Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) review

Following up on a projector that we deemed “capable of surpassing the typical 'real' cinema experience” is no mean feat. Sony’s latest premium home cinema projector picks up where the serial Award-winning VPL-XW7000ES leaves off, so we’ll let you imagine the size of the shoes it needs to fill.

In fact, the entire range of current Sony XW projectors, including the new step-up Bravia Projector 9, has earned very favourable reviews, so the heat is on for Sony to continue its winning streak.

That brings us to the projector we’re looking at today. The VPL-XW61000ES, or Bravia Projector 8 to its friends, attempts to blend the picture pedigree of its predecessor with a handful of new features and enhancements derived from its Bravia TV cousins. So has Sony delivered another showstopping home cinema projector?

Price

The Bravia Projector 8 carries a sizeable price tag of £15,999 / $15,999 / AU$21,999, putting it squarely in the premium sector of the market. It’s a direct competitor to the excellent JVC DLA-NZ800 (£15,999 / $16,000 / AU$24,999) which is priced very similarly in the UK and US, though there is a greater price disparity for prospective buyers Down Under.

What’s most interesting about the price of the Bravia 8 is how it compares to that of the model it's replacing. The VPL-XW7000ES launched at £14,999 / $27,999 / AU$25,499 – that means the price has increased in the UK by £1000 for this new generation; however, US and Australian prices have dropped dramatically. It’s worth noting that the XW7000ES remains an Award winner and is still available at many retailers at a discounted price of around £12,000 in the UK specifically.

The Bravia Projector 8 sits in the middle of Sony’s current premium projector offerings, with the Award-winning VPL-XW5000ES remaining in the lineup for £5999 / $5998 / AU$9990 (discounted to £4400 at the time of writing), while the five-star Bravia Projector 9 is positioned above at a wallet-trembling £27,599 / $31,999 (around AU$55,000).

Build

If you’re familiar with the design of the VPL-XW7000ES, then the Bravia Projector 9 should give you a sense of deja vu. That’s because it uses the same chassis, with its symmetrical tapered design that meets at a central apex along the top side of the casework. It’s completely plastic – albeit with a high-quality feeling finish throughout – and it comes in either black or white.

Considering it shares the same shell as its predecessor, it should come as no surprise that the measurements (21 x 46 x 52cm) haven't changed. It's the same weight, too, at 14kg. That makes it more compact and lighter than its rivals; for instance, the JVC DLA-NZ800 is heftier, at 23 x 50 x 51cm and 23kg.

Another aspect that the Bravia 8 shares with its predecessor is the remote. Sony bundles its usual handset that can be found on previous generation models and the step-up Bravia 9 – it’s functional, features shortcut buttons to access crucial settings such as lens adjustments and picture modes, and (most importantly) includes a backlight for operating the projector in dark environments such as home cinema rooms.

Features

While not much has changed on the outside, the Bravia 8 features a long list of under-the-hood upgrades that should appease serious home cinema enthusiasts. It retains Sony’s SXRD projection technology; which is its term for Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS). This utilises the reflective technology of DLP projectors but swaps a colour wheel for crystals to block light in the same way an LCD projector works. The Bravia 8 features three of these SXRD chips alongside a laser light system with a claimed output of 2700 lumens; curiously that’s lower than the claimed 3200 lumens of the XW7000ES.

The biggest upgrade found within the Bravia Projector 8 is the new processor, which is a modified version of the Bravia XR processor found in the Award-winning Bravia 8 OLED TV and four-star Bravia 9 Mini LED TV. The XR Processor for Projector brings a raft of features from those TVs, including XR Dynamic Tone Mapping, XR Deep Black, XR Triluminos Pro, XR Clear Image and Motionflow.

The function that each feature provides is fairly self-explanatory, with the Triluminos Pro expanding colour volume. The most prominent of the bunch is the upgraded XR Deep Black feature, which affords the projector enhanced accuracy of the laser output, allowing for much more precise dimming, resulting in deeper and more convincing blacks.

Sony is also leveraging a trio of picture processing features that come as standard with its XR Processing: image cross-analysis, depth mapping and focal point recognition. These systems work in tandem to enhance the realism of the image, improve image depth and draw your eye to the pivotal part of the picture.

Overall, there are 10 picture modes (Cinema, Film 1, Film 2, Reference, TV, Photo, Game, Bright Cinema, Bright TV, User, and IMAX Enhanced), with customisable presets that can be easily accessed and adjusted in the settings menu. There is also a Picture Position Memory function that will store up to five lens settings so that you can quickly switch aspect ratios depending on your chosen input. It’s worth noting that while the Sony supports HDR in the HDR10 and HLG standards, unlike its JVC counterpart, it doesn’t support HDR10+.

The Bravia 8 gets an upgrade to HDMI 2.1 for both of its HDMI sockets; and while that might sound stingy, we must remember that you’ll almost certainly be hooking this projector up to an AV receiver with HDMIs to spare on account of there being no built-in speakers. Both HDMI 2.1 sockets support 4K/120Hz signals with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which will appease PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and gaming PC owners who want to game on the big screen. Sony also claims an input lag of 12ms with 4K/120Hz sources.

