Epson is one of the largest companies in the world that designs and manufactures video projectors. Not long ago, Epson presented its first laser projector, called the Epson EH-LS100. It is not just an ordinary laser projector, but also a UST projector, meaning that it has Ultra Short Throw lenses. In ordinary words, it means that the projector can be placed very close to the display area. We had the opportunity to watch videos and movies on the Epson EH-LS100 laser projector for a few days, and now we would like to share our impressions about it, in this review:

Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector: Who is it good for?

The Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector is an excellent choice for people who:

• Want an authentic cinema experience, in the comfort of their homes
• Desire a projector that they can place on a TV stand, without having to hang it on the ceiling
• Want a projector that will last them for a long time
• Can afford the premium price of a cutting-edge projector

Pros and cons

There are many good things to say about the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector:

• It delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and detailed shades
• The projected image has high brightness in both operation modes: normal and quiet
• It uses a laser lighting source that is built to last for a long time (more than ten years), in normal use conditions (five hours a day)
• It is a UST (Ultra Short Throw) projector, which means that you can place it very close to the display surface
• It is silent when used in economy (quiet) mode
• It offers all the connectivity ports you might need

We also identified a few downsides:

• At an average price of over 2500 US dollars, it is too expensive for most people
• The Wi-Fi adapter is not included in the standard packaging (but it is available as an optional purchase)
• It does not support 4K resolutions

Verdict

The Epson EH-LS100 is an excellent UST laser projector that manages to deliver an image of outstanding quality, with the convenience of being able to place it on any TV stand. The laser light source is built to last, and it manages to provide a high brightness level, even in economy mode. If you are a movie aficionado and your living room is built for watching movies, then the Epson EH-LS100 should be one of your top options for the next projector that you are going to own. If you can afford it, you will not be sorry you purchased it.

Unboxing the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector

The Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector arrives in a very large box, made from thick cardboard. The device that we tested had been in other hands also, before coming to us, so the packaging was not in its best shape.

Inside the box, we found the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector, its remote control, a power cable and an HDMI cable, a CD-ROM with documentation, a printed user guide, and the warranty leaflets.

The unboxing experience offered by the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector is simple and straightforward. Epson does not bundle anything else than the essential items required to start using the projector.

Hardware specifications

The Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector uses a projection system with 3LCD technology, which means that it has three LCD panel chips, one for red, one for green, and one for the blue color. The projector is rated to deliver an output of 4,000 lumens in normal lighting mode or 2,800 lumens in economy mode. Put that together with the 2,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and you know that you are about to enjoy bright images with vivid colors, deep blacks, and well-defined shadow details.

This is a Full HD projector, as it can project images at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, at a 16:10 aspect ratio. The image can be projected on any display surface, such as a white wall, at a minimum diagonal size of 70 inches (1.78 meters), and a maximum size of 130 inches (3.3 meters). That is more than any TV screen with a similar price tag, of a little over 2500 US dollars.

The Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector is generous regarding the connectivity options it offers. It comes with two USB 2.0 Type A ports, one USB 2.0 Type B port, a serial RS-232C port, an Ethernet interface with a nominal transfer rate of 100 Mbit/s, a dedicated USB port for Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n (the interface is optional and does not come as standard), one VGA in (Monitor Out) and one VGA out (Computer) port, three HDMI in ports (one with MHL), one Composite in, a Stereo mini jack audio out, and two Stereo mini jack audio in.

The Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector also benefits from a built-in 16 watt loudspeaker, so you can start using it as a home cinema device right from the start. You do not even have to connect a sound system to it.

This laser projector consumes 423 Watts in normal lighting mode, 332 Watts in economy lighting mode, and 0.5 Watts in standby. Its noise level is 39 dBA in normal mode, and 30 dBA in economy mode.

Regarding size, the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector is relatively large, with dimensions of 19.45 x 17.20 x 7.40 inches or 494 x 437 x 188 millimeters in Width x Depth x Height. It is also heavy, weighing a little over 24 pounds, or 11 kilograms.

