Sony manual Sony VPH-G90U Multiscan Projector, Physical, E G R O G E R S

REVIEWS

Sony VPH-G90U Multiscan Projector

he ultimate in home-theater	the huge 9-inch lens assemblies
display devices are the 9” CRT	protrude several inches in front of
projectors. Size matters in CRT	the angled bezel, proudly pro-
projectors because it enables higher	claiming that this is one serious
resolution and brighter images.	projector. Just behind the lens-
Sony’s new VPH-G90U has entered	es, the top panel swings open to
this elite market at an attractive	allow an installer to make
$35,000 price to do battle with exist-	mechanical focus and one-time
ing products from home-theater spe-	aiming adjustments of the CRT-
cialists Runco and Vidikron, priced as	lens assemblies. This is particu-
much as 50 percent higher. The new	larly nice since the main cover of
Sony may not be everyone’s Sony, but	the case remains closed, protect-
home-theater enthusiasts who dream	ing the electronics. The user
of 9” CRTs may have come a little	should never need to access or
closer to reality.	repeat any of the mechanical
Physical	adjustments. All of the inputs,
	power receptacles, switches, and
The G90 has a huge physical presence, not	status indicators are located on the rear
unlike other 9” CRT projectors. At over 240 pounds, it is	panel. There are also two slots in the rear panel
one of the heaviest projectors I’ve encountered. It was deliv-	for optional video input/output boards.
ered in a Styrofoam-padded cardboard box screwed to a	The top cover has a sliding door that conceals a complete
wooden pallet. It is also several handfuls, at nearly 30 inches	duplicate of the external remote control, only fixed perma-
wide and 42 inches long. Fortunately it is only a bit more than	nently in place and running off the projector’s power. This
15 inches high, which improves handling somewhat. It is actu-	makes it convenient, especially in a tabletop installation, to
ally easier to carry and maneuver than many lighter projec-	use this panel for set-up. It also ensures that the user will have
tors because Sony has cleverly designed eight convenient and	complete access to all projector controls should you tem-
sturdy handles into the perimeter of its case, each pair look-	porarily misplace the remote.
ing a bit like bicycle handlebars. They pull outward from each	The external remote is an almost square panel, about six
side of the projector and lock in place for use, then retract	inches on a side, but quite thin for easy holding. A button on
back into the case, out of the way, when not needed. This	the top edge turns on backlighting for all of the panel labels.
made it easy for four men to carry the projector up a flight of	All of the controls are nicely grouped and logically laid out.
stairs, and for two men to lift it into place on a sturdy table.	Two rows of calibration keys at the bottom can be covered by
Although its case isn’t aerodynamically designed and	a sliding plastic panel. They are also disabled unless unlocked
painted a bright racing color, it is sculptured to look quite	by a sequence of key pushes so that curious fingers can’t acci-
handsome in two-tone gray for ceiling or “tabletop” mounting.	dentally disturb their settings. On-screen displays provide
For this review, I mounted it on a table below a ceiling-mount-	numeric feedback for all the variable settings and status mes-
ed Runco IDP-980 Ultra. So I can’t relate to you the experi-	sages. What I like most about this remote is that all calibration
ence of lifting and attaching it to a ceiling, but I’m certain	and normal usage functions have dedicated keys. On-screen
those handles would have played a critical role.	menus are provided for functions that are seldom used, such
	as setting up the sync signal selections, or for obtaining status
Description	displays of incoming signals. We so often criticize remote con-
The front panel of the projector contains	trols that I want to acknowledge when one is
only an IR remote control sensor. Above that	done this well.

G R E G R O G E R S