Projector Reviews

Extended Test Bench

Color temperature (Cinema mode before/Dynamic mode after calibration)

20-IRE: 6,450 K/6,537 K

30-IRE: 6,381 K/6,541 K

40-IRE: 6,510 K/6,627 K

50-IRE: 6,586 K/6,583 K

60-IRE: 6,534 K/6,566 K

70-IRE: 6,538 K/6,590 K

80-IRE: 6,618 K/6,519 K

90-IRE: 6,631 K/6,484 K

100-IRE: 6,627 K/6,521 K

Primary Color Point Accuracy vs. SMPTE HD Standard (Dynamic Mode)

In Cinema picture and 6500-K color temperature mode, the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5010 tracks the D6500 standard pretty well across the grayscale range. After calibration in the Dynamic mode, it measured a little closer. In both modes, there is a lack of green with brighter images, something our simple color-temperature chart doesn’t indicate (though it’s measurable and also somewhat noticeable).

The projector’s color-management menu can be used to slightly adjust the color points but does little to improve them. None is accurate out of the box, though the Dynamic mode is oddly more accurate than Cinema mode. Green is yellowish-green, while red and blue are slightly oversaturated.

Light output is staggering. On a 1.0-gain, 102-inch 16:9 screen in the Dynamic picture and Normal lamp mode, with the auto iris off, the 5010 produces 48.06 ftL on a full white image, and 0.011 ftL on a full black image, for a contrast ratio of 4,369:1. In the ECO lamp mode, black level drops to 0.007, and max light output to 34.86 (4,980:1).

With the iris set to High Speed and the lamp at Normal, the black level lowers to 0.0003 while the light output increases slightly to 48.18 for a dynamic (small “d”) contrast ratio of 160,600:1. In the Cinema picture mode (no iris), the Epson produces 19 ftL with a 0.003 black level (6,333:1). With the ECO lamp mode, black level drops to 0.002 with a max light output of 14.23 (7,115:1).

There’s no overscan, and the projector can resolve a 1-pixel on/off pattern at 1080p. — G.M.

Bottom Line

The 5010 really surprised me. I didn’t think such a flame-thrower could be had for so little money. When you can get that much light on the screen, there is much you can forgive. To bring in yet another car analogy, I’d say the Epson was like a muscle car: Sure, it can’t turn or brake, but when you floor it... bam!

Viewed in that context, the PowerLite Home Cinema 5010 is a brilliant, if slightly flawed, projector. I would say most people would love it, and rightly so. If you don’t mind inaccurate color and want an enormous and bright image, it’s hard to find anything better than the 5010.