If you want to see all the technical specifications, visit this official webpage: Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector.

Using the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector

The first impression you get when you take this projector out of its box is that it is big. It can be a replacement for your living room TV set, but it cannot be a discreet presence. Everyone will notice it on your TV stand.

One of the most significant advantages of the Epson EH-LS100 is that it is a UST projector. UST is an acronym for Ultra Short Throw, and it means that the lens system is designed to allow you to place the projector very close to the display surface. In other words, you can put it near the wall (or another plain surface) on which you want it to project the image. Depending on how close it is to the display surface, the Epson EH-LS100 can project an picture with a diagonal size of up to 130 inches (330 centimeters), which is a lot more than any TV with a similar price. It truly delivers a Home Cinema experience like no regular TV can.

We used it for watching movies and music videos, and we were impressed by how good the projected images look. Thanks to the powerful laser light source, which delivers up to 4000 lumens, the projector has what it takes to deliver a bright image even in daytime normal lighting conditions. However, it truly shines when you use it in dim light, like in the evening or at night, or when you close the window shades in your living room. This is when you can most enjoy the quality of the videos projected by the Epson EH-LS100. Here is the effect it had on my little one: 🙂

The projector can be controlled through the use of the physical buttons found on its right side. They let you power the projector on or off, select the image source, correct the keystone effect, navigate the menus and change all the settings available.

Although we found the buttons on the projector to be easy to use, it is likely that many people will prefer to use the remote control instead. It is a simple remote control, with no fancy details, but it offers all the buttons you need to have complete control on the projector. One aspect that we did not like about it is the fact that it is white, while the projector is black. At least, you will be able to locate the remote control in your couch cushions easily, right? 🙂

Near the projector control buttons, there is a ventilation grille. This is where the air filter is mounted, but also the place where the projector's focus control slider is found. Open the air filter cover and move the focus slider upwards or downwards until the details of the projected image look clear. Making this adjustment is a matter of a few seconds.

Depending on the surface on which you place it and on the display surface that you are using, you are probably going to have to also make some further adjustments to the projected image geometry. Fortunately, you can do that in many ways, thanks to the menus offered by the Epson EH-LS100, which are generous regarding the number of settings and options available.

However, note that there is not much you can do if the display surface is not plain and clean.

Ultra Short Throw projectors such as this one, are quite particular on this matter. Because the lens has to project the image at an acute angle, the lighting on the display surface emphasizes all the irregularities on it. In other words, if you are using the Epson EH-LS100 to project images on a wall that is not perfectly plain, white, and clean, the image quality is going to be less than ideal. If that wall has a lot of curves, bumps or holes, you are about to have an unpleasant experience.

We preferred to use the Epson EH-LS100 projector set on its Quiet light source mode. In this mode, the projector uses less power and the noise made by its fans is a lot lower. Although the brightness of the image is lower than in Normal mode, the difference is not that big. We believe this is the best way to use this projector in a living room with no ambient noises.

Besides being more silent, the Quiet mode also brings another advantage. The Epson EH-LS100 projector uses a laser lighting source that is designed to last for 20,000 hours in Normal mode, which means on its highest brightness. If you switch to the more economical Quiet mode, the laser source should last for an additional 10,000 hours, bringing its expected lifetime to 30,000 hours. If these numbers do not manage to impress you, consider this: if you use the projector for 5 hours each day, its laser light source should last you for more than 10 years in Normal mode, and over 16 years in Quiet mode. It is more than you probably expect to use your Smart TV, isn't it?

The Epson EH LS-100 UST laser projector is a real Home Cinema device that can successfully replace any TV setup. We love the fact that it is easy to find a place for it on your TV stand, it is easy to set and adjust, while the quality of the projected videos is top-notch.

What is your opinion about the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector?

Now you know how much we liked the Epson EH-LS100 UST laser projector, and you also know that we recommend it to any Home Cinema lover out there. Do you agree with us? Would you like having this projector in your home? Use the comments section below to share your opinion.