best home theater projector 4k

If you seldom watch movies in a completely dark room, youll lose the advantages in image contrast and black-level performance that a premium 4K projector offers over cheaper models. That means despite the 5050UBs lower starting price, the overall cost of ownership compared with the LS11000 should be the same or more. This brings several benefits, the most important of which is the long lifespan of 20,000 hours. These projectors are meant to be paired with a high-quality projection screen and a separate sound system. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). Wonderfully accurate, actually, so there was really no need to make any advanced color adjustments. Their price points are high for this guide, and theyre a bit long in the tooth at this point. If you're buying a projector for business presentations or education, and you want 4K resolution so you can show more detailed line graphics or make small text more readable, poor HDR handling or a lack of HDR won't matter. But the best 4K projectors can automatically tailor HDR video to look its best within their brightness abilities. We tested LGs HU710PW and added it to Other good 4K movie projectors. The DLA-NP5 uses a 40962160 D-ILA panel and a lamp (not laser) light source with a claimed brightness of 1,900 ANSI lumens. Its color accuracy is good enough for most casual viewers. The Home Cinema LS11000 (and its Pro Cinema counterpart, the LS12000) offer two key improvements over previous Epson home theater projectors. A lamp-based projector can also last that long, but you will need to replace the bulb roughly every 4,000 to 6,000 hours, depending on what brightness level you choose. The Xgimi Horizon Pro 4K is a 4K DLP projector with a smaller form factor that is easy to move around, but it doesnt have dedicated HDR viewing modes, has limited setup tools, and has poor contrast compared with our picks. We tested an early sample of this projector, and while the picture quality was decent, it was not up to the caliber that wed want from a $2,200 projector. At this writing, the only projectors in this price range that use a different pixel-shifting technology are Epson's 4K Pro-UHD models. If the director and cinematographer want a shirt to be a specific color when they shoot the movie, a projector with high color accuracy will ensure you see that color on screen. You want a projector that can produce crisp, detailed images without relying on processing tricks that may make the picture look sharp, but add a lot of potential noise and unnatural-looking digital artifacts in the process. David has significant expertise in imaging technologies (including printers, monitors, large-screen displays, projectors, scanners, and digital cameras), storage (both magnetic and optical), and word processing. We also watch a lot of movies. A great 4K movie projector should be bright enough to render a 120-inch-plus image, but not too bright as to hurt black-level performance. Contrast ratio, or the difference between the darkest part of the image and the brightest, is the most important factor when it comes to picture quality. For objective evaluations, my measurement equipment consists of Portrait Displayss Calman software running on a Windows 10 laptop, the Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000 colorimeter, and the Murideo Six-G 4K test-pattern generator. The IR remote is kind of large but fully backlit and loaded with all the buttons youd need. Some projectors have advanced auto tone mapping to intelligently adjust the signal so that it does not cut off or incorrectly display bright highlights. There are three HDMI inputs (one with eARC to send audio to an external send system); one of them supports HDMI 2.1 features but only has a bandwidth of 24 Gbps, so it cant receive a 4K 120 Hz signal. If you're in this group, you definitely want a three-chip LCD model. As a practical matter, unless you can test a projector for yourself, reviews like PCMag's are your best source of information for deciding whether a given projector's HDR image is bright enough for your needs. TVs, desktop monitors, and even laptops have embraced more pixels at lower prices, but high-resolution home theater and office projectors have lagged in affordability. What issues come into play at 4K resolution? The infrared remote is rather large, but its fully backlit and has all the buttons you need to adjust the image on the fly. Plus, they were not as favorably reviewed as similarly priced models from JVC and Sony. LGs HU810PW is a 4K DLP laser projector that we tested for our guide to the best living-room projector. It produces a bright, colorful image with excellent detail, but its image contrast and black level are not on a par with our pick here. For that reason, home theater projectors traditionally don't have any onboard audio. Almost all projectors that offer