Are Projectors BETTER Than TV? 🤔 EPSON LS12000B Projector Review
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
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► EPSON LS12000B PROJECTOR REVIEW
If you are building a dedicated home theater, deciding between a front projector and short throw or ultra short throw projector is going to be one of the biggest decisions you make. While USTs claim to be convenient, I’ve always found front projectors to be easier to set up, not to mention better in terms of performance. We break down the good and the bad about home projection in this Epson LS12000B review; are projectors better than TV?
00:00 EPSON LS12000B PROJECTOR REVIEW INTRO
00:33 EPSON LS12000B SPECS
02:32 EPSON PROJECTOR SCREEN ADJUSTMENT
03:30 EPSON FRONT PROJECTORS
04:04 ABOUT PICTURE QUALITY
06:32 PROJECTORS FOR HDR
08:18 EPSON VS DLP PROJECTORS
09:02 EPSON VS SONY PROJECTOR
09:45 ARE PROJECTORS WORTH IT?
11:54 KRISTI'S TAKE
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They have their place, for me it's really about screen size. I have a flat screen in my living room for general day/night viewing and a 4m X 4m room for the projector with an Anthem MRX-1140 and Monitor Audio Silver 7G speakers.
Projector's simply can't compete with a TV for the finer contrast/detail but I'm projecting 170" and there's no way to get that screen size with a TV let alone for ~$1500 I spent on it. It's 1080p short throw front projection, probably sounds way over the top going that big, but really go big while at home :P
You can spend big money on projector's and I think people usually associate that with projector's, but you can get a great projector for very little especially considering the kind of screen size it can make. An over the top large screen really brings things to the next level, all I'm doing is projecting onto a white wall.
Keep up the great work you two!
Front projection has never really been more than a niche market for movie buffs like myself. I agree totally that projection works best for non HDR material but for me it's a fun hobby. Some movies just demand viewing on a big screen.
Projectors are the only way to get that true 'cinema' feeling. I think it has something to do with what happens to the light in the air between the lens and the screen. It has a glow to it. It's magical, if that doesn't sound too cheesy.
Completely agree, it’s a different experience
These guys get it 👍👍
The change from lamp to laser affected me. I still like lamp as laser illumates the image in a way I don't like. However, as mercury lamps are going out it's all going to be laser. That issue though tells me your right. The way the image comes to be is special with a projector.
Agree. Matte screens vs a reflective glass screen maybe? It’s also similar to why some people love vinyl.
Epson projectors are highly rated put them in a proper room and move on. I had Epson 9400 and now LS12000 I prefer to watch movies on the LS12000. Forgot my LG OLED
I have a dedicated 4k theater with a 135 inch ambient light rejecting screen and absolutely love it for movies. No TV can beat the level of immersion you get from a larger screen.
That's cool!
I'd love to know what projector you use?
@@KristiWright Epson 5050ub (the previous generation to the one reviewed here) paired with the Elite Screens Cinegrey 3D screen.
@@joedirt6222 Thanks!
Gave my OLED LG B8 to my sister and switched to a BenQ 2050a last October. Just bought a BenQ x3000i. I'll tell you what, not gonna go back to TV anytime soon. The ease of use (screen install/ceiling mount projector), image size, and good enough image quality is worth the trade in from the TV. Have y'all tried to wall mount a 65 inch TV by yourself before? Nope, not gonna happen without two people.
I have been using a projector for over 15 years now, and yes, TVs do have better picture quality/$$, but the main reason we have stuck with a projector is because we live in a smaller home, and don't want a TV to be a furniture piece just sitting in the living room, being able to pull up the screen and have no visible TV just sitting around is really nice. And to be able to pull down the screen and suddenly have a 100" screen is wonderful, and we don't have to live with a big TV always taking up space.
Hmmm, all our friends have TV’s, we used to have one too. After switching to an Epson projector there was no way coming back. Funny thing is, we have occasional movie nights with our friends, they don’t even consider to have them anywhere else than our place. Personally, I have yet to see a tv I’d be willing to replace our projector with, we don’t even have a dedicated home theatre room. Projectors have still solid future in our household.
Same here, movies on our Epson projector, lazy casual viewing on LG Oled
Good insight and observations, Andrew. I've owned several projectors and currently own an Epson 4010, and I'm one of the small percentage of people that have it projected at 150", and only on a large sheetrock wall that was painted with 'projector' paint. The room isn' even light controlled but all of our friends prefer watching sports and movies at our house because the image is so large and impactful, and because everyone can see the image perfectly when seated around our living room. At night in a darkened room, the 150" image can make you feel exactly like you're in a movie theater. We have a 75" 4K TV in our bedroom, but when there's a big game on, or an important movie, nothing beats the impact of a projector.
True !!
Epson 4010 is a BEAST for its price. Bought it on release year and love it. My OLED is getting dust, my LG C8 is basically mint conditions lol
I have a Epson Home Cinema 4010 4K projector and a 100" Elite motorized drop down screen. The setup is in our light controlled office/library with both the screen and projector hidden until we turn them on. An 85" tv wouldn't fit, we would have had to take some of our book shelves out ( we actually still read and the shelves are full of books) but the projection system gives a fabulous movie going experience. The Bright Cinema out of the box was nearly perfect and I have barely touched it, colors are near perfect. My wife loves it, in fact we watched about 300 movies over the last two years. For us the projector will always be part of our entertainment system.
As much as it hurts to say, I totally agree with Andrew that front projection is on borrowed time. One need only look at pricing trends in recent years. 5 years ago I bought an Epson 5040UB (truly remarkably similar PJ to the LS12000) for $3k. At the time you could barely get a 65" OLED for that so the price for 120" was competitive. Meanwhile you can get a 77" LG C1 for a good bit less money today and an equivalent projector is now $5k! I traded the projector in for a 77C1 and haven't looked back. You can still get a big screen experience (just sitting a little closer) and its a night and day experience difference. 90"+ direct view panels will be the final death blow
C1s just dropped in price with the C2s now out. A 77” is $2,600.00 at Costco. 83” is $4,000.00. Never thought something that looks this good could cost relatively so little.
Was about to post the same thing. In my case 77GX OLED. Not to mention the added expense of the screen, mounting hardware, and inevitable longer cable run.
And that’s just the current state of things I am quite sure for what I paid in two years, one will be able to get an 85 or 93 inch.
Part of the problem with TVs is that the average mainstream buyer and viewer still do NOT understand that TVs are designed to be viewed up CLOSE. People still shove them all the way to the front wall and then sit as far back as possible. I can't believe the patently false old wives tale of "You'll go blind if you sit too close to the TV!" is still believed by the majority of people today. My old Samsung 55" JS9000 4K HDR 3D curved TV I mentioned in my comment above? I sat it on a rolling TV stand from IKEA right up close to my couch. It was truly amazing. A 65" or 75" inch would have been even better.
