The projector was once reserved for wealthy homeowners with dedicated home theater spaces, but that’s no longer the case in today’s market. Epson is one of the main companies driving this change with their line of affordable, accessible projectors that make big-screen entertainment an option for everyday consumers. The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a prime example. This streamlined and portable projector is an excellent value at the price, using advanced image technology you’d expect to find on a much more expensive device. (>>> Check current price on Amazon) Curious to find out more? We’ll break down its features in this Epson Home Cinema 1080 review to help you decide if it’s the best option for your home.
Epson Home Cinema 1080 Review of Main Specs:
| Epson Home Cinema 1080 | |
|---|---|
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| Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Brightness (Lumens) | 3400 |
| Contrast Ratio | 16,000:1 |
| Zoom | 1.2x zoom |
| Throw Distance | 2.7' - 22.2' |
| Screen size | 30" - 300" |
| Speakers | 2.0 Watts Mono |
| Price | BHPhotoVideo.com |
Design and Connectivity
Epson projectors use a streamlined, no-fuss design, and that’s one of the reason we love them for the everyday home. The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is fairly compact and weighs just over 6 pounds. While it’s not necessarily built to be taken on the road, it’s definitely portable enough to use in multiple places around the home or take outside for driveway drive-ins.
The connection panel of the Epson 1080 includes dual HDMI ports, along with composite and USB inputs. There’s also a 3.5mm audio out for connecting external speakers, which is something most buyers will want to take advantage of. The 2-watt mono speaker is the main weakness of the Epson 1080, lacking in both volume and sound quality, especially when it comes to bass frequencies.
Along with wired connections, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 has wireless networking capabilities. While it doesn’t have the direct streaming capabilities of other models in the Epson line, it does support screen mirroring from devices through Miracast.
Installation
The Epson Home Cinema 1080 is a standard throw projector, and that does mean it needs a decent amount of space for a big screen. You can get a 100” screen with 7-9 feet of distance, which still makes it a viable option for most spaces.
The installation itself is a quick and easy process. The Epson 1080 has a built-in sensor that analyzes the image geometry and adjusts automatically to prevent skewing and warping. If you need to fine-tune the alignment, you can manually adjust both the vertical and horizontal keystone, or take advantage of the 1.2x zoom.
Pros
- Bright lamp is ideal for lights-on viewing
- Vibrant colors with no rainbow effect
- Automatic image geometry adjustment
- Supports Miracast for screen mirroring from devices
- Compact, lightweight build
Cons
- Weak built-in sound
- No on-board streaming capabilities
Picture Quality
Like most Epson projectors, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 uses a 3LCD chip design to produce the color. This expands the color gamut compared to projectors that use color wheels, providing a deeper and more nuanced on-screen image. This also eliminates some image issues known to afflict DLP projectors, ensuring a consistent brightness across the picture with no rainbowing.
A dynamic contrast ratio of 16,000:1 enhances the full HD resolution of the Epson 1080. The picture is sharp and detailed even at its maximum image size. It stays vibrant in all light levels, as well. The 210-watt bulb used in the Epson Home Cinema 1080 puts out 3,400 lumens, plenty to compete with the ambient light in any viewing area.
The Verdict: Epson Home Cinema 1080 Review
You do get what you pay for in a sense with projectors. If you’re looking for 4K resolution, voice control capabilities, or other high-end features, you may be disappointed by the Epson Home Cinema 1080. That said, we don’t expect to get these kinds of features in this price point.
Versatility and usability are the main strengths of the Epson 1080. It gives you a consistently sharp and vibrant picture in any light level, with an easy, fast set-up. For convenience and value, the Epson Home Cinema 1080 is an excellent choice. (>>> Check on Bhphotovideo)