The VPL-PHZ60 packs an impressive amount of projection tech into its petite case and price. Powered by three LCD imaging panels, it’s able to light-up really big screens with punchy HDR highlights.
With its discreet blend-in styling, minimal maintenance needs and flexible installation options, it’s the natural choice for integrated AV environments.
6000-Lumen Output
The VPL-PHZ60 is bright enough to light up a large room or a classroom. The laser-driven projector uses a blue diode laser illumination engine that runs through three dichroic mirrors to create streams of red, green and blue light that each pass through one of the projector’s imaging panels to be displayed on the screen. Rated by Sony to last 20,000 hours of operation, this projector will likely never need a replacement lamp.
The three LCD imaging panels use Sony’s BrightEra technology to deliver sharp, crisp video streams. The company’s Reality Creation digital enhancement engine continuously monitors each pixel to optimize the video on the fly, making shadow detail pop and color gradients look smoother.
When I set the projector’s image mode to its Brightness Priority setting, the VPL-PHZ60 delivered a measured 6,020 ANSI lumens, just a smidge above its 6,000-lumen rating. The Dynamic and Standard image modes both lowered the white light output to 4,862 and 2,688 lumens, respectively, but both produced solid images with no visible hot spots and excellent brightness uniformity.
For a more immersive experience, the VPL-PHZ60 supports 3D image content using an optional third-party emitter and glasses. It also has a Motionflow frame interpolation mode for fast-paced sports action and a low-latency game mode that reduces input lag to just 28ms at 2K/60, well below the 50ms average for this class of projector.
WUXGA Resolution
The VPL-PHZ60 features WUXGA resolution that makes it ideal for business, education and houses of worship. This widescreen format delivers sharp, high-definition images with crisp details and bright colors. It is also great for multitasking, as it can display two full pages of text side-by-side. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that require multiple applications open at once.
The Sony VPL-PHZ60 is compatible with a variety of media formats and comes with an HDMI port. It can support HDMI 1.4, which supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It also supports a wide range of color formats, including Adobe RGB and sRGB. It also has a USB port that allows users to connect a wireless adapter for streaming media and presentations.
Sony’s powerful Z-Phosphor laser illumination engine provides rich, stable colours and superior image quality with a 20,000-hour recommended lifespan. Its near-zero maintenance needs reduce total lifetime ownership costs and increase uptime. This projector includes a sophisticated filter system that cuts down on dust contamination and maintenance.
The Sony VPL-PHZ60 is a versatile, cost-effective choice for schools, businesses and other mid-sized spaces. Its 1.6X zoom lens provides flexibility and makes it easy to adjust the image for any room size or shape. Its 6000 lumens brightness and WUXGA resolution provide an excellent combination of performance, price and quality. Its wide range of compatibility with media formats and a host of useful features make it an excellent option for classrooms, conference rooms and boardrooms.
1.6X Zoom
The VPL-PHZ60 is among the smallest and lightest projectors in its class, making it easy for one person to move and set up. It has a pair of adjustable front feet that can be adjusted to balance the projector on a shelf or in a nook, and it includes four raised attachment points underneath for mounting hardware. It can even be mounted to a wall using a generic bracket provided you maintain at least 20-inches of clearance to let in cooling air.
The projector’s 1.6X zoom lens and wide range of image shifting potential allow you to fit it into oddly shaped rooms without changing the size of your screen. A wide range of throw distances are also supported by the 1.23 to 1.97:1 throw ratio, and a high-performance image scaler makes it simple to use multiple screens in multi-screen setups with HD video and detailed pictures or data.
The Sony vpl phz60 offers excellent image quality, with bright and clear images that are crisp enough to read easily in most lighting conditions. Its smart-capture technology delivers smooth, seamless zooming without the blurring you see with some other projectors. Its Reality Creation feature improves image quality in larger classrooms and visual simulation environments by optimising every pixel for enhanced content and easy-to-see details. Intelligent Settings automatically fine-tunes picture parameters and adjusts laser output and cooling to match the frequency of use for beautiful, dependable performance.
Integrated Wi-Fi
The VPL-PHZ60 has built-in Wi-Fi for easy remote control and access to the projector’s settings menu. It also supports wireless HDMI connections, a useful feature for connecting to a tablet or smartphone to present images from the cloud. You can even use it to stream a video from your mobile device without a wire, or show a presentation on the big screen via a streaming service like Netflix.
The PHZ60 is bright enough for business and education spaces, with a rated brightness of 6,517 ANSI lumens. This is significantly brighter than the 4,000-lumen standard for most business and conference room projectors, and it comes close to the step-up VPL-FHZ85 interchangeable lens projector’s 7,300-lumen rating.
Its Sony Bright View technology keeps colors consistent, even in venues with uncontrolled ambient lighting, and its Reality Creation image processing optimizes upscaled sources. These features are designed to make visual content like presentations stand out, and text and fine details pop for a clear, crisp picture.
A number of other features make the PHZ60 easier to set up and operate. For example, the Smart Settings feature automatically maximizes performance based on the installation environment and frequency of use. It also sets the temperature to ensure long-term, stable operation. Another time-saving feature is Data Cloning, which automatically selects an active input signal when connected to a source. This makes it simpler to switch between devices, and you can eliminate the need for a power button on your computer.
RS-232 Port
The RS-232 port can be used by repair technicians to access the projector’s internal settings for diagnostic and service purposes. This port is also available for use with an external control system. If you wish to utilize this port, refer to the device’s operating manual for detailed instructions.
The VPL-PHZ60 can be mounted on the ceiling using a standard mount and requires only 12.1-watts in standby mode, making it a highly energy-efficient choice for schools, businesses and churches that pay the national average of 13 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity. Its dust filter is accessible only from underneath the projector, which may make it a challenge to reach after cleaning or for reaiming when attached to a ceiling mount.
The projector’s three LCD imaging panels provide equal white and color brightness, which is key for accurate images and crisp details in corporate, education and simulation applications. There’s even a Reality Creation feature that optimizes every pixel for clearer, more lifelike pictures. The 2.1-channel audio system produces sound strong enough for a conference room, and it has a 3.5mm 3D Sync Out jack that lets you use compatible third-party 3D emitters. The VPL-PHZ60 supports a range of video inputs via HDMI, HDBaseT and VGA. It also features an analog audio output and two USB ports for powering a 5-volt accessory or for diagnostics and software updates. A built-in 16-watt mono speaker provides adequate sound for smaller conference rooms.
Control Options
Like other Sony projectors this one has a filter that needs to be cleaned roughly every 1,000 hours of use. It’s accessed from underneath the projector so it can be difficult to reach without removing it from a ceiling mount or dismounting it for cleaning. Sony does have documentation describing a unique arrangement for the mount arms that can allow for the filter to be removed and reattached easily without taking down the projector.
It also doesn’t have built-in wireless networking as some other models do, but it does have a USB port that can be used for a third-party wireless adapter to add that capability if desired. The VPL-PHZ60 can be controlled from afar using its RS-232 serial port or its wired 100BaseT Ethernet connector, and it works with PJ Link, Crestron Room View, and AMX control software.
The VPL-PHZ60 can also be controlled from a smartphone or tablet via an app that’s free to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app allows for basic controls such as turning the projector on or off, adjusting the focus, and setting up an image source. It can even display a Web page that summarizes the projector’s settings and lets you access its menu selections from anywhere.
The projector’s menu is logically laid out and efficient to navigate. It has three picture modes labeled Dynamic, Standard, and Brightness Priority, as well as four Light Settings to adjust laser power including a custom option that lets you choose your own brightness level.
