The home theater projector market has seen dramatic improvements in recent years, with laser light sources and advanced processing pushing image quality to new heights. Today we're comparing two premium options that take notably different approaches to delivering a high-end home theater experience.
Both projectors launched in the past year, representing the latest advances in their respective categories. The Leica Cine 1 introduces Leica's first ultra-short throw (UST) projector, bringing their legendary lens expertise to this growing segment. Meanwhile, the Sony BRAVIA 9 builds on Sony's long projector heritage with their latest SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) panel technology and most powerful video processing.
Both projectors employ triple laser light sources, but implement them differently. The Leica outputs 3000 ANSI lumens while the Sony pushes slightly higher to 3400 ANSI lumens. However, raw brightness only tells part of the story.
The Sony's traditional throw design and superior light control gives it an advantage in actual perceived contrast, especially in dark scenes. Its XR processor analyzes every frame to optimize HDR tone mapping (adjusting bright and dark areas to look their best). The Leica counters with excellent HDR handling of its own through Dolby Vision support, which provides similar frame-by-frame optimization.
This is where both projectors truly shine. The Leica achieves 100% of the massive BT.2020 color space, while the Sony covers 95% of the DCI-P3 space used in digital cinema. In practical terms, both deliver exceptionally vivid yet accurate colors that make content feel remarkably lifelike.
The Leica benefits from their renowned Summicron lens design, which helps maintain sharpness and color accuracy across the entire image. Sony's new Advanced Crisp-Focused lens with its 70mm aspherical element achieves similar excellence through a more traditional approach.
Here's where the two projectors diverge significantly in their approach. The Leica Cine 1 can project a massive 120-inch image from just 14.3 inches away from your wall. This ultra-short throw capability makes it ideal for rooms where a traditional projector setup isn't practical.
The Sony requires traditional projector placement but offers extensive lens shift (the ability to move the image without moving the projector) and zoom capabilities. This flexibility is crucial for dedicated theater rooms but requires more careful planning and likely professional installation.
The Leica's UST design works surprisingly well in rooms with some ambient light, especially when paired with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen. The Sony delivers its best performance in a light-controlled environment, though its higher brightness helps maintain image quality with some ambient light present.
The Leica includes a surprisingly capable integrated Dolby Atmos audio system with 50 watts total power. While it won't replace a dedicated surround system, it provides a complete solution for casual viewing. The Sony omits built-in speakers, assuming integration with a proper home theater audio setup.
Both projectors offer extensive connectivity, including HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming consoles. The Sony's lower input lag (12ms vs 35ms) makes it the better choice for serious gamers, though both will handle casual gaming well.
Having spent time with both projectors, their different design philosophies become clear. The Leica Cine 1 excels as a premium yet practical solution for multi-purpose rooms. Its image quality impresses immediately, and the ultra-short throw design makes placement simple. The integrated audio and smart features mean you can be up and running quickly.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 demands more from its setup but rewards that effort with truly reference-level image quality. Its superior contrast and processing make it the choice for dedicated theater spaces where absolute image quality is the priority.
With a price difference of over $22,000, these projectors target different segments of the market. The Leica delivers exceptional value for a premium UST projector, offering image quality that competes with traditional projectors costing far more. Its all-in-one approach also saves the cost of separate audio equipment for casual viewing.
The Sony's price reflects its position as a professional-grade projector for dedicated theaters. While the cost is significant, it delivers performance that rivals commercial cinema projectors costing even more.