There is no comparison between a 90" and 120" screen in a light-controlled room. If you don't want to go bigger than your 83", then get a TV FOR SURE. Otherwise, projectors still have their place.
@@Guerilla_law3516 I can't agree more. The added expenses are substantial and more than that, they're just an enormous headache! I love love love projection but I also can't wait for the day I slap an even larger 83" or 97" OLED on the wall.
I went down the projector rabbit hole nearly ten years ago now and never looked back. Give me a massive screen I can essentially roll away into the ceiling over a black square any day. I've upgraded multiple times over the years and have enjoyed the upgrade path as much as my audio upgrade path... but that's the rub. Projectors, like audio equipment I feel is a passion that you have to want.
I threw the TV away more than 10 years ago, I just don't like having "Television" in my house. I love an empty wall with beautiful speakers and a 3-meter bookcase behind. No black screen, no triggers to watch the news, and living the old fashion lifestyle.
I love to turn on my Epson at night and watch some selected movie or fire up PS5. Playing The Last of Us 2, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Horizon on a 120" screen is fantastic.
Of course, it's a garbage when it's bright outside. That's why I listen to music by day and read books. But at night, my dears. The immersion, colors, details - everything is insane. Experience is more cinematic, more unique, and more focusing on details than "just watching, killing my time and my brain with random content". The TV screen will n o t give it to you. And most important, TVs are flashing the light in your face. It's not pleasant after 10 hours of staring at the monitor at the office.
Reviewing a projector in a SUPER bright living room with no single adaptation/treatment is like talking about the audio setup in a narrow corridor or staircase to the basement. I'm disappointed. Do you have experience with projectors? I'm disappointed double time. It doesn't work that way, and it never starts, and you perfectly knew it. So why are you doing a review that way? To show people that buying a projector to a bright living room is at least a bad idea?
Not sure why you blame your Cabrio can't handle a rainy day, and I don't get, why you choose a Cabrio for your daily if you live in London. Don't blame Cabrio for being Cabrio :D. This Epson is a super great product.
That projector can't show up his best in your place even at night. It has too many lumens. Light from the screen will reflect on your floor, every wall, and ceiling. So the image on the screen will have poor contrast and poor black level. And you think it has a bad HDR... I believe you got there terrible experience. In the end, choosing a white 1.0 gain screen for a so bright room? Yeah. You may know my thoughts about it, so let's skip it.
I love to see more projector reviews by you guys, but your room isn't a good benchmark at the moment. I hope it's constructive. Love and hugs, keep rocking audio/video CZcams! We need more of you here.
I'm watching this video on a Sony VPL-HW40 projector, on a 100-inch DaLite 0.9 gain screen. For my room it's the best solution, because I have the screen hung over a stairway, where it would be a challenge to have a TV. I'm very happy with it. I love the smoothness of the Sony in a front projection setup.
To answer your question at the end, of why I invested in front projection.... I've been a front projection guy since 1997. My first projector was a Sharp LCD projector that had 800x600 resolution and about a 100:1 contrast ratio. I've owned about 7 projectors between 1997 and 2014 when I bought the Sony.
I think projectors will always have a niche, but that niche has moved to hardcore front projection fans and screen sizes over 110 inches. So it's probably, as you said, going to be 5% of the market or less going forward.
Sounds like, for you, projection was THE ONLY solution and I'm very happy to hear you're enjoying your setup. Sony makes GREAT projectors, no question. I had their first (and second gen) Pearl and Black Pearl projectors and LOVED them (though admittedly, they weren't very bright). Thanks for watching!
I love my 77" Oled for most viewing, but when I want to watch a movie, especially a modern action movie for the frst time, I'm going down to the basement for the 150" screen down there. Tv viewing comes with the re-watching of movies as background
Projectors in a light controlled dedicated room cannot be matched by a TV. The great part is most people who own dedicated theater rooms also own large OLED tv's. I have a 77' OLD C2 in my bedroom and have this Epson LS12000 on order for my dedicated theater room
Correct brother! I have an oled in the living room, projector in the theatre room!
Been watching a lot of video's about projectors recently.
You are the first person I've heard say how far the projector needs to be away from the screen for best picture. This answers my first question for every video I watch, that no one else answers. THANK YOU for that tiny bit of very important info!
This has turned out to be the most informative video I've seen. You just got another subscriber.
Glad you found the info helpful! Thanks for watching!
I agree with everything you said when applied to mixed use spaces, I would never recommend someone put a projector in a living space. But for those select few that have a dedicated light controlled space, nothing beats the theatrical experience of having a 130 inch screen that compliments the massive soundstage. But again, I agree that it's not the every day consumer that is building these spaces
I’ve had a vava UST with a retractable screen for a while now and really love it. While it’s not as perfect as a TV, for me, having a living space sans-screen is everything. I’m not a fan of a screen, on or off, becoming the center of attention in a room.
Projection (my last house had an Epson 5050 UB) it was awesome in a dedicated room. I built it myself. It was great. It was all about an overwhelming screen size 160in. It’s a niche setup for a small minority. We moved a year ago don’t have a dedicated HT room in this house. Went with an 85in Sony X91. It’s great and all around more versatile. If you want picture quality a projector can’t hang. It does deliver a great experience if you have a dedicated room. But it’s so dependent on the environment.
I'm always impressed with the quality of your reviews.
I have both an OLED TV and a 4K projector in my media room. Some people won't be able to accommodate that type of setup, but it works really well for me. I tend to watch TV shows and streaming content on the OLED, and feature length films on the projector. This allows me to enjoy the best attributes of both formats. At the end of the day, an individual's choice of technology will depend on the space and budget that they're working with. Enthusiasts have a lot of options these days so they should just focus on getting the biggest and best image that their money can buy.
Keep up the great work, Andrew & Kristi!
Appreciate you sharing your personal experiences and setup while remaining respectful, thank you!
What an interesting review! I have a JVC RS 540 projecting onto a 135" screen and I LOVE it. As you say, there are many advantages to TVs but I think if you are serious about movies, FP is still the way to go. Perhaps I have never seen one set up right, but the picture of modern TVs seems fake somehow, over saturated and almost cartoonish. And size does matter, at least for me. Plus, In a few years you'll be able to pick up this Epson on eBay for $2500 and it will be a steal.
