Sony VPH-G90U CRT Projector
Dear Gary:
I was referred to you by another home theatre publication editor who said that you use the Sony VPH-G90U as your reference projector.
My current projector is a DWIN HD 700 CRT projector, and I have had to send it out for repairs recently; the main board needs to be replaced. I have an opportunity to buy a Sony VPH-G90U CRT projector with about 1,500 hours on it. It is in good condition, and the seller wants $7,500 for it. I am tempted because I understand that there is a marked difference in overall picture quality between my HD700 and the G90.
My question is this: Is it worth it to buy the G90 today given that Sony is no longer involved in this technology? How does Sony’s newest VPL-VW200 SXRD projector compare to the G90, strictly in terms of overall picture quality, in your opinion? I have been unable to view the VW200, as it is not available in my area yet. Is it worth it for the picture quality to invest in the G90? Will the difference between the G90 and my HD700 be significant enough to make the investment? Finally, is there a better way to spend my money than putting it into a G90 projector today in terms of getting superior picture quality?
The decision is, of course, ultimately mine, but I would appreciate any information that you can share related to my questions.
I have a dedicated home theatre, so the room is dark (no windows). I am using a 100-inch Stewart Filmscreen®. Currently, my source is a Sony S7700 DVD player. I have no issue in upgrading to a Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD player, but I thought I might wait till the dust settles prior to purchasing. Furthermore, I would need to solve the problem on an HDMI input if I do not buy a newer projector.
Femi Lakeru
Editor-In-Chief and Publisher Gary Reber Comments:
The Sony VPH-G90U is one of the finest nine-inch CRT projectors ever made. It was designed for studio film-to-video transfers as a reference projector. It produces a beautiful picture that is rich and warm with superb, virtually infinite, contrast level and blacks that are inky black in an all-black room. I personally love the look and the performance. I had owned the HD700 as well, and there is no comparison in terms of performance, with the Sony G90 hands down the better performer. I did, however, like the quietness of the HD700 over the Sony and all other projectors that we have experienced. But in our application, projector noise is not an issue. Our Sony lives in an all-black rear-projection room, which is soundproof and virtually silences projector noise in the main theatre room.
As the Sony is an analogue projector, there is no direct digital input, although there are aftermarket HDMI cards (we use the Moome VIM-HD) that fit into one of the card slots on the Sony and allows an HDMI input. Or as well, you can run the HDMI input into a processor, then out to the Sony in analog. Either way the image quality is exceptional.
I prefer the image quality of the Sony G90 to most digital projectors due to the excellent contrast ratio that it produces. Some other digital technologies are catching up to this performance, and I support that as well. We use the Samsung/Joe Kane-designed single-chip DLP projector, a couple of Runco DLP projectors (VX-2c and VX-5000ci), and a JVC® D-ILA DLA-RS2 for reference as well, which in terms of color fidelity perform better than the Sony, which is limited to SMPTE C phosphors. The Sony performs optimally on a six-foot wide screen. Its light output will not support any screen wider than seven feet.
The price of $7,500 is excellent, and I don’t think that you can go wrong. This is a classic projector and one that I cherish. I believe it performs better overall than Sony’s newest VPL-VW200 SXRD projector, but as I said, newer projector technologies are in some respects better performers. It is important that you have the Sony properly calibrated. It is much more complicated than the new digital projectors. There won’t be any warranty on the Sony, though I have never had a problem with Sony, which I’ve owned for about eight years. I have changed out the tubes once, and the tubes are still available.
I realize this is a tough decision, but if you can afford it, the Sony G90 is a classic and one that all other projector technologies try to emulate. It won’t be long before these technologies will be on par with the Sony’s performance and exceed it in several respects.
For a source to purchase factory-new Sony G-90 projectors and other factory new Sony projectors, visit www.fhvideo.com.
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