Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS300 3600-Lumen Full HD Ultra-Short Throw Smart Laser 3LCD Projector

Like other reviewers have mentioned, the picture is incredible out of the box. Turn it to Dynamic mode and WHOA! It is unreal. If I didn’t know any better, I would swear this was a 4K picture. I never realized how good regular Blu-Rays could look on a big screen, let alone actual 4K UHD discs. Dude!! Listen, if you are looking at older models in a slightly cheaper price range, stop. Spend the extra money on this model and you won’t be disappointed. Even though it’s not projecting in true 4K, your eyes will swear it is. HDR looks amazing and you can control the saturation in the settings with the remote.

I did A LOT of research on many different brands of projectors and even purchased a $200 cheapy model just to see how everything would look in our living room. You get what you pay for, and this unit is worth every penny. It connected to our 5G high speed internet in no time and we were up and watching videos on YouTube in the middle of the afternoon with only minimal washout. When the sun goes down or if you can fully block out daylight in your room, that’s where this thing will really shine. Even with ambient light, it still looks spectacular!

I should mention the screen we are using. This model is the perfect match for this projector: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4WT6QU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It looks great on the wall and I believe it helps deflect the ambient light noise. All in all, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever purchased in my 45+ years on this planet.

If I had to pick any cons, it would be the following two items, but they aren’t really cons compared to the pros of the picture quality… Nonetheless, #1.) We are using an LG sound bar instead of the unit’s Yamaha speakers because the projector speakers are pretty good but they don’t really compare to a separate sound bar. Now, keep in mind this is coming from someone who has a high-end Dolby Atmos home theatre setup in the basement, so if you’re not an audio snob, you may find the projector’s internal speakers just fine. #2.) When the projector is turned to full brightness, the fan is noticeable if you are sitting close to the unit. You must turn the audio up to drown out the fan or, again, use a separate soundbar and you won’t even notice the fan.

So there you have it. Every night can be movie night at home, and I can’t wait to get together with friends again to watch bad movies on this beast of a projector. It’s really like having your own movie theater inside of your home. I’m so happy I purchased this unit!! TWO THUMBS UP! And two more thumbs up from my wife. Even she is impressed!

I was hesitant to order this Epson Projector because the Best Buy website states that the “Minimum Projector DIstance” is 3.4 feet. Thankfully, this is NOT correct. The whole purpose of a short throw projector is that it can project a large image while sitting incredibly close to a wall / screen. If it had truly had to sit 3.4 feet away from a wall – it would not be classified as a short throw projector. To clarify, I have this projector sitting 6 inches away from my wall and it projects an 80 inch image.

The projector is incredibly easy to set-up and is simple enough that my 6 year old was navigating and watching his favorite shows just minutes after plugging it in. The device initially takes over 1 minute to turn on, but it typically sits in a standby mode and can be used in just 3 seconds after pressing the power button. Even without a legitimate ALR Projection Screen, the image quality is great. Even on a dark wall, whites look great and the image is quite vivid. Keep in mind however, the projector can accept a 4K image, but the output is 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz. If you are hoping to game on the PS5 or Xbox Series X at 120 Hz – this projector will NOT be able to do so. See the attached Xbox Series X images for more compatibility information.

Not only is the image quality impressive (in both light & dark rooms) but the Yamaha 2.1 speaker system sounds great. The audio is rich and full with deep bass while – keeping dialogue clear. While the projector is designed to be used as a Bluetooth Speaker, this mode does not work well at all. It is surprisingly difficult to pair via Bluetooth and after about 4 minutes the connection fails. Once the connection drops, the remote control (which connects via bluetooth) is no longer paired and the projector must be unplugged and fully rebooted before it can be used again.

Overall, I am impressed with the projector’s short throw capabilities, but it does have other limitations that are frustrating for a device that is the very latest model.
1) The projector is not compatible with either Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Netflix is the most popular video streaming app – so not having the ability to use its app is extremely disappointing.
2) The projector has 2 HDMI inputs, but neither of them are the latest HDMI 2.1. This means that it cannot process 4K at 120 Hz, or accept an 8K image. This makes me feel as though Epson dropped the ball with their latest projector models and is releasing new devices that are already a bit aged.
3) There are no navigation buttons on the projector. If you lose the remote, or if it stops working (due to the bluetooth issues mentioned above), you are not able to control anything other than the volume, the dimming option, or powering off the device.
4) There is no built in option to tilt the projector upwards. Strangely the projector only has 3 feet (two in the rear and one up front). Often the front foot on a projector has the option to raise and lower – to adjust where the image is displayed. But, that is not the case here. Just set the projector down and hope the image is displayed where you want it.
Note: There are menu options that allow you to adjust the screen size and edge shape.

