Epson has unveiled a trio of ground-breakingly bright new home theater projectors with the potential to revolutionize the way projectors both handle high dynamic range video and integrate into multipurpose living spaces.
Even the least bright of Epson’s three new three-chip Q Series of LCD models can pump out a seriously intense 3,300 lumens from its laser lighting system, while the new mid-range Q model can hit a blazing 6,000 lumens and the flagship model can blast out an astonishing 10,000 lumens.
As you might expect from these sort of explosive brightness numbers, Epson is targeting the Q series trio at modern luxury homes (and their architects, interior designers and custom integrators) rather than mainstream home theater set ups. This is reflected in their pricing, with the QB1000 costing $7,999, the step up 6,000-lumen QL3000 costing $14,999, and the flagship 10,000-lumen QL7000 setting you back a cool $29,999.
While the Epson Q series price of entry might be high, though, their brightness figures truly are far beyond the sort of numbers we usually see from even the most premium home theater projectors. What’s more, their ground-breaking brightness is far from their only claim to premium home theater fame.
For starters, all three new Q Series models deliver a claimed 4K resolution courtesy of Epson’s proprietary three-chip 3LCD, thermal-controlled, Double Micro-Lens Array technology, and can handle high dynamic range images in the HDR10, HLG and, unusually for the projector world, HDR10+ formats – the latter of which adds extra scene by scene picture information to the data flow to help compatible devices deliver better HDR pictures.
The monumental brightness of the new Q series models also enables them to remain punchy even on huge screens up to 300 inches across, while Epson’s latest QZX Picture Processor is claimed to be capable of feeding the prodigious brightness into a wide but accurate color range while also delivering a ‘black’ contrast performance. All contributing to what Epson says is “content the way the director intended it to be seen”.
The laser light source is rated as good for 20,000 hours of uninterrupted home theater viewing, while gamers will be pleased to hear that all three Q Series models can support 4K HDR gaming at frame rates up to 120Hz courtesy of two 40Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports. The QB1000’s HDMIs can also ship audio on to compatible soundbars or AVRs courtesy of their support for ARC/eARC audio return channel technology – although strangely it seems ARC/eARC support is not available with the QL3000 and QL7000.
Aside from their different brightness capabilities (which hold up using both the ISO white and IDMS colour brightness measuring methodologies), the main difference between the QB1000 and its new QL siblings is that it’s the only one that’s actually manufactured with a lens attached. The QL models are compatible with Epson’s family of high precision lenses, from short to long-throw, enabling home theater enthusiasts to make sure they get the optimum lens option for their particular installation.
The QB1000’s integrated lens is a 15-element ‘VRX’ affair, backed up by three-axis motorized lens shift with Memory Preset support. The two step up QL models also offer three-axis motorized lens shift with whatever lens you equip them with.
All three of Epson’s new Q Series projectors are ISF certified (meaning they can be fully calibrated by ISF engineers), and can be integrated into smart home control systems from Control4, Crestron, PJ Link and others. All three Q Series models are available in either black or white livery, too, depending on your decor/taste.
The Q Series will be make their public demonstration debut at the upcoming (September 5-7) CEDIA Expo in Denver, before going on sale (complete with Epson’s 3-year limited warranty) in October 24 through authorized Epson Home Entertainment retailers.
“Our new lineup of ultra-premium, high-lumen Q-Series laser projectors showcases Epson’s commitment to producing superior entertainment solutions,” says Melvin Diaz, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Breaking performance, efficiency, and size benchmarks, the Q-Series offers immersive big-screen entertainment within and beyond traditional dark room theater spaces, creating limitless integration possibilities for home entertainment design.”
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