Sony VPL-VW290ES (VPL-VW325ES) 4K Projector Review

We review the Sony VPL-VW290ES 4K projector, which is also marketed as the VPL-VW325ES in the USA. With a launch price of £5,500, the VW290 is Sony's most affordable native 4K projector for 2021.
Topics covered in this Sony VW290ES/ VW325 review include contrast performance, colour accuracy, motion handling, video processing, HDR, as well as input lag for gaming.
Thanks to Richer Sounds Manchester for sponsoring this video. If you're thinking of getting a new projector, even if it's not the Sony VPL-VW290ES, please support this channel by considering buying from them. Call 0333 900 0086, mention HDTVTest, and you'll receive great price and service:
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[@MrRidikolus]

Love that you mentioned the motion flow. For most 24p I usually turn it off too.

[@terrylacey3607]

Exelent as always have you ever done a video on 4k players thanks

[@Fman990]

Could you do a review on the Sony VPL-VW5000 ES and the VPL-VZ100ES? I’m considering these for a living room space

[@sage11x]

Really wish sony would offer an entry level 4K or, at the very least, update their current 1080p entry level: the 45es.

[@magnaig]

Bring back timestamps

[@wally6193]

how do Sony's new projectors compare to the new LED or OLED TVs?

[@Lurreable]

What is the frame hold time @ 24p for this projector? Decent 24p motion is my number one concern these days - I loathe interpolation.

[@Mr.Taztaztic]

The Philips OLED806 and OLED856 are now being sold at shops..... Could you please do a detailed review now??

[@kman9387]

Are ever going to do a review of the LG hu810p laser projector?

[@Raritytuber]

Thank you. Could you please do the new JVC DLA-NZ7?

[@taraxxxx987]

Hi, you say that for content of 1000 nits and less we should use hdr reference but for 1000 and more nits we should use hdr 10 mode. I ask you.. how can we know how many nits the film can reach to set the right curve? I have the sony 590 but i think this have the same problem

[@pierrechevalier9739]

Hello Vincent, could you do a test on the LGHU70LS?

[@bamlin52]

I am still very happy with my Epsom 5350 5year old projector . Yes can get better but boy you will pay for it as well. 1080p still very good if you use some good material. Thank you for your review.

[@privatebenfallsprivat8428]

I wish you would review all of the cheapo short distance 4k laser projectors from Xiaomi and other unknown brands

[@REPTiL3FUCK]

Waste of time

[@aslanbarsk]

@hdtv test, what screen gain would you recommend for this projector? :) Thanks for a GREAT channel. Best on youtube!

[@GrimCellar]

Great review, and I too wish manufacturers would use the same model numbers across territories! Is there a way of wirelessly transmitting a 4K HDMI signal to this projector from an amp rather than having to buy a very long cable?

[@MAFion]

None that are reliable I think.

[@evolicious]

lmfao, no, unless you know of a 60ghz transmitter available to consumers that you can hook up to your modern high-end PC. HDMI2.0 has a data rate of around 18Gbps. Wigig (802.11ad) can do 7.5Gbps and wigig2 (802.11ay) can do around 20-40 Gbit/s. The only wigig (802.11ay) system anyone can get right now is for the HTC Vive VR system and you can't use it for anything else. You will also need a high-end computer (specifically CPU and motherboard) to handle that data rate on one of it's lanes. Wigig2 (802.11ay) is not available yet, and the only product coming out with this tech is specifically for wireless VR and can't be used for anything else. Maybe in the future, but it's very doubtful you will see any viable wireless HDMI/DP systems in the next 5-10 years. The cable is better in all ways anyways. Get a reliable fiber optic HDMI cable, they are very expensive, but they are the only option for long distance high-data rate transmission. If you don't like that, blame yourself for not thinking ahead, lol.

[@GrimCellar]

@@evolicious I got a cable.

[@Scarczar]

Yes! Sony needs to give the same projector the same model number. All they have to do is add ‘U’ for USA, E for Europe and A for Asia. Haven’t Sony learnt their alphabets in school!

