Sony VPL-PHZ60 Review: Is This Laser Projector the Right Fit for Your Home Theater?

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First Impressions​

With three 0.64-inch LCD screens at its disposal, the VPL-PHZ60 projects WUXGA images in 16:10 aspect ratio. It uses Sony BrightEra LCD imaging panels with a micro-lens array surface design to sharpen its imaging. This is augmented with the company's Reality Creation Engine digital enhancements to continuously monitor the video on a pixel by pixel basis and optimize the projector's image. It can adjust various parameters to reduce noise while adding extra detail and making shadows and color gradients pop on-screen. The result is a sharp, bright video stream that makes the VPL-PHZ60 stand out in a variety of roles at school, church, the office or even for projecting the images in a virtual golf simulator.
Inside, the VPL-PHZ60's blue diode laser illumination engine creates a beam of light that goes through three dichroic mirrors to create streams of red, blue and green light. These are individually fed into the projector's three imaging panels before being combined and sent via its output lens to the screen. Rated by Sony to last 20,000 hours of use, the projector could run for the equivalent of more than 10 years of business use at 8 hours a day over a 200-day work year. That not only translates into never having to buy a replacement lamp, but never climbing a ladder to replace one. And if the VPL-PHZ60's $3,125 price is still too steep, the $2,500 VPL-PHZ50 matches it feature for feature but has a 5,000-lumen output.

Introduce​

Parameter	Sony VPL-PHZ60​
Picture​	​
Reference Price​	$2789.98​
Recommended Uses​	Home Cinema, Business​
Highlight​	• Brightness: 6000 Lumen • Type: Laser Projector

Display​

Parameter	Sony VPL-PHZ60​
Screen Size​	N/A - 300 Inches​
Maximum Resolution​	1920 x 1080​
Native Resolution​	1920 x 1200​
Brightness​	6000 lumen​
Display Type​	LCD​
Viewing Experience​	The VPL-PHZ60 projector offers a user-friendly setup and quick start-up time, making it suitable for environments that require frequent on-and-off use. Its Brightness Priority setting delivers impressive brightness, achieving a measured 6,020 ANSI lumens, although it does produce a noticeable green tint in this mode. The projector excels in brightness uniformity and features a 3LCD design that ensures equal white and color brightness without the distracting rainbow artifacts typical of single-chip DLP projectors. Operating costs are reasonable, estimated at around $90 annually when used for extended hours, making it a cost-effective choice for educational or business settings. Overall, the VPL-PHZ60 stands out for its convenience, brightness capabilities, and operational efficiency, despite some limitations in color accuracy at peak brightness.

Features​

Parameter	Sony VPL-PHZ60​
LightSource Life​	20000 Hours​
Controller Type​	Button Control​
Control Method​	Touch​
Wattage​	16 watts​
Connectivity Technology​	USB, HDMI​
Hardware Connectivity​	USB​
Other Features​	Brightness of 6000 Lumens WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Native Resolution Input via RJ45 Digital Link 1.6x Zoom & 1.39 to 2.23:1 Throw Ratio Bright View for Vibrant Colors HDMI, DVI-D & VGA Inputs Analog Audio Input & Output​
System Experience​	Overall Impression: The projector features a versatile 1.6X manual zoom lens that facilitates flexible image size adjustments, though it's worth noting that full zoom can reduce output brightness significantly. The inclusion of two informative indicator LEDs enhances user experience by clearly indicating the projector's operational status, while conveniently placed buttons allow for straightforward control of power and input selection.

User Feedback​

Pros
• Easy to set up and use
• Exceptional brightness and sharpness of the image
• High-quality performance

Cons
• None mentioned

Overall Impression
The projector is a top-notch choice for anyone looking for a reliable and high-performing device, with outstanding image quality and ease of use.