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SubscribeEpson has announced three new laser home theater projectors, ranging in cost from $7,999 to $29,999, that will significantly bolster its presence in the premium home theater segment, especially with high-brightness options for larger screens and ambient light conditions.
The three models in the company's new Q series include the QB1000, a step-up model to the current LS12000 flagship, and the QL3000 and QL7000, two powerhouse projectors that fulfill a promise to integrators to present an alternative for large home theaters and high ambient light environments.
All three models are rated for full 4K resolution on screen (3840x2160), relying on a more advanced version of the imaging system first introduced with the LS12000 that utilizes three 1080p LCD chips bolstered by dual-axis (four-phase) pixel shifting. A Micro Lens Array in all three models has improved efficiency for higher brightness. As 3-chip designs, the Epsons are also immune to rainbow artifacts and deliver equal white and color brightness at all times. The multi-array laser diode light source in the projectors is rated for 20,000 hours. All three models are also ISF-certified.
The QB1000, priced at $7,999, offers 3,300 ISO21118 lumens of brightness, a 600-lumen improvement over the LS12000, which will remain in Epson's line-up at its current price of $4,999. Among the other updates is a new QZX 32-bit video processor, which is said to handle real-time analyzing and adjustment of color, dynamic contrast, frame-interpolation, and resolution super-sampling, as well as automatic dynamic HDR tone-mapping, though the projector retains the 16-step HDR adjustment slider used in several prior Epson HDR projectors. All three projectors are compatible with HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+ content. Epson doesn't share color gamut specs, but says the additional brightness for the QB1000 vs. an LS12000 noticeably enhances the HDR experience and that the QB1000 "measures impressive color gamut performance" against the LS12000, which we measured at 93% DCI-P3 in our review. Epson's proven UltraBlack (UB) technology, which uses a polarizing filter to reduce stray light in the light path to vastly improve black level and contrast, has been carried over.
For gamers, a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC) support 4K at up to 120 Hz, with input lag said to be under 20 ms. ALLM is supported. Sadly for 3D fans, compatibility with 1080p 3D signals is absent as it was in the LS12000 and LS11000 models. The QB1000 is cosmetically similar to the LS12000/LS11000, though identified with a gold ring around the lens, which remains the same 2.1X fully powered zoom offered in those models. The projector will be offered in either black or white.
The QL3000 priced at $14,999 and offering 6,000 ISO lumens, and QL7000 priced at $29,999 and offering 10,000 ISO lumens, forge into new territory for Epson in providing alternatives to the high-output (and much more expensive) premium projectors often tapped for large high end home theaters or for bright light living spaces. Both models are sold without a lens; users can draw from Epson's wide range of lenses available for its large-venue EB series models. These projectors feature a unique, angular industrial design, available with either a black or white chassis, and with the option of replacing the top panel (which would be visible for a ceiling mount) with one of several different colors to further help match decor. Notably, the Q3000 and Q7000 utilize advanced cooling technology and a higher efficiency laser light source to provide these high outputs in a surprisingly small and light package for their brightness class, with both measuring approximately 23 x 8 x 22 inches (WHD) and weighing 46.5 pounds without lens.
The new QZX processor is also employed with its attendant benefits, including dynamic HDR tone-mapping. Gamers will enjoy the same 40 Gbps wide-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 connections in these models with full support of 4K/120 signals and similarly low latency, along with ALLM. Calibrators and installers will appreciate that Epson has pre-tuned the QL7000 for high color accuracy with low deltaE. Notably, all three of the projectors can now be calibrated from a web-based interface page that eliminates the usual need for navigating in and out of menus.
The QB1000 is scheduled for release sometime in September, while the Q3000 and Q7000 will ship in October. Below is a summary of features for the three new models.
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For more detailed specifications and connections, check out our Epson QL7000W projector page.
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I first reported the issue to Epson support 15 months ago and after much back and forth, including a replacement projector that exhibited the exact same issue. In August 2023 they said "Our headquarters quality and design engineers have assessed the issue and are working on a countermeasure solution. We appreciate your continued patience while this is being worked on."
They released the 2.0 firmware in June 2024 but that didn't resolve this issue either.
At $8,000, I can pick up the 100" hisense 98UX, which will give me supreme contrast, razor sharp imaging, and zero to little need for DTM because it can actually hit over 5,000 nits.