I think for a lot of people there is a mystique around having a projector. It's the "i made it!" moment when you have what you lusted after as a child when projectors were *it* because they provided that theater in your home feeling. I still lust after a dedicated theater room with an acoustical transparent screen setup and multiple rows of seating. Will i ever realistically get it? Unlikely, but i think that's why projection still lives on and will continue to do so. It's like old men and Corvettes. Yeah, i want one of those too.
I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Nothing wrong with wanting what you want.
I'm going to throw this out there. Even getting a cheap projector and throwing movies up on an outdoor screen or a sheet in the living room can be a lot of fun.
@@greenman1282 agreed. I love watching movies even on the cheap projector I currently have access to
Yeah. I had one before i could really afford it. I chased it. I caught it. I let it go. Tvs have come a long way. But my time with them was fun. Definitely more of a theater effect. Cant deny that.
When UST becomes easy, I’m going that way for sure. It’s because my space would work a LOT BETTER if I was able to use a retractable screen, which would make audio placement options much better.
I am huge fun of the projectors, I honestly don't like to keep a 90"+ TV in the leaving room... I believe it is awful when is off.
The future will be split between projectors for 120"+ and all the rest TVs. When the rollable TVs or wall TVs will be available in the market at a decent price... Than projector will be killed.
I personally watch movies and tv only in the night, or I see sports with friends in TV and it si the best case study. An 120" floor rising screen is the way to go and I get one wall totally available for anything else I want!
I have an Epson 4K projector, I love it. I would only ever use it in a light controlled room though, even dim lamps are a no-no. I have young kids and there is no way I’m getting a 5-10k TV until they are well grown, so the projector suits my situation. Be very careful to check throw distance and vertical lens shift of your projector before purchasing to make sure it’s suitable for your room space. Ask me how I know that. 😂
I do think when watching a movie there's no beating a projector and 120"+ screen. I also think a person must ask themselves what type of content they are going to watch? Is the majority going to tv shows and live sports or movies? 16:9 or 2.40:1
Mixed feelings about your review. It really is a great discussion and your opinions are all very well thought through. So why the mixed feelings? Partially because it almost seems as though the LS12000 "review" is more of a tangent to the question posed and it muddies the waters. And partially because I have a home theater where I had a 75" Sony XBR-900 in it but I ended up moving "up" to a projector because I just didn't feel like the TV experience gave a real sense of a theater. Today I have the Espon LS12000 after a recent upgrade from the Epson 5050 UB and I love it.
So, why did I move to the projector? Well, probably a bit to your point, I have a space in my basement that I could create a DIY dedicated home theater area and I just didn't feel like the 75" TV gave a real sense of a theater.
I agonized over the PQ vs the Pic size questions for a couple years and I even auditioned an 86" TV, but it still just wasn't quite there. It felt inadequate. So, I moved the 75" TV to my family room and plunged in. Initially I struggled with the HDR differences, but even with my 5050UB, I soon realized that I much prefer to watch movies and sports on my 120" screen and would choose it over my 75" TV or even my 55" Sony OLED in the bedroom. IMO, once you've become accustomed to 120" screen it becomes difficult to watch things on smaller screens even if the PQ is not as vivid.
That said, most of your points generally resonate, but I think there is one aspect that could be emphasized a bit more. While the cost is certainly higher and you really can't argue with the simplicity of TV, I don't think it is really about having a multi-million dollar house (I don't). *I think the difference maker is light control of your room*. If you can't gain almost 100% control over the ambient light in the room, you'll continue to find the projector experience sub-par for dark scene content and feel very unsatisfied.
FWIW, I think you can get a really decent projector setup for $2500 - not necessarily the $7500 you mention. The Epson 5050UB can be found used or refurb for around $2200 today (which will just keep dropping) and you can actually get a really decent screen from companies like Silver Ticket for $200 - $300. I spent months trying to pick a screen and in the end decided I'd just try out the Silver Ticket screen and buy something better later. Two years later and I can't see why I'd spend 10x more for what is likely marginally better quality.
Yes, I did upgrade to the LS12000 over the 5050UB and yes I'm happy with that decision, partially because I was able to sell my 5050UB and put that money towards the LS12000. While the 5050UB is no slouch and my friends always raved about it, the LS1200 is better. It starts faster, it is brighter, the colors are more vivid, the dark levels are darker, it doesn't have a lamp which fades, and it it has better resolution. But if you are on a budget, it is still the law of diminishing returns and the 5050UB is likely going to be a great choice instead.
Sorry for the long ramble, but having just gone through the decision process to first convert to a projector 2 years ago and more recently move up to the LS1200 2 months ago, I thought I'd share my experience.
Great comment, and yours is the most popular on the thread, so others agree with you. This review was more like an opinion on why he's done with projectors. For those who love projectors, size matters. There is a HUGE difference between a 120" screen and an 85" screen. It makes a lot of sense to just buy the TV if you want an image that is less than 85". I'm excited for the LS12000. It's a phenomenal value, even though this reviewer and his wife can't see it. Every other review I've seen praises the LS12000.
I also have a 135" silver ticket screen and have never had any issue with it. Putting it together wasn't a breeze, but it wasn't bad, and the screen itself is rock solid and looks great. I was curious about Andrew's comment in the review about his trouble putting together screens. No doubt some are junk, but the ST products are pretty solid in my experience.
@Roger Reynolds One of the screens that had issues with was Screen Innovations (worth multiple thousands of dollars) as well as another one of Elite Screens higher end screens.
I agree with you, that TVs are way superior in picture quality than projectors. Thats just how it is.
But for me, my projector isn't a contestant against a TV. I don't watch TV, I don't habe a TV and I don't even wan't one. My projector (in the living room) may be off for days until I watch a movie or so. For me, the large image is an experience. A large TV screen oft 80" would just annoy me 80% oft the time since it's off and makes my room ugly and annoys me the other 20% of the time when its just too small and doesn't deliver the same big screen experience. Also the bigger screen, less bright image and reflective nature of projection make it much easier on my eyes. Yes I am a minority, only one other household I know has a cheap projector setup. But then, not many even have a TV, most of them watch their series on their phone, tablet or laptop.
I ended up buying a projector and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Yes it doesn’t always work during the day and all that but the experience is just so much better. Yes they are kind of expensive but for the amount of enjoyment you get out of it it’s honestly not that bad.
In my case I don’t have a dedicated room I have it roll down in front of where my TV sets by using a deployable screen.
We take some figuring out how to make it work for everyone but if you can find a way to do it it’s so worth it
I’ve been using a projector for home video for over 25 years and as a true enthusiast, my Epson 2050 is still the go to for movies and sports over the 77 inch LG 4K. Yes it takes a bit of work to calibrate the presets for various qualities of movies and videos but we still love the true BIG SCREEN experience of 144” vs a picture that’s 1/4 as big.
