Verdict
The Epson EH - LS650 is a super - bright ultra short - throw projector that redeem punchy magnanimous screen pictures no matter how much ambient lighting is in the room . As a result this equal to optical maser - powered HDR allrounder is a viable choice to a declamatory screen TV and well inexpensive .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Epson EH - LS650 is a optical maser - power radical short - cam stroke projector , and the loud modelling in the brand ’s current menage cinema range .
As with all Epson beamers it use a three - chip LCD design , and while not aboriginal 4 K its pixel - shifting approach does mean it can accept and display 4 K content at a gamy perceive resoluteness .
The LS650 has a claimed brightness of 3,600 lumens , which think of it not only delivers punchy HDR images but also should be able to handle rooms with white wall or ambient light . It also has a built - in Android overbold system and a Yamaha sound organisation , allow it to put up an effectual and significantly cheaper choice to a large sieve television .
Availability
The Epson EH - LS650 is uncommitted now in a alternative of black or white , and can be pick up for £ 1,749 in the UK , $ 2,299 in the US , € 2699 in Europe , and AU$3,999 in Australia . All these prices are very reasonable for a 4 K HDR projector with an across-the-board feature of speech package , especially in the UK .
If you ’re look for alternatives you could believe the Hisense PL1 , which is is n’t as shiny as the LS650 and is slightly more expensive , but offers support for HDR10 + and Dolby Vision . It can be purchase for £ 1,999 in the UK , $ 2,499 in the US , € 1,599 in Europe , and AU$2,999 in Australia .
Design
The Epson EH - LS650 does n’t deviate from the standard ultra little - stroke projector pattern with its rectangular box chassis and a blanket recessed orbit on top for projecting up on to the rampart . It ’s fairly large and heavy , in part thanks to a nice level of physique caliber but also due to the 20W - range Yamaha speech sound system hide out behind a mesh grille across the front of the chassis . There ’s a selection of black or white finishes , and the latter may prove more life style - well-disposed in your bread and butter room or couch .
At the rear , which is the part of the projector that faces the bulwark or silver screen , you ’ll receive the connection . There are only two HDMI 2.0 inputs , one of whichsupports eARC , and to compete with a TV a duo more would be dainty . There are also three USB 2.0 ports and an opthalmic digital output . The wireless connectivity put up double - lot Wi - Fi and Bluetooth .
The admit removed control is small , simple and comfortable to hold . It offers all the chief button to setup and mesh the LS650 , along with check the Android TV impudent organisation . My only complaint would be the lack of a backlight for use in the dark , and the reliance on ikon rather than words to identify what all the button actually do .
Features
The Epson EH - LS650 is an ultra short - stroke projector with a stroke proportion of just 0.25 – 0.62:1 , which means that from a limited distance it can produce concealment sizes ranging from 60 - 120 in . You physically move the LS650 to concentrate the figure with your bulwark or screen , align the feet to take down it , and then move it backwards or forwards to change the sizing of the externalize image . There is a lever behind a removable screen on the right - hand - side , which allows you to concentrate the depiction , and there are manual geometric controls in the menu to conform for any deformation to the image .
The optical maser light source has the benefit of long biography of up to 20,000 hours , which is significant for any projector see to compete with a TV , and it ’s also incredibly hopeful with Epson take the LS650 can remove up to 3,600 lumens . This makes it ideal for rooms with white rampart or ambient igniter , which is also a benefit for a projector aiming to vie with a magnanimous panel TV . This beamer will certainly have no problem projecting an mental image of 120 - inches , but for best consequence I ’d recommend invest in a right bushel screen rather than just using a livid wall .
The Epson LS650 is base around Epson ’s three - chip LCD display applied science , which intend no need for a colour cycle and thus none of the rainbow effect often seen on DLP projector . However , the LCD panels do n’t use a sealed low-cal path and thus can occasionally hurt from dust blob . They also only have a 1080p resolution but thanks to pixel - shift 4 K enhancements this beamer can take and exhibit a native 4 K image at a high comprehend resolution . The LS650 also supports HDR10 andHLG , but notHDR10+or Dolby Vision .
This projector boasts a built - in Yamaha sound system based around a pair of symmetrically positioned drivers with 10W of amplification for each channel . The beamer does n’t support Dolby Atmos , or any other anatomy of psychoacoustic processing , so the sound quality is fairly basic but should benefit from the declamatory chassis .
Finally the LS650 includes the Android TV operating system . which is dewy-eyed but effective thanks to an interface that present content in an nonrational fashion , along with the option of voice mastery . The system is loose to navigate and customisable , offering a decent option of video streamers , but some of the UK taking into custody - up armed service are escape , and not all the apps are optimised for 4 K and HDR .
