Are Projectors BETTER Than TV? 🤔 EPSON LS12000B Projector Review 

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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.

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.

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.

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 RU-vid! We need more of you here.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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!

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.

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’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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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

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

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. 😂

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

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 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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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. 😁

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 agree with most if not all arguments, but personally I find a big black mirror in my living room disturbing. I like that there is just a wall if Im not watching. Plus there is some magic in projectors. I guess it becomes vinyl for home theater guys ;)

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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!

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.

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 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!

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

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.

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 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!

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

Great video! Enjoyed the discussions at the end, thank you.

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.

For me the size of the image matters if you want the viewing experience to be as immersive as possible. If you are say watching on a 65 inch TV you will not going to "get away" the feeling you still watching a movie(or documentary). Why I point out documentary is imagine you are watching a travel docu or say Planet Earth. If you can increase the size of the screen gradually there is a point (with respect to viewing distance) where the image of a (landscape especially) actually matches the actual image of your field of vision as if you are on standing on the ground viewing(experiencing) what's going on. With a projector, it forces you to turn off the lights. Now that is what immersive experience is all about. Even if I can afford to buy a TV larger than 100 inch size it may not be able to fit into the lift or I want to risk the stairway in the apartment that I am staying. And yes I do have a dedicated small room for home theater to have a 110 inch screen. My viewing distance is about 3.5 metres and yes it is as immersive as it can get. Watching travel documentary is like going on a Vacation. Just my 2 cents. Anyway always enjoy your reviews even if I have no intention of buying the product you are reviewing. And Kristi, good to have a women's perspective and yes when can we "see" you.....hehe.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

Can’t wait to see those monitor speaker reviews.

I have been curious about whether any projector can hold a candle to light output of TVs, and trust your opinion that it isn't really a fair comparison. When I purchased my Epson projector, it was an insane bargain compared to 40-50" TVs. After many years, I rarely power it on. I would love a larger image, especially for cinemascope content. I still don't feel compelled to spend for a display that won't impress with HDR content. Thanks for the honest opinions, keep it up friends!

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.

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.

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.

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?

As always the best reviews on RU-vid. Although this episode was a bit hard to watch considering I am just building this huge home theatre investing tons of money. And in this episode you just crush doing just that haha =)

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'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.

Another fine review by my favorite "recovering audiophiles" ! I will have to agree with at least several previous comments that the primary reason for a projector in my case is IMMERSION. We are lucky enough to have a dedicated space for music listening and for cinema viewing. It also doubles as a recording studio and jam space. I was fortunate enough to find an InFocus IN3118HD 1080p projector and a 98" Projecta pulldown-screen that someone was selling after replacing them with 4K equipment. That used(barely) purchase cost me less than I've spent at bad restaurants. The experience has been outstanding. I will admit that I do not have 4K playback equipment nor any HDR source discs in my collection, but BluRay and streaming content via the 3600 ANSI lumen unit is excellent even in a semi-darkened room. I run all sources(analog+digital) through a KeyDigital iSyncHD scaler and then onto the projector. I will agree with Christy and say that the sound is HALF of the cinematic experience, and our projector is in the room with the best audio equipment I could assemble. Since the InFocus IS a DLP projector I have to admit I've experienced the "rainbow effect" with it, but only on compressed and/or transcoded content; I've never seen it via quality sources. Therefore I've learned what to avoid and it hasn't been a problem since. We also have a bedroom projector, a Vankyo V620(another 1080p) and the major advantage here was the WAF of not stealing usable space for a TV set. We literally project directly to the wall at the foot of the bed and we have a 150" "screen". There is a 5.1 sound system in the room too, so although not as HQ as the theater, it is probably the second most immersive media experience in the house. In the living/dining room area we have a 58" Samsung plasma(still going strong!) that has the deepest blacks and most vivid color palette of all three rooms. We eat in front of this set and it is beautiful, even in full sun. The Marantz receiver and Infinity speakers are very capable and do their jobs well. Regardless...it is also the least-used space to choose in the house. It has become a convenience, but lacks something that we all agree is a better experience in the other rooms. Until I decide to get a 150" or 200" screen, I just can't see the need to upgrade my equipment ( Not at today's prices). Thank you both for your dedication to this "sport' of ours, for lack of a better term, lol. "See' you again on Sunday!

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've had a projector setup in my living room (so not light controlled) for about 10 years. I'd never go back and even my wife agrees (and she never agrees with my AV ideas 😂). Since most of our viewing is at night the ambient light is very minimal and it makes for a very enjoyable experience. I do agree that projectors are on the way out, but my guess is that is 5 to 10 years away when large format mico LED/Direct View LED displays become affordable.

In all fairness, the bias you have for only using white, non-ALR, screens is what is holding back your HDR performance. As I'm sure you already know, even in a light controlled room, an ALR screen will vastly increase your contrast and black levels. The best projo screen I've ever seen is Screen Innovations' Black Diamond .8. At night, it provides near-OLED level blacks and contrast. During the day, it's performance in my room is only very slightly diminished as the screen rejects 90% of ambient light and I have no light source pointing at the screen, on-axis. So, it's better than my OLED during the day because my OLED experiences fairly heavy reflections, hurting black levels and contrast while the projector screen does not. The biggest issue with this setup obviously is that the projo screen doesn't roll up. SI does offer an ALR floor-rising screen but it's not as good as the Black Diamond. We live in a hobby of compromises. Excellent video, man.

