While 3D viewing continues to be brought to our living rooms mainly byTVs, a far more fitting display technology has taken a backseat. Now thehumble video projector could be about to make a play for prime time.
Sony VPL-VW90ES
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
We've seena number of small, low-budget 3D gaming projectors come onto the market, but thosewaiting for a high-performance home-cinema model have had to kick their heels.That's changed with the launch of Sony's VPL-VW90ES, a high-spec SiliconX-tal Reflective Display (SRXD) model that supports active-shutter glasses. Werecently got our hands on this game-changer and were blown away.
That's just as well, because the VPL-VW90ES typically sells for around £5,400.
New but not that new
The VPL-VW90ES is essentially a cleverly upgraded version of the well-received VPL-VW85.It uses the same chassis but sports a number of minor tweaks that integrate thegubbins required to drive 3D eyewear. Like its predecessor, the VPL-VW90ES is alargish, glossy black model that's beautifully built.
As part of the 3D upgrade, Sony has ingeniously placed async transmitter within the lens assembly of the projector itself. This means thecode required to activate Sony's 3D glasses is beamed to and bounced from thescreen fabric itself. In the small viewing room we used for our audition, thiswas enough to feed a handful of 3D goggles. If the VPL-VW90ES is to be used ina larger room, or there are some intermittent syncing issues, an outboardtransmitter can be used. The standardSony 3D Bravia upgrade pack, sold for the brand's 3D-compatible TVs, will dothe job.
You'll need to run a long length of RJ45 cable to the projector fromthe transmitter, which should be placed near the screen, facing the audience.The glasses are the same as those used for the Sony TVs, save for a smallfilter which you'll need to place on their shuttered lenses.
3D as it's meant to be
When liberated from the confines of a TV's display panel, 3D at home makes enormoussense. Suddenly, 3D effects become truly immersive. Issues regarding field ofvision disappear when you're running Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on ascreen over 100 inches wide. The VPL-VW90ES is compatible with frame-sequential 3D Blu-ray and side-by-side 3D (as used by Sky 3D and the Xbox 360), plus some other variations.
Older SXRD projectors have had issues withbrightness, so we were intrigued to see how images from the new model wouldcope when run through light-hungry active-shutter glasses. The short answer is:they look great. The VPL-VW90ES is bright and offers high contrast. Sony claims adynamic (rather than native) contrast ratio of 150,000:1 using its AdvancedIris 3 technology -- up from 120,000:1 on the VW85.
We've always rather liked SXRD projection technology. It's blessedwith great black levels, excellent colour reproduction and astounding sharpness.A Blu-ray disc of Japanese composer Seiji Ozawa and the Berlin PhilharmonicOrchestra looked spectacularly vibrant. Amazing levels of detail pulled fromOzawa's mad, wiry barnet showed the ruthless nature of the VPL-VW90ES' delivery,while the glinting instruments sparkled dynamically. This visual punch isretained for 3D.
Look Ma, no crosstalk!
At the heart of the VPL-VW90ES is an upgraded, fast-response, SXRD, 240Hz panel, which really helps keep motion blur to a minimum. To help control crosstalk (double imaging) artefacts, 3D depth adjustment and brightness controls are available. These allow you to calibrate the projector for minimal crosstalk interference. The resulting movie experience is clean, sharp and totally involving -- almost like being at the cinema, really.
As with Sony's LCD 3D TV range, the VPL-VW90ES can simulate 3D from any 2Dsource. It's only moderately effective, though. We ran the opening sequence of Iron Man 2 in fake-D, when Shellhead flies down to the stage at the Stark Expo, but it was just a bit of mess. Still, gamers will salivate at the prospect of hooking up a PlayStation 3 and playing some old gaming classics in 3D.
Conclusion
At around £5,400. the Sony VPL-VW90ES sits at the high end of the serious home-cinema projection market, but, all thingsconsidered, we still think this represents good value. In a nutshell, the model manages to deliver gorgeous 2D and simply mind-blowing 3D.
Edited by Emma Bayly