Audio Video News

Projectors

Epson Home Cinema 5050UB Pro-UHD 3LCD Projector: $2,999

Kudos to Epson for figuring out how to bring high-end features and performance to an affordable projector. The 5050UB offers motorized lens shift and focus and uses a proprietary filter to deliver solid black-level performance and excellent contrast, hence the UltraBlack (UB) designation. Throw in HDMI 2.0, high dynamic range compatibility (with HDR curve adjustment), impressive brightness, and convincing “4K” images created by Epson’s 1080p-plus-pixel-shifting process, and you have a projector that can keep up with models costing much more.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extended color
Excellent brightness and contrast
Great value

Minus
Fan noise with High Power Consumption setting active

Full Review Here

 

JVC DLA-NX9 D-ILA Projector: $18,000

JVC’s second-generation native 4K projector has a lot going for it. It sets a tall bar for high dynamic range (HDR) performance — one that will leave videophiles drooling — and is the first projector to feature the brand’s 8K e-shift technology for near-8K image quality. Add to that JVC’s third-generation 4K D-ILA imager, industry leading contrast, reference-quality optics, auto tone mapping for consistent HDR performance, and exceptional installation flexibility with features like pixel convergence adjustment and 10 memory presets — a boon if you use multiple screens. Veteran video reviewer Tom Norton called the NX9 “one of the best home theater projectors I’ve tested.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Fantastic HDR performance
Reference-level optics
Industry leading contrast

Minus
Some dynamic contrast-related artifacts
Noticeable fan noise in High lamp mode

Full Review Here

 

Sony VPL-VW995ES LCOS Projector: $35,000

No, that’s not a misprint — there’s an extra zero in the price tag. The VPL-VW995ES is built for videophiles who demand true reference-level 4K performance — which is exactly what you get thanks to its laser light engine, high-end optics, HDR (high dynamic range) tone mapping, and dynamic aperture to name just a handful of its many sophisticated features. Pairing the projector with an 11-foot-wide, Stewart 2.35:1 screen, resident video expert Tom Norton was in his glory, calling its everyday use a delight and likening it to watching a massive flat-panel TV. More to the point, he described image quality in one, powerful word: Breathtaking. If top-shelf performance is your passion, the VW99ES is a must-see.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Breathtaking image quality
Reference-level optics
Laser light source
Minus
Low light output for price point
Lacks dedicated picture mode for HDR

Full Review Here

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