a 4K image or its equivalent at prices below about $4,000 use one of two pixel-shifting techniques. In older Epson models, we often recommended that you turn this feature off because you could see and hear the iris/lamp making adjustments (the brightness level would shift noticeably on screen), and it was distracting. For HDR testing, I measure the projectors peak breakness (or luminance) and how accurately its brightness tracks with the HDR standardin other words, is HDR content brighter or darker than its supposed to be, based on how bright the projector can get overall. I am an Imaging Science Foundation level II certified video calibrator, and I have the full complement of objective testing gear to measure and evaluate the performance of these projectors. In lamp-based projectors, the bulbs get dimmer, and you need to replace them roughly every 4,000 to 6,000 hours, which adds to the total cost of ownership. We felt that the LS11000s black level was good enough to produce a pleasingly rich, saturated movie image in a dark room, and the benefits it offers over the 5050UB are worth the tradeoff. For the brighter light of an office, you'd need 1,500. The Epson scheme uses three 1080p LCD chips and puts two sets of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels onscreen per frame. 4K (3,840-by-2,160) resolution using TI's XPR fast-switch pixel shifting, Good color accuracy with default settings, Android TV dongle uses an HDMI port, leaving only one free, Showed rainbow artifacts more often than most UST DLP models, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. But it offers good color accuracy, high brightness, and an image free of rainbow artifacts. The BenQ V7050i delivers color accuracy, dark blacks, and good contrast, but it leaves out important conveniences like enough HDMI ports, and produces more rainbow artifacts than most ultra-short-throw models with DLP chips. The laser-based LS11000 reduces power consumption by 62 watts at the normal brightness mode and 79 watts at the lowest brightness mode, compared with a lamp-based Epson Home Cinema projector. The built-in speaker can play quite loud but has a blaring, shouty quality to it, and we occasionally saw lip-sync issues, which you can adjust in the sound menu. It has integrated streaming apps, so it is easy to access content, and integrated speakers, which make it more suited for a living room than a home theater roombut it is not as bright as our living room picks. In that case, one of our less expensive recommendations is probably a better choice for you. These differences of opinion are due both to subjective preferences and to variations in how HDR is implemented from one projector to the next. But keep in mind that the best image quality almost always comes at a lower brightness than the projector's rating (or its brightest available mode if the projector doesn't live up to its rating). You have to manually adjust the HDR brightness using a 16-step slider control, and you may wish to change this per movie, depending on the brightness level at which the film was mastered. While entry-level projectors are about the size of a few stacked laptops or textbooks, a home theater projector is closer in size to a home theater receiver, so you should place it out of the way. I preferred a setting of 2 or 3, but theres a nice degree of flexibility to dial in the level of clarity you want. Our reviews always mention whether we saw these artifacts and, if so, how often. Your eye integrates all four sets into a single 4K image. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. But most people are not. Finally, the LS11000 doesnt support 3D video playback. Both LEDs and lasers will pretty much last for the life of the projector, or 20,000 to 30,000 hours. We recommend the best displays, sources, and accessories for watching 4K HDR movies and TV shows at home. This is a 16% to 28% energy savings resulting from the laser light source. The Epson Pro Cinema 4050 projector gets high marks for both its sophisticated setup features, including a substantial lens shift for flexible positioning, and its image quality, with top-tier color accuracy, contrast, and detail. To watch HDR video, you need both specially formatted content and a projector that can properly play that content. The two categories of 4K projectors most likely to offer decent onboard sound systems are ultra short throw (UST) laser projectors and room-to-room portables. For current gaming projectors with the shortest available input lag, that translates to roughly 4ms at 1080p/240Hz and 16ms at 4K/60Hz. We used resolution test patterns to confirm that you are getting 4K on the screen, and though the lines in these patterns arent quite as clear as what you see with a native 4K projector or 4K TV, theyre on a par with what you see from a pixel-shifting 4K DLP projector. (Plus, some people are susceptible to the rainbow effect thats common with lower-priced DLP projectors, when bright objects seem to have rainbow trails.) Some DLP projectors are more prone to showing rainbow artifacts than others, and some people see these artifacts more readily than others, so you may or may not see them with any given DLP model. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Color accuracy refers to how well a projector can display the colors on screen to be true to the original content, and how accurate the color temperature (or color of white) is. The UST models, which are often billed as TV replacements or simply TVs, are typically of a size and shape that makes it easy to add what amounts to a built-in soundbar on the side facing viewers. Epson is not the only manufacturer of higher-end 4K projectors that abandoned 3D support in 2022 (Sony did too), and we dont think its a huge issue because new content is not being produced in 3D. For my subjective evaluations, I use an Oppo Ultra HD Blu-ray player, a Microsoft One X gaming console, and an Apple TV 4K media streamer as my sources, and I watch a variety of Ultra HD and Blu-ray movies, streamed 4K movies, and HDTV content in darker and brighter room conditions. Many have trouble delivering suitably dark blacks, as well. You should consider one of these projectors only if you are able to mount it to your ceiling or otherwise keep it in a permanent location. While most lower-priced projectors only offer high and low brightness modes, the LS11000s brightness can be adjusted incrementally to more precisely tailor it to your room conditions. That's partly because of a trick called "pixel shifting," and partly because there are limits to human visual acuity (whether or not you need glasses). If you can tolerate some rainbows but not too many, you may or may not be happy with any given DLP projector. LED light source designed to last for the life of the projector, Rated at 2,200 ANSI lumens; suitable for a midsize family room, 4K resolution with XPR pixel shifting and full HD 3D support, Rainbow artifacts more obvious than with most modern DLP projectors. These premium projectors have the necessary brightness to cast a rich-looking image on a very large screen (120 inches or more), and they offer better performance for movie-watching in a dark room, compared with lower-priced 4K projectors that are intended for use in brighter spaces. (For more about screens, check out our guide to finding the right screen for your projector.). The favorites listed here, with links to detailed reviews, are the best 4K or 4K-equivalent models we've tested for various usage cases and price points, and a good starting point for your search. Companies like JVC and Sony still make excellent 4K home theater projectors, but the price of entry begins at about $6,000. Also, the projector uses an external power supply housed in a very large brick that could be challenging to accommodate, especially for a ceiling installation. When comparing a less expensive lamp-based projector to a more costly one with an LED or laser light source, be sure to check the cost of replacement lampsoften as much as $300 or moreas well as how often you'll need to replace them. The ViewSonic x100-4K also uses a DLP engine with LEDs to provide 4K resolution but has issues with color in HDR content and mediocre black levels. A typical lamp will lose about 25% of its brightness over the first 500 hours of use, then continue to lose brightness more slowly until it needs replacement. However, the XW5000ES is not as full-featured as the Epson LS11000: It has less zoom and lens shifting, and those functions are manual, not motorized. And somedisplay technology, light source, audio, and input lagare essentially the same as for any other projector. We asked the manufacturer of our top pick to answer some basic questions about power consumption and recycling, and this is what we learned. Image brightness and detail were good, but contrast and color accuracy were just average (even for a DLP projector), and you get none of the advanced picture adjustments or zoom/lens-shifting features that are common to projectors at this price. These DLP projectors produced a very sharp image and had good color, but their black levels were not as good as what we saw from the LCD and LCoS projectorsso the image lacked pop, and the HDR tone mapping often left highlights looking washed out. As we mentioned above, only a few 4K projectors actually have a native 4K resolution. The LS11000 has a two-year warranty. And the inputs are HDMI 2.0 instead of HDMI 2.1. The LS11000 does not. Although less common among image sources than HDR10, it's becoming more popularit's currently supported by YouTube, for example. The LS11000 is a great 4K laser projector that can deliver a big, bright, beautiful image and has almost all the features you needexcept 3D support. In the