If you are interested in true 4K (and want a device that will work well with 8K in the future), this projector is not for you. If you want to play PS5 or Xbox Series X at 120 frames per second, then pass on this projector.
BUT, if you want a convenient projector that displays an impressively clear image (in light and dark rooms) and includes impressive audio – this is a good choice.

I’ve been a fan of projectors at home for a decade now and previously focused on LED to avoid having to worry about bulb life. I switched from regular projectors to ultra-short throw 5 years ago and don’t expect to ever return to having a TV as my primary viewing source – at least not until they have 120″ high-def thin enough to hang on the wall.

I’ve paired my LS300 with an ancient Roku box and a brand new Sonos setup that includes the Arc soundbar, the subwoofer, and two Play One satellites and I could not be happier. I have all of the streaming services that I care about with the great Roku interface and simple remote that controls both the streaming and the sound. Movies in my big open plan living room sound and look amazing.

I’ve looked through the reviews here and there are a few complaints/comments that I will specifically address.

First, I don’t understand people who are complaining about the sound levels on this thing. For me it is loud on startup, but it becomes inaudible within a few seconds. I am primarily using it in a room that is either well-lit (at night) or has indirect sunlight during the daytime. I have a light-blocking window shade I previously was forced to use when watching my old LED projector (1K lumens) in the same room, but I typically don’t even bother pulling it down with the Epson because it is plenty bright enough on brightness levels that don’t trigger the fan noise.

Another reviewer mentioned how great it is that the projector can automatically turn on when an attached streaming device is turned on – that review mentioned Apple TV and I appreciate having the same functionality with my Roku. That reviewer complained about how he would need to use the projector’s remote to switch the input to the streaming device from the projector’s default home screen every time he turned it on. I had this same frustration for the first couple of weeks until I figured out how to deal with it. I’ve configured the projector’s settings so that powering it off now puts it into standby mode rather than turning it all the way off. This will happen automatically after a few minutes of inactivity, but I can also force standby when I use the “Turn TV Off” function on my Roku. Because the projector just goes into standby rather than powers down all the way, the input remains set to my Roku and now I rarely have to touch the projector remote. I put an electricity monitor on the projector to see how much it draws while in standby and it was truly inconsequential. I think I calculated it out to less than a dollar/year to leave it in standby rather than power all the way down, so it is not a significant electric vampire.

The last complaint I’ve seen repeatedly is how the projector remote does not have a mute button. This is indeed a dumb oversight on behalf of Epson, but again my streaming device has come to the rescue since the Roku remote does have a mute button and it controls the sound through my Sonos setup just fine.

Overall, I love this projector and I’m thrilled that I bought it. I snagged during a 10% off sale, but I would be equally thrilled if I had paid full price. Despite it being 50% more expensive than the last UST I had purchased, it is a truly great device that is 100% as good as having a physical TV in the room while giving a far more immersive viewing experience.

WOW. Just wow I REALLY do love epson and I love what they did with this projector. It’s the best UST in it’s class and price range but 1 HUGE issue if not paired with a UST ALR screen is that you tend to need to run it in 85% or higher light output which in turn. Turns this thing into a mini jet. I mean it got really loud. Even 12ft away it was louder than my HC2150 that hangs right above my head. Which is sadly why I’ll be returning it. Also the picture menu was nowhere to be found unlike that of my previous epsons. There was only 1 remote in the box and I did not find it useful at all for calibration. Set up wasn’t as easy as traditional projectors either oddly enough since it sits below the screen. This is a light cannon for sure though. The true to life colors and the lack of motion blur made watching 2 movies and 2 shows very enjoyable at night and at 70% light output to reduce noise. Overall great unit but ONLY if you 100% need a UST.

