Home theater projectors have revolutionized the way we experience entertainment in the comfort of our own homes. These remarkable devices bring the immersive cinematic experience, allowing us to indulge in larger-than-life visuals and captivating audio without leaving the house. Whether you're a movie enthusiast, avid gamer, or simply enjoy watching your favorite TV shows in the highest quality possible, home theater projectors offer an unparalleled level of realism and excitement.
And like most of our customers you want to buy the best one for your movie room which of course is why you're reading this home cinema projector shootout. For today's head to head comparison we've got the Sony VPL-XW500ES vs. the JVC NP5.
Sony has released their new lineup of premium home cinema laser projectors last year including the luxurious Sony VPL-XW70000ES, the mid-tier Sony VPL-XW6000ES and of course their "low price" option, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. This new laser projector from Sony is the latest in a focus from manufacturers to release laser based units and move away from bulb based models.
Much like Sony, JVC has been moving away from bulb projectors and switching to laser projectors. Their new line of premium laser 8K projectors includes the JVC NZ7, NZ8 and NZ9. However one JVC projector has bucked the trend of laser projectors: the JVC DLA-NP5. The bulb based NP5 is the upgraded version of their popular NX5 4K home theater projector. The NP5 arrived on the scene as a more modestly priced, yet still premium option, shortly after JVC released their higher end NZ series projectors. You can read our review of the JVC NP5 here.
So how do these two projectors stack up?
Which is better, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES or the JVC DLA-NP5? And more importantly which projector should you get for your home cinema room?
Check out our expert comparison of these two fantastic new 4K laser projectors for home theaters and find out who wins.
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JVC NP5 |
Sony VPL-XW5000ES |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
1900 |
2000 |
Both cinema projectors have a pretty good lumen output made for movie rooms. The Sony though has a slight edge in terms of brightness. |
Throw Ratio |
1.40:1 - 2.80:1 |
1.38:1 - 2.21:1 |
The JVC NP5 has a wider throw ratio range and wins in this aspect. |
Projector Lens Shift |
Horizontal +/-34% & Vertical +/-80% |
Horizontal +/- 25% & Vertical +/- 71% |
JVC gives you more installation flexibility than the new Sony projector. |
Chipset |
Native 4K 0.69" D-ILA x 3 |
Native 4K 0.61" SXRD DLP |
Both home theater projectors use LCoS projection technology to create the native 4K image you see on the screen. |
Light Source |
Bulb |
Single Laser |
The Sony XW5000ES gets the advantage here with its longer lasting laser light source that doesn't dim over time like the bulb on the JVC. |
Color |
91.9% DCI-P3 |
95% DCI-P3 |
Both projectors cover an extremely wide color gamut but Sony's VPL-XW5000ES has a small advantage when it comes to colors. |
Contrast Ratio |
40,000:1(full on/off) |
Infinite:1 (dynamic) |
Sony claims to have an infinite:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's good but it's not infinitely good. Reports give at a still impressive 10,000:1 native contrast ratio. The JVC NP5 however clearly has a far superior contrast ratio thanks to the deep black levels. |
Input Lag |
4K/60Hz: 44.8ms | 1080p/60Hz: 36.5ms | 1080p/120Hz: 35.8ms |
4K/60Hz: 21ms |
Sony is definitely the better gaming projector with its significantly faster lag time |
Price |
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Both projectors come in at a similar price. Though when you factor in that you don't need to replace the bulbs on the Sony laser projector there is a good cost savings. |
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JVC NP5
The Pros
- Incredible black levels and the best contrast for this price
- Very vibrant colors
- Fluid movement and great motion handling
- Picture looks fantastic out of the box so you don't need much calibration
- Tons of calibration options for those who like to perfect their picture
- Can produce an image up to 200 inches
- Lots of installation options for easier setup
- Supports HDR10+
- Supports 3D
The Cons
- Uses a bulb that dims over time and eventually needs to be replaced
- Fan noise is high though not noticeable while watching content
- Takes a while to power up and turn off
- Not as bright and isn't ideal in a well lit room
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
The Pros
- One of the sharpest pictures we've seen
- Fantastic black levels
- Wide color gamut with vivid colors
- Buttery smooth motion handling
- Native 4K LCoS chipset
- Can produce an image up to 300 inches
- Available in either white or black
The Cons
- Not as bright and isn't ideal in a well lit room
- Aesthetically unpleasing
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
- No 3D support
So Which Projector Should You Buy, The Epson LS12000 Or The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
Both of these 4K home theater projectors provide absolutely incredible images. It’s honestly very tough to pick a winner between these two.
That said, you're reading this article because you want our experts to help you decide which projector to buy for your home movie theater. So between the Sony VPL-XW5000ES and JVC DLA-NP5, the winner is………
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
Why Buy The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
This head to head comparison really was a tough call. Tougher than most.
The major factor that gives the Sony VPL-XW5000ES the win is that it utilizes a laser light source. Laser projectors have a number of advantages over their bulb based counterparts. Most significantly, is that a laser projector like the Sony 5000ES doesn't dim over time like a bulb projector does. Furthermore because these two projectors have a similar cost, having to buy replacement bulbs for the JVC NP5, gives it a higher cost of lifetime ownership.
It's hard to argue that the Sony VPL-XW5000ES has an overall better picture because each has aspects it does better than the other. If you want to prioritize motion handling, wider color gamut and picture sharpness then the Sony has the edge. If you prioritize contrast and black levels, then you could say the JVC NP5 has the better picture quality.
For video game enthusiasts, the Sony has a significant advantage thanks to its lower input lag and better motion handling.
The option of getting either a white or black chassis is a nice little design bonus.
Why Buy The JVC NP5?
Even though we gave the win to the Sony XW5000ES that doesn't mean it's the better option for everyone.
With a contrast ratio that's around 4x better on the JVC NP5, you can make the argument that this outweighs the sharpness and motion handling advantages found with the Sony 5000ES. Afterall, the gap between the Sony and JVC for color gamut, motion handling and sharpness is much closer than the gap between their black levels and contrast.
The installation flexibility in terms of the horizontal and vertical offset abilities and wider throw ratio are definitely significant pluses for this JVC 4K home theater projector. The motorized lens also makes setup much easier.
If you're the type of home theater enthusiast who likes to customize and calibrate every aspect of their projection experience, then the JVC gives you many more options to play around with. Fans of 3D projectors also should buy the JVC NP5 as it supports 3D while the Sony 4K projector doesn't.
All that said however, if budget really isn't an issue, you should look to upgrade your projector of choice even further to the JVC NZ7 or Sony VPLXW6000ES. And if you really want the best picture possible regardless of price then the premium Sony VPL-XW7000ES and JVC NZ9 are the top projectors for home theaters.
What Do You Think?
Which home movie room projector do you think is better? Which projectors should we compare next? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
If you have any questions on these projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | JVC |
Product Status: | Leaves Warehouse within 2-3 Weeks |
Lumens: | 1900 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Bulb |
Contrast Ratio: | 40,000:1 |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.40:1 - 2.80:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 4096x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 44.8ms | 1080p/60Hz: 36.5ms | 1080p/120Hz: 35.8ms |
3D Support: | Yes |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |
Wi-Fi: | No |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Wi-Fi: | No |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Wi-Fi: | No |
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