If you've ever dreamed of building your own home theater system, at some point you're going to need to buy a projector. Nothing says home theater like a massive 100-inch or larger image, so the question is: which projector should you buy? The answer will largely depend on two factors: space and budget. If you want the full home theater experience, you really need a dedicated room where you can fully control the ambient light. If you have this, you are halfway there. When it comes to budget, the high-end of the projector market is dominated by Sony and JVC, but when it comes to more affordable models, one projector manufacturer stands above all others: Epson. Why is Epson the most popular home theater projector manufacturer? There are two reasons, the first is economies of scale. As the world's largest projector manufacturer, Epson is able to offer feature-rich models at very affordable prices. The other reason is that Epson uses LCD panels in its projectors, and this technology is more flexible in terms of installation compared to DLP models from competitors like BenQ and Optoma. If you've caught the home theater bug, you may have seen one of Epson's projectors before and wondered "should I buy this?" In this guide, you'll find an introduction to the Epson brand, an overview of what sets it apart from the competition, plus the latest Epson projector deals, along with all our latest Epson reviews.
Epson projectors - overview
Epson hardly needs an introduction, and the Japanese giant makes everything from the data-quality units often seen in classrooms to more sophisticated models aimed squarely at the home theater market. The latter category offers a wide selection of projectors, ranging from entry-level 1080p projectors to higher-end versions that support 4K and HDR. What they all have in common is the company's 3LCD technology, which uses three LCD panels to produce images. Epson is the largest manufacturer using this approach, and major competitors Optoma and BenQ use DLP. The advantage of three LCD panels, one for the three primary colors red, green, and blue, is that a color wheel is not needed. As a result, LCD projectors do not suffer from the color fringe (rainbow) artifacts that plague single-chip DLP projectors. By contrast, an LCD projector is not as sharp as its DLP counterpart because all three panels must be aligned. The biggest advantage of LCD over DLP is the flexibility during installation. Epson projectors have full lens controls with focus, shift and zoom. Top-of-the-line models even include motorized controls and offer lens memories for different aspect ratios. In terms of limitations, the technology has a slower response time than DLP, just like LCD TVs, and therefore motion handling isn't as good. Also, the light path in an LCD projector is not sealed, so you can sometimes suffer from those dreaded dust blobs. As with all projectors in the sub-$5,000/sub-$5,000 price range, Epson's 4K HDR models are not native 4K. They use 1080p LCD panels and then use pixel shifting to increase the perceived resolution with a 4K signal. Epson euphemistically refers to this as 4K PRO-UHD, but it's more commonly known as 'wobble'.Should I buy an Epson projector?
If you're planning a home theater system, Epson has you covered regardless of your needs or budget. There are competitively priced 1080p projectors for those with limited funds and very bright models for rooms with white walls or ambient light. High-end home theater projectors support 4K and HDR, as well as frame interpolation for improved motion and dynamic iris for better contrast ratios. As already mentioned, there are also plenty of lens controls and memory features. In terms of performance, these projectors don't disappoint either, and while they're not native 4K, they're still capable of producing big, bright, detailed images that are uncompromisingly cinematic. Using the three LCD panels also enables Epson projectors to reproduce 100% of the Rec.709 and DCI-P3 color gamut with impressive accuracy. Build quality is usually excellent, with the more expensive models featuring a backlit remote control and a motorized lens hood to keep out dust. The flagship model even has a wireless option to avoid long HDMI cables. In addition to the inherent limitations of LCD technology, Epson's line of home theater projectors offer exceptional performance, with top-of-the-line models offering unmatched specifications, with features not found on projectors twice the cost.How much do Epson projectors cost?
In terms of value for money, nothing beats an Epson home theater projector. The company has models for all budgets, from the entry-level 1060p Home Cinema 650 / EH-TW1080 projector for just € 649 / € 599 to super-bright projectors like the EB-FH06 at € 699. The cheapest 4K HDR model is the Home Cinema 3200 / EH-TW7000 at € 1,499 / € 1,199, while at the top of the home theater range is the Pro Cinema 6050UB / EH-TW9400, which offers a complete package for € 3999 / € 2549/4499 AU €.Epson Projector Reviews
Of course, you can only learn so much about a projector's price and specs, and more importantly how it actually works, and more importantly, what is TechRadar doing about Epson's latest models? We've reviewed Epson home theater projectors in various price ranges, and you can check out all our thoughts with the links below:
Epson ProCinema 6050UB (EH-TW9400)
This superb home theater projector offers a winning combination of performance and high-end specs. Although not technically 4K, it produces bright, detailed and vivid HDR images, it is very inexpensively priced, and the features put models twice the price to shame.
Epson Home Cinema 4010 (EH-TW7400)
This expert projector may not be native 4K, but it delivers clear, contrasting, and colossal HDR action. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the TW9400, but a combination of must-have features and cinematic visuals is hard to argue with.
Epson Home Cinema 3800 (EH-TW7100)
Although not native 4K, this bright and airy HDR model still handles detailed, contrasting and colorful images on the big screen. Its quiet operation and built-in Bluetooth and sports speakers make it ideal for most living rooms.
Epson Home Cinema 3200 (EH-TW7000)
If you're building a home theater on a budget, you can't go wrong with this big screen projector. It's the cheapest way to get 4K and HDR, it's bright enough to handle ambient light, and the elegant scale makes even standard definition observable.
Epson ProCinema 6050UB (EH-TW94000)
This superb home theater projector offers a winning combination of performance and high-end specs. Although not technically 4K, it produces bright, detailed and vivid HDR images, it is very inexpensively priced, and the features put models twice the price to shame.
This superb home theater projector offers a winning combination of performance and high-end specs. Although not technically 4K, it produces bright, detailed and vivid HDR images, it is very inexpensively priced, and the features put models twice the price to shame.