For dedicated, light controlled home theaters, at least for now, front projection will still have a place at home.
Brilliant review as always. My friend has just got this and it’s a great projector. I’m still running the 9400 or 6050 as it is in the states. What I will say is the difference it made going to a proper cinema room, light controlled with dark walls and ceilings was a game changer for my projector. I loved the big screen experience before but now it’s something else. But I am fortunate enough to have the space to keep that separate from our Main living area. I still loved it when it was all white walls too though lol.
I have a JVC nx7 on a 150 inch, thank god, while I love the pic and experience, and wouldn’t trade it. I do definitely miss the sharpness, and hdr of a TV. If they made a 110 inch tv at a decent price, I would pick that over 150 on a projector.
A while back I took a chance on a certified refurbished epson 1080p projector. I have to say I have been very happy. Its not 4k but I find myself using and watching it more often then my 4k tv. I think just the sheer size makes everything I watch on it much more enjoyable. Until QD-OLED gets larger sizes I think most of my content consumption will remain on my 120" projector.
I set up a dual set up at my last place. Laser front projector and a OLED. The few movies I watched on the big screen were wow! But I enjoyed the TV so much more.
So I came to the same conclusions as you.
Moving again next month and I didn’t hesitate to just get an 83” OLED.
I've been itching at the opportunity to get a review unit of this EpsonLS12000B. Still rocking my Epson 5040UB. As soon as I can afford an upgrade I'm picking this one up. Really looking forward to the jump to laser and HDMI 2.1 capabilities.
I cannot believe how much better your videos sound from when you first moved in. If there was ever a testament to the value of noise control treatments in a room this is definitely it. Amazing.
Thanks!
I have a small dedicated home cinema room, with a 4k pixel shifting dlp projector (not for you) wich costs a fraction of the price of the epson. Most people are impressed with the picture quality. Yes, it's not a TV but there is one big difference wich you didn't mention. A projected movie is reflected light, a tv has a backlight. In the real world we see everything in reflected light. So the way we see a movie on a screen is more natural than on a TV, and many people like that. As for Stranger Things: I think a director should take the average television into account. Of course he has top equipment at his disposal, but 95% of the viewers do not. If all those viewers cannot follow a few scenes properly, it detracts from the experience.
Had an 1080p Optoma HD26 for a couple of years. Quite satisfied with this sub $700 projector with a 100" screen. Sold it when i bought my house and went for an 75" Samsung QE75Q70T. Smaller livingroom gives allmost the same feel, but as you said much better viewing for everyday use.
Very nice review of this projector. 👍🏻
You mentioned “in a non dedicated space” a few times, and I think that’s key. I would agree that projectors are not ideal for a lounge, for example.
However, for a dedicated space, light controlled, automated (so it’s as easy to use as a TV), a projector is still a very viable option. Don’t forget, you can’t mount speakers behind an OLED TV - you can mount speakers behind an acoustically transparent projection screen.
Also, TVs push the light at you, which for some is not natural (it’s not how life shows light to our eyes). Reflected light from a projector/screen is more natural to some, especially at very large screen sizes. 😁
This review is almost dejavu like for me. Last year I reached my 'its time' moment and was looking at upgrading my 100" screen and 1080p front projection system + an also necessary AVR and [budget dependent] speaker upgrades. I quickly discovered the new price points for a true 4K projector with high lumens that is HDMI 2.1 ready + a quality screen had reached a head scratching price point that to me clearly said this industry has found a new happy niche of customers. I'm fine with spending money but not yet at that point where I'm comfortable plunking down $17K + on just a tee vee. I also ended up very happy with a 2021 model year 75" LED with a new 4k HDMI 2.1 ready AVR and still had bucks left for upgrading my subwoofer. Thanks again Andrew and Kristi!
These reviews are on another level. Very informative, not just talking specs but actually how they apply. It's also so nice to hear a non-tech nerd's input! Very well done. Cheers from Sweden!
😊
I agree with all of your points. We are finishing a home theater here in Lakeway and are just waiting on the new projector to arrive but have been wishing the TCL or even the Samsung 100" were ready to go or at least available to demo and/or more reviews. Thanks for the timely, honest review. Three years from now, it will be an easy decision.
Imagine judging a projector in a complete white room WITH seriously hard light bleeding and a white cinema screen…. With that setup u won’t see any difference for example in the black levels between the optoma or even a dirt cheap Amazon projector.
You can’t compare any projector with your setup it’s hilarious no one is buying a over 5k projector to use it in a moderate bright room with white walls and a white cinema screen.
I was about to say the same thing. Their living room is no where near light controlled. This setup here did no justice for that amazing projector. I guess that's why they prefer tvs because you don't need to paint the walls dark.
When you are able to throw in an acoustically transparent screen into the mix, that really does bode well for front projection. Having the ability to have matched LCR and have them placed in line with the projected picture, makes for that true cinematic feel. I agree though for most use cases, either multipurpose or non-dedicated rooms, a TV is most likely the best option.
matching LCR behind the screen can't be beat for movies I have had it for years and would never wont to go back
Ok. Finally got to check out this one. I lived with a JVC DILA X500 projector w a draper 106” screen from late 2014 through winter 2021 (fed with Oppo bluray and uhd players) Couldnt agree more with Andrew. Although my unit was non hdr, it accepted a 4k signal. Great picture for blurays and 4k discs (when i could get 4k uhd to work due to compatibility issues) but since up/downgrading to a much smaller 75” sony flat panel, i cant see myself ever going back. I spent too much money i really should never have spent. Should have just waited for tvs to improve. For those who can truly afford it, go for it. But im talking people who spend $20,000 on a projector. Even a 1/4 th of that price wont get you the visual punch for your dollar a flat panel can deliver nowadays. Just my opinion. If i could go back, id not buy a projector. I had a badass setup, and 3 year old, raggedy shoes with nothing in the fridge but a couple beers and some hot sauce. Bad decisions to be sure. Projectors are not a blue collar hobby.
When I built my theater room, I bought a fixed screen and an Epson 5030UB, when the 4k era started and the new consoles instead of going with another projector I switched to a 77" LG OLED you just couldn't get the features and colour quality for the same price. I went from 100 to 77 and honestly I am happier with the tv than I ever was with a projector. I do want to get back to 100" one day but 77" is good enough for now. If I was to do it all over again I would have bought a tv to begin with.
Flat panels simply won’t give me a twenty foot wide image in our home cinema like a front projector. True, we had to spend much more than $5000 for a pj, BUT the time is quickly approaching where a huge, truly cinematic screen will be absolutely affordable. Front projection in a dedicated room is so much more impactful than a flat panel.