Like so many others who have written reviews here, our experience with Epson has been entirely miserable. Let’s start with the projector itself. At first, we were very pleased. The images are (or, should I say, were) sharp with impressively vivid colors. That is, until an unmistakable purple, vertical line appeared on the screen. Fortunately, the projector was still (just barely) under warranty. UNFORTUNATELY, they insisted on replacing it with a refurbished projector rather than a new one. Naturally, I protested. After all, we didn’t purchase a refurbished unit from Amazon . . . so why should we accept anything less as a warranty replacement? Sorry, Charlie. That’s their “policy”. Also, your warranty is NOT extended when a product fails. Therefore, if your refurbished unit “goes kaput” even one day after the ORIGINAL warranty expired, you’re out of luck. Well, guess what happened?

To be fair, our refurbished unit functioned normally until recently. And, yes, we ultimately had five years of service between the two projectors. This, however, is where it gets really interesting. When our second (refurbished) unit failed, it had the exact same problem. Yet again we were stuck with a vertical, purple line. As a journalist with a long history of consumer advocacy, seeing the same failure on two projectors – consecutively, mind you – immediately caused me to suspect a “known issue” circumstance. By that, I mean a problem that arises frequently enough to warrant “unacceptable failure” or “recall” status. Think about it. What are the chances that a SINGLE customer would have the EXACT same problem TWICE IN A ROW ? ? ?

Since the projector failed, I have spoken with two Customer Resolution Reps at Epson, as well as five different Epson Dealers (see: Home Theater Installers). I got nowhere with the Epson Reps and, with my background in consumer advocacy, I knew that the best route would be to contact someone at corporate, which I did . . . or, attempted to do. First, I directed an e-mail to their CEO. I’ve dealt with Jeff Bezos, Michael Dell and dozens of other CEO’s who never failed to (at the very least) offer the professional courtesy of a response. Epson’s CEO Keith Kratzberg? Not so much as a “take a hike”. I then forwarded that same correspondence to one of Epson’s Senior VP’s. Again, no response whatsoever. Sorry, but that failure to follow up with a consumer (much less an industry professional) is not only unacceptable, but casts a poor light on Epson’s corporate ethics.

Now, here’s the clincher. EVERY Epson Dealer I spoke with offered nearly IDENTICAL feedback. Honestly, I’ve never been so shocked and dismayed. Here’s the overview. Epson (according to their own dealers) has two primary objectives. First, to advance their technology as quickly as possible in order to remain competitive. Secondly, to offer their products at a competitive price point. And, because technology changes so rapidly, consumers have to expect that quality control and product reliability “may be compromised”. Okay . . . sure. If my $35 toaster fails due to the fact that it was cheaply made in order to also be sold inexpensively, I totally get that. BUT A $2500.00 PROJECTOR? REALLY? Worse yet, TWO of the Epson Dealers I spoke with (one of them working a repair bench at the Home Theater store) told me that, if my Epson outlasted its warranty, “I did well”.

Sorry. Maybe I’m old school (okay, I’m definitely old school) but you cannot be serious! So, Epson is building products which consumers can expect to “maybe” outlast the warranty and, if they do, we’re supposed to be grateful? All I can say is, “WOW!” Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the average person who buys a $2500 projector has the expectation that they’ll be throwing that unit in the trash and buying a new one (or five) before their AV receiver (or any other home entertainment electronics) give up the ghost. Me? Not so much. To be sure, nobody in the industry mentioned any of this before we decided to go with a projection system. Had they done so, we would have gone in another direction – be it a more expensive product made by a company with higher standards or away from projectors entirely

So, in closing, here’s the takeaway: Epson products, by their own dealer’s admission, are “disposable”. Therefore, don’t expect “many years” of good service. Also, their product/quality control standards are poor, and not just from a longevity standpoint. In my mind (and most consumers, no doubt) if a particular issue surfaces regularly enough, the manufacturer has a responsibility to own that failure and make it right – meaning, fix the issue or replace the projector. The “purple, vertical line” issue (optical generator failure), as well as power supply issues, are well documented and conceded by Epson dealers. What will they do to remedy those ongoing issues? Nothing. “Go buy a new projector because the cost to repair the one you have (if we can get the parts) is prohibitive.” And, finally, don’t expect Epson to respond to correspondence, as any and every reputable business would do – because they won’t.