Both projectors represent the cutting edge of home theater technology, just aimed at different use cases. The Leica brings premium performance to spaces where traditional projectors aren't practical, while the Sony pushes the boundaries of what's possible in a dedicated theater setting.
| Leica Cine 1 120" UST ($9,495) | Sony BRAVIA Projector 9 ($31,998) |
|---|---|
| Form Factor - Determines room placement and installation requirements | |
| Ultra Short Throw (14.3" from wall) | Traditional throw (requires several feet) |
| Brightness - Critical for ambient light performance | |
| 3,000 ANSI lumens | 3,400 ANSI lumens |
| Resolution & Processing - Impacts overall picture clarity | |
| 4K via pixel shifting, Leica Image Optimization | Native 4K SXRD panel, XR processor |
| HDR Support - Affects contrast and color with HDR content | |
| HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG | HDR10, HLG with Dynamic Tone Mapping |
| Color Coverage - Determines color accuracy and vibrancy | |
| 100% BT.2020 | 95% DCI-P3 |
| Contrast Ratio - Critical for black levels and overall image depth | |
| 2,000,000:1 dynamic | Not specified, but superior native contrast |
| Gaming Performance - Important for console gaming | |
| 35.3ms input lag at 60Hz | 12ms input lag at 4K/120Hz |
| Light Source Lifespan - Impacts long-term ownership costs | |
| 25,000 hours | 20,000 hours |
| Audio System - Determines need for external speakers | |
| Integrated 50W Dolby Atmos (2x15W + 2x10W) | No built-in speakers |
| Installation Flexibility - Affects placement options | |
| Fixed lens, table placement only | Powered zoom/focus, ±85% vertical/±36% horizontal lens shift |
| Smart Features - Convenience for content access | |
| Google TV, Apple AirPlay 2 built-in | External source required |
| Primary Use Case - Best application for each | |
| Multi-purpose rooms, simpler setup | Dedicated home theaters, professional installation |
The Sony BRAVIA Projector 9 ($31,998) has slightly better overall picture quality due to its native 4K SXRD panel and superior contrast. However, the Leica Cine 1 ($9,495) still delivers excellent image quality with its triple laser system and Dolby Vision support.
The Leica Cine 1 works better in bright rooms due to its ultra-short throw design, especially when paired with an ALR screen. While the Sony has higher brightness (3400 vs 3000 lumens), it performs best in controlled lighting.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 offers superior gaming performance with 12ms input lag at 4K/120Hz. The Leica Cine 1 has 35.3ms input lag at 60Hz, making it adequate for casual gaming but not competitive gaming.
The Leica Cine 1 is significantly easier to set up, requiring only table placement 14.3 inches from the wall. The Sony BRAVIA 9 needs more careful placement and likely professional installation.
The Leica Cine 1 includes a 50W Dolby Atmos sound system that's suitable for casual viewing. The Sony BRAVIA 9 requires external speakers as it has no built-in audio.
The Leica Cine 1 offers better value at $9,495 with its all-in-one approach and excellent performance. The Sony BRAVIA 9 at $31,998 is aimed at dedicated home theaters where cost is less of a concern.
The Leica Cine 1 needs minimal space due to its ultra-short throw design. The Sony BRAVIA 9 requires several feet of throw distance and works best in larger dedicated theater rooms.
The Leica Cine 1 includes built-in Google TV and Apple AirPlay 2. The Sony BRAVIA 9 requires external devices for smart features.
The Leica Cine 1 laser light source lasts 25,000 hours, while the Sony BRAVIA 9 offers 20,000 hours. Both provide many years of typical use.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 can be ceiling mounted and includes extensive lens shift capabilities. The Leica Cine 1 is designed for table placement only.
Both excel at movie playback, but the Sony BRAVIA 9 edges ahead in a dedicated theater setting due to superior contrast and processing. The Leica Cine 1 still provides excellent movie performance in more versatile settings.
The Leica Cine 1 works best with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen for UST projectors. The Sony BRAVIA 9 works with standard projection screens but performs best with high-quality screens in controlled lighting.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: trustedreviews.com - leicacamerausa.com - hometheaterreview.com - projectorreviews.com - richersounds.com - whathifi.com - crutchfield.com - projectorcentral.com - cdn11.bigcommerce.com - leicarumors.com - leica-camera.com - projectorcentral.com - worldwidestereo.com - formovie.com - electronics.sony.com - sonypremiumhome.com - thesonyshop.ca - crutchfield.com - youtube.com - valueelectronics.com - greatsoundsav.com - pro.sony - skybygramophone.com - avsforum.com - projectorcentral.com - projectorscreenstore.com