If you are not using a 2.35 screen than a large TV may seem better. But I can’t imagine giving up the ability to watch cinema scope movies 10 feet wide
I love the video. I have epson 5050ub with 135in screen for 3yrs .. was looking to get upgraded but I'm glad you made this gives me more options
I installed a projector in our master bedroom where we have vaulted ceilings; my wife was very skeptical but after one movie (unfortunately a Hallmark… her favorite) she was convinced. To lie flat on your bed and look up at a 150” screen (painted white ceiling) is fantastic. The projector is the size of a family size box of Cheerios! We don’t even turn on our bedroom flat panel anymore. I understand the benefit of a flat panel in a multi-use room where light control isn’t practical (like our great room). At the same time I can’t wait to build my dedicated theater room in the basement this fall where I will have speakers behind a 150” screen… something impossible with a TV.
Would you consider testing a Benq HT3550? For $1700 you can have 4K (pixel shifting) on 120”… again light control is key but it certainly is more of a contrast than a $5k projector vs $8k 98” flat panels). Sometimes those comparisons are more eye opening then the similar prices options. More of a value look at options (similar to your RZ50 review) where you need to spend a bunch more to get minor improvements.
I bought a jvc x35 projector 8 years ago and a drop down 100 inch decent screen (a good quality screen makes a massive difference, mine was around £500) The Picture from blue Ray discs is brilliant, and it’s a white walled room! Light creeps in during the day but the JVC is very bright if you adjust the bulb output, but during the winter dark nights the picture is stunning. And the fan noise is very quiet, you can’t hear it during film playback. Best thing is when you’ve finished a film the screen automatically goes up and you have a normal room again, not a massive TV sitting there. I would definitely get another one, it’s nearest experience you can get to going to the cinema.
Honestly i love projectors and been using projectors as tv replacement for my living room but the difference i have control the lights on that place to watch during the day thanks to UST technology now i dont have a ugly setup, now i have everything on the center and yes it is not simple to set it up but it is worth it when is done, everyone loves my 100 screen.
If you plan to use your projector at least control the lighting so you can enjoy your movie/serie
I was on the fence last year when upgrading my man cave. I wanted a projector for the size but with my son playing down there and wanting movies on in the background or playing switch, I decided on a 85 inch Sammy QLED instead. Couldn't be happier. Sports and movies look fantastic.
Another great video! The comment I have on the video as a whole about projectors, is that most of the dedicated theater rooms I see on CZcams all focus heavily on killing all light sources. To the point of putting up black fabric on their walls and ceilings, sometimes covering their speakers too. But they all say the darker the room the brighter the picture.
I’m with you on preferring a normal flat screen and possibly going to 100” some day as I can’t even fit anything bigger anywhere in my house. Just need to wait for prices to drop drastically on the couple of 100” TVs on the market. Would love to see you review some of those.
I started with used office projectors and pull down screens bought from university surplus. Just a fun hobby. I currently have a used Panasonic office laser projector, with a 105 inch budget fixed screen. It’s all set up in a 15x23 room with a bar and we call it a media room. Just 5.2 Sony surround sound with a PS4 as a media server. My speakers are TOIDS audio fronts and center that I built from his plans, and now having added those…Its a surprisingly good to great experience. I’d say better than the movie theater, not as good as IMAX. I’m considering purchasing a 98” TV when they come down in price a bit. But upgrading sound with ceiling speakers and 5.2.2. receiver Is more important.
The thing with projectors is that light reflecting back at you seems softer and feels better on my eyes, that’s just me. TV light feels a bit sharp, which is great for resolution, but can feel a little fatiguing after say three hours. That’s worth debating I’m sure. But having a entertainment room over covid was the best for our family, and it’s been great having channels like this one to help me make better decisions thanks.
I thought I was the only one that began with University Surplus equipment. 😉
I’m now using a BenQ HT3550 with a 120” White 1.0 screen.
Yes, agree with you, as does my eyes and the eyes of my family and friends, a projector is much easier on the eyes.
You hit the nail on the head. If you have a dedicated home theatre room, projection is the way to go. As Kristi said, sound is just as immersive, and you cant put speakers behind a TV screen to get centered dialog. You can put it under but it’s not the same.
If you don’t have a dedicated theatre room with light control then Oled is the way to go. Flat panels are better for family rooms. I have a big family room with a large oled and a dedicated home theatre room and all my movie, shows and gaming is done in the theatre room.
I project onto 110" and I'm super happy with it. It gives me that cinematic experience you remember from your local theater and that alone makes it feel more like an event rather than just a movie. * When you're watching such a big screen you don't necessarily need the brightness of a mini LED TV to burn your retinas and get a tan at the same time 😎. Although yes HDR is limited compared to a TV and it is a trade off, Epson allows you to control the level which is big help.
Love my JVC. Will probably get another one. When LCD Wall TV's come out at an affordable price I think it will be the end of projectors.
I love the Epson 2150 I have but have been trying to go 4k. I am normally a quality over quantity guy but honestly having a 120” screen for movies etc is awesome. I think there is a room for both clearly and projection isn’t for everyone due to room setup, and the overall more expensive/cumbersome setup with mounting aiming etc. but nothing beats a large screen. Until there is a cost effective 120” lcd/oled I will continue to enjoy projection.
I still love this review. What I appreciate is the honesty.. I still purchased this and I'm currently waiting for a screen but wish I could post pics of strangers things from my room .. looks amazing... projecting on a wall in 2.35:1 format 103" wide. Granted blacks are not as black as my 2 oled screens. But immersion for movies to menus the trump card. Gaming is also incredible... the 120 fps is smooth as butter ...
Hi Bill,
I have opted for this projector . How’s your experience with the proper screen compared to your tv?
@@charithsoori loving it... you won't get oled black.. but what you get in size immersion will blow you away. Wait to you try movies in a 2.35:1 format.. its the true cinema experience. Make sure you update the firmware as there it increases the sharpness. Gaming is just incredible.. call of duty at 4k 120 has to be seen. Prepare to be amazed.
That’s wonderful, planning for a 140 screen and I was worried after watching this review
I believe you are correct about it’s for a select few. I once thought it was for all, sadly I have found this isn’t the case after sharing this experience with others. As for myself I will continue to invest in them simply because I can, but mostly because I enjoy the experience of watching cinematic art at its best. I am not rich, but I’m ok. We have to find things we enjoy in life, this is one of mine. I enjoy your platform, thank you.