My advice, for what it’s worth? If you’re one of those people who go out and buy the new I-phone the minute it comes out just because you insist on having the very latest tech, maybe you won’t mind spending upwards of $3000.00 on a new projector every two years or so. If not, hang a giant flat screen on your wall knowing that you’ll likely get eight or ten years of service. That, or buy something other than Epson. And, if it lasts more than two years, get back to me with the good news in order that our family can do likewise. In the meantime, I will be posting consumer reviews on as many sites as I can find as well as approaching editors seeking to publish my experiences with Epson in an attempt to save others from having the same excruciating experience!

The Epson Epiqvision Ultra LS300 is Epson’s latest Ultra Short Throw (UST) 1080p projector. This is my first time setting up and using a UST projector – I have only ever installed or used long throw projectors. I wasn’t too familiar with the needs for a UST projector so I spent a decent amount of time and research to get myself acquainted with the machine.

To start off the LS300 is Epson’s 1080p UST offering – the LS500 is the 4K offering and comes in at a much higher price point. The LS300 comes loaded with Android TV, Chromecast, and Google Assistant in the remote. Also onboard is a 2.1 Yamaha tuned sound system. The supported screen sizes range from 70” all the way up to 120” – keep in mind 1080p viewing distances for screen size are roughly 9ft+ for 70” and 16ft+ for 120”. Any closer than that and you will start discerning some pixilation and the image looses its smoothness. The unit itself is bigger than I expected – a full 16” deep. I settled on a 92” screen – the manual tells me the distance I need have between the projector and screen is around 8”. That means this sits around 2’ away from the wall, which is further out than I expected. There isn’t a network port so all connections are over Wi-Fi. There are 2 HDMI ports for connecting external devices – HDMI 2 carries the ARC feature, so use this port if you are connecting to an AVR. The LS300 can accept 4K sources but will only display 1080p. I assume this has to do with HDR content being tied up with 4K sources, so this way the projector would retain the HDR but ditch the higher res. Not a bad solution at all if that’s the reasoning (HDR is more noticeable than the bump to 4K). This is tabletop only – there are no ceiling mount provisions.

The technology behind the LS300 is the use of laser projection with their 3-chip LCD design. This technology has been around for awhile and is the main competitor to DLP projectors. Each design has their advantages. 3LCD designs tend to have higher brightness levels, more compact, less heat, quieter (fans don’t run as much), no image degradation over bulb life, and have no bulbs to replace. The downsides come into play with screen versatility, color range, and if the 3LCD chip dies you can’t replace it – unlike replacing the bulb in a DLP unit.

I started out initially by researching what screen to use. For UST projectors you cannot simply project onto a painted wall or simple pull-down screen like you would with a long throw projector. Instead you need to have a screen that is stretched tight with no wrinkles or creases. The ideal screen for a UST is a specially made UST-ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) material. These screens are pretty expensive and are probably above the budget for most – Best Buy sells an Optoma 100” UST-ALR screen for 700. These screens are designed to accept the light from the angle of a UST and reject the light from other angels. Screen material selection is heavily dependent on your room and use case. If you have the ability to completely darken or reduce ambient light then you likely don’t need to spend the extra money on a UST-ALR. For me I have a mixed use room with overhead can lights, but limited/nonexistent outdoor light. The can lights can be turned off to have a completely darkened room, but not always – looking to add dimmers or dimmable smart bulbs to improve my space a bit in case some light is needed. The projector brightness also plays a part in this as well. The LS300 is very bright at 3600nits and likely doesn’t need a screen with any extra reflection gain (1.1 or higher).

I started out getting a screen material sample kit from Carl’s Place (an outfit that sells the raw material to build your own screen). I initially leaned towards a gray screen due to the use of overhead lighting, but I wanted to confirm. I included a picture of my mashed together sample screen so I could see different screen types side by side. Materials sampled – FlexiGray (top-left and top-center-left), UltraGray (top-center-right), ProGray (top-right), FlexiWhite (middle-left and middle-center-left), UltraWhite (middle-center-right), ProWhite (center-right), Basic ALR (bottom-left and bottom-center-left), and blackout cloth (bottom-center-right). In all lighting conditions the FlexiGray looked the best – it’s a stretchy and lightly textured material. The FlexiWhite looked a bit better/brighter in a fully darkened room, but suffered a bit in a brighter room. Also, it brightened some scenes up almost too much and made them seem washed out. One thing to consider is the reflection up onto the ceiling with a UST – gray material reflects less than white. This reflection can act like a soft overhead light in scenes that have really dark and really bright elements together. My room has a shorter ceiling so the largest I could go was a 92” screen (4’x7’). I found a screen from Silver Ticket Products (STR-16992-G) that fit my needs, was inexpensive, nice finished black bordered frame, and the right material type (very similar to the FlexiGray I tested) for my room/use case (1.0 gain matte gray).