This projector does make a practicable alternative to a TV , with the exception of not having a built - in radio receiver . you could use the video catch - up apps to a degree , but if you really desire all the live telly channels you ’ll postulate aset - top boxof some kind . you may also send off onto a white bulwark , but as observe for best termination you should adorn in a doctor screen , which think of extra disbursal .
Performance
The Epson EH - LS650 is undimmed , really bright , and is this great tidings for anyone call up of bribe this ultra short - throw projector as an alternative to a large silver screen television set . At 3,600 lm in its brightest musical mode this beamer can hold its own against snowy rampart and ambient light , meaning you do n’t have to make the room very dark to revel big cinematic images . The only downsides are that at this luminousness the life of the laser goes from 20,000 hours in the Eco modality down to 10,000 60 minutes , and there is a bit more interference due to the fans require for cooling .
The LS650 deliver excellent pic quality with both SDR and HDR message , but while the usage of three LCD panels eliminates the want for a colour bicycle , it also mean the alliance is n’t as precise as a single - chip DLP projector , and thus the images are n’t quite as sharp . However the uniformity is good , and the level of detail is telling considering this is n’t a aboriginal 4 kB beamer .
The LS650 is in the main an impressive performer with SDR , make elaborated images with good active orbit , and very precise color procreation . The HDR motion-picture show is an obvious footmark - up , with the increase brightness bursting off the screen with vibrantly lush and cinematic images . The Eco mode is better suited to SDR message and darker environments , delivering sufficient luminance while also reducing the fan noise and stretch out the life of the laser light source .
When watching Mad Max : Fury Road in HDR10 the bright desert vistas really bolt down , and the colours are marvellously saturate . There ’s no refuse the added horsepower in the optical maser light railway locomotive really realize a difference with HDR , and images often jump off the screenland . The HDR tone map is also fantabulous , ensuring details are n’t lose in the sinister shadows or bright highlights .
The downside to all this brightness is that it lean to advance the black floor , and as a effect dark scene miss direct contrast . The blacks tend to look white-haired and washed out , which robs the image of some of its impact . However , I tested the LS650 in a blacken out household movie house where the limited bootleg level are more obvious , in a room with muse or ambient light these issue wo n’t be as obvious .
The motion manipulation was generally well , although this is n’t a warm stop of LCD , especially when compared to DLP . There was a flake of judder , peculiarly on motion-picture show mental object at 24p , but if you engage the Epson ’s question processing you’re able to smooth out matter out without add together the dreaded ‘ easy lay opera effect ’ that do blockbuster pic look like cheap video .
The LS650 is n’t the best choice for gaming because its HDMI 2.0 stimulus preclude support for 4K/120Hz andVRR , but at 4K/60Hz the experience remain enjoyable . The picture is sure detailed enough , the tone mapping is good , and the motion is acceptable . The reaction time is also full with a lag of only 27ms , which makes for a pleasingly antiphonal experience .
The built - in Yamaha sound system is good enough for watching the news or a biz show , but anything more intriguing and the restriction of two low speakers with a total of 20W of elaboration becomes apparent with limited volume and no discernible bass . That ’s not to say it ’s risky , with a balanced speech that ’s crisp , detailed , and retains clear vocals . The soundstage is also surprisingly spacious , but if you ’re planning on a 120 - inch silver screen you owe it to yourself to at least invest in a good soundbar with a separate subwoofer .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The LS650 is one of the shining ultra short - throw projectors around , making it idealistic if there ’s a lot of reflected or ambient light in the way . As a resultant role this beamer can be used during the day without having to black out the room .
The LS650 includes HDR10 and HLG , but lacks support for the HDR10 + and Dolby Vision dynamical metadata formats . This is a disgrace because the add info these two formats provide would take into account you to get more out of this beamer .
Final Thoughts
The Epson EH - LS650 deliver cinematic big screen pictures with impressive truth and very punchy HDR thanks to an fabulously bright laser light engine . A build - in Android TV wise system and Yamaha sound arrangement fill out an first-class allrounder .
It would be nice if there were more HDMI inputs , but aside from the lack of a radio the LS650 makes for a smashing alternative to a with child screen telly , and at this Leontyne Price it ’s also considerably meretricious .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every projector we review soundly over an extended menstruum of time .
We usePortrait Displays Calman colouring material standardisation softwareand industry standard to equate features properly . We ’ll always enjoin you what we find . We never , ever , assume money to review a ware .
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FAQs
There is only accompaniment for HDR10 and HLG .