[@iwanttoliveinthe80s59]

I think their projectors have different names because the US models are produced in Japan and the models for Europe or Australia are made in China. Foe example, i have the 570ES and is made in China. The US corespondent - 695ES is made in Japan. So they are not exactly the same.

[@Scarczar]

@@iwanttoliveinthe80s59 The specs are the same, so it would be nice to view the reviews done in the USA. I am using a vpl ve 320es and now they have released a 325 and in the USA it’s a number below. All too confusing. It is one brand can’t China Sony and Sony in Japan decide a number together?

[@simmysims9209]

$5500 is still too much. I would buy for $2500.

[@Maggieismydog]

Great review, how does this projector compare with an Epson 9400 (6050)? The Epson is approximately $3500 less in Australia. Is the Sony worth the extra money? Thanks.

[@georgepopescu1327]

It's worth but in a batcave, not in a normal room. Also the maximum screen size for this Sony would be around 110 inch. Anything higher would make the HDR unusable due to lack of brightness. But of JVC N5 is close in price, you should buy that one as it is a much better projector overall.

[@Maggieismydog]

@@georgepopescu1327 thanks for the reply. The only issue with the JVC for us is the rainbow effect which my wife can see.

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@Maggieismydog you are making a huge confusion. Rainbow effects are generated by DLP single chips. JVC N5/N7 are 3 chip DILA projectors and they don't have rainbow effect. They use the same technology as Sony. Maby you have seen the JVC NZ3 which is using a DLP chip but that is a trash projector.

[@Maggieismydog]

@@georgepopescu1327 thank you for clearing that up. We viewed the JVC laser projector. Apparently Sony are upgrading their 290es to a laser also in the next year or so. Might wait for that then. We will be installing a 140” screen.

[@angc1456]

@@Maggieismydog you have the link to the 290 upgrading `? :)

[@Jrfeimst2]

JVC NX5 over this any day!!!! NX7 for the ultimate win 🥇

[@bryanp4827]

REALLY...?

[@Mind_of_MATT]

I'd like to see a video about DVD on modern 4k TVs & any products that would help make those old 80s cartoons & movies that are stuck on DVD look a bit better on a 75" 4k TV. If you have the time, any help & advice would be appreciated.

[@nattila7713]

forget them or live with the dvd quality. no other option :)

[@Mind_of_MATT]

@@nattila7713 A very small 1080p TV is what I'm using now.

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@Mind_of_MATT a projector will make them look better. Upscalling on TV never works well with those low resolution videos as they generate a lot of upscalling artefacts. If the budget is very small, take a look at an 1080p DLP projector, like Benq W1070 or Optoma darbee. You will not belive how sharp those 80' cartoons will look even on 120-130 inch screen from a projector. If the budget is not a problem, you can aim for something much better, of course.

[@TheRafcave]

Love my Sony 295ES. 💯♥️💯

[@georgepopescu1327]

this new one has dynamic HDR so if you want to upgrade for this reason alone it will worth it :D although you could also invest the money in a lumagen which has better video processing than anything you can find inside a projector regardless of the price

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

@@georgepopescu1327 or using external dynamic HDR processing with HTPC /madVR ;)

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@Datenschutz_Datenschutz well that means you have to copy your movies from disc to PC hard drive. Also there are tons of intersting movies and tv shows with HDR on streaming platforms. Are you goind to rip tens of terabytes? that looks more like a secound job :)

[@TheRafcave]

@@Datenschutz_Datenschutz Can you help me set up that on my PC? 🙂

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@TheRafcave you have a lot of work my friend but in the end it will worth it. You could also go the easy route and grab an OPPO 203 sh that has static tonemapping. It's not as good as MAD VR dynamic tonemapping but it's very easy to use.

[@MrRidikolus]

Cinephiles shouldn’t want inky blacks, I want it to look like film. The Sony is perfect for my theater.

