Epson’s LS11000 laser-lit 4K projector, with a wide zoom range and excellent image quality, debuted in 2022. Rather than replace it with a new model, the company has expanded the line with newer, cheaper options.
All the new projectors are 4K and lit by lasers, including the LS11000. The LS11000 remains in the lineup with a $4,500 retail price, which appears to be a stealthy increase from its longtime price of $4,000.
At the bottom of the range is the $2,000 LS5000, which Epson says can produce 2,500 lumens. The company’s brightness claims tend to be fairly accurate, though usually only in a mode that sacrifices some image accuracy. The projector will have two HDMI inputs and a throw ratio of 1.32 to 2.15, which the maker says lets you place the device about 11.5 feet away for a 120-inch screen. Like the other models in the line, the LS5000 lets you connect Bluetooth headphones for movie nights without disturbing others in the house. It also has manual lens shift, while only the flagship LS11000 offers motorized lens shift.
For a bit more money, the $2,200 LS6000 bumps the claimed brightness to 3,400 lumens. That’s higher than the LS11000, though Epson rates the LS6000 and its other new projectors as having lower contrast ratios. Otherwise, the LS6000’s features are basically the same as the LS5000’s.
The price is right in the range of several great recent DLP projectors. Epson projectors typically have better color, but a worse contrast ratio due to their LCD-based design. It’ll be interesting to see how they compare, and we’ll find out soon in our testing. But given the small price difference, I bet most people will go for the LS6000.
The LS7500 is a little different. It’s a short-throw variant with a slightly higher brightness rating of 3,500 lumens. The throw ratio is 1.0-1.3, which Epson says requires a distance of 8.8 feet — about 106 inches — to produce a 120-inch image. So perhaps shorter throw would be more accurate. By comparison, the BenQ TK705STi I reviewed earlier this year needs only 83 inches to produce the same size image.
Because all these new models are intended for dedicated home theaters, the longer distance required by the shorter-throw variant seems reasonable. It’s likely designed more for smaller rooms than for a traditional short-throw setup.
The new LS models start shipping later this month. We’ll be getting one in for review soon.
