Epson
The laser revolution in projection continues with Epson introducing two new high-end residence theater projectors, the Home Cinema LS12000 and Home Cinema LS11000. They promise excessive brightness and punchy distinction, in addition to a wide range of different upgrades over one among our favourite 4K projectors, Epson’s Home Cinema 5050. I’m most within the LS11000 since its $4,000 price ticket is correct in between the HC5050 and one other of my favorites, the $5,500 Sony VPL-VW325ES.
I hope to check the LS11000 quickly, however within the meantime this is the way it and the same LS12000 look on paper.
Why laser lights may steal the present
Epson Home Cinema LS11000
Epson
Get the CNET TVs, Streaming and Audio e-newsletter
Become a house leisure knowledgeable with our handpicked ideas, evaluations and offers. Delivered Wednesdays.
The high new function is healthier lasers. Most projectors nonetheless use UHP lamps, that are basically costly mild bulbs. They create tons of sunshine, warmth, and after a couple of years of use, you could exchange them. They’re additionally restricted to creating basically white mild, however for a picture on-screen you particularly want solely pink, inexperienced, and blue. With a UHP lamp quite a lot of the sunshine is wasted within the course of of making these colours, both blocked by dichromatic mirrors or, within the case of single-chip DLP projectors, colour filters.
Lasers, conversely, create very particular colours, so much less of the power used to create mild is wasted. Potentially, producers can design the projector to create deeper colours as effectively. Epson already makes use of lasers in different, less-expensive projectors just like the EpiqVision Mini EF12, however the firm says the brand new laser mild engine within the LS11000/LS12000 is even higher: “True multi-array laser diodes are the optimum mild supply to energy the distinctive 3-chip 3LCD projector engine for unbelievable image brightness, black distinction and colour accuracy.”
A blue laser creates blue mild in addition to supplying power to a yellow phosphor. These are break up utilizing dichroic mirrors into pink, inexperienced and the unique blue. Each colour displays off its personal LCD panel, which creates its a part of the picture. Combined, you get the complete colour picture on display screen.
Epson
Another huge enchancment is new pixel-shifting tech Epson calls “Precision Shift Glass Plate Technology.” Both the 11000 and the 12000 use three 1080p LCD panels to create a picture. The pixel shifter shifts pixels 4x, so on display screen you get a full 4K 3,840×2,160 picture. The HC5050’s pixel shifter was solely 2X, leading to a softer, 1080p x2 picture to my eye.
The potential result’s that the brand new projectors will provide extra element. DLP projectors on this value vary do their very own model of this, for what it is value. You do not get picture chips with full 4K decision till you spend much more cash.
The new projectors additionally help 4K120 enter. This gaming-centric additional can probably ship smoother pictures with some Xbox Series X and PS5 video games, and whereas frequent amongst newer TVs, it is uncommon to see in projectors.
Epson Home Cinema LS12000
Epson
In addition to a black case, paying an additional $1,000 for the 12000 over the 11000 will get you 200 extra lumens, 2500 vs. 2700, in addition to a mounting equipment, ISF-certified calibration instruments and the choice for an anamorphic lens. There’s additionally the next claimed distinction ratio, although as we have mentioned, these numbers are all the time suspect.
A very long time coming
I’m usually excited in regards to the transition, sluggish because it has been, away from lamps and towards laser mild sources in projectors. Lasers provide for projectors most of the advantages present in LED LCDs, most significantly mild output and colour.
However, to date the outcomes have been a little bit of a combined bag. The LG HU810PW was missing in a number of key areas, although it did not appear to be that was as a result of lasers. The Optoma UHZ50, against this, was fairly good. In each instances the projectors have been vibrant and colourful.
The again of the LS11000
Epson
What’s probably attention-grabbing in regards to the new Epsons is combining the advantages of lasers with the advantages of Epson’s finest LCD projectors, together with lens shift, motorized zoom and comparatively quiet operation. These are extras are much less frequent, or nonexistent, in most single-chip DLP projectors. Also, the largest concern with the 5050 was its softness in comparison with “true” 4K projectors. Since the brand new pixel shifter is 4x in comparison with the 5050’s 2x, the 11000/12000 will theoretically look extra detailed, regardless of nonetheless utilizing native 1080p picture sensors — although it is unlikely they’re going to look as detailed as DLP as a result of that know-how is simply inherently sharper. But we will see.
Both the LS11000 and LS12000 are actually out there now for $4,000 and $5,000 respectively. I’ll be getting an 11000 for evaluation within the subsequent few weeks. Stay tuned.