Are the Big Screen TV’s Days Numbered? Epson Shows Off its Latest Ultra-Short-Throw Projector
Epson may have had a brief hiatus from new projector releases last year, but they certainly weren't resting on their laurels. This year has seen the release of several new models, including the EH-TW9400H (reviewed here) which wowed us with its HDR playback quality.
Epson is showing no signs of slowing in 2020 either, as this week we had a sneak peek at EH-LS500 slated for release next year. Touted as a big-screen TV alternative, it's obvious the Japanese manufacturer is pinning their hopes on the EH-LS500 being a market disrupter. With the price of big-screen televisions edging closer than ever to luxury car prices, they may well be on to something.
The EH-LS500 is an ultra-short-throw projector that utilises a laser light source. Apart from the higher-brightness capabilities of laser light sources, they also boast long lifespans, so you'll likely replace the projector before the laser gives out.
The EH-LS500 features a stylish appearance, looking somewhat inconspicuous when placed upon a TV unit. Also impressive is that it can throw a 130" image when placed close to a wall.
As with Espon's other projectors, the EH-LS500 utilises 3-chip LCD technology, boasting 4,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 2,500,000:1. The projector uses Epson's new 4K PRO-UHD technology, which is an umbrella term built around three aspects: high brightness, intense colour and high detail.
Epson's newest projector supports both HDR10 and HLG (18 Gbps) and offers three HDMI inputs, enabling it to be connected to and compatible with 4K streaming devices and disc players. The EH-LS500 also provides 16 steps of HDR adjustment, allowing it to be customised to the room's environment.
For those not coupling the EH-LS500 with a surround sound system, it also has two 10 watt speakers.
There's no doubt that TV is the unquestionable 'king' when it comes to brightly-lit environments, Epson's EH-LS500 may cast a shadow over that superiority. Once you also consider the EH-LS500 has both a smaller footprint and can provide significantly larger images at what we expect will be a considerably cheaper price-point, it's a serious contender for your consumer dollars.
The EH-LS500 is officially due for release in early 2020. Final pricing hasn't been confirmed as yet, but unconfirmed reports suggest around $5,000 in Australia. Rest assured, we've already got our name down for an early review sample.
For more information, visit Epson.
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Tony O'Brien
As the owner of Clarity Audio & Video Calibration, Tony is a certified ISF Calibrator with over a decade of experience. Tony is an accomplished Audio-Visual reviewer specialising in theatre and visual products for over a decade at StereoNET.
Posted in: Home Theatre | Visual
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