Sony provided details of its first ES projector Thursday...

Sony provided details of its first ES projector Thursday at the press launch of the 3D VPL-VW90ES at CEDIA Expo in Atlanta (CED Sept 22 p1). The VPL-VW90ES ($9,999), due in stores in November, uses a single 200-watt UHP lamp, comes with a multi-element zoom lens and integrates with third-party control systems from AMX, Crestron, Elan, Control4, Savant, Vantage, RTI and URC, said Neal Manowitz, director of home audio/video for Sony. Incorporating 2D to 3D conversion, the SXRD projector comes with two pairs of infrared 3D active-shutter glasses, which communicate with an IR transmitter built into the chassis. The 1080p projector incorporates the latest 3G LCoS panel technology, Manowitz said, including reduced pixel spacing, from 25mm to 20mm, and lower noise, 20 dB, down from 22 dB. The projector uses three, 0.61-inch panels and is driven by a custom Sony-grown ASIC that handles the video processing, according to Chris Fawcett, vice president of TVs for Sony. The brightness of the projector was given as 1,000 lumens with dynamic contrast ratio of 85,000:1. Limited warranty is three years, compared with two years for general distribution projectors, Manowitz said, and distribution is limited to the specialty channel and custom installers as part of Sony’s renewed commitment to the custom channel.