While the boost in gaming performance is appreciated, it comes at the expense of 3D functionality. If a lack of 3D support is a dealbreaker for you, then the Bravia 8 won’t suffice, but we imagine that, for many, the improved gaming functionality will be preferable.

Arguably the best feature of the Bravia 8 is the motorised lens adjustment system. It makes setup – a task we often dread – a smooth and frustration-free experience, and while there are adjustable feet on the bottom of the unit, we let the motorised lens shift, zoom and focus do the hard work. Sony has also implemented a corner correction keystone feature this year, which can be a useful asset in a pinch.

Picture

We described the outgoing XW-VPL7000ES’s picture performance as “nothing short of mesmerising” – high praise indeed. We’ve already stated that the Bravia 8 has big shoes to fill, but here is where it really needs to prove its worth. We’ve hooked our reference Oppo UDP 203 4K Blu-ray player up to this projector and selected a few of our favourite 4K discs including Oppenheimer, Interstellar, The Batman and Blade Runner 2049 to see if it can live up to its Award-winning predecessor’s lauded picture performance.

Much like the VPL-XW7000ES, we lean towards the reference picture mode thanks to its authentic and balanced characteristics, as it strives for the “as the director intended” experience. For a slightly flashier show that adds a touch of punch to the brightness and colours, you can opt for Cinema Mode 2, as it adds some flair without verging into over-enthusiastic.

Firing up Oppenheimer, we’re immediately struck by how crisp and detailed the picture appears. Sony’s penchant for delivering effective three-dimensional-looking images is clearly on show, with a panning shot of a watchtower in the New Mexico desert looking particularly striking. This is due to Sony’s expert handling of contrast, a strength found across its projector range as well as many of its TVs.

The Bravia Projector 8 also delivers excellent black levels by projector standards. The night sky of Gotham City in The Batman appears deep and imposing, with rich and deep blacks that refrain from straying into the murky grey we see on most projectors. Furthermore, as Batman steps out of the shadows to lay the smackdown on a gaggle of goons, the exceptional light control afforded by this projector ensures that the titular hero’s costume doesn’t merge into the shadows that surround him.

Shots of the grimy, crime-riddled streets of Gotham look rich and atmospheric, especially in the sequences illuminated by the humming neon lights and flashing billboards. This is yet another testament to Sony’s light control, as it handles dark sections and highlights with equal prowess.

Detail levels are also a standout, though this should come as no surprise for a native 4K projector of this stature. Fibres on Robert J Oppenheimer’s suit and complex control panels of the Endurance’s cockpit from Interstellar are presented with remarkable fidelity. It is only bested by the rival JVC DLA-NZ800 with its 8K E-shift mode, which is capable of digging even deeper to offer crisp details at a more granular level. That being said, the Sony is decidedly no slouch and offers a picture packed with detail across environmental, clothing and skin textures.

Colours are superb. Skin tones are balanced and well-judged, resulting in a lively yet not overcooked presentation across a range of pigments. They’re exceptionally balanced and realistic, too, while also having the necessary punch to draw the eye. Speaking of which, the eye at the beginning of Blade Runner 2049 features a stunning array of blues and greens, with a rich presentation that blends the colours in a smooth gradient.

Sticking with Blade Runner to conclude our 4K testing, we observe how this projector handles motion. It’s overall a solid experience, with the futuristic hovering police car zipping through the sky with only a hint of juddering, and the panning shot of Sapper Morton's protein farm highlights a bit more; though it must be said that many TVs and projectors fall victim to this camera movement. Overall, the Sony is more than acceptable when it comes to motion and those who wish to smooth things out (at the expense of some naturalism) can rely on Sony’s Motionflow system – though we recommend sticking to the lowest setting.

Rounding things out with some SDR and standard definition content, we watch True Grit on Blu-ray and DVD. The Bravia 8 does an admirable job of upscaling the Blu-ray version to retain a decent amount of detail, and it doesn’t succumb to overwhelming amounts of noise, while colours thankfully don’t suffer too much either. But, while we have no qualms about watching HD content on this projector, Standard definition is a step too far, as the picture appears blocky and the falling snow in the opening shot of the film appears grainy and distracting. We won’t chalk this up as an issue as we’d be rather surprised if you’re investing in a projector that costs this much and don’t plan on also investing in a quality 4K source.

Verdict

Sony delivers yet another blockbuster projector worthy of your home cinema. It isn’t cheap, but if you pit it against its bigger five-star sibling, the price almost seems more palatable. If you want a crisp picture with rich colours and supreme contrast, then the Bravia Projector 8 is a great pick. But be warned that the equally impressive (and Award-winning) JVC DLA-NZ800 is also within reach.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Build 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the JVC DLA-NZ800

Also consider the Sony VPL-XW7000ES

Read our Sony Bravia Projector 9 review

Best projectors: budget, 4K and ultra-short-throw