[@legendarymark112]

JVC DLA-N7 vs Sony VPL-VW590ES vs LG HU85LA vs Samsung LSP9T vs VPL-VW290ES? I'm lost lmao. Leaning towards the N7 maybe?

[@georgepopescu1327]

Of course the N7 is the best here, followed by 590. LG and Samsung have no place in this comparison. VPL 290 is still a good projector but nor for large screens as it has only 1100 lumens in calirbated mode. A budget option would be Epson's flagship but if money are not a problem, JVC N7 is the answer. Also keep in mind that you need a batcave. If you have white walls the image will be terrible regardles of the projector you buy.

[@bryanp4827]

@@georgepopescu1327 Yeah, buy an Epson if you want a 2k image! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@bryanp4827 you clearly have no clue what you are talking about so please stop trolling and do something better with your life!

[@grantpaterson1016]

Still wouldn't swap my Optomo HD51 for this...not worth £5500 by comparison.

[@dafreelancer8978]

I also think the over 3x price is just to high.

[@bryanp4827]

UHD 51's have pathetic contrast, AND not native 4k 🙄🙄

[@taraxxxx987]

I have a vpl 270es, i have the chance to give my back and pay only 3000 dollars in order to have the 590. You think it worth it? I rephrase the question in another way: is the difference between the two projectors visible to a profane eye or only to an attentive and technical eye? three thousand dollars are worth to me but they are not an impossible price, but I would like to know how much better this is than mine. thx for the answer

[@georgepopescu1327]

Yes, there is a big difference between those. 590 es has an iris which helps a lot. Depending on how big is your screen size and how further back is the projector, you can achive a much better native contrast just by closing the iris. The black levels will be much better with your iris closed to -10 for example. With iris full open they will look the same. Also 590 is 20% brigher and that helps with HDR and 3D quite a bit. Bare in mind that what I have told you only stands if you have a batcave. If you have a normal room it won't matter anyway.

[@taraxxxx987]

@@georgepopescu1327 THX for the answer! Yes i have a batcave and my screen is 100 inches and my projector is at 3.5 distance from it. So are you telling me that just putting the iris to -10 I will have better blacks and contrast? You don't suggest to put the opening of the iris to auto? How far is this Sony from JVC DLA n7 if you know it?

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@taraxxxx987 N7 is better in every aspect except maby 1080p to 4 k upscaling where Sony is the best. But contrast and black levels are much better on N7. Also for HDR JVC had dynamic tone mapping which is way better compared to Sony implementation. 590 es is comparable to N5 but even here N5 has the edge in HDR because of dynamic tone mapping. On that small screen you need to close the iris quite a lot.

[@taraxxxx987]

@@georgepopescu1327 unfortunately I cannot buy an n7/n5, neither used nor new, because I haven't enough space for the optic of the JVC to fill 100inches screen. Knowing that JVC cost almost the same of the Sony and is so much better bothers me a lot... For this reason I'm concerning about spending 3000 euro for a new Sony , compared to my 270... Im in doubt...

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@taraxxxx987 I can't tell you what to do with your hard erned money as it is not my place to do so. However I can answer your question about the 590 being better compared to 270. As I said, it has an iris and that helps a lot. If you see raised blacks on your 100 inch screen that is becouse 270 is pumping way too much light for that small screen and you can't lower the light output. 590 has X1 processor which will give a better video processing (slighlty sharper images and better motion) and it has a better HDR tone mapping implementation. Also has more light reserve which can help in HDR and 3D.

[@MarquisGunderson-nx3zr]

Such a neat way to enjoy movies in bed

[@TheMightsparrow]

New Entery level projector that costs £4,000? For that price I'd expect the ultimate level with everything. The greedy of some companies is ridiculous.

[@TheMightsparrow]

1 question? Is it worth its ridiculous price tag in your opinion or canyourecommend something better?

[@georgepopescu1327]

They are very stubborn with the decision of not giving the entry model an IRIS, at last a manual one. In a batcave this would help a lot for those willing to give up some of the brightness to achive deeper black levels. According to Cnet measurements VW290 has 0.014 black luminance, which is very good but still an IRIS would help.