Getting started with the LS300 was fairly straightforward. Setup was really easy and only took about 5-10 minutes to get it updated and apps downloaded. I added my Hulu, Disney+, and HBOMax accounts with ease. Streaming on the projector was quick enough, and the apps moved swiftly without any lag. Using the built in Chromecast I could cast from my phone to the screen with ease. Getting the screen in the right position was a bit tricky though. The projector has adjustable rear feet but the front foot is fixed. The first time putting the screen on the wall we ended up being 2 inches low – it was actually pretty hard to gauge where it needed to go with just 2 people doing the work. If I had a 3rd person helping then 2 of us could hold the screen while the other person dialed in the projector settings, and marked the mount position. The couple extra holes didn’t bother me since I’m in the middle of a basement renovation and have the bottom of the wall ripped out. My advice is to overshoot your screen size a bit and then use the image size adjustment to get the screen dimensions dialed in.

Out of the box I didn’t have to adjust much though. The focus was pretty close – had to nudge it a smidge, but it wasn’t off by much. The default screen setting for me was Vivid. This looked pretty good in all lighting conditions, so I was happy with it. Playing around the settings I found the Dynamic is a bit better with all the room lights on. This does make the fan kick into high gear since this is maxing out the projector output. Under darker room conditions the Cinema setting looked the best and had the most natural looking colors. It’s a toss up though depending on your source sometimes. Image quality and brightness was excellent though. My GF and I were thoroughly impressed by how good it looked even with all the lights on. We watched a number of different shows from all of the connected streaming services. I felt like Disney+ looked the best – watched the latest Mandalorian episode and it was excellent. The image had good contrast, motion blur was limited so it looked crisp, colors were accurate, and the image was very bright. Combine this all on a 92” screen and it made for an immersive experience. I haven’t had a chance to play any games on it yet, but I am really looking forward to it.

The speakers that come with the LS300 are tuned by Yamaha and are supposedly a 2.1 setup that can rival some soundbars. They aren’t lying in that regard. The sound system is quite good for being onboard speakers. There’s a decent little punch of bass and plenty of power to really push a lot of sound. Sound and dialog is pretty crisp at low volumes as well making it ideal for quiet hours. I would say this setup is better than anything you would get out of a flat panel TV, and on par or better than most entry to mid-level soundbars. You can also use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker, which is a nice feature and allows it to serve 2 roles in the room. To fully complete the immersion that the screen size provides, I’m switching over to a 7.1 setup for most viewing, but I will use the onboard for nighttime.

Documentation is often something that goes unacknowledged when it is good, but quickly lambasted when its bad. For the LS300 the documentation is worth the look. It is very thorough and goes through every feature, explains what it does, and the best time to use it. I am very tech savvy, but this really helped me since I am new to home theater projectors. The manual also has a really nice chart for screen sizing with regards to positioning the projector. I was able to determine everything I needed for the setup – new entertainment center being the main one due the size and distance requirements.

Things that made me scratch my head with this projector – Netflix support and the remote. As of right now Netflix is not available through the Play Store for this device. If its there, I could not find it. Its not a pre-loaded app, it’s not in the suggestions, and it didn’t turn up when I did a search. This is a shame because Netflix is on everything, and its my main streaming platform. I will be connecting an Xbox and other items, so I can get around it, but it would be nice to leave the Xbox off. The other item was the remote – why is it not backlit? The use case for most projectors is a darkened theater type room where light is low. I had to use the light coming from the screen to see the buttons on the remote. Just a silly weakness that could have been avoided.

Overall the Epiqvision Ultra LS300 has been great. Image clarity is top notch, setup was easy, and the onboard sound is better than expected. It looks great in all lighting conditions, even with a budget friendly screen. I have had a really good experience using the projector with very few hurdles to overcome.

Breaking into the world of laser projectors! I really was excited to get the Epson Epiqvision Ultra LS300. This thing is selling out fast. Epson has been trying to sell these as replacements for your television. Now there are some caveats to this…but they are getting pretty dang close.

