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Epson Debuts 4KE Laser Projector with 4K and HDR Support

By Rachel Cericola

Epson just announced four new projectors for a variety of budgets -- and tastes in video quality.

The most interesting of the bunch is the Pro Cinema LS10500 Reflective Laser Projector. Yes, it's got frickin' lasers, which boast up to 30,000 hours of worry-free use. However, it doesn't boast native 4K support. Instead, the projector uses "4K enhancement" technology to tweak the pixels and make it look like 4K. The company announced similar models back in June. Check out "New Epson Home Theater Projectors Do 4K and HDR Starting Under $3,000" for more information.

Promising 1,500 lumens of color brightness and 1,500 lumens of white brightness via a dual-laser light source, the LS10500 is a follow-up to Epson's Pro Cinema LS10000. The major difference is that this newer model includes support for High Dynamic Range (HDR). That means you can pair it with a 4K Blu-ray player or HDR-encoded content from Netflix or Amazon Video.

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The Pro Cinema LS10500 Reflective Laser Projector features 4K Enhancement and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. Photo: Epson.

Besides a range of up to ± 90 percent on the vertical axis and ± 40 on the horizontal axis, the LS10000 has 10 presets for zoom, focus, and lens shift for both standard projection and wide cinema ratios. Other features include HDCP 2.2 support, an Absolute Black contrast ratio, and ISF-certified calibration tools.

Epson will make the Pro Cinema LS10500 Reflective Laser Projector available exclusively through CEDIA and specialty dealers this fall. No specific launch date has been announced, but the price is out there; expect to see it sell for $7,999.

If you're not willing to wait and don't mind actual 1080p, the company has three other projector options. The Home Cinema 3100, Home Cinema 3700, and Home Cinema 3900 all promise 1080p images with up to a 120,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, as well as 3,000 lumens of color brightness and 3,000 lumens of white brightness.

Designed for almost any room, these three projectors have horizontal and vertical lens shift for up to ± 60 percent on the vertical axis and up to ± 24 percent on the horizontal axis. Other features include a 1.6x zoom, Epson Image Enhancement Technology, and built-in color modes. The Home Cinema 3700 also has two built-in 10-watt stereo speakers, while the Home Cinema 3900 meets ISF Certification standards with specific ISF picture memory modes.

The Home Cinema 3100 and Home Cinema 3700 are both selling now, priced at $1,299 and $1,499, respectively. Like the LS10500, the Home Cinema 3900 is exclusive to the custom install market, with an MSRP of $1,999.

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The Home Cinema 3700 is designed for use in a living room or dedicated home theater. Photo: Epson.

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