New digital cinema projectors

Successfully demonstrated as a prototype in 2006 during industry 4K screenings of The Da Vinci Code, the high-end 18 000-lumen* model SRX-R220 will soon be shipping to our shores. Designed for digital projection in a commercial cinema, the projector is capable of displaying 2K and 4K content on screens up to 20 metres wide.

The SRX-R210 is the second new addition to the cinema exhibition-specific range. Based on the same chassis as the SRX-R220, this projector accommodates a wide range of screens through a choice of lamp bulbs to achieve optimum performance of 14 foot-Lamberts on screens up to 14 metres wide, using a 2KW lamp bulb and screens up to 17 metres wide using a 3KW lamp bulb. The SRX-R210 will be available in August 2007.

Listened to industry

“From day one, Sony has listened to the industry and put that feedback into the development of our SXRD projector technologies. They are designed to fit in regular projection booths with standard window clearance, and can be operated in the same booth, side-by-side, with a film projector,” says Jess Goedhals, GM of Sony Broadcast & Professional.

“These new high resolution versions address exhibitors' desires to project movies with on-screen resolution that ensures the best viewing experience available for cinema-goers.”

The new SRX-R220 and SRX-R210 models incorporate many design elements of Sony's successful first-generation projectors, the SRX-R110CE and SRX-R105CE and add several new features such as single Xenon lamp operation, keystone masking for standard and curved screens as well as an integrated secure enclosure for the playback system.

“Working closely with our customers, we understand that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all' approach for the cinema market, which is why it's critical to have products like these two new projectors that address a wide range of screen sizes and throw distances,” commented Goedhals.

Designed to be compliant

Both new models are designed to be compliant with the Digital Cinema Initiative specifications for digital motion picture projection. The projector housing is designed to meet FIPS 140/2 security requirements and features built-in rack space for Sony's LMT-100 Media Block and attached RAID, or for a compatible server from another manufacturer.

The Sony Media Block contains all the components required to ingest, decode and play digital content. It features 16 audio channels. Files comprising feature content, as well as trailers and policy notices, are stored in an attached RAID storage unit. Specific functions include: JPEG2000 decoding; security key management; extraction of audio and visual images from MXF files; alpha channel insertion for sub-titles; and image watermarking. Users control the device through the Sony LSM-100 Screen Management Software system.

The projector's 4K resolution is derived from its 4096 x 2160 pixel matrix, or approximately 8.8 million pixels, enabling it to deliver four times the resolution of today's high-definition televisions for home cinema use. There are 34 units of Sony's SXRD 4K projector installed in cinemas, studios and production facilities worldwide. SXRD projection technology has also found a home in non-cinema fields, including government, production, education and presentation applications.

*18,000 ANSI Lumens is equivalent to 14 foot-Lamberts on a 20m wide screen of gain 1.8