Even in our increasingly paperless world, there are still plenty of facilities looking for reliable, convenient-to-use printers for their C-arm and ultrasound systems for plenty of reasons. Whether you're sending shots of babies home with expecting mothers or storing hard copies of fluoro studies for auditing purposes, something from the Sony 900 series is a solid choice. With five models in the product line, though, which one should you choose?
We can't make the pick for you, but we will bring more clarity to the decision by breaking down the similarities and differences of the five models in Sony's 900 series printers.
What’s the Same
Dimensions: All 900 series models share the same overall dimensions: 12 1/2" x 5 1/4" x 12 1/8". They're designed to be compact to fit onto any cart-based imaging system.
Paper size: The entire 900 series prints on the same 8” paper size.
Power requirements: 100v – 240v, worldwide power supply
Video signal compatibility: 50/60 Hz
What’s Different
Application support: The 960 and 980 only support analog applications while the 970, 990, and 991 support both analog and digital applications.
Print time: The 980 and 960 have a print time of approximately 10 seconds. The 970, 990, and 991 print in approximately 8 seconds.
Resolution: 970, 990, and 991 printers have higher, 325 dpi resolution than the 960 and 980.
Media options: 980, 990, and 991 feature the option to print on blue thermal media to produce high-quality, film-like transparencies.
USB 2.0 Input: The 991 is the only model in the series to feature a USB input.
Pricing: Prices in the 900 series vary. Newer models with digital features are on the higher end of the range.
• 960: $800 - $1,300
• 970: $1,000 - $1,500
• 980: $1,200 - $1,700
• 990: $2,000 - $2,700
• 991: $2,500 - $3,200
The Takeaway
Ultimately, any Sony 900 series printer can serve you well. There are, however, just a few places where certain models shine:
• If the highest resolution and/or fastest printing times are important to you, choose the Sony 970, 990, or 991.
• if your system only has a USB output available, choose the Sony 991.
• If your system has analog outputs and/or you are willing to wait just a smidge longer for your prints, you can save your facility a grand or two by choosing a Sony 960 or 980.
If you'd like further details on Sony printers or on affordable ways you can take transmitting and storing your images paperless, take a look at some of our other articles to learn more.
