony VPL EX1

...the only difference between a Sony and an Aldi is the label they bung on as it goes out the factory door'. Well, from personal experience I still clung to the 'you get what you pay for' philosophy, especially when making purchases for work. (At home, finances don't always stretch that far and then you can hear me talking up my Alba stereo and LG television!)

And so I arrive at the Sony VPL EX1 data projector. For those who have not ...
...and to confirm that the Sony badge does cost a little more than some of the nearby projectors that look similar but carry an alternative brand name.

So, let’s start with the bottom line. This projector cost us £1349.00 but is now available for considerably less if you are prepared to shop around. With 1500 ANSI lumens it is bright enough for presentations in reasonably large venues with the support of blinds at the windows or ... more

There are a number of companies operating in the IT market and also in the household electronics markets that rely on the perceived truth of the adage "you get what you pay for". Their business remains profitable as we demand 'named' products. Brand names that are recognised and trusted are, so the perception goes, often worth the extra few quid. Obviously, the first time you pay that 'extra few quid' and the item still goes wrong or seems substandard the purchaser wanders around advising friends and colleagues that 'they're all made in the same factory in china anyway' and 'you know the only difference between a Sony and an Aldi is the label they bung on as it goes out the factory door'. Well, from personal experience I still clung to the 'you get what you pay for' philosophy, especially when making purchases for work. (At home, finances don't always stretch that far and then you can hear me talking up my Alba stereo and LG television!)

And so I arrive at the Sony VPL EX1 data projector. For those who have not used or become aware of data projectors: a data projector takes input from a computer or tv/video/dvd source and projects it onto a screen or wall at a far larger size than would normally be considered affordable. Ideal for presentations to an audience that are increasingly finding their way into the home as a tool for home cinema. In this instance, having used the projector for some time, I am happy to report that you do get what you pay for and to confirm that the Sony badge does cost a little more than some of the nearby projectors that look similar but carry an alternative brand name.

So, let’s start with the bottom line. This projector cost us £1349.00 but is now available for considerably less if you are prepared to shop around. With 1500 ANSI lumens it is bright enough for presentations in reasonably large venues with the support of blinds at the windows or can cope with daylight presentations in smaller venues and still provide a crisp and clear image.

The resolution of 1024 x 768 puts it out of the entry level products and this is one of the most significant aspects to affect the price of the projector. Although this makes no noticeable difference when presenting from TV/video/DVD, when connected to the computer the additional resolution helps to provide a far crisper image, especially when displaying text. As much of the presentational use of projectors still relies on PowerPoint or an equivalent, this ‘easier to read’ text is a real benefit and I’m sure appreciated by the audience. The projector will create an image up to 3.8metres in size (diagonal measurement). This is HUGE! More realistically though your projector will be closer to the screen and you will have an image with a diagonal measurement of between 1.5 and 2 metres.

As with all portable projectors I have ever used, the sound is appalling. The speaker is marginally better than the speakers in my laptop but certainly not enough for a presentation in any but the smallest of rooms. Consequently, I carry powered speakers as an additional item with this portable projector and await with huge anticipation the first projector that arrives with speakers suitable for the task. (Alternatively, could the manufacturers of projectors possibly when stating the weight of their item add the weight of decent powered speakers if their product is unable of filling the room with sound.

Now, those who have Sony everything will defend the brand name with talk of superior design and they would not be disappointed with this projector. The unit itself is beautifully curved and looks good. An aesthetic touch of relevance is the hideaway flap for most of the buttons. This keeps the front and top of the unit looking superior to similarly priced rival products. The remote control carries all the functions you would need on a day to day basis and put with a radio remote for the presentational software (add about twenty pounds for this) the projector allows the presenter to move around freely in front of the audience.

Overall – this is one of the best looking projectors I have used and has enough features and quality of screen to make me comfortable in saying ‘you get what you pay for.’

Thank you for reading this opinion and I look forward to reading any comments you may wish to leave.
 

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