[@iwanttoliveinthe80s59]

Salut George! (imi dau seama dupa nume ca-ti pot scrie in romana :) Eu am precedentul 570ES care, desi are iris, nu-l folosesc niciodata. consider ca nu este atat de important. Toate cele bune! Ionut.

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@iwanttoliveinthe80s59 cred ca te referi la irisul dynamic, eu vorbeam despre cel manual, care iti permite sa scazi luminozitatea mai mult decat ce ofera low lamp mode. Conteaza enorm cat de intuencata este camera. Daca ai peretii vopsiti cu negru, mobila si totul inchis la culoare, poti sa calibrezi imaginea cu irisul inchis , pentru un nivel de negru semnificativ mai bun. Din 0.014 luminanta pe negru, cat au masurat aia de la cnet, poti sa ajungi fara probleme la 0.007. Diferenta este mare, o sa ai practic un nivel de negru de doua ori mai bun.

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@iwanttoliveinthe80s59 oricum am vazut ca multi dintre cei care fac review-uri pe youtube, inclusiv calibratori respectabili, au pereti albi. Nu stiu ce naiba testeaza ei acolo ca la un proiector cu chip LCOS daca nu ai camera bat cave, ii omori foarte usor contrastul si ajungi sa ti se para ca nu-i asa mare diferenta fata de un DLP.

[@iwanttoliveinthe80s59]

@@georgepopescu1327 Da, ai dreptate - intr-adevar ma refeream la iris-ul dinamic- mi-am dat seama dupa ce am scris. Am citit coversatia ta cu Datenshutz si m-am cam speriat - viitorul proiectorului meu pare destul de sumbru, iar omul pare ca stie ce vorbeste. Sa-l stapanesti sanatos pe 9400!

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@iwanttoliveinthe80s59 multumesc! nu te panica, cumpara un light meter mai bun si masoara contrastul, imagine cu negru total si imagine cu alb complet. Ar trebui sa ai niste valori de genul 130 (pe alb) si 0.015 pe negru sau ceva asemanator. Dupa ce ai masurat cele doua valori imparti valoarea maxima la cea minima, adica 130 : 0.015=8.666 . Poate stiai lucrurile astea si nu ti-am spus nimic nou. Ar trebui sa ai undeva peste 10 000 valoarea sau cel putin peste 8000. Daca incepe sa scada si vezi valori de 5000 sau 6000 inseamna ca nu e ok. Am discutat cu un calibrator si mi-a spus ca pentru proiectoarele din seria ta n-ar trebui sa mai fie probleme , cel putin nu ceva de speriat.

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

Unfortunately, these Sony LCOS projectors are not recommended. In the course of use, these drift (color) so extremely that it can no longer be calibrated to the correct color spaces with onboard settings. Even with the PRo Cal software from support you have reached the limit at some point. In this context, Sony has withdrawn from the professional sector, as they cannot meet the guarantee of the dual stack SRX R815 DS / R515 DS because these professional devices need constant support and it is not profitable, so they concentrate fully on Crystal LED MicroLED Walls.

[@georgepopescu1327]

are you talking about the old elephant in the sony's room, the penel degradation? I was under the impression that they got rid of this problem with the last two generations of projectors.

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

Nothing has changed. neither in the professional field nor in the home theater sector

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@Datenschutz_Datenschutz ouch, that hurts, I mean those are expensive machines. It's a pity couse in Europe JVC native 4k's are very expensive so those entry level LCOS could have been an option for someone with medium size scren, who wants a high contrast projector.

[@georgepopescu1327]

@@Datenschutz_Datenschutz that's a bad thing for us, the consumers, couse it will leave the 5000$ market for those shitty low contrast DLP's that invaded the market recently. I mean it got so bad that companies like LG are selling projectors for 3000$-4000$ that have less on/off contrast than a lot of 500$ projectors.

