New LCD Projector Targets High-End Fixed Installation Market

PARK RIDGE, NJ January 4, 1999 - Sony Electronics announced today a new 2,400 ANSI lumen LCD-based projector (model VPL-X2000U), designed to provide bright, uniform, high quality images from a range of diverse sources. The projector's flexibility enables it to be used for both medium and large venues. The unit can also be double or triple stacked for greater brightness output and redundancy.

The VPL-X2000U provides reliability through Sony's very unique quadruple lamp system consisting of four 120 Watt UHP lamps. If one lamp fails, the only perceived difference is a slight dimming of the image on screen — the projector does not need to be taken off-line for maintenance purposes.

The VPL-X2000U offers an LCD-based product for fixed installations requiring high quality, multiple scanning projection systems, such as boardrooms, meeting rooms and auditoriums. The projector’s flexibility makes it ideal for screen sizes from 40 inches to 500 inches (viewable area, measured diagonally).

"This market sector is very competitive with numerous manufacturers vying for market share," said Jim Sandy, vice president for display systems at Sony Electronics. "Building on our success in this market with CRT-based projectors, we have made a major commitment in the research and development of the VPL-X2000U. We believe the result is a technically advanced projector offering flexibility and reliability to the customer."

Brightness, Uniformity and Reliability

With a light output of 2,400 ANSI lumens, the VPL-X2000U produces a very bright image, even in high ambient light conditions. Using three Sony 1.8-inch pSi TFT Metal Mask LCD panels, the projector offers true XGA resolution, and the built-in scan converter accepts signals from VGA up to UXGA.

A major feature of the VPL-X2000U is a new Sony-developed 3D digital gamma correction system, for excellent uniformity across the entire projector screen. The gamma correction system also gives video images a natural look.

Versatile Application Increases Appeal

With the VPL-X2000U, the user has the option of six specialized lenses. These easily interchangeable lenses range from short focal lenses to long-throw (zoom) lenses, allowing the user a range of choices in system set-up, depending on the operating environment or application. The projector also offers a lens shift function, enabling quick and easy vertical positioning of the image.

When used in combination with the new PC-3000 switcher, several input sources can be connected to the projector at the same time. The projector can be remotely controlled via RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 interfaces.

Pricing and Availability

The VPL-X2000U is now available from select Sony resellers at a suggested retail price of $24,990 (not including lens).

Editor's Note: More information about Sony products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sony.com/professional, or readers may call 1-800-686-SONY. Additional press information is available at http://www.sony.com/news.