LS11000, though, Epson shifts the pixels four times, which results in better detail. The main advantage of LCD technology is the same for 4K as for 1080p: It can't produce rainbow artifacts. The light wasnt that distracting on the floor, but if you mount this projector upside down in a ceiling mount, it will be more noticeable above the screen (you could tape thick paper near the lens to fix this but, really, should you have to for $2,500). For a home projector, the Optoma CinemaX P2 offers great color accuracy and contrast, as well as unusually capable audio. At the maximum preset of 5, the image clarity between the two was identical, but a little overly sharp in a fake way. While we test all three types of projectors for this guide, its a fair generalization to say that LCD and LCoS projectors usually offer higher contrast ratios that make DLP projectors look washed out and flat when you view the images side by side. The Xgimi Horizon Pro offers all sorts of keen features, from 4K resolution to auto focus, and only the fussiest videophiles can knock its image quality. (, Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projector, Epson Pro Cinema 4050 4K Pro-UHD Projector, Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS500 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projection TV, Xgimi Aura 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector, Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Read Our Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projector Review, Read Our Epson Pro Cinema 4050 4K Pro-UHD Projector Review, Read Our Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS500 4K Pro-UHD Laser Projection TV Review, Read Our Xgimi Aura 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector Review, finding the right screen for your projector, How to Choose the Right Screen for Your Projector, How to Create the Perfect Backyard Movie Night on the Cheap, Vankyo Leisure 495W Dolby Audio Projector Review, 3840 by 2160 using Epson's 4K Pro-UHD technology, Equivalent to 3840 by 2160 using Epson's 4K PRO-UHD technology, 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPR fast-switch pixel shifting, 3840 by 2160 using 1920 by 1080 DLP chip with XPS fast-switch pixel shifting, 4096 by 2160 at 30Hz; 3840 by 2160 at 60Hz; Full HD 3D, Bluetooth (in Android TV dongle), Wi-Fi (in Android TV dongle), Direct Wireless (Chromecast). The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 is quite rare on projectors at this point. But because you may see them either more or less easily than our reviewer, we suggest that if you're bothered (or don't know if you're bothered) by rainbow artifacts, try to buy from a dealer who allows easy returns without a restocking fee so you can test the projector out for yourself. Like on previous Epson projectors, the LS11000s lens iris can be set to automatically adjust the image brightness and black level to suit the content being shown. (The latter is the measure of how often the screen image is redrawn.) The Epson Home Cinema LS11000 offers a combination of performance and features that you wont find in any other projector priced lower than $5,000. BenQs HT9060 and HT8060 are the companys premium 4K LED DLP projectors, released in 2019. If youre willing to pay more for a better black level: Epsons Pro Cinema LS12000 is the pro version of our pick: It is sold only through authorized Epson dealers and comes in black, with a longer, three-year warranty and a ceiling installation kit (and it will work with an optional anamorphic lens, which the LS11000 wont). Delivers a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixels on screen, 2,700-lumen laser light source rated to last the life of the projector, Good color accuracy, contrast, and shadow detail, plus dark blacks for a laser model, Easy to maintain image height for different aspect ratios, Three-chip LCD design guarantees no rainbow artifacts. Ankers Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K caught our eye because its a smaller 4K HDR laser projector for $2,200. Sound quality is usually tolerable, but rarely better than that. But no matter how high-quality its lens, the resulting image will have a soft focus versus that of an otherwise identical projector with a real 1080p chip. The majority are based on 1080p DLP chips that use TI's XPR fast-switch pixel shifting. Just be mindful of the image if you're sensitive to rainbow artifacts. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. The LS11000 does not use Epsons UltraBlack technology that allows for the deepest, darkest black levels. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. It also lacks HDMI 2.1 inputs, and it uses a lamp instead of a laser light source, so you dont get the performance benefits of a laser and will have to pay to replace the bulb every few years.

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