Sony Projector Lamp Replacement: The LMP-Series Guide

Every Sony projector lamp is identified by a part number that starts with LMP-, and the letter after the hyphen tells you which family of projector it belongs to: LMP-H for the VPL-HW and VPL-VW home-cinema line, LMP-C for compact business models, LMP-E for entry-level business and classroom units, LMP-F for fixed-install and large-venue projectors, and LMP-D for some data models. Sony rear-projection televisions use XL- numbers instead. Find the number in your manual or on the lamp cover, choose between a lamp with module and a bare lamp, and order by that number rather than by projector model alone.

How Sony lamp part numbers are structured

Sony has used the LMP- prefix across its VPL projector range for many years, which makes the numbers easier to decode than most brands. The prefix is followed by a letter that groups the lamp by product line and then a number that identifies the specific lamp. As general patterns, and not guarantees for every model, LMP-H lamps go into home-cinema projectors, LMP-C into compact business projectors, LMP-E into entry-level business and education projectors, LMP-F into fixed-installation and large-venue models, and LMP-D into some data projectors. Sony's rear-projection televisions from the SXRD and LCD era used XL- numbers such as XL-2400 and XL-5200.

The letter is useful for a sanity check but it is not a substitute for the full number. Two lamps in the same family can have different wattages, housings, and connectors, so an LMP-H lamp from one VPL-HW model will not necessarily fit another. Always match the complete part number, and if the projector model is the only thing you know, use it to look up the lamp rather than guessing from the family.

Sony projectors are also sold under regional model suffixes, so a VPL-HW45ES in one market and a VPL-HW45 in another may share the same lamp. The lamp number is the reliable constant across regions.

How to find your Sony lamp part number

The quickest source is the projector's user manual, which lists the replacement lamp in the specifications or maintenance section. If you no longer have the manual, Sony's support site lists it on the product page for your model, and a label inside the lamp cover or on the lamp housing itself often carries the number. Our guide to finding a projector lamp part number covers each of these routes with photos of where the label usually sits.

You can also search our store by projector model. Each product in the Sony projector lamp collection lists the VPL models it fits, so entering the projector model in the search box will surface the correct lamp. If a model is not listed, contact us with the model number and we will confirm the part.

Home cinema: VPL-HW and VPL-VW and the LMP-H family

Sony's home-cinema projectors are where most of our Sony customers come from. The VPL-HW series of SXRD projectors and the VPL-VW series above it have been the backbone of dedicated home theatres for well over a decade, and they are worth keeping in service. A new lamp restores the brightness and colour that owners remember from day one, and it costs a fraction of a comparable new projector.

The LMP-H family covers this range. Common numbers include the LMP-H200 and LMP-H202 from the earlier VPL-HW and VPL-VW generations, the LMP-H210, LMP-H220, and LMP-H230 for later VPL-HW and VPL-VW models, and the LMP-H260, LMP-H280, and LMP-H330 for the more recent 4K and high-brightness home-cinema units. Each product page lists the specific VPL models it fits.

Home-cinema owners are the most sensitive to colour and brightness consistency, and our home theatre brightness and colour article explains why a lamp past the middle of its life can make a calibrated projector look wrong even before it seems dim. Eco or low lamp mode on Sony projectors extends lamp life and lowers fan noise; many owners run in low mode for evening viewing and switch to high for daytime.

Business and classroom: LMP-C and LMP-E

Sony's compact business projectors, the VPL-C and related series, use LMP-C lamps. Examples in our range include the LMP-C120 for older compact models and the LMP-C240, LMP-C250, and LMP-C280 for later VPL-CW, VPL-CX, and VPL-CH generations. These are the lamps most often ordered by corporate AV departments.

The LMP-E family serves entry-level business and education projectors, including the VPL-EX, VPL-EW, and VPL-ES series that are common in school classrooms and small meeting rooms. Numbers in stock include the LMP-E191, LMP-E210, LMP-E212, and LMP-E221. Classroom projectors typically run long hours in dusty rooms, so pair each lamp change with a filter clean to get the full rated life.

Some Sony data projectors use LMP-D numbers, such as the LMP-D213. If your model is not obviously a C, E, or F, check the manual rather than assuming.

Fixed install and large venue: LMP-F

The LMP-F family belongs to Sony's VPL-F series of fixed-installation projectors used in lecture theatres, auditoriums, houses of worship, and larger boardrooms. These are higher-output lamps and are often replaced on a schedule by AV staff rather than when they fail. The LMP-F270, LMP-F272, and LMP-F331 cover a wide range of VPL-FH, VPL-FX, and VPL-FW models.