Great review as always, especially since I have been interested in that particular model. I currently have a 120" screen with a 4K projector and for me, it's great. I tend to only watch movies or very dramatic series, I don't really watch tons of TV content so I'm seeking that immersive experience (size matters) for the limited time that I do watch. I have the audio system to match the screen size and it's a total blast. That said, I no longer recommend projectors to friends because it's such a big investment that folks who are rocking soundbars are not going to be interested in. The big nail in the coffin for projectors will probably be something like tiled screens. There is going to be a practical limit on the size of a TV just from a shipping perspective. I don't really see how a 120" TV will be possible to deliver. Once I can buy TV tiles and install those and get the TV experience in a 120" package, I'll be done with projectors! I certainly realize that I'm in the lower percentages of people who care about this stuff. Heck, just convincing people to get a 5.1 audio setup vs. a soundbar is already a huge lift.

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. 😆

The picture quality on my latest 75" TV is so good. Black as night blacks, great, realistic contrast, colors and skin tones spot on, sharp but not crunchy detail. I simply cannot find fault with it. Well, except that it's a Sony and already puked out its motherboard just out of warranty. I've never seen a projection image, even in a completely darkened room that even came close.

Projectors still make sense. In my case, I don't have 120in of wall space for a TV. So, I have opted for a 77" OLED TV and a motorized 135in screen when I want to immerse myself and a big party of people

For a living space? Yes, I totally agree. Projector/screen setups lack convenience, they are bulky and ugly and the image quality/black levels will never beat an OLED. Especially if the space is not able to be light controlled. HOWEVER. For a dedicated home theater space with 2 or 3 rows of tiered seating? I just can't see a regular TV working for this application. The current size of obtainable TVs just won't provide the immersion and experience that a projector and screen will. Additionally, a dedicated space enables you to completely light control the room and utilize light absorbing materials like black velvet to greatly minimize light refraction, ultimately helping even further with black levels and contrast. I also don't think that you have to be a millionaire (like you mentioned in the video) to have a dedicated space like this. Obviously, you can watch Youthman's home theater tours to see plenty of examples of this. Projector setups just give a cinema experience that can't be had with a smaller TV, even if the image quality is objectively better.

I still enjoy 3D movies on my JVC x35B which has excellent black levels for an 8 year old projector. But did end up purchasing a 4K 82 inch VA panel tv for gaming and I can honestly say, Andrew is right. A projector will not come close to hdr levels of a tv.

I want it. I currently have a Sony vpl-hw45es. I want a 4k projector now. Even though this isn't a true 4k projector, I still want it. No more bulbs.

Prob one of the rare times I will disagree with your opinions. In our home we have 4k tv in every room plus LG’s Oled CX 75 inch in the living room. We have a 14’x 12’ room dedicated for movies with a 120” Ilusión screen with an Epson projector and expression on their faces every time they walk into the room is priceless…No one ever says anything about our 75 oled tv. TV’s are way ahead in picture quality… but no tv still can replicate the true cinema experience a projector offer in a properly set up room. Tvs are just too bright…. and if you have to dim it too much then you loose all the advantages of it being a TV. As long as I have the room space I will always own a projector. Also watched stranger things 4 with my Nvidia Shield TV streamer and had no issues watching any of the scenes. However while my projector is HDR… I use it with rec2020 on and hdr off. That gave me the best colors… HDR suck on any projector…however anyone running projectors is not chasing the ultimate video quality IMO..but more of that cinema experience.

It's the popcorn Andrew...!! Not the immersion, not the resolution or brightness or this or that... It's just the big bowl of popcorn with your feet up...!!! 😉

Definitely a different tone than I was expecting from the review. What's your seating distance? I recently made the decision between 77" OLED, 85" FALD TV, and 100" UST and ended up going UST and really like it and while it picture quality is definitely worse than my old oled in most regards besides HDR colors but I think the increase in size is the main driving factor and what will keep projectors alive because most people don't have the money to go Samsung The Wall or equivalent and while 100" TVs are shrinking in price (Sony x92j is $20k, Samsung q90a is $17k, and 98" oled is going to be $30k+) so until that gets to the $5k mark I think projectors will still have a place and I don't see larger tvs than a 100" being a think but who knows. Projectors will live on I think mainly due to screen size but also an authenticity thing because theaters are still going to have projectors (AMC just said they are investing in laser projectors). However I think in order to compete the tech is going to have to get better otherwise really big tvs will just make it more and more niche.

I think you are right to a point. I think front projection and large TVs will transform into something new, maybe something into a mixture of both. I saw on Audioholics this TV that was made up of smaller displays into a larger one, almost wall size. Large displays are becoming more popular and I don't think we can believe that UST setup features will not improve. Yes, Flat screen TVs give you better images than projectors but in a way projectors are a bit easier to setup, at least when it comes to fragility. So, I'm sure manufacturers will work to improve on them. I'm trying to decide between a projector and TV for my basement. I would like the the great image of an large OLED but like a 2:35:1 at a 100 inches. The main issue I face is trying to get a heavy 85 inch tv down into my basement and into my tight space down there. It's probably going to be easier for me to set up. I've already cracked a 75inch earlier this year and I don't know how it happen. I was careful as I believed I could be and it still happened. I've seen on a video on a professional home installation RU-vid channel where they installed a 85inch only to find out that it was broken. So I don't know. Plus, I'm seeing more and more of those cheap quick setup projectors. It won't die out, it'll just change. It's a super niche segment anyway.