My takeaway here is 120”+ is where projectors really make sense , we are just putting in a 136” screen in front of an 85” tv so we have a hybrid solution and there is no comparison in immersion levels that you get from the scale of the sound. This is in a dedicated home cinema room painted in a dark shade with 7.1.4 audio setup so projection makes a lot of sense with the TV for daytime use/ps5 etc
As screen automatically comes down when projector is powered up it’s all quite seamless , and we have the center speaker just below the TV so screen comes down in front of this , acoustically transparent so we also get benefit of having the center speaker inside the picture when projecting
Thanks for the detailed explanations!
I purchased an Epson 4010 in 2020 for a basement home theater and it’s been fantastic for watching movies as the theaters were pandemically closed. The pseudo 4K picture quality may not be TV sharp, but the big screen experience for my family has been very theater like! No regrets for being able to watch a movie with a bowl of popcorn in my home with a 120” screen.
I am tempted to upgrade my Epson 2150 to a used Epson 4010. Have you struggled to run 4k with hdr for streaming? My concern with the 4010 is the 60hz limitation on 4k hdr. I know it can only go to 30hz. I mainly watch movies and am not caught up in gaming at 4k HDR 60hz.
@@joewozniak2231 no issues using my AppleTV 4K streaming 4K-looks great to me but I’m not splitting pixels. I have not had any issues with 60hz, but I don’t game on it.
I moved from a 65 inch Samsung led TV to epson to a 135 inch acoustically transparent screen. That's something a tv can't do. Like you said audio is part of the video and have the audio coming from the screen. I know my black levels are not inky but it's still amazing.
Projectors aren’t TVs and that is okay, it doesn’t need to be a tv. It is about watching that giant picture and the feeling of being completely immersed. Yes most homes can’t house it but it has always been a niche market. I don’t think projectors are going anywhere.
I have a brother that upgrades his large TV every few years (all Sony) and still asks me to come over to watch a movie over at my place due to the immersiveness the large screen a front projector can give you. I don't think I am switching to a TV anytime soon...
I really think people need to figure out what's important to them. I personally went with a Samsung QN90 85" because of a few factors and mostly light output in a bright room. Really well done content, keep it up!
I would tend to agree with everything you said regarding projection vs TV - I moved into a house that was designed with a dedicated movie room about 10 years ago - and so I invested in that space with a projection setup and 120" screen - and have upgraded it over the years - currently have a JVC 4k projector which does a pretty good job. I have actually invested moreso on the sound - having a full Dolby Atmos 7.2.4 setup which really adds to the experience for sure. For movies - even 4K UHD - it still provides a better overall experience than other areas in my home where I have LG OLED's in varying sizes. But again that is as much due to sound as it is the screen size and projector. I have been tempted and may someday soon convert that room to using a wall-mounted TV - because the picture quality difference is definitely unmistakeable. My hesitation is as much about the need to reconfigure the center channel speaker and the need for re-routing video cabling, etc. (currently behind screen mounted vertically) as it is with the most certain drop in display size (assuming things in that regard don't change significantly any time soon).
Thanks for the review on this unit - thinking I will stay the course with what I have for a few more years - who knows what display sizes will be at that point.
even though projection isn't that popular I don't think it will ever die. It is costly, so I wouldn't put all my savings on a Projector + Screen, In the future hopefully I would be able to. In my opinion unless you have a screen over 130 inches it may or may not be worth it. TV's are getting bigger and cheaper, but for those you have the space and the money to afford it, go crazy, there are some good Sony projectors that are like 15,000. If you can afford it and really passionate about it, no problem at all. It comes down to how important that cinematic experience is to you, and are you willing to put the money down to get the experience you're looking for. For me, nothing beats a big screen, projector and excellent surround sound.
The biggest selling point to a front projector for me is the ability to use an aspect ratio controller and have full screen proper 2.35:1 Cinemascope format viewing without letterboxing. Without that, unless I need over 120" screen, flat panels are the winner.
Been thinking about upgrading our 1080p Epson projector. Thanks. This is logarithms better. Agree that over time the bigger TVs are wiping out the projector market.
I borrowed a Christie 4K10-HS for a Super Bowl party last year. That was bright and the colors were amazing.
Set-up , uummm, yeah thankfully I had a AV tech at the party to assist me since there are too many settings on these units.
No doubt that was a great experience. At $35,000 MSRP with 10,000 lumens, I would expect no less.
Hello both of you, great video, very interesting comments on the projection setup. I actually have a dedicated home theatre room, using an Epson 6500 on a 120” Stewart Firehawk gray screen with full light control. Seating is at around 15’. Was planning to upgrade the Epson toward the 1200, but your comments make me think twice.
How would you consider upgrading all this by a LG G3 83” or a 93” TCL and bringing the seats at 12”?
Do you feel like it will give me similar theatre experience?
Used to watch rented Blu Rays but now Mainly watching new movies (Dolby Vision, HDR) and series from Apple, Netflix, Prime and others.
Or how clear an sharp is the 1200 compared to the G3?
Your response would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
A fair review I think, though in my experience it takes A LONG time to setup a projector to watch HDR content properly, experimenting and failing. To be honest, as alluded to in this review, even TVs struggle with HDR content at times. I don't have a huge screen, 106" inch, and a 77" OLED. Like watching the very newest content like House of Dragons and The Lord of The Things: The Rings of Power is a lot more immersive than on my OLED. So in my opinion it is not just projectors having issues with HDR (though they do), it is also HDR that I believe is not implemented well - but it seems to get a lot better. Also external video processing shows that projector has a lot of potential for even better PQ.
Edit: In a light room I'd recommend gray screen and with black felt around battling stray light. HDR in particular looks really bad on white screen in light/white walls room - I have tried it!
Can’t wait to see those monitor speaker reviews.
Thanks for the content, Andrew. I would like to add that when it comes to a projector screen, there's nearly no reason to buy a pre-built screen unless its cheap. It is extremely easy to DIY a screen simply by using wood and a staple gun, and merely purchasing the fabric -- i.e., easily no more than $300-400 total for wood, screws, staples & the screen material. I also think that your and Kristi's conclusion overall is not controversial; it is agreed for general viewing and in a living room, its hard to beat a good TV. That said, for a dedicated room - an acoustically transparent screen in a light controlled and hopefully no white surfaces room, simply is a better overall experience. In fact, I first entertained the idea of a projector because having the center channel above or below the TV drove me crazy
I really think its a personal preference thing of size or video quality. When you game on a 100 inch projector, even if with some inferior color accuracy and other drawbacks of using a proejector, it's just something else.
It's a completely different experience and a lot more enjoyable personally. However, my wife would prefer a 65 inch tv over my 108 inch projector. She was so happy to switch back to a tv when I returned my projector for maintenance
Great video! Enjoyed the discussions at the end, thank you.
Thank you for watching until the end.
