Sony VPL-VW320ES 4K home cinema projector gets HDR update at end of May

[DCI forum]

Sony has announced an HDR (High DynamicRange) firmware update for its VPL-VW320ES 4K home cinema projector. The upgrade will make the VPL-VW320ES the third Sony home cinema projector, after the VPL-VW5000ES and VPL-VW520ES, to support 4K HDR. Benefits of the HDR update will include superior contrast, increased colour depth and brighter highlights from HDR content, such as 4K Blu-ray.

This is the European version of the Sony entry-level 4K projector line, stilll a €6,999 MSRP machine, the same as the Epson LS1000, so only the third and most expensive JVC pixelshifting projector is more expensive. The Sony is specced at 1500 lumens max. for peak white, so not offering the most headroom for HDR. We can safely say this means the US version, the VW-335 will see the same ugrade.

“We always want to provide our customers with the best possible image quality from our market leading digital cinema solutions, which is why we’re thrilled to announce this latest firmware update,” says Thomas Issa, Product Manager at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “With 4K fast becoming the new standard in broadcast and film, our customers increasingly expect to see this detailed crystal clear imagery reflected in their living rooms. In line with our other 4K HDR solutions, such as our BRAVIA screens and by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment´s upcoming 4K ULTRA HD Blu-ray film releases, we’re pleased to extend this future proofed technology to the VPL- VW320ES.”

Sony has also developed a new unified control protocol for its projector range, enabling intuitive and easy integration when various models are used within the same installation. The VW320ES HDR firmware will be made available online at the end of May.

[donaldk]

I couldn't find the European announcement you posted about above, but I did find the US release on the Wire:

Sony Electronics Brings 4K HDR Capability to its VPL-VW365ES Home Theater Projector
The new upgrade offers users HDR (High Dynamic Range) compatibility and true cinema quality images in the comfort of their living room

SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics announced today that it is bringing HDR capability to its 4K VPL-VW365ES home theater projector in May, and that current owners will be able to add the feature with a firmware update, demonstrating its commitment to expanding HDR support and ensuring customers are getting the best possible image quality from their projector. Introduced at CEDIA 2015, the VPL-VW365ES is packed with the latest innovative technologies to make home theater more enjoyable for end users and friendlier to install for dealers. With this upgrade the VPL-VW365ES will be the third Sony home cinema projector, after the VPL-VW5000ES and VPL-VW665ES, to support the 4K HDR format.

View gallery
.VPL-VW365ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector
HDR video content delivers exceptional detail, color and contrast, with a far wider range of luminescence than other video formats. The result is the most lifelike picture projectors have ever been able to create, with brilliant highlights and fine detail. Home cinema enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to experience total immersion through the imagery displayed from their VPL-VW365ES projector. HDR imagery is the closest representation of the reality our eyes see every day, with greater detail, wide contrast ratio, increased color volume, brighter highlights and deeper blacks.

"Sony understands 4K HDR like no other company," said Sunil Nayyar, Director of Product Marketing, TV and Projectors, North America. "Sony's 4K HDR Ultra HD TVs deliver HDR compatibility and stunning performance, and our 4K HDR projectors offer a true home theater experience for enthusiasts looking for the best possible image quality, particularly on screens larger than 80 inches. Sony's 4K SXRD imaging technology and HDR support continues to be the state-of-the-art in home theater projection."

The VPL-VW365ES uses advanced SXRDTM panels for a native 4K picture, with no artificial manipulation of pixels so that over 26 million pixels are displayed with each refresh cycle. Rich and accurate color reproduction is ensured by Sony's proprietary TRILUMINOSTM engine design, while Motionflow picture technology serves to deliver clearer, less blurry images when watching fast-paced, cinematic or sports action.

The VPL-VW365ES allows users to enjoy the latest 4K and HDR content services using the latest HDMI standard and HDCP 2.2. A built-in RF 3D transmitter provides interface to industry-standard 3D glasses with a strong wireless signal for wider coverage and uninterrupted 3D synchronization stability. Professional calibration features allow operators to expertly adjust the picture to suit the viewers' tastes. These color correction tools allow access to adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of each color and the color space for red, green, blue respectively, to their desired level.

Availability
The VPL-VW365ES home theater projector was introduced at CEDIA 2015 at a suggested retail price of $9,999.99. A firmware update will be available by the end of May at no cost for existing owners from Sony's e-Support website.