Epson’s radical 4K laser projectors make 100-inch TVs look small

Epson seems to think its 100-inch TV isn’t big enough. Its new Home Cinema LS5000, LS6000 and LS7500 home theater projectors join the existing LS11000 flagship, and all four are capable of projecting images up to 300 inches.

The new trio combines 3-chip 3LCD projection with laser array illumination, HDR support, full 4K screen output, and high frame rate inputs up to 120Hz across the lineup.

The highlight is the LS7500, which swaps standard optics for a short-throw lens designed to deliver massive images in smaller spaces.

The LS7500 is the brightest of the three additions, rated at 3500 lumens for both color and white brightness with a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Epson’s image processor powers the optical engine to generate a full 4K image of 8.29 million pixels.

Its short throw lens is what really sets the LS7500 apart. Epson says it can sit about 3 feet closer to the projection surface than a standard reach model, while still hitting the 300-inch maximum. Manual lens shift offers ±21% horizontal and ±59% vertical adjustment, and 16:9 and 21:9 configurations are supported. It’s not an ultra-short throw unit that you can park right under the wall, but it makes very large images practical in somewhat shallower rooms.

High refresh games are the other big selling point. Both HDMI ports accept 4K signals up to 120Hz, and one also supports eARC (audio return). Meanwhile, Auto Low Latency mode is meant to keep gaming responsive. Epson says the input lag is less than 20ms, although this is only made clear specifically for 4K/60Hz mode, rather than 4K/120Hz.

The models also support native cinema frame rates of 24, 48, and 60 fps, along with HDR10, HLG, and Epson’s HDR automatic scene correction. As a result, the higher refresh limit has uses beyond gaming, especially when it comes to fast-moving sports and other high frame rate content.

Most of these key features are not exclusive to the LS7500. The $1,999.99 LS5000 offers 2,500 lumens and 800,000:1 dynamic contrast, while the $2,199.99 LS6000 goes up to 3,400 lumens. Both retain 4K/120Hz support, 3LCD laser projection, dual HDMI with eARC, Bluetooth 6 audio, manual lens switching, and the same sub-20ms rating at 4K/60Hz. The key difference is that the $2,699.99 LS7500 takes output to another level, while adding stronger contrast, close-range optics, and smart home control.

Above the new additions is the existing $4,499.99 LS11000, which raises the claimed contrast ratio to 1,200,000:1 and adds Epson’s RX image processor and motorized lens controls, but only manages 2,500 lumens.

All three newcomers are available now, each with a two-year warranty, through participating retailers (which you can find on Epson’s official site).

Of course, pushing projection to its 300-inch limit still requires plenty of uninterrupted wall space, and Epson recommends a dedicated screen for optimal brightness, color, and contrast. So while Epson has made giant, high-fps 4K projection more accessible, the limiting factor may end up being your living room rather than the hardware.

Source: Epson