The fact is that this projector is really good, the best you can get this side of 20 grand, however if you truly want to experience HDR with any projector you need a completely light controlled room with black or at least dark grey walls, as the light hitting the screen will bounce off, reflect off the walls, and light up the room ruining your black levels. This Epson is a good value, if you have the setup for it.
I have a large collection of 3d movies and use my Epson projector with those. Active shutter glasses create a 3d image I find is actually superior to the passives at the movie theatres. (I once saw an IMAX movie at a science centre with active shutters, life affirming lol) This is what holds me to a mix where I plan to have a projector in my life for the foreseeable future. That said I am looking at the Samsung QD Oled for our alternate location. Seeing the awe on their faces as they reach out to touch the images floating a few inches away never grows old.
I agree with the point made that audio is just as important as image: That is the reason I went with a projector instead of a big screen TV. Using an acoustically transparent screen was the only way my living room could accommodate a screen as large as 92" and still use external speakers. Otherwise one of the speakers would end up partially blocking a hallway entrance. Yes, I could use a soundbar, but I am skeptical that would be better than separate speakers behind the screen. Sometimes I just want to listen to music and a soundbar would not cut it.
Thanks for mentioning the difficulties of setting up ultra-short throw projectors. I was starting to believe the marketing hype.
Your discussion about newer movies often being dim compared to older movies is interesting since since my preference has been to purchase pre-2015 movies. I've wondered if big screen HDR TVs might be uncomfortably bright for HDR films with sun glare, explosions, etc? While it might look good/realistic on a smaller screen, that much light could be uncomfortable with a big screen.
My projector is an Epson 5050UB. It is plenty bright with SDR content (sometimes too bright, but that is easily adjusted). With HDR it is a little too dim unless I set the lamp to full power, but that causes the fan to run too loud. So instead, I back off the HDR setting from its default -- the degradation in contrast and colors when doing this has not been noticeable so far but I haven't watched much HDR content yet.
I've come from using a front projector at 113" In the lounge with a grey but not ALR screen to having a 120" ALR screen in its own room. I don't find TVs immersive at all anymore, for normal shows, YT and films. That said I've not experienced the latest glut of 85" + panels. I really like light being reflected into my eyes and at much lower intensity than most TVs/brightness people would use routinely. The motion on my Sony HW40ESis faultless to someone who sees trails, RBE, artifacts you name it. The huge image size means that subtended angles are more life-like rather than peering IN to a TV I can peer OUT into the image closer to real life. So we've used it exclusively for low light viewing, gaming and lights off film watching. I love it. The days may be numbered but for the current generation who have grown up with big TVs/the internet etc. Projection for many of us is 'filmic' and although ultimately the PQ is not objectively as good it's the right 'flavour' of the Visual in AV for them/me.
Liked the video and the honesty. I’ve been eyeing a projector for the last 3yrs for my finished basement and it is light controlled in my viewing area. The hold up I have is I can only do a 96in screen in 2.35:1 or a 103in, that’s it because of how the soffit was built on the one side. Is a projector even worth it at those size screens?
One of the only reasons I have a projector is for 3D, yes I'm one of *those* that enjoys 3D and has several 3D blu-rays, had they still made 3D TV's especially on the 75in or 85in I would get a tv over projector
man why they take 3d out tv .. that was not wise . i bet any tv manufacturer . if you took orders on line sales only yaw would make a killin ..there still making movies in 3d! so why not ..im like a lot of you guys that bought a projector for 3d cause i have a nice collection . I trying to get beowulf 3d next.. he hhhee
@@MrANTBIG nice! And YES I agree with you, the technology of 3D with the modern technology of today would work amazing, I would sell my projector and current tv if they make a new 3D TV, 3D Dolby Vision would be insane
I definitely always love my projectors. Imput lag has always been an issue. Games seam to be quite poppy and bright. At 16ms this is very playable. Agree 100% that its only a market for those that have a no budget or dedicated room for it. This is at this price point very cheap compared to what other companies have produced in the projector space. Thanks for the review!
Projectors are not the best setup for games to be honest but they can be fun for certain multiple player experiences such as sports games. Definitely not for online FPS games.
I'm in a middle-ground setup - use an Epson 3700 (1080P SDR) in our living room with a 120" retractable screen. I was cross-shopping with a 75" TV when I bought it and the larger size improves the viewing experience IMO. We've got high ceilings and sit 12' away, so it works well in our space and it's nice how discreet the install is with the ceiling mount and screen rolled up. It's interesting you note the impact different content might have, I do tend to prefer older movies, but even new programming like nature documentaries or animated films like Spiderverse or Luca look great in SDR from streaming. It helps that this model Epson (and the current replacement 3800) put out enough brightness to let me watch with some ambient light on, even with our light grey walls and white ceilings.
Great video. I have an OLED along with a projector. My screen is 135 inches running with a JVC projector. The projector by no means gets that close to my OLED. I think for most of us who have a projector, we are just lucky enough to have an additional room or basement to use a projector. With black velvet surrounding the screen, speakers behind the screen and the right acoustics......it makes up for it not being close to the OLED in quality. But as I said, not everyone is as lucky to have a room they can use as a dedicated room so I completely understand why you wouldn't want one in a living room. Great video.
Thanks Ray!
Thank you for the video! Where the heck are you going to put that 98" TV? lol. Excited to see that review. I love my 77" Sony A80J. Very happy with it so far and not sure I would ever get a projector unless it could beat the price point of panels.
I think you are correct that for most people, a tv is a better option. However, if you are able to able to have a light controlled/dedicated room with a large enough screen, I think a projector is still the way to go. I have a 77 inch cx77 (OLED) and a 180 inch 1.3 gain screen with an LS12000, and essentially never use my OLED. My screen is an elite aeon and was sub $800 when I bought it. I primarily game, watch sports, tv shows, movies (new and old) while also using my projector as my primary computer monitor. This is why the laser light source of the LS12000 was especially important for me, as the biggest con of projectors, for me, was how quickly bulbs dimmed. PQ is obviously better on the OLED, though reflections are extremely distracting , IMO. I think the difference in PQ is significantly balanced out by the advantages provided by a bigger screen. I can watch 4 sporting events at once, each taking up a corner of my screen, and each one is still bigger my OLED. Movies, TV Shows, and gaming on a screen the size of your wall is also a far more immersive and enjoyable experience. Also, I would note that with my screen in my room, the out of the box adjustable HDR slider works well for new and old video content as well as gaming on my PC and PS5, and for those interested, dynamic tone mapping is attainable via MADVR or an HDFURY .
I see Andrew's point and his logic is "sound" (no pun? lol) but i'm 100% with you on the dedicated light controlled room which is what I also have and I also Ironically bought myself a brand new OLED TV back in 2018 and I Literally CANNOT bring myself to use it for entertainment. It is now a very large very expensive security camera monitor and I use it for nothing else.
