For my money, one or two of the best DLP units, and JVC's D-ILA models, can do deeper black levels still. But this Sony certainly ensures its images look punchy and rich in black level. Viewers won't feel shortchanged.

Rich colours

The VW80's Real Colour Processing system lets you adjust the image with startlingly flexibility; the red, green, blue, magenta, cyan and yellow components of the image can be manipulated via a clever pie chart-style interface.

Even more appealing is the way the Sony drops out of the picture every colour other than the one you're trying to adjust, enabling you to see precisely the impact of your fiddles. Even without tinkering in the RCP menus, though, the VW80 produces very good colours.

Returning to my reference Transformers Blu-ray, the VW80 has the subtlety, for instance, to do total justice to the CG rendering of the robots, making them look three-dimensional and, dare I say it, astonishingly real.

I've criticised previous SXRD projectors (except for the Xenon lamp-bearing VW200 model) for their rather pallid colours, but the VW80 breaks away from that trend and produces rich hues with genuine vibrancy.

Sure, some DLP machines are better, but they come with the onerous caveat of a rainbow-inducing colour wheel. The VW80's colours mark such a significant step in the right direction for SXRD, that I've now convinced myself that SXRD is capable of creating potent colours without the aid of a Xenon lamp.

Holding out for a bargain

The VW80 is a seriously refined and talented projector – it's deliciously quiet in operation, too, which is another feather in its cap. There's nothing more annoying than being distracted from the emotional impact of a movie by the whirl of fans.

So a thumbs up then. However, it's worth noting that the projector market is becoming ferociously competitive, and there's no shortage of high-calibre models around which undercut this Sony. JVC's remarkable HD1 projector is now available for less than £3K, and even Sony's cracking entry-level SXRD charmer, the HW10, retails for around £1,700.

Of course, none of this detracts from the Sony VPL-VW80 being an excellent projector, that would enhance any high-end theatre. My advice would be to keep a close eye on this model at retail and as soon as you smell a bargain, pounce like the proverbial pussy. After all, you know you want one...