Projector Reviews

Watching three-chip 1080p front projection become something of a commodity is just weird. The inexorable march of progress has made this inevitable, of course. While I've been at the home theater game long enough to go into cautionary tale about how many tens of thousands of dollars even decent front projection used to cost back in the day, I'm only going back three years to put this thing in perspective.

Epson’s broad lineup of PowerLite home theater projectors can be a bit confusing, but the important point is that it splits into two parallel lines. At the top are the Pro Cinema models, and just below them are the Home Cinema designs. They track each other closely in performance, but the Pro Cinema versions offer a few extra features. These include an aspect-ratio setting for anamorphic projection on a 2.35:1 screen (the anamorphic lens required to use this is not included, and I didn’t test this feature). They also include ISFccc Day and Night modes, a spare lamp, a longer warranty, and a black case (the Home Cinema versions are white). At the top of the line, and our subject here, is the Pro Cinema 9500 UB.

Description
In appearance, the PowerLite Pro Cinema 9500 UB—one of the few projectors that is currently THX certified—closely resembles last year’s Epson flagship, the Pro Cinema 7500 UB. Its Fujinon zoom lens has a throw-distance range of 9.8 to 20.9 feet for a 100-inch (diagonal) 16:9 screen. The horizontal and vertical lens-shift controls, located at the top front of the case, have convenient mid-setting detents that make it easy to find the neutral settings. Lens shift, zoom, and focus are all manual.

2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Laser light engine
HDCP 2.2 compliance
Excellent contrast and accuracy
UHD color support
Minus
Not true 4K
Pricey
Contrast not quite up to lofty claims

THE VERDICT
Few projectors can compete with Epson’s first salvo in the reflective LCD market, and the company’s laser engine delivers bright images with flagship-level contrast and accuracy.

Last year’s CEDIA Expo was a bit of a buzzkill for projectors. We continued to see a dropoff in the number of manufacturers, and two of the biggest names in consumer projectors, Sony and JVC, both decided to forgo new models altogether. But that didn’t stop Epson from unveiling one of the most exciting projectors I’ve seen in years, the PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000. Not only is it unlike any previous Epson model, but it’s also the first laser-driven home theater projector I’ve seen—and at a sub-$10,000 price point. But can it compete with the juggernauts from Sony and JVC at these higher price levels? Let’s find out.

Epson's entrance into the home-theater projector arena has long been anticipated. For years, Epson has had the best color-management system of any maker of LCD projectors, and their ability to tame the uneven spectral output of short-arc metal-halide lamps has been impressive.

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

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

• 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.

While we've all been happily watching our 1280x720 digital video displays, manufacturers have been quietly working behind the scenes to bring us 1920x1080. Every display technology, it seems, has its own higher resolution displays in development. Some are even in stores as I write.