Sony VPL-VW90ES Projector Calibration and Settings

We calibrate each home theater that is reviewed. It is a pretty standard calibration, there's always more that can be done by some of the "hi-end" calibrators. Our calibrations, including this VPL-VW90ES, are normally limited to a grayscale calibration, along with brightness, contrast, color saturation, etc. We did not adjust the individual colors.

3/13/2011 - Art Feierman

Sony VPL-VW90ES Color Temperature

Let's start with the color temps measured for each of the preset modes, for white: 100 IRE.

Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom):

Dynamic= 633 @ 11437           
Standard= 681 @ 9659
Cinema 1= 619 @ 7757
Cinema 2= 603 @ 7099
Cinema 3= 629 @ 7728
User= 629 @ 7743, 753 lumens with Color Temp on Custom 5

A closer look at the best of "out of the box", :best modes", Cinema 2, shows these color temps across the brightness range:

Color Temp over IRE Range (Best Mode, Pre calibration):

Cinema 2                                   

30 IRE            7921                                               
50 IRE            7766                                               
80 IRE            7329 
100 IRE          7099   

That's definitely a good bit cooler than the ideal 6500K.        

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Sony VPL-VW90ES Basic Settings

In addition to calibrating Red, Green and Blue for a correct grayscale balance (6500K), there are a number of other settings that come into play. Typically Contrast and Brightness (white balance and black balance), need to be done first. Color saturation and gamma also need adjustment.

Settings for measurements (default values are in parenthesis):

All other settings at default.

 

Dynamic

Standard

Cinema 1

Cinema 2

Cinema 3

User

Contrast=(90)

86

88

86

(90)

(90)

(90)

Brightness=(50)

53

53

54

(50)

(50)

(50)

Color =

(60)

(55)

(50)

(50)

(50)

48

Tint = (50)

(50)

(50)

(50)

(50)

(50)

(50)

Color Temp =

(High)

(Middle)

(Low 1)

(Low 2)

(Low 1)

(Low 1)

Color Space =

(Wide 3)

(Wide 3)

(Wide 1)

(Wide 2)

(Normal)

(Wide 3)

Gamma =

(8)

(7)

(9)

(6)

(Off)

(Off)

Iris =

(Auto 1)

(Auto 1)

(Auto 1)

(Off)

(Off)

(Off)

Lamp Mode=High (unless noted otherwise)
Auto Iris = Off (unless noted otherwise)
All other settings at default (untouched)

Please note, Mike's settings for User call for color saturation of 48. I've tried to watch at 48 and find it too saturated, or a combination of too contrast and saturation. Judging it by eye, I wasn't happy until I had the saturation down to the 41-44 range. It sure made a difference.

Sony VPL-VW90ES Post Calibration Grayscale: User 3 (based on Cinema)

Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration):

20 IRE            6116
30 IRE            6519
40 IRE            6634
50 IRE            6653
60 IRE            6620
70 IRE            6560
80 IRE            6477
90 IRE            6436
100 IRE          6552

Average gamma= 2.23
                                               
Mike NOTES:  Results were almost identical to the VW85.  The grayscale was further off than the VW85 with default settings, but the VW90 has a lot of hours on it. 

Art Adds: The projector arrived with over 200 hours on the lamp. That probably already cost Sony about 5-10% in brightness. Keep that in mind.

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RGB Settings

Calibration settings for User:  Iris off, all other settings same as pre-calibration or as stated below.

Calibration settings for User:
Color Temp on Custom 4, Iris off, Gamma on 5, Color Space on Normal, all other settings on default or as previously stated.

Left below "best mode", on the right: "Brightest mode"

User – Custom 4 Color Temp          User – Custom 5 Color Temp           

Gain    R = 2                                   R = 30
           G = 0                                   G = 0
           B = -12                                B = 0
                                                                       
Offset R = 8                                    R = 0
          G = 0                                    G = 0
          B = -6                                   B = 0

                                                           
Lumens at 100 IRE: 

         588 @ 6552                           751 @ 8907

And that covers all the settings Mike came up with and I got to enjoy!

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