Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 3-Chip 3LCD Smart Streaming Laser Projector

It might seem confusing that the Epson EpiqVision Ultra LS800 3-Chip 3LCD Smart Streaming Laser Projector has both a higher model number than the Epson LS500 and a $500 lower list price, at $3,499, but each model has some advantages over the other. The LS800 claims a wider color gamut and it has a shorter throw, so it can project a larger picture from any given distance. But it doesn't support 3D or offer options for a full calibration. So while the LS500 remains our Editors' Choice pick for those who want to avoid rainbow artifacts and also want 3D or the ability to calibrate, the LS800 replaces the Hisense 100L5TG-Cine100A as our Editors' Choice UST model for more casual, entry-level use.

Not 4K, But Close Enough

The LS800 design starts with a 4,000-lumen laser-phosphor light source rated at 20,000 hours at full power, and three 1080p LCD chips (one for each primary color). It then adds pixel shifting to put twice as many pixels on screen as are in a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel matrix. That's only half as many as in a 4K (3,840 by 2,160 pixels) image. However, as I've pointed out in other reviews, if you compare Epson's pixel-shifting 4K PRO-UHD projectors to DLP projectors that put a full 4K array on screen, there is little to no difference in perceived detail. In some cases, the Epson model offers better resolution in the sense of ability to resolve detail.

There are two key reasons Epson's approach works so well. First, there are limits to human visual acuity that make it hard to see any difference at normal viewing distances. And second, other factors—contrast, lens quality, and digital image processing—also affect the ability to resolve detail, a fact that Epson's PRO-UHD technology takes advantage of.

One other advantage for Epson's design is that using a separate imaging chip for each primary color guarantees that the image will be free of rainbow artifacts (red, green, and blue flashes). For some people, this won't matter. But for those who see the flashes easily, it can be an absolute requirement, particularly when paying this much for a projector.

Physical setup is simple in principle, but tricky in practice. The LS800, which is available in either black or white finishes, weighs a fairly hefty 27.6 pounds and measures 6.2 by 27.4 by 13.4 inches (HWD). In theory, you only have to put it in place, connect the cables, and turn it on. In practice, if you want the best image quality, you'll need to adjust the projector's positioning carefully for the image to fit the screen, and also adjust focus manually. The tricky part is that while you're adjusting position and focus, you also have to avoid putting any part of your body in the area where the projector's sensors will shut down the laser to avoid any possibility of shining it in your eyes. There are some built-in features, and also an Epson Setting Assistant phone app, that let you adjust image geometry and size digitally. But, as with any projector, they're best avoided, since using them will lower image brightness and can introduce artifacts in some images.

Setting up the built-in Android TV 11 is standard fare, using Wi-Fi as the only connection choice. If Netflix is one of your go-to destinations, note that as with most Android TV projectors (but unlike the LS500), there's no Netflix app. Very much on the plus side, the three HDMI ports include one that's designated for gaming and supports the shortest input lag I've yet seen on a 4K-class UST projector. (Details on that later.)

The already mentioned 4,000-lumen brightness is designed to stand up to ambient light in a family room, particularly if you pair the projector with an ambient light rejection (ALR) screen, as you ideally should with any projector in a room filled with light. Be sure to pick one designed for UST projectors, as discussed in our guide to how to choose the right screen.

Epson specs the lens as suitable for 16:9 screens ranging from 80 inches diagonally (at less than an inch from the screen) to 150 inches (from 9.9 inches away). For my tests, I used the 100-inch Epson SilverFlex 100" Ambient Light Rejection Mega Screen, which we use for all UST TV replacements that don't come with a screen.

The built-in Yamaha DSP 2.1 stereo sound system uses two full-range 5-watt speakers and a 10-watt subwoofer. It takes full advantage of the LS800's width to add what amounts to a built-in soundbar to the side facing the seating area, leaving little need for better sound quality. However, you can connect to an external sound system using the ARC support on one HDMI port, the 3.5mm stereo output, the S/PDIF optical output, or Bluetooth. You can also use the projector itself as a Bluetooth speaker for other audio sources.

Testing the LS800: High-Quality Picture, Short Input Lag

The LS800 offers four predefined color modes for both SDR and HDR input, and includes support for both HDR10 and HLG HDR. Somewhat unusually, the menu makes no distinction between SDR and HDR input, offering the same options for both, and maintaining the same settings for options you may prefer to set differently for each. In particular, frame interpolation, for smoothing motion, adds what many consider an undesirable "soap opera effect" to filmed material for 1080p SDR input, but can enhance the look of 4K HDR input without adding any of the same effect.

I found the default settings overall did a better job for 1080p SDR than 4K HDR. However, they needed only minor tweaking to deliver good image quality for both and avoid the need to change settings when switching back and forth, with the possible exception of frame interpolation. After some preliminary tests, I chose Cinema mode for my formal testing, because it has the best color accuracy of the four predefined modes and the best balance of holding highlights and shadow detail.

For 1080p SDR input, Cinema mode delivered an impressively good picture, with good color accuracy and contrast in all but the darkest scenes, where it lost some shadow detail. However, it held enough so I could easily make out what was happening. I wouldn't have thought there was any loss if I weren't so familiar with our test clips. Much the same is true for 4K HDR input, with the hedge that brightly lit scenes were a little darker overall when watching the HDR versions of movies on disc than the SDR versions of the same movies. However, darker scenes held up nicely even with HDR input.

The menus include an HDR setting that's equivalent to what's labeled as HDR Brightness on some other projectors, because it has the effect of brightening or darkening the overall image for HDR. It has no effect on SDR input, but is needed for HDR because the best level can vary with room brightness and from one HDR source to another. Missing from the menus are options that would allow a full calibration. Based on my tests, however, few people will feel any need to improve on color accuracy.

There is no support for 3D.

As already mentioned, the LS800 offers the shortest input lag of any 4K-class UST projector I've tested, which is a boon for serious gamers. I measured it with a Bodnar meter at 20.4 milliseconds (ms) for 4K, 60Hz input, 21.4ms for 1080p, 60Hz, and 11.7ms for 1080p, 120 Hz. Each measurement is just 3ms to 4ms longer than the lags in current leading gaming projectors, and each will give you a blazingly fast reaction time by 4K UST projector standards.

Verdict: A Top TV Replacement, and Good for Gaming

The LS800 offers enough that it should be on your short list, unless you must have 3D or the ability to calibrate the projector. For calibration, consider the Epson LS500, our top pick for a 4K-class UST model. The Hisense PX1-PRO is our Editors' Choice for those who don't see (or don't mind seeing) rainbow artifacts, while the Hisense 100L5TG-Cine100A is particularly worth considering if you're buying your first UST projector and want one that comes bundled with an ALR screen that it's already calibrated for. The LS500 is the only one of the three that also offers 3D.

If you're not interested in 3D or calibration, the LS800 likely delivers everything you need: good image quality, smart TV features, a much better sound system than most projectors have, a short input lag, and high-enough brightness to light up a big screen in a room with ambient light. As a bonus, it has a shorter throw than even most UST projectors, which means you can get a bigger image without having to position the furniture it's on farther from the wall than you might like. That's enough to make it our new Editors' Choice honoree for viewers who don't feel the need the calibrate the image for the screen and room, and just want good image quality straight out of the box.