Because installed projectors are often ceiling-mounted at height, planning the replacement around the lamp-hour counter matters more than it does at home. Reading the Information page in the projector menu and ordering when the count reaches roughly 80 percent of rated life avoids an emergency ladder job mid-term.

Rear-projection TVs: XL- lamps

Sony's rear-projection televisions from the Grand WEGA and SXRD era used lamps with XL- numbers, such as the XL-2400 and XL-5200. These sets are older, but many are still in daily use and a replacement lamp is far cheaper than a new television of the same size. The lamp bay is usually behind a panel on the back or side of the set, and the process is similar to a projector lamp change.

With module or bare lamp: which should you buy?

Most Sony lamps in our store are offered in two forms. A lamp with module is the burner already fitted in its plastic housing with the connector attached; it slides into the projector and you are done. A bare lamp is the burner alone, which you transfer into your existing housing after removing the old burner. The LMP-H200 bare lamp, for example, is the burner-only version of the module linked above.

Home-theatre owners, teachers, and anyone changing a lamp for the first time should buy the module. A bare lamp makes sense for AV technicians who service many projectors and are comfortable handling a burner without touching the glass, or for owners whose original housing is in good condition and who want the lowest-cost option. Our lamp vs bulb vs module explainer goes into the trade-offs in detail.

OEM vs compatible Sony lamps

Genuine Sony lamps use the original burner specification and housing and are the safest choice for a calibrated home-cinema projector. Compatible lamps use a third-party burner in a new or reconditioned housing and can be a reasonable choice for classroom and office projectors where cost per hour matters more than the last few percent of colour accuracy. Quality varies widely among compatibles, so buy from a supplier that states what is inside the housing. Our OEM vs compatible article and the Philips UHP burner explainer describe what to look for.

Replacing a Sony projector lamp: the outline

Power the projector off with the remote and let the fans complete their cool-down, then unplug it and wait until the housing is cool to the touch. On most Sony projectors the lamp cover is on the top or side and is held by one or two screws; the lamp module inside is secured by further captive screws and a handle or tab. Loosen the screws, lift the old lamp out by its handle, seat the new module fully, tighten the screws, and refit the cover. Do not touch the glass of a bare lamp; oils from skin create hot spots that shorten its life.

After the new lamp is fitted, reset the lamp timer. Sony projectors track hours on the Information page, and the reset is a manual step in the menu on most models; the exact path varies, so confirm it in your manual. Clean or replace the air filter at the same time. Our step-by-step replacement guide covers the full process, and the old lamp contains mercury, so send it for recycling rather than binning it.

• LMP-H: home cinema, VPL-HW and VPL-VW series (H200, H202, H210, H220, H230, H260, H280, H330).
• LMP-C: compact business projectors, VPL-C series (C120, C240, C250, C280).
• LMP-E: entry-level business and classroom, VPL-E series (E191, E210, E212, E221).
• LMP-F: fixed-install and large-venue, VPL-F series (F270, F272, F331).
• LMP-D: some data projectors (D213).
• XL-: rear-projection televisions (XL-2400, XL-5200).
• Rule: patterns are a guide only; always match the full part number from the manual or lamp cover.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an LMP-H lamp from a different Sony model?

Only if the part number is identical. Lamps within the LMP-H family differ in wattage, housing, and connector, so an LMP-H210 will not fit a projector that calls for an LMP-H230. Check the model list on the product page before ordering.

How long do Sony projector lamps last?

Like other UHP lamps, Sony lamps are typically rated in the 2,000 to 5,000 hour band in normal mode and longer in low lamp mode, with brightness declining gradually over that period. Your manual gives the rating for your model.

Do I need to reset the lamp timer on a Sony projector?

On most models, yes. The reset is a manual step in the menu after the new lamp is fitted. If you skip it, the projector will continue to count from the old lamp's hours and warn you to replace the new one early.

Is a bare LMP lamp cheaper than a module?

Usually, because you are not paying for a new housing. It requires transferring the burner into your existing housing without touching the glass, which is a job for someone comfortable with the process. First-time buyers should choose the module.

My Sony projector flickers. Is it the lamp?

Often, but not always. Flicker can come from an end-of-life lamp, a failing ballast, dynamic iris or low lamp mode behaviour, a loosely seated lamp, or a power supply issue. Reseat the lamp and try normal lamp mode before ordering a replacement.

Find your Sony lamp at Lamps Authority

Lamps Authority stocks more than 100 Sony lamp part numbers across the LMP-H, LMP-C, LMP-E, LMP-F, LMP-D, and XL- families, available with module or as a bare lamp. Search our store by your lamp part number, browse the Sony projector lamp collection, or contact our team with your VPL model number and we will confirm the correct lamp before you order.