Projector Reviews

It's only budget in price.

It's quite impressive what $1,300 will get you nowadays. In many ways, the Home 10+ looks the most like a home theater projector of those in our Face Off. The smooth, pearlescent case looks a lot like a Chiclet on steroids, and this was the only projector with a dedicated component video input, in addition to RGB.

Price: $2,999 At A Glance: Excellent video processing • Superior color and color adjustability • Near state-of-the-art black level • Natural detail

Epson is one of the major players in the business projector business, and it’s now making inroads into the home theater market as well. Its Ensemble HD Home Cinema System, which includes a projector, screen, speakers, and electronics, is priced to tempt consumers who would not have otherwise considered a projection setup. The company’s UltraBlack (UB) projectors have also made a big splash at recent electronics trade shows.

The PowerLite Home Cinema 6500 UB is one step down in the Epson lineup from the top-of-the-line PowerLite Pro Cinema 7500 UB. The latter is $1,200 more expensive. However, apart from some added features (an anamorphic aspect ratio option and ISFccc Day and Night modes), a black case, a year longer on its warranty, and a spare lamp ($300 if bought separately), it does not appear to add anything that would enhance its basic performance relative to the 6500 UB. The 6500 UB is clearly the bargain buy.

As with many projector manufacturers, Epson's product line is heavily oriented toward business applications. In that respect, the company is consistently at or near the top in worldwide sales. But Epson also occupies a significant and growing share of the home-theater market.

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Price: $3,199 At A Glance: Class-leading features • Anamorphic lens compatibility • Incredible value

Still Defining Value

It’s truly amazing the kinds of values you can find in home theater today. When I first got into this hobby in the mid-’90s, most frontprojection systems were bulky and expensive. But with projectors like the Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 9700 UB, consumers can have truly outstanding front projection for the cost of a higher-end flat-panel HDTV, something that was unheard of even a few years ago. And the value isn’t the only thing to get excited about. Epson includes some very cool features in this gem, including THX certification, anamorphic lens compatibility, and a host of video processing features.

PRICE $8,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Stunning resolution
Excellent blacks and shadow detail
Compatible with 4K content
Minus
Some clipping in HDR

THE VERDICT
If you want a projector illuminated by laser light, this Epson is the only game in town for less than five figures. But there’s a lot more here to rave about than just the lasers.

If video projectors have one serious limitation as display devices, at least for the home, it’s lamp life. Manufacturers make glowing claims for this, sometimes as high as 6,000 hours; that’s to half brightness. However, the video perfectionist is unlikely to get to half that figure, or even a third of it, before he or she senses that the picture is growing dim. It’s not unheard of for critical users to replace the lamp at 1,000 hours to maintain the projector’s youthful good looks. But projection lamps aren’t cheap.

PRICE$7999

AT A GLANCE
Plus

• Dazzling laser-propelled 3-chip image brightness, no "rainbow" artifacts
• All-glass, hyper-precise, wide-range motorized lens with memory presets
• HDMI 2.1 40Gbps bandwidth with ARC and eARC
• 4K/120Hz refresh rate with gamer-friendly low lag
• New HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping
• ISF® Certified performance when professionally calibrated

Minus

• Not native 4K; spoof that irritable brother-in-law and tell him it is
• Noticeably lifted pedestal black level (can be lessened with screen selection)
• Like New Coke and Zima, 3D is no longer supported
• It looks like an Epson menu, but...
• No Dolby Vision

THE VERDICT
Epson's QB1000 is the closest attempt yet by any manufacturer to creating an Everyman's Projector, capable of elevating everyday viewing into something extraordinary. With screen pairing carefully matching intended applications, it will effortlessly satisfy an overwhelming majority of enthusiasts searching for encompassing, radiant, colorfully lush video experiences, whether outfitting a dedicated theater or a gathering room sufficiently illuminated to avoid a snack-seeking tumble.

Devout cinephiles might find it impossible to overlook the less-than-textbook contrast ratio and lament a can't-see-your-nose-in-the-dark black level, but the remaining 99.99% who opt for the QB1000 will never tire of being splashed by waterfalls of crystal-clear colors pouring from the screen. And Gamers, take note: Low-lag and high-lumen color brightness equal with white brightness heightens next-gen gaming into a next-level dimension. Seldom does a single projector equally offer application versatility, performance virtuosity, and long-term consumer value, all vital qualities that collectively make the QB1000 class-leading and highly recommended.