The LCD alternative to DLP dominance is still alive
Ignorance, they say, is bliss. We don’t know for sure about that, but just occasionally it can certainly come in handy for reviewing products. Like this new Epson projector for instance.
When we first fired it up, it looked pretty darn nice. Except the black levels weren’t quite what we’re used to with the latest DLP beamers. And that was when we remembered. Epsom only does LCD projectors. Ah. Of course. Had we known from the get-go, we’d have already been expecting mediocre black levels. And expectations can get in the way of objective assessments. But not here. We really did notice the black levels. Hold that thought.
Let’s get the basics covered first. The Epson EH-TW6600W is a fullon movie projector rather than an allrounder. That means it’s a bit pricier than your typical all-purpose beamer. In return, you get a large chassis that allows for a bigger and therefore quieter fan. This thing makes very little noise.
You also get proper optics. By that we mean firstly a setup that maintains focus when you adjust the size of the image. Secondly, there’s significant lens shift available. In other words, you can adjust the trajectory of the image with the lens rather than ratcheting up and down some shonky legs. Finally, there’s a generous 1 to 1.6 zoom factor. That allows you to stick this thing in most rooms and achieve your desired image size.
Next up, there’s wireless HDMI functionality. In this case, there’s an adaptor for plugging into your source, or sources (it sports no fewer than four HDMI inputs). But the wireless receiver is integrated into the chassis. That’s tidy, but it means you won’t be able to use the wireless HDMI for other displays. As ever, your mileage will vary in terms of signal integrity. It may work room to room depending on wall thickness, but it’s better as a line-of-sight connection. Anyway, the other major feature is active-shutter 3D support (including over the wireless HDMI connection) which you can take or leave. We’d mostly leave it, but for 3D fans it’s nevertheless part of the package.
As for performance, let’s get back to those blacks. While noticeably off the pace set by the latest DLP units, don’t go thinking the TW6600W lacks contrast. It’s a very plausible cinema projector. Notably, colours and especially skin tones are that little bit more natural than DLP technology, which looks spectacular, but can be a bit contrived and over-saturated.
On the downside, the default settings involve quite a bit of compression in both whites and blacks, so you’ll need to manually tweak colours and contrast if accuracy gets your knickers in a twist. We also note that while achieving consistent focus across the image is easy enough, image geometry is a little off. The picture isn’t quite perfectly rectangular. Nor is it blazingly bright, which isn’t a surprise given the 2,500 lumens rating.
The final demerit regarding image quality involves some hideous digital pixel sharpening enabled by default. It can be disabled (though the setting is comprehensively buried in the OSD menu), but it’s awful and shouldn’t be on by default.
All of which makes this Epsom projector an acquired taste. We can understand how movie buffs who prize a natural cinematic image over visual pop could well favour the TW6600W. The wireless connectivity is a real boon for achieving a neat installation, too. But as an all-round proposition for games and daytime use along with movies in the evening, there are simply better, cheaper options. – Jeremy Laird
SPECIFICATIONS
Projector type Triple LCD
Native resolution 1920 x 1080
Brightness 2,500 lumens
Contrast 70,000:1 (dynamic)
Projection ratio 1.32 - 2.15:1
Inputs 2x HDMI, component, composite, VGA, MHL
Wireless connectivity 4x HDMI
Projector warranty Two years (three years or 3,000 hours for lamp)