I have a dedicated room with a 92" screen with an Epson 5050ub. I love it because I much prefer the look of a projector over a TV in a dedicated space. I don't want my picture overly bright and I want that theater feel. TV's, especially large panels when you are sitting just 10 feet away are just way too bright and I don't like that. So for me, I will always have a projector in my dedicated space. It's not a full blown theater look because I can't afford all of that but it's a very good setup. Old content and new content look great. The HDR issue I have is with games more so than movies. HDR from video games doesn't look very good so I just turn that off if it looks bad. Also the projector has 3D which I occasionally enjoy. I really enjoy your channel. Thanks
Great review and great commentary about projectors. I agree with you all the way, and add to the total price also the cost of installation that can be some sort of an issue in rooms with cathedral ceilings. Quality and prices of flat screen TV's have come a long way in recent times and, unless you have a large dedicated home theater room and money is no object, I wouldn't bet on a prosperous future for them, especially with TV's approaching 100" in size at a fraction of the price.
As I am 1% of consumer who have dedicated home theater room. I will always love to have a projector instead of big screen TV. My main reason is I can put speakers behind my AT screen. It looks neat with no speaker to see, just focus the image on the screeen and the sound is absolutly just like in a real cinema. The other reason is I love movie that shot on film so I don't really need that HDR or Dolby Vision content. SDR looks fine to me. But for this projector I'm not sure it has lens memory or not. I'm using 2.35:1 screen and I really need it so I don't have so many choice in the market.
But for the mass market. I agree with Kristie that TV is much easier. But I'm also sure that it can't replace the projector.
I invested in front projector Epson 5050ub and 125” elite screens acoustic transparent motorized drop down. The reason mainly because theaters were closed during covid 2020. I agree every day viewing or watching favorite shows flat panel tv is better or more practical. But for movie night watching a great action or science fiction movie, it’s an awesome experience. If you have the space and light control it’s worth it. Andrew, I did experience the really dark issue you discussed in review. I discovered calibrated in SDR looks bad in HDR , I made sure to calibrate with HDR signal and that issue went away. My projector is 1,200,000:1 contrast I would think 2,000,000:1 would be better with black levels and shadow detail. Thanks for the great review. Watching Stranger things in Dolby Vision with your 85 Sony is no contest for any projector, it will look inferior compared to the premium tv. Projectors will continue to sell for those who want comercial cinema experience at home. You might get backlash from the projector enthusiasts that your walls and furniture are too bright, be ready. 😆
We have the Epson Home Cinema 3800 with an Elite Screens 100" 1.1 gain pulldown screen (cost around $200). While this unit does not have the greatest contrast, I find it acceptable when using the auto-iris feature (on most content). As for HDR content, I've found this improved greatly when I switched to the Panasonic UB 420 and started using its HDR Optimizer. This tool works great to brighten up scenes that appear too dark.
We kept our inexpensive LG 55" 4k LCD TV which lives on the wall behind the pulldown screen. Having this as a monitor for adjusting settings on our Marantz SR8015 has proved invaluable and has saved a lot of lamp cycles on our Epson. It's also nice for the (rare) daytime viewing.
For us the decision between giant TV vs Projector came down to this: We wanted a giant screen but we didn't like to look or the idea of having a giant TV in our living room. It seems in our circles projectors are viewed as "cool" while giant TV's hold some stigma that the owner has their priorities mixed up and needs to spend more time outside. We have installed good light control in our living room and even installed some black fabric on the ceiling, which greatly improved contrast. We are aware we're in the 1% of people who would bother with a setup like this, but for us movies aren't something to pass the time, but an experience.
My one question for Andrew is about how much fan noise you get from this laser model vs. a lamp model Epson like ours. I believe this is something to consider when shopping for a projector as a loud fan can really "pull you out of" quiet scenes in movies and TV.
Thank you for the lengthy response. RE: your question, the fan noise is loud when the brightness is set to max.
love your high quality review videos. Thank you.
My family and I love a big screen but can’t afford a 100” tv because where we currently live it will be more than a 100 times more expensive to import it and transport it plus the hustle of moving around a very big fragile screen is too much, plus the 100” screen won’t fit through the door, hallways or elevators that were designed a long time ago so the only ergonomic way is a projector... we currently settled on an epson ef 12 a truly budget friendly but worthy little projector it will surprise you if you view it. YOU SHOULD REVIEW IT!
I use both an OLED LG and a DLP projector 4K with pixel shift. Between my motion mounted 55” flat panel and 150” fixed panel screen I have to say the projector was less of a pain in the ass to setup. Even my very flawed DIY 120” screen was probably less of a pain and I made that myself out of wood and canvas from Elite Screens.
I enjoy both setups and both have flaws. There are some new programs especially streaming shows that just break down with projection but it’s hard to beat the movie theatre experience in your home for a great deal of current movies which I find are still lit better production wise.
And recapturing the old theatre experience from my youth was my desire to set one up. Nothing against modern theatres but with a family of four with some special needs individuals it just isn’t easy to dump 100 dollars on popcorn only to have to leave because it’s too crowded for one the family members. So I built an approximation at home.
It’s the sound setup that really isn’t keeping up but that’ll have to wait.
I have some pretty bad astigmatism but I’ve never had an issue with the rainbow effect on my BenQ HT3550 but I have always had issue with 3D content for that reason. The images separate early and give me a massive headache because I can only perceive half the effect. Avatar from Cameron nearly killed me and I wasn’t upset in the least to watch that trend fade away.
I have 2 projectors, both are Epson. 1 is 13 year old and the other is 8-9 years old but I repurchased the 3020 model. I have a lot of Blu-ray (3D and HD) and DVD and I’m always purchasing movies however way I can. I can play games and watch movies on either projector but with higher pixel counts come better images. Playing games like Uncharted was almost impossible on the 970 but works great on 3020. I’ve only put about 30 hours on the 3020 in almost 2 years and I DEFINITELY use my 77in h LG C9 WAY more just out of convenience factor and the sound system I have connected to it currently.
Did you ever get the TCL 98 inch? Would really like to hear your guys' take on it versus this projector :)
Oooh I've been hoping you'd review this one :)
Planning on having a light controlled room when we finally get our first house next year, and the two new Epsons are top contenders
I should note that we plan on continuing to have our OLED in the living room for casual viewing
Nice review and insights. I just subscribed, and I’m looking forward to more! I get your point about outdoor theatre being a major projector use case. I got an Epson 5050UB last year and a 150-inch outdoor screen. Great for movies at night in the backyard!