Sony VPL-VW95ES Projector - Physical Tour

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Art Feierman

Sony VPL-VW95ES Projector - Appearance

The new Sony VPL-VW95ES projector is physically identical to last year's VW95ES and the VW85 before it. Like the older projectors, the VPL-95ES is a larger home theater projector, It is finished in an almost black shiny finish on the top, while most other surfaces are a flat black. A dark blue speckling runs through the black piano finish. the If you are ceiling mounting, of course, the projector is inverted, with the piano finish facing down, where it is nicely attractive with lights on. The finish itself has a dark blue speckle to it, so, it's not quite mere black. When the case gets hit with some light, it makes for a classy finish.

Once gain, Sony's manual zoom lens, with its 1.6:1 zoom ratio, is recessed.

This VPL-VW95ES projector, unlike the much lower cost Sony VPL-HW30ES, has a motorized lens system that controls zoom, focus and lens shift.

The control panel of the projector, rather small, and all the inputs, are located on the side of the projector (left side if facing the front of the Sony projector). The control panel hides behind a spring loaded door when you don't need it.

Venting is primarily on the front sides, with the warm air exiting from the left front (again, if looking from the front).

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Sony VPL-VW95ES Control Panel

The VW95 control panel has all the basics. There are two indicator lamps. The four arrow keys are in a round configuration with the center area carved into two semi-circular buttons. One is the Menu button, and the other; Enter. The left arrow key lets you toggle through the HDMI and computer sources, while the right arrow key lets you choose from your various video sources.

Simple, effective, and I like the split buttons in the center, so I'll add elegant to the description of the control panel.

Input/Output

Sony VPL-VW95ES projector's connector panel is located on the left side (if looking from the front). Facing that side, from back of the projector to the front, you'll find the power receptacle, two HDMI 1.4a inputs, and a standard HD15 connector for the usual analog computer input (it can alternately be used as a second component video input). Next, comes the S-video (DIN connector), and composite video (RCA jack). Then comes the standard component video input (3 color coded RCA jacks).

Then comes something first seen on last year's 90ES, a 3D sync input. That's followed by an IR In (to hardwire the remote), a 12 volt trigger (for screen or anamorphic sled), and finally an RS-232 serial port (strangely labeled "remote") for command and control by a room control system, or a computer, if so desired.

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