The unboxing experience was simple. Inside the box is the projector itself, the power cord, the remote control, and batteries for the remote. I was immediately struck by how much larger it was compared to a regular projector. By no means is it gargantuan. With a width and depth of 15.7 inches and 18.4 inches, it’s about the size of large pizza box. It is also heavier than a conventional projector at 16.2 pounds. I got the white colorway. It looks very sleek and minimalistic. I love that there is no boxy extension for the lens coming up from the middle like the more expensive LS500. It’s a simple design that I appreciate. It comes with two HDMI ports and a USB-A port so that you can plug in a streaming stick. One of the HDMI is ARC so you can attach a soundbar or receiver no problem. It also has an optical out.

Setup was very straightforward. You plug it in. You turn it on. You pair the remote with the projector. Now the remote actually works through Bluetooth rather than IR. Some people apparently have had trouble pairing the remote with the projector but I did not have any issues. Once you are paired, you set up like you would any Android TV. It may do some firmware and software updates. After all of this, you are good to go! In order to fix the image, you first play with the manual feets to make the image as correct as possible. Then, you can make minute adjustments with the software keystoning. There are also built-in sensors that turn the lights off when it detects someone/something in front of the lamps. Very helpful as you do NOT want lasers in your eyes. You can also manually focus the screen through a dial on the side.

Side note: On the first day, I had random episodes of the projector shutting off. However, this went away quickly and I no longer have that issue. I don’t know if it was because it was in the midst of software updates or what. So be aware this may happen to you.

The software is standard Android TV. However, when I started using the projector, the first thing I noticed was the lack of apps. All it had was Youtube. No Netflix. No problem, I will just download them from the Google Play Store. I couldn’t! I did look the issue up and found that some apps are not supported on the Epson LS300! Epson recommended a streaming stick or box to circumvent the issue but I was a bit disappointed that although it ran Android TV, it was limited in its app selection. It does have built-in Chromecast but for some reason even this struggled with casting Netflix. I wonder if there was a licensing issue or something. Hopefully, this may be addressed in the future with software updates. Disney+ and HBO Max are available, if that helps.

Ultra short throw truly means ultra short throw. I only needed the recommended 15 inches to get that 120 inches of screen. Now something to be really aware of with ultra short throw is just how sensitive the image is to any small screen imperfections. Due to the fact that the image is projected from below and at such short distance, any distortions are amplified. Using a drop down screen that did not have tab tensions resulted in image distortion towards the top of the screen. Even a slight movement such as a draft and me walking by the screen would result in a lot of distortion. As such, when using an ultra short throw, it is recommended that you use tab tensioned screens, fixed permanent screens, or a flat plain wall. Even plain walls with minute imperfections did result in distortion. Epson themselves recommend the permanent fixed screens. The only problem with that is the fixed screens are very expensive. The ones that Epson themselves sell costs upwards of 1000$ with the 120 inch costing around 2000$ I believe. For those trying to get into the ultra short throw game, this is extremely important to be aware. Regular projector screens just don’t cut it. I just projected it onto a wall, which was fine.

Now, the most important part: the performance. Great. That’s it. The picture quality is absolutely stunning. I know the max resolution output is 1080p. Images may not be as crisp as a 4K projector, but when you are watching from more than 6 feet away, I don’t think it matters as much. The 1500000:1 contrast ratio really shines. The black levels may be higher than a TV, but for a projector it is pretty darn good. Images are bright and sharp. Even with a fair bit of ambient light, I was getting good image quality. It can’t handle direct sunlight, but neither can my TV very well. The 3600 lumens really do the trick. At night, I even dial back the light output to the minimum 55%, and it’s still bright. One thing to note, if you go above 80% light output, the fans kick in and the noise level goes up. You can adjust color temperature so that you get warmer colors and less blue light. I will say, if you are willing to invest in an ALR screen, then a lot of the problems with brightness and black levels may be mitigated.

Audio was great. Epson worked with Yamaha on the speakers and they sound amazing, I really was not expecting much, but I thought the built-in speakers were better than some soundbars. They can get really loud and boomy. You can also pair Bluetooth speakers if you want as well.

