Is the VPL-XW5000ES true 4K?

Yes. It uses native 4K SXRD panels, so the image is 4K without pixel shifting.

Does it need a dark room?

It works best in a dark or dim room. At around 2,000 lumens it is not built for daytime viewing with lights on.

No. There are no speakers, no audio output and no wireless, so you need an AV receiver and a separate streaming source.

Up to 200 inches. The 1.6x zoom and 1.38:1 to 2.21:1 throw ratio mean a long room is needed for very large screens.

Sony rates the laser light source at 20,000 hours, so most owners will never replace it.

Yes. It weighs 13 kg and has vertical and horizontal lens shift, which helps with ceiling placement.

At Merlin's TV & Appliance, for $4,999.99, 17% under what the other stores charge, as of our latest check.

15 stores we checked sell it, including Merlin's TV & Appliance, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Abt Electronics & Appliances, AVI-SPL.

$4,999.99at Merlin's TV & ApplianceObserved at 4:23 AM

17% under what the other stores charge

Compared across 15 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.