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

@@georgepopescu1327 I would only buy JVC projectors. these drifts only in gamma. they can also be brought into perfect condition using an autocal function. Sony simply overslept the progress.

[@jaz4280]

That gone above my head ... Needs to simplify the content ... Or may be most of the audience here are of a high technical caliber. I have Xiaomi 4k laser projector, mainly for watching films. No screen, just clean white wall. Very immersive and clear picture. Watch drab tv programs and news on Sony 65 inch ... 5.1 surrounds with Denon A/V ...

[@Sabundy]

SONY makes fantastic projectors

[@ChrisKadaver]

Will we ever get native 4K projectors of the same price range as TVs? Like 600 USD on the budget side and up from there. My old BenQ W1070+ starts feeling a bit old. But these 1080p projectors still came out when 1080p was standard for TVs and did cost like a budget TV as well. Why havent the same happen for projectors?

[@RXP91]

Sony's had a bad reputation for LCOS panel degredation and not dealing with a design flaw. I'd avoid them completely. I've been a little disapointed with the rate of innovation in projectors. Pricing just isn't coming down and performance of any of the new models isn't really much of an upgarde over my x9000 which has better blacks. By the time sub £3k lasers come to market I'm afraid I'd have moved onto a 88" OLED

[@privatebenfallsprivat8428]

Totally Agree. Have one of those but older model and despite swapping the lamp to a new, original one, picture were still dark,(dull?) as if it had like 50 lumen

[@Piranhabites]

I can agree to this statement. I am a owner of a Sony 570 and I paid around 8000€. It’s a shame. Way too much money for this overpriced piece of technology. The machine cannot handle HDR. Normal blu Rays are ok, but any uhd with HDR is really bad.

[@Bootrosgali]

What's and x9000

[@jarodreddig63]

Sounds like the old model with a software update.

[@fiestarstyle]

je regrette d'avoir vendu mon sony vw260es 😭

[@geraldh.8047]

Sony should at least be consistent and have a different name for the PlayStation in the USA. It should be called the PS5 in Europe and the P5S in the USA, obviously!

[@Sam-Fisher]

Hi

[@vlcheish]

Bye

[@ChristianBungert]

Sony still has panel degredation issues and others, so blacks will turn grey or worse: blue over time and (approx. 2,5-4 years)+gammadrift,colourdrift. Advice- get yourself information about pros and cons of different projection technologies suchh as: DLP(BenQ), LCD(epson)SXRD(Sony) and D-ila(jvc) before buying.

[@az1235694]

Some very serious adverse comments against Sony projectors appear here . Are they real ? Are they paid to do so ? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

facts, mister. facts.

[@Toliman.]

Probably not. The Sony brand has a habit of running away from criticism or flaws by releasing new models and ignoring flawed products or technology. VRR is probably the latest issue of note on a flagship product that has had 5 to 10 years to implement 4K Freesync over HDMI in partnership with their own Playstation Console Release, working with AMD who created Freesync, etc. Yet their flagship TV for 2 years, can't and won't support VRR. Sony LCoS or SXRD, has the equivalent of OLED burn in and will lose colour intensity, brightness as its used, within hundreds of hours, not thousands. Frequent calibration can be used to reduce the gamma loss effects, but overall brightness and contrast will be lost over time. There can also be distortion or patterns that develop as the colour erodes. It's not a warranty condition for Sony. They dont advertise the contrast ratio, so they can avoid the problem of fraudulent advertising or under performance problems. Laser and LCoS is new, but don't get your hopes up. It's an expensive gamble for laser SXRD when the warranty likely won't cover performance or perceived, measurable degraded image & visible distortion in a 5k to 20k projector.

[@sofienchaieb3552]

Thank you for this test Vincent ! Do you think it’s a good thing to add a « hdfury vertex 2 » splitter to simulate Dolby Vision ?

[@percybedford6266]

@Sofien Chaieb I was thinking the same thing. I would like an answer to that question as well.