Sony VPL-VW90ES

Sony VPL-VW90ES 3D Projector review

Many TV addicts are sceptical of domestic 3D. There's just not enough content available to compensate for the general inconvenience of having to wear special glasses, particularly if you like to multitask. Surfing on a laptop or snarfing custard creams are both devilishly difficult to achieve from behind Active Shutter lenses. But take 3D out of the living room and place it in a dedicated home cinema and it becomes a proposition that will make you rethink your views. This projector is a direct descendant of the well regarded VPL-VW85 and looks very similar, but Sony's engineers have ingeniously redesigned the lens assembly to incorporate a sync transmitter for the Active Shutter spectacles. It's been designed to bounce IR codes off a screen, and such scattergun distribution should serve a family-sized audience. The only restriction is that popcorn munchers cannot sit further than 5m from the screen. If you're planning to install the device in a larger screening room, you'll probably need a supplemental 3D transmitter. The standard pack Sony sells for its upgradable 3D TVs will do the job. This standalone zapper connects via a length of RJ45 cable and should be placed at the front of the room facing the audience.