All in all, a great buy. When Epson says that they want these to replace televisions, they mean it. As laser projectors have expected lamp lives over 20,000 hours, these will easily last you 15-20 years. Even if you watched TV for 3 hours every day for 18 years, these would still be expected to last. Who knows what new technology will exist in 18 years. These are SO much more (relatively) affordable than currently available short throw laser projectors. I do think as the technology becomes more common and more competition appears, the technology will get much cheaper. However, if you can’t wait, then seriously consider the Epson Epiqvision LS300.

Pros:
Simple and elegant design
Laser projectors will last you 15+ years
Ultra short throw means you only need 2 feet of space in front of projector
Huge screen size
Good image quality
Great built-in Yamaha audio
Extremely bright pictures able to handle ambient light
Smart TV in the form of Android TV
Built-in Chromecast

Cons:
Not 4K which may disappoint some people
Ultra-short throw technology means you need a tensioned screen, fixed screen, or wall (The smallest of imperfections lead to huge distortions)
Some apps like Netflix are not supported

I really wanted to like this projector.
It handles color really well… the way all Epson projectors handle colors..
The Motion is perfect.. The brightness is just what I needed.
But, in the end I had to return it because of it’s HDMI CEC functionality.
I’m an apple fan boy and I use my Apple TV 4k for all of my streaming.
When I would hit menu on my Apple TV remote control it would automatically turn on the projector.
But, instead of going to the HDMI 1 input source that my Apple TV is connected to.
It would go to the Android TV system. I then have to grab the Epson remote control and change the input source.
I know this is a first world problem but for $2000 this should be correctly implemented.
I e-mailed and called Epson’s tech support they said it is working as intended.
I tweeted at them and never heard back.
So, now I’m onto the next more expensive UST.

After a week of installing my Epson LS300, I decided to leave a review on my setup & experience using this product! To start this off, every item has its pros & cons, but this item it’s pros definitely outweigh the bad! This is overall great projector to setup especially for the price! Compared to the Wemax and the Samsung, which I’ve owned both, they DO NOT COMPARE! Picture quality, lumens, etc cannot touch this product for the price! Pros definitely would be the color, lumen, & built in Dolby! Personally I don’t use the Dolby System because I have a SONOS 5.1 hooked up to it! But if you don’t have an external system, then the internal speakers are great! I also didn’t use an ALR screen so I’m pretty sure the quality could be even better! I decided to go with 92” Elite screens cina grey high contrast screen! Only because this screen also rejects a lot of light in the daylight and it was around $500! You can make this into amazing setup without breaking the bank. This isn’t 4K but I promise you cannot tell! I put this up against the 4K wemax and this produced a way better picture then the wemax!

CONS
Off the rip, setting up the projector is a PAIN IN YOUR SIDE! It doesn’t come with instructions & there are no videos online to help you with setup! It would be very helpful if Epson would detail how to zoom & adjust your picture without having to move the projector so far from the wall! You definitely can project a picture up to 92”+ only being 6” away from the wall! They a have a zoom/ full, function in the picture settings mode, & I STRONGLY suggest you adjust this before you start manually calibrating your picture! You can also vertically keystone the projector by adjusting the front legs! They raise and lower the image which makes it a little easier! The other small issue is that Epson interface uses android so you can’t download Netflix to its interface! But there’s ways around that! Plug in a smart device like a Firestick and you’re good to go! One big issue is loudness! I love colors so I watch my picture and movies in the brightest colors available which is dynamic & a little custom tune! When you go in this mode the projector fan is obnoxiously loud! So if you’re using the internal built in speaker, it’pll I’ll s definitely going to drone out what you are watching! Highly suggest you have a system or soundbar to go with this device!

Overall, it’s definitely the best bang for your buck! I’m a home pro professional & seeing these other projectors that are 4K and produce the same if not less image for a $1k more is a complete gimmick! Install & build media rooms for a living. Just check my photos above and you be the judge…

Pretty disappointed we spent 2k on a projector that stopped playing sound after a month and a half. We’ve barely used this and it’s already just stopped playing sound altogether with no solution.

The picture quality is good, it’s frustrating that you have to have a roku because the “smart” parts of this projector crash constantly. Idk if we got a defective one or what but this isn’t at all what we expected from a $2k projector after a month. Maybe we just got a defective one because the positive reviews are why we chose to buy this one. Since we’re just barely past the 30 day mark we can’t return it or exchange it now so I’d honestly recommend finding a cheaper alternative cause there’s no point in spending a couple thousand for something to have bad interface and to just stop playing sound so soon after buying.